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Classification Methodology

Overview of Methodology
String Bows
Woodwind and Brasswind

Technical description

In this field the general characteristics of each bow are noted: a description of frog shape and material; head shape and facing; button style and material; and stick shape and material. See String Bows Terminology for further details.

Overall size

The measurement for the overall size was taken from the end of the tip to the button. This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 1mm.

Weight

Where a bow was missing hair, button or frog, this is noted. This measurement is accurate to within 1 gram.

Hair length

This measurement was taken from the back of the head to the ferrule, or where the hair first meets the frog.

For bows with ellipse shaped heads, such as the bass bows or the violin bows with rounded axe shaped heads, the measurement was taken from the longest hair on the side of the head, rather than the shortest hair at the back.

This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 1mm.

Balance point

This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Head height

The variety of head shapes in the bows of the collection means that this measurement cannot easily be compared between bows.

No one standard measurement can be taken and therefore this distance is only approximate.

In general, the distance measured was taken with the bow on a flat surface, from the bottom of the head immediately after the hair, vertically upwards. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Head face width

For this measurement, the widest point of the head face (usually at the back) and the narrowest (the tip) was taken.

In the case of ellipse shaped heads, only the widest point was measured. This measurement was taken with a metal meter stick and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Head face length

This measurement was taken at the longest point of the face. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Frog diameter

The diameter of the frog, from back to front, was taken and where the variation in these measurements is greater than 1mm, both measurements are given.

This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Frog height

The height of the frog, from back to front, was taken and where the variation in these measurements is greater than 1mm, both measurements are given. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Stick width

For this measurement, the width of the stick at its widest at the back, and at its narrowest before the head, was taken. The two figures are presented back to front. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Button length

This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.

Ferrule width

Where a ferrule has tapered corners, the greatest distance was recorded. This measurement was taken with callipers and is accurate to plus or minus 0.5mm.