Scan 53
A Review Of Ancient And Modern Violin Making, 1899
6 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1sented is only an illogical opinion, void of proof or rational conclusions. From certain circumstances which they elaborately explain, they infer that oil varnish was used. I will give a sample which contains as much proof as any I have met with. The article from which I quote ran for some months in the Boston Leader under the title of "How to Make a Violin." The author's name was not given. I am pleased to say, however, he was better informed on the history of the violin, violin makers and numerous other points than any other writer I know of. He was a firm believer in the "Cremona oil varnish," and as grounds for his belief he gives the following: "In a letter from Stradivarius to a clergyman he (Stradivarius) says: 'Pardon the delay of the violin, occasioned by the varnishing of the large cracks, that the sun may not reopen them.'"
3Such was the letter; now follow the author's comments: "A delay caused by the varnish not drying. It is evident that this was an oil varnish, as no apology would have been required if spirit varnish had been used on account of the shortness of time required for spirit varnish to dry."
5I would ask in all seriousness, if a careful
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