Winding Violin Strings

Winding Violin Strings

Below is the process for winding wire (Silver, Copper, Silver/Copper, and Silverplate) onto a gut core. The machines we use were made and used originally by the Perfection Musical String Co. of Brunswick, IN — the company that made the old Winder Tone, Gold Label, and Tricolore strings. The cello string winding machine was made in about 1900 and has been making strings almost daily for over 120 years.

	Step 1 The gut core is mounted onto the hooks at each end of the string machine.
	Step 2 The gut core is stretched with a cloth so the gut fibers are pulled out to full length. This helps to stabilize the core for the windings.
	Step 3 The carriage behind the string core carries a spool of fine thread that is wound on to the length of the core . It is difficult to see because the thread is so fine.
	Step 4 The carriage crawls along the tracks by means of a threaded rod. The underlay is wound around the core at regular intervals not quite touching together.
	Step 5 The wire is wound onto the core over the thread underlay. Two fine wires are applied with one pass.
	Step 6 The left hand guides the wire over the core length and the right hand squeezes the wires onto the core tightly while adding a bit more stretch.
	Step 7 The wire wire is round when it is wound onto the core. It must be polished down so the surface of the string is smooth. Sandpaper is used to smooth the string as it rotates between the spindles.
	Step 8 After polishing, the thread stocking is wound onto the end of the string.
	Step 9 The stocking binds the wire at the end and keeps it from unwinding.
	Step 10 The stocking is sealed with a little glue to keep it on place.
	Step 11 Another stocking is started to the other end of the string.
	Step 12 A longer stocking is wound onto the other end of the string to bind the wire and protect the part of the string that winds around the peg.
	Step 13 A drop of glue to seal the thread finishes the string.