Books › An encyclopedia of the violin, 1925 › scan 80
Scan 80
An encyclopedia of the violin, 1925
91 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 56. See the scan on archive.org.
1CHAPTER IV
3THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIOLIN
5THE NORMAL TYPE VIOLIN AND ITS VARIANTS
7The violin which we are about to describe is the instrument of normal type, the large-form or full-sized violin, which is the best known and most widely used model.¹
9Violins are also constructed for children, and for the use of those with small hands, in reduced sizes, called three-quarter, half and quarter violins, whose proportions are based in every particular on those established for the full-sized instrument. These instruments, with but few exceptions, are constructed with less care than the large-form normal violin.
11The following is a table of the correct dimensions of the violin as established by Vidal. These dimensions vary, of course, according to the individual instrument and its maker, but Vidal's figures may be accepted as the standard of measurement generally adopted, representing the exact principal dimensions of a very fine genuine Stradivarius which has been preserved in perfect condition since the latter part of the 17th century (the "Vuillaume" or "La Messie" Stradivarius, Plate 26).
13<table>
14 <tr>
15 <th></th>
16 <th>Figure</th>
17 <th>Millimeters</th>
18 <th>Inches</th>
19 </tr>
20 <tr>
21 <td>Total exterior length of body</td>
22 <td>1 B-E</td>
23 <td>355</td>
24 <td>14.0</td>
25 </tr>
26 <tr>
27 <td>Breadth across upper bouts</td>
28 <td>1 F-G</td>
29 <td>165</td>
30 <td>6.9</td>
31 </tr>
32 <tr>
33 <td>Breadth across lower bouts</td>
34 <td>1 O-P</td>
35 <td>206</td>
36 <td>8.2</td>
37 </tr>
38 <tr>
39 <td>Breadth across inner bouts</td>
40 <td>1 K-L</td>
41 <td>109</td>
42 <td>4.3</td>
43 </tr>
44 <tr>
45 <td>Length of inner bouts</td>
46 <td>1 H-M</td>
47 <td>076</td>
48 <td>3.0</td>
49 </tr>
50 <tr>
51 <td>Length from base of button to notch of F-holes</td>
52 <td>1 B-D</td>
53 <td>193</td>
54 <td>7.6</td>
55 </tr>
56 <tr>
57 <td>Height of sides, upper bouts</td>
58 <td>2 F-G</td>
59 <td>030</td>
60 <td>1.2</td>
61 </tr>
62 <tr>
63 <td>Height of sides, inner bouts</td>
64 <td>2 K-L</td>
65 <td>030</td>
66 <td>1.2</td>
67 </tr>
68 <tr>
69 <td>Height of sides lower bouts</td>
70 <td>2 O-P</td>
71 <td>031</td>
72 <td>1.25</td>
73 </tr>
74 <tr>
75 <td>Length of the neck</td>
76 <td>2 A-B</td>
77 <td>130</td>
78 <td>5.15</td>
79 </tr>
80 <tr>
81 <td>Length of finger board</td>
82 <td>2 A-C</td>
83 <td>260</td>
84 <td>10.25</td>
85 </tr>
86</table>
88The figures and letters in above table refer to the illustration presented herewith of the "Vuillaume" Stradivarius (Plate 26). The millimeter measurements have been figured out as accurately as possible into inches.
90¹ The detailed historic and practical information presented here by Mr. Bachmann has been compiled after exhaustive research in old treatises, most of which had to be consulted in the reference departments of great libraries throughout the world. The subject matter carries great weight as the expression not of his individual ideas or theories, but of the authoritative knowledge of master violin designers. (The Editor)
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