The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
4 NEW MUSICAL INSrRUMESr.
The Inventor Call. u n Mellow Chord and says
n Ghost Gave Him the Idea.

fR"A ~ NfNf NfaAs
In Rumford lives IN oil gentleman who pos
sess.s the musical instinct to a marked degree.
Ia fact, It Is hereditary with him. for his father
was n fiddler and his father In turn before him,
60 that II Is not altogether strang, that he should
b. endowed with IN. same temperament. so
hne Is hs sense OF harmony and touch that he
has 10 hear an ali whistled, sung or hunmcd
only once in order TO correctly produce IL on q
stringed instrument. He plays purely by ear.
and, a. he himself frankly Conicsses, docs not
know the first rudimcnt in music or one printed
note from another
A horn PLAYER, he was not satisfied with The
his wits at work 10 make something that would
salt him. and he succeeded In a production OF
his Own; which 10 very appropriately calls the
Built somewhat on the lines OF the banjo. yet
VIZ a naSSriHT % the sv,taSS' ne musical re,
wire guitar strings. the tones are as mellow and
rich as, anythlnS imaginable, The Inventor has
when. with hts mellow chord on his knee, no
strikes into an old dance tune OF the forttcs 1t
Is almost impossible for his hearers TO retain
their seats. FOR the way, the music wells forth Is
n matter 20 b. wondered at.
The mellow chord Is Just 2s. inches over all
the mellow chord is held in m upright position
on the lcft knee, with the head pressed against
the cody, 4; on a banjo. the lingering Is, done
with the left hand, although there are no frets.
the inventor holding that frets, breaking "a
they do the level eNpanse OF the string board.
d dGG m SG.' with an H0S sionsa teiS' side Is'H sJten n
Ing toward tho keyboard. over this hole the
bridge Is placed, AMI the six strings passing over
Il are attached % The tail piece, The bridge IS
nye and oue-half inches long. and Is made on tho
arch principle, although the top line Is perfectly
straight. IL must necessarily be long, so az TO
bridge the hole. and under-arched in the middle
10 support the SIX strings in the middle without
swapping. Under each end OF the bridge are two
small pieces Of wool glued 10 the main cross
piece TO keep IL from turning over. Under these
are two small pieces OF silver, which give
an added ring TO the, instrument. The
string board Is OF rosewood With an ebony nut.
The neck Is made OF sugar maple, the hand Ia OF
maple. the top OF the head Is made OF pine. and
the back Is chartered red birch; in fact, all OF
the stock used In the mellow chord Is quartered.
or the Instrument ara. three supports or posts.
which help take the bridge and string strain.
In playing, the, wrist never leaves the pad sup
Muslcians and others travel miles to reach
RumloEd In order TO Eeag the mellow chord
played. and all are unanimous In the decision
that the tones IL produces are Tar superior to
those OF the banjo, guitar, or mandolin. II has "A
soft tone, which readily blends with the voice In
q manner that none OF the other stringed instru-
ments named seems to do. Many who have
heard the Chord have tried 70 buy IL, but the
owner refuses 10 consider an offer.
The strings when played are struck In pairs,
sending forth n deep, rich tone when picked
between The bridge and The end Of tho string
tones. The inventor Is proud OF his instrument.
and no matter what time ot the day or night peo-
p!o wait on him they Ind tho old gentleman
always ready to take hts mellow chord out OF the
case and play as long as his visitors wish.
The inventor j. something Oft sYifituallst, and
he says that before he mado tho instrument a
the one he now has up in his hand before his
eyes. or course, the glance the mortal was able
10 get OF II must have been a very hasty one, but
from it the mellow chord became a reality.