Improvements in Means and Appliances for Tuning Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Tuning Stringed Musical
Instruments.
I, CHARLES HALLUM of Metheringham near Lincoln, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
My invention has for its object the easy and more perfect tightening up of
the wires of stringed musical instruments. I accomplish this object by firmly
attaching the end of the wire to be tuned to a hook at the end of a metal bar, and
this bar is raised and lowered by a screw the thrcaded portion of which bears
against suitable projections on the bar and thus when the screw is turned by a screw
driver the bar is raised or lowered. A guide bar is provided which compels the slide
to travel in a given straight line. The whole appliance is fixed so as to bear suit-
ably against that portion of the particular musical instrument of which it is a part.
My invention is applicable to such stringed musical instruments as the piano, harp,
zither, banjo, violin, and the like.
As my improvements are capable of some modification without departing from
the principal thercof, I do not restrict myself to materials, or dimensions, or to the
precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Dated this 31st day of October 1890.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Tuning Stringed Musical
Instruments.
I CHARLES HALLUM of Metheringham near Lincoln Gentleman 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:
My invention relates to improvements in means and apparatus for tuning or
tightening up the chords of stringed musical instruments." This object is accom-
plished by firmly attaching the looped end of each wire to a hoop fixed to the end
of a metal carrier which is raised and lowered by a screw. The threaded portion of
the latter works through a tapped hole formed in the said carrier, so that when the
screw is turned by a screw driver or otherwise, the carrier may be raised or
lowered. This carrier is guided by a bar which compels it to travel in a vertical or
horizontal direction according to the instrument to which this invention is applied
and which may be a piano, a harp, a violin or the like
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the upper part of a harp to which my
invention is applied by way of example.
Figure 2 is a cross section of Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are modifications of my invention, Figures 3, 4, 5 being
sectional views similar to Figure 2 and Figures 6 and 7 details of the arrangement
shown in Figure 5.
W. W..
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
&c. are the chords or wires of the harp, furnished with a loop at the
top whereby they are secured to the hooks hh... &c. These hooks are screwed
to the carriers cc
&c., which are guided by the bars bb. . . . &c., and
.

page_text: The
raised or lowered by the screws & 8. . . &c. passing through the brass rail r,
secured to the frame of the instrument, and projecting beyond the same.
upper ends of the guide bars biare secured to the rail in any suitable manner,
while theimlower ends, are supported by brackets fixed to the frame f
In the modification, shown in Figure 3 the operating, screw is placed outside the
guide bar which is fixed to the frame. Figure 4 is a similar arrangement with the
exception that the carrier is provided with a projection a through which the screw s
works, and to which the wire hooks are connected, the guide bar & passing through
the body of the carrier c. Figure 5 shows a modified arrangement of guides for the
carrier c, consisting of a slotted bracket d fixed at each end by screws
frame f
to the
Figure 6 is a front view of this bracket d and of the carrier, and Figure 7, is a
view of the carrier detached.
Whenever the chords or wires of an instrument provided with my invention get
out of tune, and hence are relaxed, the screws & are more or less turned until the
correct sound is obtained, this being a more direct and efficient manner of
stretching the cords or wires than was effected by means of the pegs and key
hitherto used.
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. The improved means and apparatus for tuning, stringed musical instruments
arranged substantially as herein described and shown and for the purpose set
forth.
2. The mode of fixing the chords or wires of stringed musical instruments to hooks
secured to movable carriers, so as to obtain a more direct pull on such chords or
wires for tuning purposes substantially as described herein and shown.
Dated this 15th day of July 1891.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery. Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.