Books › Dictionary of Violin makers, 1928 › scan 300
Scan 300
Dictionary of Violin makers, 1928
20 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1production of a sparkling tone. Pine wood from the Vosges and from Switzerland especially are also excellent.
3More or less arched, the front is thicker in the centre of the whole length, especially in the middle-bouts, under the feet of the bridge, its thickness decreasing towards the edges.
5An average thickness of 2 mm/m is reckoned for the whole Belly of a violin, and approximately 1/6" at centre.
7It has two apertures in the form of an F., constituting the Sound Holes.
9To an extent their size and situation influence the volume and quality of sound, as they are an exit for the air contained in the Box, after being displaced by the action of the vibrations.
11The back, which is in maple, is also arched and thicker in wood than the Belly, double the thickness at least.
13Hungarian maple, often used for the Backs, has very fine waves but lacks the sonorous qualities to be found in less beautiful woods of the same specie. The most suitable maple should be neither too hard nor too soft.
15The Back is indiscriminately made of one or two pieces, but it is preferable that the Belly be in two parts.
17« The Sound Box of the violin reinforces the sounds, giving them a definite character, it being left to the player to modify them at his will. The tone of sound produced by a string set vibrating is divided into harmonics. The vibration of a sonorous body is seldom simple, as synonymous with the fundamental sound, other, less intense sounds can be heard, which give to it its particular quality. A sound composed of high harmonics is mordant or shrill, as in that of the trumpet or bugle. The least high harmonics produce the tone of the flute and the fundamental sound alone is produced by an organ pipe. The difference in quality of tone between an old and a new violin comes from the easiness with which the old instrument vibrates and reinforces the flute sounds. On the other hand, the new instrument vibrates badly, its vibrations are short and it mainly reinforces the high harmonics, thence its harsh tone, lacking carrying qualities. » (Prof. Demeny in « Physiologie des professions ». 1905).
19The ribs or sides, in maple, curved by heating, and on which rest the Back and Belly, are strengthened inside by the Lining Strips, of
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.