Books › An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925 › scan 162
Scan 162
An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925
20 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 136. See the scan on archive.org.
1stick with scrapers and glass paper and, finally, to varnish it with the varnish best suited to it.
3As to the nut, the problem of polishing such of its parts as cannot be reached by hand is solved in the following manner: the nut is fixed on the stick by means of the screw and, placing the upper end of the bow on the shoulder and the button on one end of the workbench, the little hollows which are found beneath the ring of the nut are polished by drawing over them with both hands a small bit of rag, steeped in oil and powdered pumice stone.
5How to Hair the Bow
7When the bow has reached this point of completion, it should be haired, and the first thing to be done is to make the two small wedges which have already been mentioned, and which have the exact shape of the wedge boxes of the plate.
9The wedge is a small piece of wood whose edges have been cut slantwise so that, entering the wedge box with a little effort, it will press against the hairs and prevent them from escaping.
11These wedges are made of a piece of plane or beech wood, in the following manner. Taking a knife, the piece of wood is so cut that it perfectly closes the largest side of the opening of the wedge-box. The piece of wood is then pressed against the opposite side of said wedge box with the result that a little mark is left which indicates the length of the wedge, which is cut square on this side.
13Before proceeding, we will mention which hairs should be preferred in making a choice.
15The finest and rounded hairs are the best. Those which are flat, coarse or uneven are worthless. The hairs, before being used, should be washed with soap and water in which a little common table salt has been dissolved, and should then be rinsed in fresh water, to carry off the soap, which would detract from the effect of the rosin.
17A satisfactory quantity of hairs are united in a ribbon, and are strongly tied together at that end which was nearest the horse's tail, with waxed silk. Then dipping this end into powdered rosin for a few moments, it is held to a candle flame or spirit lamp in order that the rosin may melt, and thus cause the hairs to harden and cling together. This end is then thrust into the head of the bow, the wedge is set against it, turning back the coil of hair in the wedge box in the direction of the head of the bow, and then forcing the wedge in by pressing against the workbench.
19The hairs are then passed through tepid water, and the coil or ribbon is pinched in the vise at about 16 centimeters (about 6 1/4") distant from the head, with the wedge box of the head in the air, first wrapping a rag about the coil so that it will not be crushed in the vise in which it is placed. Then take a comb used only for this purpose, and comb and equalize the hairs. The
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