1when it is necessary.
The wooden handle is seven palms long, or even longer,
in order that it may extend outside; one-half of this handle, two palms
wide and one thick, is glued to the end of the board and fastened with pegs
covered with glue; the other half projects beyond the board, and is rounded
and seven digits thick. Besides this, to the handle and to the board is fixed
a cleat two feet long, as many palms wide and one palm thick, and to the under
side of the same board, at a distance of three palms from the end, is fixed
another cleat two feet long, in order that the board may sustain the force
of distension and compression; these two cleats are glued to the board, and
are fastened to it with pegs covered with glue.
in order that it may extend outside; one-half of this handle, two palms
wide and one thick, is glued to the end of the board and fastened with pegs
covered with glue; the other half projects beyond the board, and is rounded
and seven digits thick. Besides this, to the handle and to the board is fixed
a cleat two feet long, as many palms wide and one palm thick, and to the under
side of the same board, at a distance of three palms from the end, is fixed
another cleat two feet long, in order that the board may sustain the force
of distension and compression; these two cleats are glued to the board, and
are fastened to it with pegs covered with glue.
The lower bellows-board, like the upper, is made of two pieces of pine
and of two strips of linden wood, all glued together; it is of the same width
and thickness as the upper board, but is a cubit longer, this extension being
part of the head of which I have more to say a little later. This lower bellows
board has an air-hole and an iron ring. The air-hole is about a cubit distant
from the posterior end, and it is midway between the sides of the bellows
board, and is a foot long and three palms wide; it is divided into equal
parts by a small rib which forms part of the board, and is not cut from it;
this rib is a palm long and one-third of a digit wide. The flap of the air
hole is a foot and three digits long, three palms and as many digits wide;
it is a thin board covered with goat skin, the hairy part of which is turned
toward the ground. There is fixed to one end of the flap, with small iron
nails, one-half of a doubled piece of leather a palm wide and as long as the
flap is wide; the other half of the leather, which is behind the flap, is twice
perforated, as is also the bellows-board, and these perforations are seven
digits apart. Passing through these a string is tied on the under side of the
board; and thus the flap when tied to the board does not fall away. In this
manner are made the flap and the air-hole, so when the bellows are distended
the flap opens, when compressed it closes. At a distance of about a foot
beyond the air-hole a slightly elliptical iron ring, two palms long and one
wide, is fastened by means of an iron staple to the under part of the bellows
board; it is at a distance of three palms from the back of the bellows. In
order that the lower bellows-board may remain stationary, a wooden bolt is
driven into the ring, after it penetrates through the hole in the transverse
supporting plank which forms part of the frame for the bellows. There are
some who dispense with the ring and fasten the bellows-board to the frame
with two iron screws something like nails.
and of two strips of linden wood, all glued together; it is of the same width
and thickness as the upper board, but is a cubit longer, this extension being
part of the head of which I have more to say a little later. This lower bellows
board has an air-hole and an iron ring. The air-hole is about a cubit distant
from the posterior end, and it is midway between the sides of the bellows
board, and is a foot long and three palms wide; it is divided into equal
parts by a small rib which forms part of the board, and is not cut from it;
this rib is a palm long and one-third of a digit wide. The flap of the air
hole is a foot and three digits long, three palms and as many digits wide;
it is a thin board covered with goat skin, the hairy part of which is turned
toward the ground. There is fixed to one end of the flap, with small iron
nails, one-half of a doubled piece of leather a palm wide and as long as the
flap is wide; the other half of the leather, which is behind the flap, is twice
perforated, as is also the bellows-board, and these perforations are seven
digits apart. Passing through these a string is tied on the under side of the
board; and thus the flap when tied to the board does not fall away. In this
manner are made the flap and the air-hole, so when the bellows are distended
the flap opens, when compressed it closes. At a distance of about a foot
beyond the air-hole a slightly elliptical iron ring, two palms long and one
wide, is fastened by means of an iron staple to the under part of the bellows
board; it is at a distance of three palms from the back of the bellows. In
order that the lower bellows-board may remain stationary, a wooden bolt is
driven into the ring, after it penetrates through the hole in the transverse
supporting plank which forms part of the frame for the bellows. There are
some who dispense with the ring and fasten the bellows-board to the frame
with two iron screws something like nails.
The bows are placed between the two boards and are of the same length
as the upper board. They are both made of four pieces of linden wood three
digits thick, of which the two long ones are seven digits wide at the back and
two and a half at the front; the third piece, which is at the back, is two
palms wide. The ends of the bows are a little more than a digit thick, and are
mortised to the long pieces, and both having been bored through, wooden
pegs covered with glue are fixed in the holes; they are thus joined and glued
to the long pieces. Each of the ends is bowed (arcuatur) to meet the end of
the long part of the bow, whence its name “bow” originated. The fourth
as the upper board. They are both made of four pieces of linden wood three
digits thick, of which the two long ones are seven digits wide at the back and
two and a half at the front; the third piece, which is at the back, is two
palms wide. The ends of the bows are a little more than a digit thick, and are
mortised to the long pieces, and both having been bored through, wooden
pegs covered with glue are fixed in the holes; they are thus joined and glued
to the long pieces. Each of the ends is bowed (arcuatur) to meet the end of
the long part of the bow, whence its name “bow” originated. The fourth
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