Books › A treatise on the structure and preservation of the violin and all other bow-instruments : together with an account of the most celebrated makers, and of the genuine characteristics of their instruments, 1875 › scan 27
Scan 27
A treatise on the structure and preservation of the violin and all other bow-instruments : together with an account of the most celebrated makers, and of the genuine characteristics of their instruments, 1875
12 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 11. See the scan on archive.org.
1Bachmann, of Berlin, was one of the most celebrated German makers; and, as his instruments have already attained a considerable age, they rank next in point of quality to the Cremonese. They are very correct in their proportions, and, though made rather too strong than otherwise, wood of the best quality has been used for them; so that one of his violins is even preferable to a Cremonese which has fallen into unskilful hands, such as I shall describe at length in treating of the rules to be observed in repairing.
3Straube, of Berlin, was also an excellent workman. I have seen only a few of his instruments, but those were very good. From his constant occupation in repairing old instruments, he has probably not made many new ones.
5Schmidt, of Cassel, has, at the present day (1817), made some very beautiful violins in imitation of those by Straduarius, which in process of time may become excellent, if they do not get spoiled before they arrive at their best.*
7Dürfel, of Altenburg, was one of those makers, who,
9* The following additional particulars of this maker are given in the more recent German edition:—
11"Besides Bachmann, Schmidt, of Cassell, has perhaps most successfully approached his model. His instruments, it is true, are not altogether satisfactory in their construction, but they can easily be brought into correct proportions. Owing to their illusive similarity, many of his old instruments have already been sold under the name of Straduarius. Although fine in the wood, they are still cognizable; the back not being made of such finely-figured maple, and the wood of the belly (from the upper Hercynian forest) not being quite equal in the grain. Most of them have, from the middle joint, an inch or an inch and a half of fine grained wood; then about an inch of coarse; and so on alternately for the breadth of the belly. The rise of the back and belly and the form of the f-holes are very well imitated; but the edges are broader than those of Straduarius, and the purfling is set farther inwards. The scooping out, to the depth of nearly half the thickness of the edges, which is observable in the Italian instruments [within the purfling] is entirely wanting in those
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.