Scan 116
The violin & its story : or the history & construction of the violin, 1905
12 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 100. See the scan on archive.org.
1opening the compasses on the one side to A, and on the other side to B, draw the two arcs A D and B D, so that each arc shall reach the horizontal line through point 20. Thus we have the upper part of the instrument.
3"When this has been done, mark on the horizontal line through point 33 two points E E, each ten and a half parts* from point 33; and from these both points F F, which then become the centres of the two semicircles H, E, G, so that in this manner we get the outline of the middle part of the instrument.
5"Now, from the point 72, open the compasses nine parts, and describe the two little arcs I, K; then, on the horizontal line through point 57, mark three parts towards L L, and likewise three parts towards M M; take these as centres, and at the distance on the one side of M K, and at the distance on the other side of M J, make the arcs N K and N J. Take the point L as a centre, open the compasses to N, and make on each side the arc N O. Finally, place one leg of the compasses at point 72, and make the arc K Y J. Then the entire outline is completed, and this figure, drawn on wood of suitable thickness, gives the model of the instrument."
7Bagatella goes on to say that the upper quoins must be ten parts broad and four parts thick; the lower quoins of the same thickness, but only eight parts broad. The four corner quoins must fall between points 20 to 25, and 43 to 48. The height of the sides, where they meet at the tail-piece button, must be 6 1/4 parts, narrowing down to 6 parts at the point where the neck fits in.
9It is a curious fact that Bagatella insists on the back being of more importance than the belly; whereas all instrument makers, in studying the patterns left by the greatest masters, lay greatest stress upon the belly,—so much so, that by the belly the authenticity of the instrument can be completely established, even though every other part is quite new and modern.
11* That is, ten and a half of the seventy-two parts into which the vertical line is divided. The drawing at the right hand side of Fig. 18 shows the amount of arching of belly and back.—Translator.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.