Patent Publication Number: US-5841047-A

Title: Method of violin construction and a violin

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of violin construction and a violin constructed in accordance with the teachings of the Method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The study of the art of violin making is set forth in the book &#34;A Review of Ancient and Modern Violin Making&#34; by W. W. Oaks, which was first published in 1899. In this publication Oaks shared his insights with respect to the proper proportioning or graduation of violins by the old masters such as Stradivarius. Those insights were expressed as follows: 
     &#34;It has been my privilege to gather the most minute details of a number of old instruments, and I found them anything but satisfactory. In examining two of the same model, and of equal merit, I found that the interiors were plain contradictions. I have never found two of the same maker alike. I could only infer that the intentions in both were the same, with, however, a very imperfect fulfilment of that intention. Most of the old models differed less in outward appearance than in inner construction. What could be more confusing to the student, when upon examining two violins of equal merit, to find the construction of the two diametrically opposed to the other, or to examine two of the same maker, only to find as great a difference.&#34; 
     In his work Oaks sets forth a system of graduation derived from a Stradivarius model of violent: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
&#34;Total exterior length of body                                            
                        355 mm                                            
Breadth across upper bouts                                                
                        165 mm                                            
Breadth across lower bouts                                                
                        206 mm                                            
Breadth across inner bouts                                                
                        109 mm                                            
Length of inner bouts   076 mm                                            
Length from base of button                                                
                        193 mm                                            
to notch of F-holes                                                       
Height of sides, upper bouts                                              
                        030 mm                                            
Height of sides, lower bouts                                              
                        031 mm                                            
Length of neck          130 mm                                            
Length of finger board  260 mm&#34;                                           
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     The conclusion that Oaks reaches from his studies are summarized in the following quotations: 
     &#34;I have spoken of a &#34;perfect system of graduation&#34;. This is conditional. What would be perfect for one form of arching and quality of wood would be imperfect for another.&#34; 
     &#34;It is rarely the case that I treat two violins alike, and never so unless I know the wood to be just the same, and I wish to make two violins of the same quality; then, of course, the work must be done in precisely the same manner.&#34; 
     In modern day violin construction the normal practise is to base the graduation of the instrument upon the works of the masters, such as Stradivarius and Amati. Placement of the f-holes tends to be determined by individual choice regarding the aesthetics of the body shape or the pattern copied from the masters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is required is a method of violin construction that involves a mathematically defined repeatable form of graduation. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of violin construction. The method includes the step proportioning a body of a violin so that a sum of digits for each measurement which one skilled in the art of violin construction would recognize to be critical, when measured in millimetres, equals nine. 
     The present invention is based upon the principle that there must be some preferred mathematical relationship upon which graduation of an instrument may be based. It has been found that the number 9 has both quantitative and qualitative properties that result in exceptional tonal qualities and projection properties in a violin. Although a violin can be built in differing sizes, it is preferred that numerical relationship be maintained, without regard to size. Some of the measurements that one skilled in the art would recognize as being of importance include an external body length measurement, an internal length measurement of an acoustic chamber, internal breadth measurements taken along the acoustic chamber at intervals measured from immediately adjacent an internal top block, bridge positioning, and the location of sound holes relative to the top block, a center line and the bridge. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a violin body proportioned so that a sum of digits for each measurement which one skilled in the art of violin construction would recognize to be critical, when measured in millimetres, equals nine. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with a measurement grid superimposed thereon, of a violin constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment, a violin generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. 
     Violin 10 is illustrative of one way in which the teachings of the present invention can be put into practise to produce a violin that has superior tonal qualities and projection properties. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention violin 10 has a violin body 12 defining a longitudinal axis 14 proportioned so that a sum of digits for each measurement which one skilled in the art of violin construction would recognize to be critical, when measured in millimetres, equals nine. For example, violin body 12 has an external length of 360 mm; 3+6+0=9. 
     The proportion or graduation of violin body 12 will now be further described. The violin body has an outer length of 360 mm. Top and bottom blocks are both 18 mm in width. The resultant internal length (measure from top to bottom block, Point A to Point G on FIG. 1.) is 324 mm. The internal length of the violin body is divided into six (6) equal areas comprised of 54 mm each. The inner and outer width measurements of the violin body are given on FIG. 1 by dividing each of the 54 mm long areas into 3 equal parts each 18 mm long. Outer width measurements are 9 mm greater than inner measurements allowing for 4.5 mm one each side. The table below restates the information regarding width to length relationships as shown in FIG. 1. 
     
