Scan 312
Critical & Documentary Dictionary of Violin Makers Old and Modern, 1928
16 lines. Read by computer on 5 October 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1pine or willow wood, set into the Blocks, which resemble pillars placed at the four corners of the middle-bouts. There is also one at the Button — the top Block — and yet another, the bottom Block, which receives the Tail Pin, to which is attached the Tail Piece, holding the strings.
3The Purfling surrounds the Back and Belly, enhancing the design of the outline. It is on one hand an ornament and on the other a reinforcement, preventing snapping when removal of the Belly is proceeded with. The Purfling ends at the four corners, affecting the form of a beak, taking the name of Mitres. Some of the old makers have varied the direction given to these Mitres. For instance, those of Antonius Stradivarius have a definite turn towards the C., whilst his son Omobono made them take the very opposite direction.
5The edges comprise that part of the wood over-lapping the Ribs.
7The semi-circular piece on which rests and ends the neck on the Back, takes the name of Button. For an instrument by an old maker, it is of a certain importance that this piece be in its primitive state, as, like the Scroll, it marks the personality of the maker.
9The C's are formed on each side by the narrow part of the body of the instrument, their object being to facilitate the passing of the Bow.
11Groove is the name given to the more or less pronounced hollow running along the Edges.
13Inside the instrument is a piece of pine glued to the Belly, in the same direction as the Strings, on the left side and passing under the foot of the Bridge. This is termed the base-bar and its object is to reinforce the Belly and offer resistance to the pressure of the Strings (Its size is 0" 28 or 10 1/2" for the violin, 0" 30 for the viola, 0" 60 for the 'cello and 0" 85 for the double bass). When judiciously placed, its influence upon the quality and volume of tone is very great.
15This last remark also applies to the Sound Post, a little detached piece of wood, as thick as a medium-sized pencil, placed vertically and close to the back of the right hand foot of the Bridge. This mere piece of wood governs the whole sonorous edifice, bears the considerable weight produced by the tension of the strings, establishes communication between the Back and Belly, without transmitting the vibrations received by the Bridge from the Strings, as is commonly believed.
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