A NEW OR IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO BE USED WITH VIOLINS AND OTHER LIKE STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1885

page_text: other like String Musical Instruments.
I, SIDNEY WILLIAMS of Lansdown Parade, Cheltenham, in the County of
Gloucester, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO BE USED WITH VIOLINS AND OTHER
LIKE STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS" to be as follows:-
Considerable difficulty is generally experienced in the teaching of the Violin
and such like string musical instruments, from the fact that the learner draws or
tends to draw the bow over the strings in an oblique direction instead of at right
angles or nearly so, to the strings.
The object of my invention is to remedy this defect by compelling the bow in
passing over the strings of a Violin or other string musical instrument, to take a
determinate direction, or a direction at right angles or nearly so to the finger
board or strings-The appliance or apparatus which I propose to employ, is fixed
to and bridges the strings of the instrument, and forms a guide against which the
bow is drawn, so as to compel it to move in a direction most suitable for the
perfect playing of the instrument; or in other words, the appliance is to lead or
direct in a given direction, the way in which the bow is to be drawn over the
strings in the training of young Musicians; and in virtue of this appliance the bow
is compelled to take a determinate course or path by the bow being kept parallel
to the guide.
The appliance consists essentially of a frame or clamp placed upon one or other
of the inner bouts; that is, the frame extends from the belly to the back of the
Violin or other string musical instrument, and is prolonged on its upper end into
an overhanging bracket which is elevated above the belly and extends some little
distance across the instrument; and passing through an eye in the extremity of
the overhanging part, is an arch or semi-circular bent piece of wire, which
constitutes the guide, and against which the bow moves-The inner end of the
semi-circular guide has also a curved loose bracket which runs underneath the top
bracket hereinbefore described; so that the guide is capable of swivelling through
the eye in the top bracket as a centre-The guide bracket and its guide is clamped
in position by a screw pin, which passes througir the upper bracket, the terminal
end of the pin taking into a shallow well or depression on the inner end of the
LD037

page_text: guide bracket, the position of the clamping screw and the fixing socket lies above
that side of the instrument to which the appliance is attached-The semi circular
guide bridges the strings with its terminal end coming within a short distance of
the belly. The parts which come in direct contact with the wood of the
instrument are provided with cushion like pads which prevent the varnish or wood
from becoming injured on the fixing or use of the appliance; that is, the under-
side of the guide bracket in a line with the clamping screw, has a pad or cushion of
leather or other suitable material, and so has also the foot or turned up end of the
frame which comes under the back of the instrument.
In using the instrument, it is simply clamped upon one of the inner bouts at
the proper distance below the bridge, when the guide or lead which bridges or
stretches over the strings keeps the bow perfectly parallel thereto, thus affording
great aid to the student of the instrument by ensuring straight and correct
bowing The exact position of the appliance or guide is determined by the kind
of instrument to which it is to be applied.
SIDNEY WILLIAMS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance to be Used with Violins and
other like String Musical Instruments.
I SIDNEY WILLIAMS, Professor of Music of 12 Lansdown Parade, Cheltenham
in the County of Gloucester do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN APPLIANCE TO BE USED WITH VIOLINS AND OTHER LIKE MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Fig. 1. of the annexed drawings is a side view of the apparatus showing the
general form of the same.
Fig. 2. is a back end view of the apparatus showing the adjustment and working
of the screw.
Fig. 3. is a view of the apparatus looking down on the inside.
The apparatus may be manufactured of Wood, Metal, Bone or any other suitable
material.
Fig. 1. is fastened to the Violin or Viola by means of the screw A which regulates
the slides b, b so that they will fit the sides of any violin or viola. c, c, are cork
pads let into the metal or other material to prevent injury to the instrument. d, is
a curved plate serving to carry the guide e, over the strings of the violin or viola
to ensure the bow of the performer passing over the strings at a correct distance
from the bridge of the instrument performed on.
The object of my invention being to provide a bow guide to ensure a correct
method of bowing by causing the bow to pass over the strings at a proper distance.
from the bridge thereby ensuring a correct and perfect tone. I do not limit myself
to this particular mode of obtaining the result before named or to the means of
applying the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
•
An appliance or apparatus to be used with violins and other like string musical
instruments as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
Dated this twenty first day of October 1885