Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

Books › The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871 › scan 105

Scan 105

The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871

2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.

1bar at the centre. The method alluded to is this: a straight-edge is passed across the two inner edges of the breast, where the centre of the bass-bar ought to be, the depth is then measured from the bottom of the hollow or curve to the under surface of straight-edge, which determines the required depth of the bar; in other words, the top surface of the centre of the bass-bar runs level with the two edges of the breast. It is necessary that the wood from which the bass-bar is formed possesses resonant qualities in an equal degree to that of the breast, and ought to be tested previous to commencing. The proper place for the bass-bar is about \( \frac{1}{16} \) inch inwards from the inner edge of the lower circle of the bass \( f \) hole. In the Guarnerius copies by Vuillaume, the length of the bass-bar is such as to extend to \( 1 \frac{5}{8} \) inches from either end of the breast, as measured on an imaginary line passing through the middle of the bar. When the bar has been accurately fitted, it may now be glued in its proper position upon the interior surface. The next object claiming attention is the bending of the sides to the proper curvatures, and the insertion of the blocks and side-linings. Numerous methods are used for this purpose by the violin makers, some bending them over a hot iron, whilst others bend them by having previously soaked them in boiling water. The generality of makers use a mould for this purpose, whereby much trouble is saved, although a few adhere to the plan of bending to curvature on a hot iron, and glueing on to violin back separately, after which they fit in the blocks. There are various patterns of moulds used by the

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