                       TABLE 1                                                     
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Width Measurements Corresponding to Length.                               
(all measurements are millimeters (mm)                                    
Length Measurement                                                        
                 Inner Width                                              
                           Outer Width                                    
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Point A   0          126       135                                        
          18         153       162                                        
          36         162       171                                        
Point B   54         162       171                                        
          72         153       162                                        
          90         144       153                                        
Point C   108        126       135                                        
          126        108       117                                        
          144        108       117                                        
Point D   162        117       126                                        
Bridge Line                                                               
          180        126       135                                        
          198        171       180                                        
Point E   216        180       189                                        
          234        189       198                                        
          252        198       207                                        
Point F   270        198       207                                        
          288        189       198                                        
          306        171       180                                        
Point G   324        135       144                                        
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     The violin body is 63 mm in depth. The rib, comprising the side panel, is 30 mm in width. The violin is a total of 99 mm in width when one considers the 63 mm body depth and the 36 mm tall bridge. 
     All of the following measurements, critical to the design of the violin described herewithin, are given relative to the top block (Point A). The design and measurements have been found to be critical in that the acoustical quality produced results from the proper placement of the sound holes and bridge in the middle compartment of the violin (see #3 below) relative to specific volume created by the above dimensions (Table 1). 
     1. Sound Hole Placement 
     a) the centre of the lower sound hole is 207 mm from the top block (Point A) and located 63 mm from the centre line 
     b) the lower curve of the sound hole touches a line running through Point E 216 mm from the top block 
     c) the centre of the top sound hole is 153 mm from the top block (Point A) and 27 mm from the centre line 
     d) the flattened portion of the upper sound hole lies on a line drawn at 45 degrees from the centre of the violin top, which is defined by the intersection of the center line with a bridge line (180 mm from the top block, Point A) 
     e) the inner edge of the top sound hole is 22.5 mm from the center line, thus the inner edges of the upper sound holes are 45 mm apart 
     f) the centres of the top sound holes are 27 mm from the center line thus 54 mm apart 
     g) the distance from the center of the top sound hole to the center of the bottom sound hole is 63 mm 
     h) the notches in the center of the sound hole, which create the f-like appearance, must line equidistant above and below the bridge line (defined above) 
     This sound hole placement is necessary so as to prevent the acoustical vibrations passed from the bridge to the violin top being dampened by the sound holes. No part of the sound hole should line in the path of the feet of the bridge on lines running the length of the violin. Should the sound holes be placed in a manner contrary to this description and have any portion of their shape line in the path of lines running the length of the violin from the bridge feet, then the sound vibrations transmitted from the strings to the wood of the violin top by the bridge will be interfered with by the hole and effectively dampened destroying the acoustical quality of the instrument. 
     2. Bridge Placement 
     The bridge (36 mm in height) must be placed on the bridge line (180 mm from the top block). The feet of the bridge will then fall between two lines defined by the placement of the notches in the sound holes. 
     3. Three Sound Compartments 
     Another critical measurement on this violin places the lower edges of the upper corners which mark the beginning of the narrowing of the violin&#39;s centre compartment. These corners are located 108 mm from the top block on a line running through Point C. 
     As a result of these measurements three concurrent compartments are created, each 108 mm in length. The first compartment exists from the top block (Point A) to the lower edges of the corners (Point C). The second, containing the sound holes continues to the lower edge of the sound holes (Point E). The third continues from that point to the bottom block (Point G). The second compartment containing the properly positioned sound holes and bridge is believed to be the critical chamber of the violin. 
     It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.