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Repair to C18th English Cello with broken neck

This old English cello, although unlabelled, contains contains a number of repairers marks, the earliest dating from 1822. Most notably it contains a repairers label by Dearlove, handwritten, stating that it was exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.
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The wood on the heel of the neck was checking significantly and after a very slight knock to the back of the scroll the heel of the neck broke off about two thirds of the way up. Whilst the classic repair, and the most robust repair, would be to carve a new neck and graft the original peg box into it, the owner wanted to retain as much original wood as possible. We therefore devised an approach which involved recovering the original neck route by removing the top block, regluing it to the neck and then internally hollowing out the heel and inserting a new piece of wood to provide strength. The strengthened neck was then refitted to the cello body and conventionally glued into position. 
Completed repair
Beginning the process of soaking out the broken heel
The broken heel removed. Soaking it out has enabled us to remove it without damaging the button
Cello body without top block
Cello body without top block
Splitting the new top block out of a piece of spruce
Gluing in the new top block
We were working so fast the camera couldn't keep up...!
Shaping the new top block
Shaping the new top block
Front of the cello glued back on
Marking out the mortice in the neck ready for carving
Marking out the mortice in the neck ready for carving
Carving the mortice in the neck
Carving the mortice in the neck
Marking out and carving the heel insert
Marking out and carving the heel insert
Marking out and carving the heel insert
Chalk fitting the heel insert
Chalk fitting the heel insert
Chalk fitting the heel insert
Chalk fitting the heel insert
Gluing the heel insert in place before trimming
Gluing the heel insert in place before trimming
Gluing the heel insert in place before trimming
The heel insert glued in place, waiting to be trimmed
Trimming the heel insert
Trimming the heel insert
Trimming the heel insert
Trimming the heel insert
The body of the cello, with new top block, waiting for the neck to be glued in place
Gluing the neck back in place
Gluing the neck back in place

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  • Home
  • Instruments for sale
    • Violins
    • Violas
    • Cellos
    • Accessories
    • Student Outfits
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  • Instrument Photography
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  • Resources
    • Concert Diary
    • Exam Support and Musical Theory
    • Instrument Care
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