CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry Collins, of the State of Massachusetts, of
. the United States of America, for the Invention of "CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL
IMPROVEMENTS IN STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Michael Henry Collins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1877.
MICHAEL HENRY COLLINS, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America. "CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN STRINGED MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS."
Figure 1 is a top view; Figure 2, a side elevation; Figure 3, a longitudinal
section; and Figure 4, a transverse section of a violin embracing my Invention,
such Invention being also applicable to various other instruments of like character.
Figures 5 and 6 are top views of the sounding board.
Figure 7 is a rear end view of the chin rest.
Figure 8 is an under side view of the sounding board.
Figure 9 is a top view of the bottom piece of the case or body.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the head taken through one of the straining
pins and its clamping devices.
Figure 11 is a view of the lower end of the neck.
To distinguish the instrument herein-after explained from ordinary violins, I
have termed it the "echolin," it having all the properties of a violin, though much
superior thereto in the volume, power, and sweetness of its tone, and in its sensitive-
ness as respects the bow.
The body or case of the instrument as well as the sounding board is, as repre-
sented, circular, in order that such body may be formed by means of a turning
lathe. Such body and sounding board are dome-shaped to ensure strength and
other advantages thereto.
In the Drawings A represents the body as composed of a dome a, and a disc or
bottom b thereto. The bottom is provided with a lip or flange c and a concentric
grooved arranged with and extending around it, in manner as shown. The lip
encircles the dome at its lower part and serves to strengthen the bottom as well as

page_text: that of the dome. The groove is to receive the annulus e of the sounding board B,
and to support it in manner, as shown, concentric with and at its proper distance
from the case, the inner edge of the groove having a diameter corresponding to that
of the interior of the annulus at its lower part.
If desirable the sounding board at bottom may be in contact with the lower part
of the body of the case. The dome a has at its centre a round or circular aperture
or mouth, from which the dome rises to the crown g, and thence curves down to
its base, such rendering the dome much stronger than it would be were it entirely
convex, it being concave within its crown and convex from the latter to the base or
sides.
Furthermore there is applied to the inner surface of the dome and to extend
across it, as shown, two braces a¹, they serving to prevent the dome from crippling
and being split under the strain of the strings. The bottom of the case has an
opening.h.at its centre, besides which there is a series of openings i in the flanks or
sides of the case. The neck D, where, over the dome is channelled or chambered, as
shown at k, and rests on and is fastened to the dome, such neck being provided
with an auxiliary hand rest E arranged and projecting down from it, and with
respect to the main hand rest F, in manner as represented. The head G has to
strengthen it a series of partitions or braces extending across its open chamber
and between the straining pins H, each of which is furnished with a shoulder m to
bear against a friction washer n arranged on the pin and between the shoulder and
the head G. Each straining pin also has another such washer n¹ against which a
metallic washer or disc o is forced by a clamp screw p that goes through the two
washers n¹, o, and screws into the straining pin, all being arranged with the head
in manner as shown in Figure 10. By means of the friction washers and the clamp
screw and the shoulder of the straining pin, such pin will be held firmly against the
strain of the string.
The sounding board B disposed within the case concentrically is as represented in
the Drawings composed of a domer and a supporting annulus e arranged as shown.
This dome I construct of a series. of sectoral sections 8, each of which has the grain
of the wood running lengthwise of it so as to range radially or nearly so with the
contre of the dome; such sections being glued together at their edges and also to
'the upper edge of the annulus. At its crown the dome has fixed on it a thin disc t
of wood which serves to support the sectors, to stiffen the dome at the crown, and
to sustain the bridge I.
In Figure 6 the dome of the sounding board is represented as having an inter-
mediate arched strip u, and two series of sectors v disposed therewith, as shown.
The grain of each part should run lengthwise of it.
Although I have represented the top of the sounding board as dome shaped, it
may be flat or otherwise suitably formed. It being supported by the annulus in
which it rests renders it so independent of the case that it can vibrate to better
advantage than would result were it without the supporter, and extended directly
across the case and fastened to the sides thereof. On its lower side the sounding
board dome is provided with a curved brace K which should be arranged under the
base string and ranging lengthwise thereof. Besides strengthening the dome this
brace evens the vibrations of the base string and brings up the third string to its
proper tone. Near the brace there is extended down from the dome; in manner-as-
shown, an inverted post L which I terin the "voicer," which gives boldness of
volume to the instrument, and keeps the strings from trembling improperly. The
bridge I, I form of three layers or strata_w, x, w, of wood glued together. The
middle layer has its grain ranging upwards, while that of each-of-the-others-runs-
"horizontally or across the grain of the said middle layer. Or instead of the above
the two outer layers may have the grain ranging upward, and that of the middle
layer ranging horizontally; this is to prevent the strings from cutting into and
wearing the bridge.
The chin rest M extended from the case, in manner as shown, is elongated, and
has its upper and lower edges parallel or slightly curved; this affords a better

page_text: support for the instrument than is obtained from a round or circular knob formed
chin rest. There may be in the dome of the case an opening y leading into the
chamber at the lower part of the neck.
Having thus described my improved musical instrument, what I claim therein
as of my Invention is as follows, that is to say,-
I claim the sounding board B as composed of the dome or other proper shaped
top r and its annular supporter e, arranged as represented.
I claim the circular case A dome shaped and provided with the mouth or bridge
hole and elevated around such, all substantially as set forth.
I claim the sounding board top composed of sectors or sections 8 in whole or in
part, as shown, arranged and having the grain of the wood of each disposed length-
wise of it, as described.
I claim the sounding board top composed of a series of sectors or sections 8
arranged as shown, and provided with the disc or bridge rest t disposed therewith,
as explained.
I claim the combination of the circular and domed-shaped case A with the
sounding board B composed of the top r and the annular supporter e thereof, all
arranged as set forth.
I claim the disc bottom 6 of the case provided with the flange c and groove & in
combination with the dome-shaped top, and with the sounding board arranged with
and applied to such bottom, substantially as represented.
I claim the voicer L arranged and combined with the sounding board, as set
forth.
I claim the bridge composed of the three layers w, a, w, of wood having their
grain arranged substantially as explained.
I claim the neck D provided with the auxiliary hand rest E arranged between
the head G and the main hand rest F of such neck, as set forth.
I claim the neck D open at its lower end and arranged to project over and rest
upon the case dome, and chambered when over such, as represented.
I claim the elongated chin rest M having its upper and lower edges parallel or
about so, as set forth.
I claim the head G as provided with the cross braces = arranged in its chamber
and with reference to the straining pins, all substantially as explained.
I claim each straining pin H as provided with the shoulder m, disc o, washers
n, n, and clamp screw p arranged with it and the head G, as specified.
I claim in combination with the dome-shaped top of the sounding board the
curved brace K arranged in the direction of and under the base string, as set
forth.
I claim the domed-shape case provided with the transverse braces a¹, a¹, arranged
in the crown and on opposite sides of the mouth of the dome, as shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry Collins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, 1877.
MICHAEL HENRY COLLINS. (L.S.)