Gentle tappings may be tried and testings of resistance to bending at the same, keeping the light at right angles to enable the slightest opening or fracture to show itself and be at once placed under treatment. When every test proves the instrument to be sound and ready for closing up, preparations may be commenced.
There is probably no one of the different details of repairing that gives more evidence than this of the kind of workman engaged upon it.
It may almost be said that this is rarely done as it ought to be in the manner that can be described as being good in every way for the purpose, and neatly done.
The bad manner of closing has been, more frequently than any other, the means of putting the whole instrument out of order, gradually distorting, if not actually bringing it to ruin as a work of art, and to destruction as a means of producing good musical sounds.
Judging by the ways adopted by many inferior grades of repairers, professional and amateur, the closing down of the upper table is thought to be a trifling matter and simply that of passing some glue on a brush rapidly round where the ribs are to come into contact with the table, clapping it down, placing the cramps round, screwing them tight, and, if the weather is cold, acting with more rapidity.
Ten minutes may be said to be the average time that this performance takes, and in the majority of cases is thought to be a good one.
But not so by a really competent, painstaking repairer. From his view this operation is to be one of the most cautiously conducted ones in the whole series of joinings in connection with the repairing or constructing of the violin.
As with other processes, there is more than one way of doing a thing and that well.
I recollect in early days being acquainted with an exceeding dexterous amateur in cabinet making, the principal part of whose furniture, in a large house, was his own individual and unaided workmanship. He also combined with this the making of violins, and of them I have a recollection of their exceedingly neat workmanship, being, in fact, ahead in that respect of many professional makers of the time. I often received from him hints as to the best methods of overcoming many little mechanical difficulties.
Once I was telling him about the dexterous manipulation required in fixing accurately and swiftly the upper table. There was the difficulty of getting perhaps the two end parts in position and fixing with sufficient rapidity before the glue had stiffened or set at the other parts.