Back from the dead

[Joel Larsson]

As some may remember, my Otto Dölling bow gave up last spring when it was broken off some 12 unhealthy centimeters from the back of the tip. But, one of the two professional bowmakers in Sweden that I know of had it resurrected in an amazing way. Generally, when a bow is broken that far from the tip, it is considered trash. What was done here was that a crescent-shaped piece of another piece of pernambuco was sliced into the upper half of the bow, as the cut was unusually clean - probably due to some warp in the wood - and that it therefore didn't provide enough surface for the glue to have a good effect. And also, maybe the problem of the growth would have subsided. It was rather costly for a bow repair - €1,000 - but the bow was originally three times that, and believe it or not, I think it's as good as before. Of course, if I were to sell it, I would get a fraction of the 1k I paid for the restoration, but as long as I keep it, I got a €3k bow for one third of that price! Even the mathematics tells me it's a good deal. Now, if only it had stayed in one piece in the first place... :)

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2169/79/58/691543833/n691543833_2130325_69.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs068.snc3/13549_224277468833_691543833_4158343_7018154_n.jpg

[Anselm Hauke]

joel, congrats to your new/old bow!
do you have a close-up pic of the repair?

[Eric Swanson]

Joel, congratulations! What a relief it must be to have it working again.

Good of you to have faith in one of your local bowmakers.