An Improved Stretching Apparatus for Drums.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Stretching Apparatus for Drums.
I, CLAUS WILHELM HEINRICH HÖNER, of Gr. Bergstrasse 204, Altona,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is a stretching apparatus for drums which renders
it possible so to stretch cach skin of the drum in an improved manner so that the
sound obtained is of great clearness and purity.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a drum provided with the new stretching
apparatus while Figs. 2 and 3 represent the stretching apparatus on an enlarged
scale.
The tension apparatus in question consists of the screwing or clamping devices
Figures 2 and 3 six (or other suitable number) of which are screwed on to the
respective top and bottom hoops of the drum.
The said screws or clamps screw into studs (with corresponding worms) which
latter are first fastened securely to the kettle of the drum.
Each screw Figure 3 has a square or the like head revolved by a key or spanner
and underneath the squares each screw is provided with a collar and goes through
an eye or lug on the hoop of the drum.
In the device illustrated at Fig. 2 the same effect is obtained by a nut a screwed
onto the screwed rod b.
By the usual tension contrivances hitherto existing a perfect and uniform tension
of the drum skins has not been with certainty attained: the skins have usually
been too tightly stretched in one direction and in another direction have been too
loose so that a uniform distribution tension over the surface does not take place
and in consequence clear pure tone is not produced. This defect is obviated by the
construction hereinafter described as each movement of any given screw acts on one
side of the drum only and consequently upon one drumskin and therefore the part of
the skin which lies nearest to the screw in question is mostly tightened and the
tension over the whole skin can be uniformly distributed so that the disturbing tone
(especially the too high inharmonious tone is done away with) and a clearer, more
agreeable not rough and noisy tone produced which according to the greater
or less degree of tension gives it a better and more characteristically impressive
tone.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved tension apparatus for drums consisting of several clamping
screws operating through eyes or lugs on the circumference of the hoops which
clamping screws or devices screw into studs fixed on the body of the drum as in
Figs. 1 and 3 with the object of producing a more uniform tension of each
separate drum-skin and thereby producing a clearer purer and more resonant tone
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 20th day of August 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.