Improved Means for Mechanically Operating Playing Bands for Violins and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Mechanically Operating Playing Bands for
Violins and the like.
I, EDMUND SCHRAMM of Tegeler Weg, Charlottenburg, Germany, Factory Proprietor
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 the devices hitherto known for playing string instruments by means of a band,
as distinguished from a hand bow, such instruments have not been of the bow
instrument type such as violins but have been zither like string instruments, and
pianofortes, the playing band being employed to give their tones a desired duration
and power similar to those of a violin which cannot be produced by string and
haniner. Such endeavours have not hitherto given a satisfactory result, probably not
the less by reason of the peculiarities of the instruments themselves which are not
even bow instruments, than by reason of the constructions of the mechanisms which
have been provided for operating the playing band, for example, with the stringed
harmoniums the strings are pressed against the playing band whereby their tension
is not regular, and their tone not clear and composed, and with the zither like string
instruments the body of the same must be perforated or pierced in order to provide
the required space for the playing band, whereby their resonance is injuriously
affected and whilst playing there are caused disagreeable accompanying noises which
spoil the music.
This invention on the contrary is not designed to transform string instruments
that are not bow instruments into bow or playing band instruments, but is simply
designed to render practicable the playing of all kinds of violins or fiddles with the
mechanically operated playing band, when desired by the player, instead of with the
ordinary bow. The advantage resulting from such an application of the playing band
consists in that, as the instrument is neither perforated or otherwise injured, and as
only one finger is required for the actuation of each string, several or all the strings
are therefore capable of being actuated at the same time, each tone suitably graduated
being by active finger pressure kept up to the desired power and duration, there is
produced a very fine and strong collective effect of pure violin tones. This effect is
increased by placing the instrument upon a table plate which strengthens its
resonance. The instrument thus treated, forms, as is frequently desired, a complete
and inexpensive substitute for small organs, without preventing the instrument from
being used for its original purpose, for example a school teacher who is also an
organist can play the instrument, during the school singing lesson, with the ordinary
bow while for church service he may play the same instrument with the playing
band and therewith produce the different effects corresponding to the difference of
the objects in view.
The mechanism for guiding and operating the playing band does not entail any
alteration in the body of the instrument to be played and may be of different
constructions. It may be worked from treadles or other means of transmitting
power, one playing band may be used for all the strings or one for each string. The band
may be so carried and guided as to necessitate perforation of the table plate or not.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings are shewn two examples in which the playing band
is carried over guide rollers mounted on levers which keep it away from the strings
whilst running without playing, but during the playing press it against the particular
strings by means of suitable pressing arrangements and when the temporary pressure
is to cease, automatically set said levers free again. In the one example (Figs I to VI)
the table plate which supports the instrument is perforated, and in the other example
(Figs VII to XII) not perforated.
Fig. I is a front view of the device of the invention. in accordance with the first
example. Fig. II a plan view. Fig. III a side view.
Fig. IV. a section through line N-O of Fig. V.
Fig. V. is a view shewing the position of the playing band in the state of rest or
running without playing position.
Fig. VI shews the position of the levers in the playing position of the playing
band.
The other figures (VII to XII) are similar views relating to the second example
except that Fig. X is a section through line X-Y of Fig XI.
The instrument is shewn as having four strings 1, 2, 3, 4 (Figs V, VI, XI, XII).
The playing band A is driven from treadles p, p, through shaft W carried in bearings
underneath the table plate B and having fixed upon it flywheels 8, s, and driving
pulley T.
In the first example the playing band A passes from the driving pulley T through
the table plate B upwards and back again. C is a frame which may be turned over
on the hinge e (Fig. 1). D, D¹, two guide rollers mounted one on the front and
one on the back of said frame or right and left handed, the latter having connected
to it a spiral spring E which keeps the playing band at the proper tension. Between
the rollers 1, D1, the playing band is guided between the strings of the instrument
over guide rollers G1, G2, G3, G. carried on studs fixed in the levers g', g², g³, g', said
rollers being so arranged and having such a diameter that the playing band is out of
contact with the strings when the instrument is not being played, G, G³, occupying
a position above the strings 1, 2, 3, and G2, G, a position underneath and between
the strings 1 and 2, and 3 and 4, respectively (Fig V), the levers then serving merely
as supports for the guide rollers.
