An Improved Chin-rest or Holder for Violins, Violas, and such like Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chin-rest or Holder for Violins, Violas, and such like
Instruments.
I, FREDERICK JAMES STRONG of 10 Chester Street, Coventry in the County
of Warwick, Watch Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object an improved chin-rest or holder for, violins,
violas, and such like instruments which are not only easily secured to such like
instruments as the violin but the parts upon which the chin rests and the instrument
rests upon the breast or shoulder are adjustable so that great convenience and
extra security is obtained quickly and without difficulty.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practical effect I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings showing various
views of my invention and its application to an instrument.
Figure 1 is a view of the rest B applied to an instrument A.
Figure 2 is a front view on an enlarged scale also applied to the instrument.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the rest separated from the instrument.
Figure 4 is a perspective back view of the chin rest E.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the chin rest E and the part B to which E is
attached by the scroll b³.
From sheet steel or other suitable metal or material I form the foundation portion
of my chin rest B with its projecting parts 6' and which are secured to the
hody of the instrument in the position shown or thereabouts. The upper portion
of B at b may be formed into an entire bearing for the underside of the chin by
continuing it to the left or right or it may be curled round as shown upon the
drawings and set to a downward angle from the body of the instrument. prefer
to form the chin bearing from a wood piece E somewhat as shown by Figures 1, 4
and 5 with a centre peg e¹ to fit into the scroll 63 and the hollow or hole 2 which
may embrace the outside of the scroll 6 which with the spring of the scroll allows
the rest E to be set at almost any angle at the will of the player which is a very
important advantage especially when the player desires full command of the left
strings of his instrument and when playing the upper notes of the finger board.
It will also be seen that the part of B is twisted set or formed to an angle
which may be more or less than that shown at Figures 1, 2 and 3. The part E
may be made from any material suitable for the purpose. The lower portion S
of my new device has the scroll s¹ formed in any desired configuration to suit the
chest or collar bone of the player and in one piece when desired. But I prefer to
attach the peg or piece K thereto which may be of any desired length or of any
desired shape to suit various players. The piece S is pivotted to B by the rivet
or screws. The upper portions of S is narrowed and finishes with an enlarge-
ment in which the button is hung. This button may have either a plain or
screwed neck which takes into holes in the portion B of which there may be
any desired number. These holes 3 are drilled or made to a radius struck from
the centre so that the lower portion S may be immediately set to any desired
angle to B which is also a very great advantage as the chin holder may
quickly adapted to any players' requirements and one instrument may thus be
made to suit the needs of any number of players without disturbing the foundation
be

page_text: piece B or the tail board a¹. Any of the bearing portions may be lined or padded
with velvet, felt, or other material and the parts may be made either entirely
from metal or other material or some from wood or vulcanite.
It will thus be seen that my chin holder, while being perfectly firm allows
adjustment in regard to the upper rest E and the lower rest K and also in regard
to the relationship of the part S to B and that the rivets and button though
shown plain may be screws or their equivalents if desired. To set S to B it is
only necessary to draw or unscrew the buttons and then move it to any other.
hole & desired. It will be obvious that a similar effect may be produced by
making B and S in one piece in which case the adjustment at st, s would be
sacrificed but even this would produce an improved rest though I prefer them as
shown. Instead of the scrolls 63 and s¹ provision such, as a flange may be formed
and the rests fastened thereto.
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 :-
:-
1st. The improved chin rest for violins, violas and such like instruments
composed of the foundation piece B and its parts substantially as herein set forth
and shown.
2nd. The chin rest device composed of the upper main portion B in combination
with the adjustable portion S substantially as herein set forth and shown.
3rd. The chin rest device whether composed of one or two main portions with
the removable and adjustable E substantially as set forth and shown.
4th. The chin rest device composed essentially of the main portions B and E
with the adjusting and locking arrangements, so with the upper part ³ made to
suit the chin and K made to suit the shoulder as set forth.
5th. The chin rest and its parts herein set forth and shown upon the drawings
by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Dated this 17th day of December 1895.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.