Wood Butcher

What a great post! This deserves the maestronet medal of achievement

Burn it, then weigh the ashes

Yes, would make a great label. "CNC'd in Germany, using genuine tungsten carbide. Powered by German electricity"

I suspect that for the OP, there is too much of a disparity between the intended arching shape, and how it is left from the gouge. This then leaves too much material to remove with the planes, and consequently takes 19 years to shape the arching.

Either way, the information given is incorrect. That is not bearclaw in the OP picture, but a type of knot, which was explained on page 1.

I’m sure someone is making checkered shirts over there too, maybe even dungarees And let us not forget blurry Sasquatch films, which are a uniquely American product.

I think the taxation is a different issue altogether. In the context of what I believe the OP was asking, the origins of a product are deliberately blurred, to give consumers an impression that it is better.

Though I cannot answer specifically for Germany, this issue crops up in most nations. I believe there was a time here, when if what was considered 55% of the cost of entire product, was incurred here, it could legally be called made in… But that 55% could include the design and manufacture of branded packaging, pamphlets, website, instructions, accessories, distribution etc. So from a legal standpoint, the actual item people were buying, could have been made, or partially made in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, or the moon. But as more than 50% of the whole cost was reached in another country, it could legally be called made in… This is nothing new, it has been going on for decades. At best, it is very misleading, and at worst outright lies. It highlights the psychological aspects of a need for a product to be made in a particular country, in the belief that represents better quality, heritage etc. Most consumers have no clue on how the world of commerce operates, so it is an easy ruse to keep going. In the string world, at the lower to mid level, I’m sure this practice is rife. With many instruments being made by cnc, it is just a matter of sending the files, to whichever country has the ability to make things cheapest. As an example, it might be more cost effective, to have the violins made in Romania on cnc, with the Romanian workshop supplying the materials too. Then import these, to say Germany, for example, spray them with lacquer, set them up, put it in fancy box with a silk blanket, brochure, Larsen strings… Or maybe a case, where the shell, cover, handle, hinges, bow holders, straps, are all made in China, but the interior lining, lock, and final assembly, packaging, are done elsewhere. That could be enough to tip the cost over the threshold, et voila, ‘made’ in Germany/USA/France/Italy.

Considering it appears to be in your own shops showroom, you could just read what the tag on the peg says

What way(s) are the best to measure the cross-grain stiffness?

When I have done this, I clamped the wedge in the vice by its edges, not the sides. Worked fine.

I'm no Maestro, but what you have written seems different to how most may approach it. I think pretty much everyone is gluing both sets of linings, then using the ribs to mark out both the back, and belly. If you do it the way you are suggesting, I would expect by the time you have finally made the belly, the back and ribs will have splayed anyway. Making it hard to eventually fit the belly, without having to push and prod the ribs desperately, to get everything to fit together, when gluing. But you are making it, not me, so do what feels comfortable. If you find that in the end, it wasn't the best method, you will know not to do that for the next one.

I always wonder at the wisdom, in posting a thread of this nature, after purchase. It seems now, there is only potential disappointment for the OP, as people try to have a guess. Already there is quite a range of opinions, and prices. Some of these are going to be quite different to what you know about the violin, and may not make you feel good. You have bought it now, and it might have been best to seek any opinions first. When it comes to what one can tell from pictures, what can be said with certainty, is limited. Therefore, no-one is going to conclusively be able to say if it was machine made, hand made, or part of each. It's certainly not decided by the scroll alone, as you seem to imply. Quality of wood, cannot be determined by a visual means only, though it may give some basic hints. What might be an appropriate price, could vary, based on the country it is for sale in. Ultimately, as you now own the violin, it would be best just to concentrate on enjoying playing it. Rather than worry what random people you will never meet, or know if they are any more experienced than you, think about your violin.

How clean was the brush? It looks like something dusty trapped in the varnish.

??? Maybe re-read what I had written.