AN IMPROVED CHIN-REST TO BE APPLIED TO VIOLINS AND VIOLA'S
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALBERT HANSON of Granby Street, Huddersfield Yorkshire Musical Instru-
ment Maker and Repairer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"AN IMPROVED CHIN-REST TO BE APPLIED TO VIOLINS AND VIOLA'S " to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to that part of a violin or viola on which the per-
former rests his chin when playing in order the more easily to hold or steady the
instrument.
The use of a chin-rest is well known amongst musicians, and several contrivances
have been devised for affording a suitable rest for the chin, but most of them have
been objectionable owing to the discomfort or inconvenience they caused to the
performer.
My invention consists in attaching a narrow piece of wood or other suitable
material to that part of a violin or viola on which the chin is rested, such piece of
wood projecting and being bevelled or rounded from the outer edge towards the
inside of the instrument, so that when the chin is rested on the surface of the
violin, it is prevented from losing its bold or grip upon the instrument.
By the use of the chin-rest above described, the chin of the performer is not
liable to slip, thus giving him a firmer and sure hold of the instrument.
These chin-rests can be attached to the violin or viola by any suitable means,
or the instruments when manufactured could be made with a raised bevelled or
rounded edge at that part on which the chin rests.
Dnted L
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page_text: I, ALBERT HANSON, of Granby Street, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Musical Instru-
ment Maker and Repairer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED CHIN-REST. TO BE APPLIED TO VIOLINS AND VIOLAS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement -—
B
This invention has reference to that part of a violin or viola on which the per-
former rests his chin when playing, in order the more easily to hold or steady the
instrument.
The use of a chin rest is well known amongst musicians and several contrivances
have been devised for affording a suitable rest for the chin, but most of them have
been objectionable owing to the discomfort or inconvenience they caused to the
performer...
:
My invention consists in attaching a narrow piece of wood or other suitable
material to that part of a violin or viola on which the chin is rested, such piece of
wood projecting and being bevelled or rounded from the outer edge towards the
inside of the instrument; so that when the chin is rested on the surface of the violin
it is prevented from losing its hold or grip upon the instrument.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I herein make reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is plan view in perspective of my improved chin-rest A. Fig. 2 side
elevation and Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections showing each end of the said rest.
The chin rest may be composed of wood, vulcanite, or any other suitable
material, one side of which is curved or bent to the shape or outline of that
part of the instrument to which it is attached, the upper surface being convexed. or
bevilled (see Figures 3 and 4) so that the chin of the performer may rest thereon,
and be prevented from slipping.
t
A portion of the "rest" is cut away at a so as to allow the tail piece B to rest
thereon; to which part a is also rivetted a bent metal plate C, the use of which is
hereinafter explained.
When fixing my improved chin rest to violins or violas, I remove the strings b
(which are secured to the tail piece) from the end pin c, and lift up the tail piece B,
the end a of the rest is then slided under the tail piece, and when properly adjusted
the strings b are again fastened to the end pin c, by which means the tail piece is
made to bind tightly on the part'a, thus firmly holding the chin rest in position as
.shown in perspective view Fig. 5. By the metal plate C extending over the edge
of the instrument, any sidewise movement of the chin rest is prevented.
As the part a of the rest answers the purpose of the "nut
on which the tail
piece B has hitherto rested, such nut may be cut away by a knife; or if it is
desired that the nut should not be cut away a suitable recess may be made in the
part a to receive it.
By the application to a violin or viola of a chin rest having a convex, or bevilled
face, the chin of the performer is prevented from slipping off the instrument, thus
giving him a firm, sure, and comfortable grip thereon, and by attaching such chin

page_text: rest to the violin in the manner shown and described, little or no damage is done
to the instrument, or to the tone of the instrument.
Instead of a detached chin rest such as I have described being employed, the
belly piece of the instrument when first manufactured, could be bevelled or rounded
at that part on which the chin rests.
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,
Firstly The employment of a chin rest to violins or violas, such as is herein
described and shown at A.
Secondly The manufacture of violins or violas formed with a chin rest such
as A, in manner and for purposes herein set forth.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Agents.