Improved Mutes for Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: e of Application. 9th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mutes for Musical Instruments.
I, DAVID GENESE, of 621 North Calhoun Street, in the City of Baltimore,
State of Maryland, United States of America, Dental Surgeon, 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 :-
In performing on stringed musical instruments, particularly of the viol family,
the sounds are frequently modified by applying to the bridge a mute composed of a
solid piece of wood, ivory or brass having pairs of flat fingers which grip the bridge
between the strings, thereby deadening the resonance and imparting a peculiar
muffled and tremulous quality. A mute of the ordinary construction is objectionable
in that the extended bearings of the flat fingers cover some of the sound openings
in the bridge, making the latter practically rigid, thereby restraining the vibratory
motions, giving a variation to each string other than a perfect tone and producing
a disagreeable wheezing sound in the performer's ear and at the same time
rendering the tone imperfect and interfering with the best production of music of
which the instrument is susceptible, while the bridge is liable to be injured, spilt or
broken unless care is exercised in applying and removing the mute.
The object of my invention is to avoid the objections stated and produce a new
and improved mute for stringed musical instruments, which renders it possible to
produce perfect harmonic tones throughout the scale and thrilling tones of pathos
in all intensity but subdued to the lowest pitch without losing an atom of the
vibration of which the instrument is susceptible.
The invention also has for its object to provide a mute which will give a stringed
instrument of the viol family an oboe-like voice and enable the sound waves to
travel a great distance, while condensing the sound in each string in exact
proportion to the octave and avoiding undue strain on the bridge by offering very
little contact therewith.
To accomplish these objects my invention consists in a mute having the
characteristic features of construction hereinafter described and claimed, reference
being made to the accompanying drawing, in which-
Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a bridge and portions of the strings of a
violin, shewing my improved mute applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the mute.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken vertically through a pair of the sound conducting
tubes.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified construction.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification, and
Fig. 6 is a similar view of still another modification.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention 1 will
now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawing where the numeral 1
indicates a transverse sound distributing tube having its extremities bevelled as
at 2, and provided intermediate with its extremities with attached pairs of sound
conducting tubes 3, which communicate at their top portions with the interior of
the sound distributing tube through the medium of communicating orifices or
passage-ways 4. The lower ends of the sound conducting tubes are open to the
external atmosphere and these tubes are so relatively arranged as to provide an
intervening space to receive the bridge 5, of a stringed musical instrument of the
viol family. A cross piece 6 extending parallel with the sound distributing tube 1,
but of a less length than the same, is interposed between the sound conducting
tubes and has its ends open to the atmosphere. The sound conducting tubes can

page_text: be soldered, brazed or otherwise attached to the sound distributing tube, and the
tubular cross-piece may be similarly secured in position between the pairs of sound
conducting tubes.
In Figure 4, the construction is substantially the same as described with reference
to Figures 1, 2 and 3, with the exception that the tubular cross piece 6 is dispensed
with.
In the modification Figure 5, the sound conducting tubes 3, connect with the
sound distributing tube 1 but have no communication with the interior thereof, and
the cross piece 7 instead of being tubular, is composed of a solid piece.
In the modification Fig. 6, the sound conducting tubes are of U-shape or form,
and while they are secured to the sound distributing tube, they have no com-
munication with the interior thereof. In this form of mute, the cross piece 8 is
composed of a solid strip.
The mute constructed as above described may be composed of silver, brass or
other metal, or of celluloid, paper, rubber or other material suitable for the
conditions required.
The sound conducting tubes at one side of the sound distributing tube are
susceptible of being pressed towards the sound conducting tubes at the opposite side
for the purpose of accurately adjusting the mute to the bridge, and to secure a
symmetrical and proper structure, the sound distributing tube is arched or curved
lengthwise as is the cross piece whether tubular or solid.
The form of configuration of the mute and the shape of the tubular parts in cross
section can be variously modified to suit the conditions required without affecting
the spirit of my invention, the construction illustrated being merely typical of various
forms which can be employed.
The cross sectional circular shape of the sound conducting tubes is useful and
advantageous, however, in that the surface contact with the bridge or sounding
board is reduced to the least possible extent and consequently the vibratory motions
thereof are not interfered with to such extent as to give a variation to the strings
that would produce an imperfect tone.
Where the sound conducting tubes communicate with the sound distributing
tube, the musical sounds are distributed to a long distance and an oboe-like voice
in imitation of the human voice is obtained.
If the sound conducting tubes have no communication with the interior of the
sound distributing tube, the musical sounds are lowered in imitation of the æolian
harp as the sounds are checked from entering the sound distributing tube, but the
vibrations strike thereinto by reason of the sound conducting tubes being attached
to the sound distributing tube.
The hollow cross piece increases the surface for sound waves and thereby carries
the musical sounds a greater distance.
The solid cross piece lowers the tone, and checks the rapid passage of the sound
waves, and the distributing tube receives the vibrations and distributes the musical
sounds, so that the instrument can be heard at a long distance.
The omission of the cross piece entirely as in Fig. 4, produces a mute wherein
the tone is much higher than in the other forms illustrated.
The solid cross piece in connection with the U-shaped tubes gives the lowest
tone to the instrument.
The tubular form of the mute offers a large surface for condensing sound with
but little absolute contact with the bridge, thereby avoiding undue strain on the
latter.
Variations in the forms of the tubes will give different tones to the same
instrument by reason of the sound waves acting in various directions.
I have described my invention as particularly designed for application to the
bridge of a stringed musical instrument of the viol family, but I wish it understood
that the mute can be employed wherever susceptible of use as for instance on the
sounding board or strings of any stringed instrument.

page_text: 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 tubular mute for stringed instruments, substantially as described.
2. A mute composed of connected tubes adapted to engage the bridge of a
musical instrument, substantially as described.
3. A mute for a stringed musical instrument, composed of a sound distributing
tube, and sound conducting tubes connected therewith, substantially as described.
4. A mute for a stringed musical instrument, composed of a sound distributing
tube, and pairs of sound conducting tubes secured to opposite sides of the sound
distributing tube and adapted to be applied to a bridge, substantially as described.
5. A mute for a stringed musical instrument, composed of a sound distributing
tube, sound conducting tubes, and a cross-piece interposed between the sound
conducting tubes, substantially as described.
6. A mute for a stringed musical instrument, composed of a sound distributing
tube, sound conducting tubes connected therewith, and a tubular cross piece
interposed between the sound conducting tubes, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of August 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.