Horsehair and Its Uses.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8055, 23 February 1906, Page 4

Horsehair and Its Uses.

There is a vast amount of horsehair an. nually used for milking anil lepairiiiK violin, violincello, and bass viol bows. All of the hair comes from Germany and llussia, in which countries the tails of horses are generally allowed to grow nfneli longer Hum in England. The foreign hair is also con-scr in texture and tougher than that which gum s on the British horse, and these qualities make the imported article morn valuable than the douiesiie product is for the purpose. There are only two kinds of horsehair suit able lor making hows, and they are of whit 6 and black varieties. The former is used for violin bows, and the latter, which is heavier and stronger, is the best material for making ljoivs (or 'cello and bass viols, because it bites the larger strings better. The imported hair is put up iu hanks thirty-six inches long, which is five or six inches longer than the ■Standard violin bow. A hank is snllicient for one violin bow. while two hanks are required to hair a 'cello or bass viol how. There are about one and a half ounces of hair in a hank, which is worth about a shilling, according to the quality of the hair.