Improvements in Apparatus for Sounding Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sounding Stringed Musical
Instruments.
A communication to me from the "LOCHMANN'SCHER MUSIKWERKE" COMPANY,.
of Leipzig-Gohlis, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,.
to be particularly described in and by the following statement, and accompanying.
drawing, that is to say:-
This invention has for its object an improved apparatus for sounding stringed
musical instruments, especially "chord-zithers" and the like.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, the-
improved apparatus is shewn in Figure 1 in side view, and in section through the
top of the sound-box and through the strings; Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus
and the strings, and Figure 3 a transverse section through the apparatus, shewing-
the slide.
The improved apparatus can be attached to any suitable stringed instrument
and consists, in the example shewn in the drawing, of a mortised bar c, Figures 1, 2,
and 3, which is carried upon suitable supports d on the upper part a of the sound
box of the instrument which carries the strings b. In the mortised bar c, Figures 1, 2,.
and 3, fits a slide e with a part el projecting below, this slide being capable of
moving freely along the bar.
In the slide e, e', a pin f with a head f¹ is either firmly fixed, or (as shewn in the.
drawing) can move up aud down, but is kept pressed up by a spring g. Behind
the bar c a scale i, Figure 3, is fixed, which-as shewn in Figures 1 and 2,-is
provided with black indications n corresponding with the keys of a piano, and
opposite them are marked the notes themselves and corresponding numbers.
Upon the top of the slide e el a pointer k can be fixed, which indicates to the
player the position of the pin f, the lower edge of which is bevilled at one side as.
shewn in Figure 1.
By moving the slide e, e' in the guiding bar c, the desired number of strings
can be sounded, if the striking pin f is pressed sufficiently down, their position.
in front of or behind the pin f being shewn to the player by the pointer k upon
the scale i.
By moving the slide e, e', backward and forward the strings can be sounded..
If, as is the case with "chord-zithers," a certain desired number of the notes are
prevented from sounding by properly arranged dampers, then by moving the
slide e,
with the pin f, the most varied chords can be sounded. From the fixed
position of the striking pin, and the horizontal movement of the slide e, e¹, when.
the position of the pin fin relation to the strings b is fixed, all the strings are-
sounded equally, which when they are sounded by hand is not possible.
If the striking pin f is a fixture in the slide e, e¹ the latter must be sufficiently
raised in order to bring it back along the bar c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved apparatus for use with stringed instruments, consisting of a

page_text: moveable slide e with a projecting part e¹, sliding in a mortised bar c, the slide
carrying a striking pin, either fixed, or moveable vertically and held up by a
spring 9, so that the separate strings can be uniformly sounded, the position of
the striking pin being indicated upon a scale i by a pointer k fixed to the slide e,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 27th day of May 1896.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.