Baldwin Bridges

[Ron Nossaman]

Hi Gang,
Tuning a newer 45" Baldwin studio yesterday, I dug out my flashlight and
was checking out the notching on the tenor bridge when the bridge cap
shouted at me saying "Hey dummy! Over here!" These are interesting bridges,
if you haven't looked at one closely. The root is about 15mm thick, with
the grain roughly paralleling the length. The cap, however, is also about
15mm thick, with the grain roughly perpendicular (a bit to the right) to
the notch. It's hard to tell with the strings on and the action in. 

So it's a compression crowned bridge, right? 

Why? 

They've apparently been done this way for some time, so I'm wondering. When
did this practice start, who started it, and for what reason? 

Some of the listites have reported loose caps on these, but I haven't had
that particular problem with them or I would have noticed this construction
sooner. It's the stuff that's right in front of you that seems to be the
least obvious.


Ron N