Books › The violin, how to make it, 1880 › scan 81
Scan 81
The violin, how to make it, 1880
2 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 75. See the scan on archive.org.
1quality of wood used in the construction of the breast, whether close or open in the grain, and the height of bridge to be chosen afterwards. For mean sizes, the following may be advantageously chosen; length, 10 inches; depth at centre, 1/3 inch, gradually tapering to about 1/2 inch at the ends, and thickness about 1/6 of an inch. For forming the above, the piece of pine may be about 11 inches long, having a line crossing the centre dividing the length into two equal parts, whilst the depth or breadth may be about 1 1/4 inches; then, by placing the piece upon a line traced upon the proper part of the interior surface, where the bar is to be glued, a line may be scribed with a compass upon the bar, and the spare wood cut away with a knife, etc., until the bar accurately fits to the intended part of the surface. A common but very erroneous idea prevails amongst many Violin-makers regarding what ought to be the proper depth of the bar 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 the 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 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 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
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