Scan 133
The violin & its story : or the history & construction of the violin, 1905
16 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 117. See the scan on archive.org.
1When Viotti came to Paris, in 1786, it was usual to put on the hair in a round bunch or sheaf, which hindered the production of a good quality of tone. Tourte changed this by fixing his hair in the form of a broad band or ribbon.
3The excellence of Tourte's bows lies in three points:—(1) their lightness, owing to the adequate elasticity of the wood; (2) their beautifully equal curve, which brings to the middle of the stick the spot where the hair is nearest to it; and (3) their extraordinarily exact and neat workmanship. The perfection of Tourte's fabrications has never since been reached; and hence it is, that while his bows now fetch from £8 to £12, the best bows of present day makers can be bought for £1 to £1 5s.*
5Next to Tourte's bows, those of Lafleur, of Paris, and Schwartz, of Strasburg, are in the greatest demand; and, in our own time, J. Henry and P. Simon, both of Paris, have attained celebrity as bow-makers.
7It was not splendid workmanship alone which made Tourte's bows famous, but the fact that he possessed the most perfect insight and knowledge of the nature of the materials he used, which has never been equalled by anyone either before or since his time.
9Many attempts have been made to manufacture bows with other woods, but the special qualities of weight, firmness, tenacity, and elasticity are found nowhere else so fittingly blended as in Brazil wood.
11It is not without reason that for double-bass bows black hair is used instead of white. The tail hair of the male horse is strongest and most durable, and especially is this the case with black hair. The hairs of the mare are finer and less durable in use, but they are also more greasy and unequal, and therefore are not used for the very best bows.
13If a single horse hair be drawn through the fingers
15* Abele of course had never heard of our great modern bow makers. A fine modern bow by one of the finest bow makers sells easily from £5 to £10.—Translator.
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