Improvements relating to Zithers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Lett, 1 th July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Zithers.
I, CHARLES HUELSER of the firm of Huelser & Co. of Temple Chambers,
London, International Patent Agency, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by Paul Stark and Karl August
Gütter of Markneukirchen, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Manufacturers, to be as
follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is a device in zithers, by means of which various.
groups of strings (chords etc.) can be laid free to be sounded, so that when all
strings are struck, only the respective strings appertaining to the desired group are-
sounded.
The improved device is in the main constructed as follows:
"
A quadrangular frame is guided between pins or hooks secured in the zither and
contains in parallel slots several bars which are normally raised by suitably placed
spiral springs. The bottom surfaces of said bars have cloth plates stuck thereon
at certain distances. By pressing down one of the bars, the cloth plates thereof
are caused to damp a number of the strings so that only harmonically sounding
strings are left free.*
The different bars being covered with cloth plates in various divisions and the
frame being adjustable between its guide pins, a great variety of chords or other
tone groups can be produced.
The frame can be fixed in its various positions by means of click springs.
secured to the guide pins and adapted to catch into notches or indents of the
frame.
Dated this 14th day of October 1891.
HUELSER & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Zithers.
I, CHARLES HUELSER, Patent Agent, of Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue,.
in the City of London, 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 :-
The subject of this invention is an attachment to zithers, by means of which
various groups of strings may be laid free for playing, or the remaining strings may
be set out of action in such a manner, that, when all the strings are struck, only
the strings appertaining to the desired group of notes will sound, and produce the
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Zithers.
I, CHARLES HUELSER, Patent Agent, of Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue,.
in the City of London, 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 :-
The subject of this invention is an attachment to zithers, by means of which
various groups of strings may be laid free for playing, or the remaining strings may
be set out of action in such a manner, that, when all the strings are struck, only
the strings appertaining to the desired group of notes will sound, and produce the
aid notoc
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is a bottom view,
Fig: 2 is a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 3 a cross section of an apparatus embodying this invention.
The apparatus chiefly comprises a rectangular frame A, which is guided between
pins C fixed to the zither. The said frame has several parallel slots e, each of
which contains a flat rectangular bar or ledge B supported by a pair of helical
springs which keep it at the desired elevation. The bottom of each bar B is
faced at certain intervals with cloth strips, secured by suitable adhesive material.

page_text: In their normal position, the bars B are held upward and out of contact with
the strings, by the said springs d. If, however the player presses upon one of the
said bars in the centre, the said bar descends, so that its cloth strips f touch a
number of strings D and act as dampers. The said cloth strips are so arranged,
that only those strings which sound together in harmony, remain free to be struck
by the player.
By a suitable arrangement or distribution of the cloth strips on the different
damper bars B, and the adjustment or shifting of the entire frame A between the
guide pins C, the grouping of the notes or strings capable of being struck or played,
may be changed and a great variety of combinations obtained.
In order to secure the frame A after having been placed into the required
position, it contains nicks or recesses b, and the guide pins C are provided with
springs c which snap into the said recesses and are retained therein with slight
pressure.
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 ;-
An attachment to zithers for laying bare certain groups of strings or for covering
and setting out of action the strings which do not belong to certain groups, con-
sisting of a movable frame A carrying damper bars B faced with cloth strips f and
held up by springs, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of Jul, 1899
HUELSER & Co.,
Agents.