A Violin Supporter.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb.; 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Violin Supporter.
I GIORGIO NARBERTI, Professor of Vocal Music, of 318 Second Avenue, in
the City, County and State of New York, United States of America do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide a means for supporting the violin in a
correct and artistic position to be played on and obviate the necessity of the
performer gripping the instrument with his chin, thus enabling him to execute in
full, rich sounds and with great ease and perfect freedom of the head, all the
desired passages of music, especially in ascending or descending scales, in skips, in
the combination of pizzicato and the bow, and at same time permit him to
assume an artistic and natural position, and to play and lead at the same time.
The invention consists principally of an arm having a limited swinging motion on
the end of the violin body, a breast plate pivotally-connected at one end to the free
end of the said arm, and a locking device for locking the breast plate to the arm in
either a vertical or a horizontal and folded position.
The violin is provided at the lower end of its body in the rib, with a conical
aperture, into which is driven the tapering shank of a pivot pin formed with a
shoulder and a disc shaped head, between which is formed an annular recess to be
engaged by the string of the tail piece to hold the latter in position on the violin in
connection with the strings."
.
The head of the pivot pin is formed with an annular flange and a central
projection, on which is fulcrumed an arm extending approximately horizontal to
one side of the lower end of the violin body and passing through a slot in the
flange of the head, so that the arm has a limited up and down swinging motion on
the pivot pin.
The arm is held in position on the pivot pin by a screw which enters the
projection and part of the shank, the head of the said screw abutting against the
outer edge of the flange of the head. The free end of the arm is formed with an
upwardly-extending socket, in which is supported a curved collar or neck plate,
secured in place in the said socket by a set screw, the free end of the arm also.
being provided with a pivot pin on which is mounted to swing the breast plate
adapted to be held in either a vertical position or to be folded upon the arm.
In order to lock this breast plate in either of the two positions, the pivot end of
the said plate has two apertures adapted to be engaged by a pin on the free end
of a spring and guided in an aperture in the free end of the arm, the spring
having a small button or knob to facilitate the disengagement of the spring with.
the apertures.
When the breast plate is used, it extends downward and rests on the breast of
the performer, the said plate being for this purpose slightly curved, and when the
arm is in this position, the spring pressed pin engages one of the apertures, thus
When it is not desired
locking the plate in a right-angular position upon the arm.
to use the plate, the player presses the knob rearward to disengage the pin from the
aperture, and then swings the said plate upward to throw the same in front of the.
arm, the pin then engaging the other aperture and thus locking the said plate in a
folded position upon the arm.
1
1
1000

page_text: be engaged by a pin K, held on the free end of a spring L, and guided in an
aperture in the free end F¹ of the arm F. The free end of the spring L is.
also provided with a small button or knob N, for conveniently pressing the
spring rearwardly toward the rib B, to disengage the pin K from the respective.
aperture J or J³.
When the breast plate J is used, it extends downward and rests on the breast of
the performer, the said plate being for this purpose slightly curved, as indicated in
Figure 1, so as to conform as nearly as possible to the configuration of the breast.
When the breast plate J is in this position, the spring-pressed pin K engages the
aperture J, thus locking the plate J in a right-angular position upon the arm F.
When it is desired not to use the plate J, the performer presses the knob N.
rearward to disengage the pin K from the aperture J, and then swings the
said plate J upward to throw the same in front of the arm F, the pin K then.
engaging the aperture J³ and thus locking the said plate in a folded position upon.
the arm F.
In Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated a modification in which the collar or neck-
plate G is adjustable, and consists of the pivoted part G', adapted to be secured in.
the socket F, as above described, and the neck plate proper G, which is fitted to
slide in a socket G³ rigidly connected or integral with the pivoted part G¹. A set
screw G₁ serves to lock the neck plate G2 in relation to the socket G³, and
preferably the inner end of the said neck plate is provided with a series of recesses G
adapted to be engaged by the point of the set screw G.
It will be seen that by this device, the violin can be conveniently supported from
the body of the performer, both the collar or neck plate G and the breast plate J
assisting to hold the violin in the proper position. It will further be seen that the
performer has perfect freedom of the head, and is enabled to execute any desired.
passage of music with great ease, so that full, rich sounds are produced, especially
when ascending or descending scales, skips or combinations of the pizzicato and
the bow.
By this device, the performer can readily assume an artistic and natural position,.
at the same time supporting the violin in the proper place for the performer to play
thereon, or lead at the same time. By the use of this supporter, the performer
does not need to rest the chin on the belly of the violin, and as the latter does not.
come in contact at all with the performer's breast, neck or chin, glandular diseases.
are avoided, and the body of the instrument is conserved as far as the wood and
varnish are concerned, the latter not being subjected to moisture caused by.
perspiration. It will further be seen that the performer does not need to assume a
stooping position, and consequently displacement of the spinal column caused by
the inclination of the head on the raised left shoulder is entirely prevented. As
the performer need not touch the violin at all with his hands for supporting it on
his body, he is at liberty at any time to apply rosin to the bow.
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. A violin supporter, comprising an arm having a limited swinging motion on
the end of the violin body, and a breast plate pivotally-connected at one end to the
free end of the said arm, and a locking device for fastening the said breast plate to.
the said arm in either a vertical or a horizontal and folded position, substantially as
shown and described.
2. A violin supporter, comprising a pivot pin driven into the rib of the violin
body, at the end thereof, an arm pivoted on the said pivot pin and having a limited
swinging motion, and a breast plate pivoted on the free end of the said arm and
adapted to be locked thereto in either a vertical or folded position, substantially as
shown and described.
3. A violin supporter, comprising a pivot pin driven into the rib of the violin
body, at the end thereof, an arm pivoted on the said pivot pin and having a limited.

page_text: swinging motion, a breast plate pivoted on the free end of the said arm and adapted
to be locked thereto in either a vertical or folded position, and a locking device for
the said plate, and comprising a spring fastened to the said arm and carrying a pivot
pin adapted to engage apertures in the pivot end of the said plate, substantially as
shown and described.
4. A violin supporter, comprising a pivot pin having a tapering shank driven
into the rib of the violin body, an arm having a limited swinging motion on the
said pivot pin and provided on its free end with a socket, a collar or neck plate
secured in the said socket and a breast plate pivoted on the free end of the pivoted
arm and adapted to be locked thereto in either a vertical or a folded position,
substantially as shown and described.
5. A violin supporter, comprising a pivot pin having a tapering shank driven
into the rib of the violin body, an arm having a limited swinging motion on the
said pivot pin and provided on its free end with a socket, a collar or neck plate
secured in the said socket, a breast plate pivoted on the free end of the pivoted
arm and adapted to be locked thereto in either a vertical or a folded position, and
means, substantially as described, for locking the said plate to the said arm in either
a vertical or a horizontal and folded position, as set forth.
6. In a violin supporter, the adjustable neck plate consisting of two parts, one of
which is capable of sliding and being locked in relation to the other, substantially
as described, with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A violin supporter, provided with a neck plate adapted for pivotal connection
with the violin, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th doy of November 1892
G. NARBERTI,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.