Improvements in the Construction of Violins and like Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Violins and like Instruments.
I, EDGAR MONICHOL, of West Jonosport, County of Washington, State of
Maine, United States of America, Physician, 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 violins and other instruments of the viol family the top and back of the
instrument are each usually made of a singlo piece of wood, or two pieces glued
together in the median longitudinal line, and said top and back are supported upon
the ribs and consequently the grain of the wood of said parts runs lengthwise from
nut to tail-piece.
In such case the grain runs longitudinally along the sides of the instrument and
the vibrations which are readily transmitted to the ends of the instrument are not
so readily transmitted to the sides.
This invention has for its object to construct a violin or other instrument of the
viol family in such manner that the vibrations may bo as rendily transmitted to
the sides of the instrument as they are to the ends; and the invention consists in
cutting away the margins of the top or back of the instrument, or of both of thom,
along such portions thereof as where the grain runs longitudinally, and providing
at such cut away portions marginal strips made with the grain of the wood running
towards the median longitudinal line of the top or back, whichever it may be..
Such marginal strips may be located at each side of the upper and lower lobes
of the top or back or both, with the production of good results, or they may be
made to embrace the entire plate or board.
Figure 1 shows in vertical section a portion of the top and back of a violin
having attached marginal strips embodying this invention.
Figure 2, a plau view of that portion of the instrument shown in Figure 1.
a represents the top or belly of the instrument, b the hack, and c the rib.
The top a or back b or both as may be desired are cut away along the side edgea
adjacent to the rib c, being cut away along such portions of said top and back as
where the grain of the wood runs longitudinally, and along such cut-away portions
I provide marginal strips a, b, formed with the grain of the wood running in a
direction towards the median longitudinal line, being more or less at right angles
to the grain of the top and back.
These marginal strips a, b, are made quite narrow, and are formed with
rabbetted edges to receive the top and back as shown.
As before stated these marginal strips a', &¹, will be provided along the sides of
both the upper and lower lobes of both the top and back of the instrument, but of
course they may be provided along only such portions or parts as may be desired,
or around the whole plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. The top or back of a violin or other instrument of the viol family having
attached marginal portions which rest upon the rib, substantially as described.
2. The top or back of a violin or other instrument of the viol family having

page_text: attached marginal portions which rest upon the rib, arranged with the grain of the
wood running in a direction toward the median longitudinal line of the top or back,
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd dev of February 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.