How did Cremonese luthiers use consistent measurements?

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The measurements used by early Cremonese luthiers to create their instruments has always been a subject of debate. Without doubt, they used simple tools of the period, namely a ruler and compass, and applied the geometric principles of Pythagoras to achieve a perfectly balanced instrument. With this in mind, the idea of a standard unit of measurement is of particular importance. Previous research into the methods of the Cremonese masters has mostly dealt with their geometrical construction rather than measurement. Recent discoveries of tools and drawings, however, have allowed us to conclude that the makers of both the Brescian and Cremonese schools may have used a standard unit of length, and that this unit corresponds to the Roman oncia…