In order to keep the playing band provided with resin a piece P of such substance
may be fixed in any suitable place, underneath the table plate for instance, for said
band to rub against.
To play the instrument the levers g' to g' are actuated by keys L1, L2, L, L,
having their points of oscillation of to o' on the cross bar K attached to the frame C.
g², ', are single and g', ', double armed levers, these two latter being in jointed
connection by means of studs a,, with the single armed levers m', m³, having
their points of oscillation on the upper part of the frame C. to fare studs on
which the levers m³, g², m³, g', are screwed, said studs being extensions of the key
stens indicated by the same reference letters, to insure the horizontal position of
which stems additional support is given them by means of a plate (Figs I, IV).
Upon pressing down the keys and L the guide rollers (1, (3, are moved through
their lever mechanisms to the right, the playing band which passes over them being
thereby drawn against the strings 1, 3, and causing them to sound. Upon pressing
down the keys 12 and 1, the guide rollers GF, G, are similarly moved to the left with
a similar result as regards tlie strings 2, 4, the tone being stronger or weaker accord-
ing to the degree of pressure. Upon the withdrawal of the pressure the levers are
brought back automatically to the original or state of rest position, each by means of
a spring R in connection therewith and which having been compressed by the key
expands when this is released (Figs I, II, IV), thus the levers g¹ to g', serve both
to hold the playing band from the strings when in the state of rest position and to
bring said band to play upon the strings during the playing.
For the purpose of muting the tones without interrupting the playing an additional
key with rod and spring R is provided. Upon the stud or reduced end of

page_text: the rod is screwed a short single armed lever g' (Fig IV) which upon the key L' being
pressed is caused to turn and thereby press downward a stud a bent at its bottom end
and provided with a head d. To the bottom end of the stud is attached a bar b covered
with a suitable damping material such as felt, leather or cloth which is normally held
above the bridge of the instrument. The stud a is guided in a collar t fixed to the
plate and between its head d and the collar it is encircled by a spiral spring c. Upon
pressing down the key L the bar b is brought down against the bridge, thus acting,
as a mute and upon the release of the key its spring R returns it to its original position
and with it the lever g' is released from the head of the stud a which is thus set
free any returned to its original position by the spring c.
In order that the instrument may lie firmly upon the table plate without being in
contact therewith except at the extremity, small set blocks q are provided. .
To play the instrument with the playing band, the frame C is turned back on its
hinge e, the instrument laid upon the table plate B and blocks q, the frame then
returned to the closed position and the instrument so adjusted that the guide roller
G comes between the first pair, and the guide roller G between the second pair of
strings. The playing band is then driven from the treadles, over the driving pulley T
and the guide rollers D, G₁, G³, G³, G¹, F, D¹. The player then presses with the
fingers of the right hand the suitable keys to operate the levers g² to g', and the
damper & when necessary, whilst with the fingers of the left hand he engages the
fret board or neck to produce the required tones as in ordinary violin playing. For
beginners the finding of the tones may be facilitated by means of a suitable device
attached to the fret board.
