Letters: September 2000

They Do Make Them Like They Used To, Sort Of I must clarify at least one technical misrepresentation of the Cremona puzzle, as presented in "Stradivari's Secret" [July]. At the top of the list of critical ingredients is the filler that penetrates into the wood of the white violin before the varnish is applied. The composition of the filler is the major determinant of tone quality. Its omission may annoy the savants and leave others unenlightened.