similar Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1887

page_text: similar Stringed Instruments.
I WILLIAM HENRY VINGOE of 10 Victoria Place, Penzance, in the County of
Cornwall Taxidermist 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:—
This invention has for its object an improved spring sounding post for improving
and perfecting the tone or sound in violoncello or other viol or similar stringed
musical instruments.
For this purpose I construct the sounding post in two parts telescopically combined
with a spring inserted between them so that the pressure or strain of the strings upon
the bridge and from thence upon the "belly" is supported on this spring sounding
post and thence on to the "back" of the instrument-by this tho tone or sound is
greatly increased and improved and the "wolf" and other imperfections in stringed
instruments of the viol kind destroyed or obviated.
And in order that my invention may be the more easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings Figure 1 of which shows a sectional elevation and plan of
the sounding post and Figure 2 shows part of a violoncello in section showing the
improved spring post in position in the instrument between the belly and the back.
Referring to Figure 1 a is a metal or wood tube or cylinder in which the piston
slides telescopically, the bottom has a plug e secured therein by pin c¹ or is otherwise
suitably closed.
On the plug e a spring d rests, upon which the piston 6 rests. A slot or hole is
provided at e and a corresponding slot or hole in the piston so that when the
piston is pressed down to the required degree a wire is inserted through e into b
and holds it down with the spring d tightly compressed. The post is now inserted
through the "S-hole" or slit in the "belly" of the instrument and placed in position
under or near the bridge as shown in Figure 2-the wire fis then withdrawn and the

page_text: upward pressure of the spring upon the piston keeps a steady resistance to the strain
of the bridge.
In applying the post to a violoncello for instance about 28 lbs. pressure should be
applied to the piston and spring (which is made sufficiently strong accordingly) and
the post locked as described-with this amount of resistance is applied (as in
Figure 2) to carry the strain-weight of the strings on the bridge, the total height of
this spring sounding post being arranged. in accordance with the depth of the
instrument to which it is to be applied.
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 :-
1. The improved spring sounding post arranged to act in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a sounding post for violoncello and other similar musical instruments the use
and application of a spring or springs substantially in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
D1
100
11007
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.