The above method of driving the playing band from treadles p, pl, shaft W and
pulley Tobtains also in in the second example (Figs VII to XII) except that the driving
pulley T is carried outside the table plate upon a projecting end of the shaft W so that
the table plate is not perforated. In this case also there is a second belt pulley 'T'
fixed on a shaf, W₁ which is carried in bearings in the Frame C and standard C¹ and
set in rotation by means of a belt T. On the left hand side of the frame C there is
fixed on the shaft Wi a guide pulley D² below which is fixed in the frame C a bent
rod Z terminating in a plate Y upon which is supported a spiral spring & having
attached to its upper end a hanging bracket u carrying, above strings 2, 3, a guide
roller 13 of such a diameter that the playing band may pass over it without contacting
with said strings. The spiral spring keeps the playing band taut. In a manner
similar to that of the first example it is here guided between the strings by guide
rollers E to E, mounted on levers e' to which in the state of rest or non playing
position hold it away from the strings, but in playing press it against these latter
thus causing them to emit tones (Figs XI, XII). Here the pressing mechanism
conists of pivots to f' of the levers or the key rods with keys L³ to L and springs R
which upon the cessation of key pressure return the said parts to their original
position. Levers c', e, are double armed, mounted to oscillate at points o¹, o³, and
linked by means of studs n¹, n³, with the single arm levers m³, m³, which are
fixed by screwing or otherwise upon the reduced or stud like ends of the
key steins f, f. Said levers e. e, when actuated strike to the right with
their lower arms carrying the guide rollers E¹, E³. Levers e, e, are single
armed, screwed or otherwise fixed upon the ends of the key stems f, f, and strike
to the left when actuated. One two armed and one single armed lever are located
on each side of the stationary intermediate guide roller D³ and so that on each side,
one of such levers is above and the other extends to below the strings. Said levers
receive the requisite support. in the top of the frame C and in two cross bars K, K³, on
the same, the end of the key stem f passing through said frame whilst the turning
point o of its lever is in the bar K; f in the bar K¹; f³ passes through C with
the turning point of its lever in the bar K, and f through C (Figs XI, XII). The
key stems to fare so bent as to bring the keys L to LA to lie in a plane suitable
for the reception of finger pressure.
The playing band renders it practicable for the player by pressure of a finger, each
upon a separate key, to bring the corresponding strings, each for itself, to sound, just

page_text: as he would do with the hand bow, only one string or in exceptional cases two adjacent
strings being acted upon at once and brought to sound with the aid of the whole
band. According as the keys are heavily or lightly pressed the corresponding strings
emit a stronger or weaker tone as in playing with the hand bow. In order that the
pressure required from each finger may be as equal as practicable, the levers are so
constructed that with the same pressure they strike out equally far and press the
playing band towards the strings with an equal force. Therefore the lever
arms e to carrying the rollers E to E' are made of corresponding length. The single
armed levers e2, e, which are actuated direct are of a length corresponding to the
distance of the guide roller from the strings appertaining to them and to the distance
of the turning points f, f, from the corresponding keys 12, LA. In the case of the
double armed levers e, e³, the length of the arms carrying the guide rollers E¹, E³,
can be more arbitrarily determined because any correction required may be made of
the link connections n¹, n³.
A piece of resin P₁ for the playing band to rub against when moving, may be fixed
to the frame C or elsewhere as desirable.
The advantage of this second example consists in that the playing band is compara-
tively short and may therefore be of horse hair, and that when the instrument is to be
played with it and is to be laid upon the table plate, the band need not be removed,
it being only necessary to remove the driving band T2 from the pulley T¹ then to
turn back the frame on its hinge e and the playing band with it, and after placing
the instrument in position, to close the frame again, replace the driving belt and
drive the playing hand from the treadles, it then running without playing, but ready
for playing. A further advantage is that several instruments each with its own
playing devices may be connected with the driving arrangement and played at the
same time either by one or by several players.
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 mechanisms for playing bow instruments more especially violins of all kinds
with a mechanically operated playing band without perforating or otherwise altering
the body of the instrument, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In mechanisms of the kind referred to in claim 1 the arrangement in which
the guide rollers carrying the playing band are located on levers by means of which
said playing band is, when running without playing, held away from the strings of
the instrument, when playing pressed against them and upon the cessation of playing
automatically drawn away from them, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In mechanisms of the kind referred to in claim 1, a damper adapted to be applied
without interruption to the playing, consisting of a bar carried over the bridge of
the instrument on to which it may be pressed by suitable pressing mechanism and
after withdrawal of the pressure automatically returned to its original position,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 1st day of September 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C. Agent for the Applicant.