Improvements in and relating to Stringed Instruments such as Violins and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
Improvements in and relating to Stringed Instruments such as
Violins and the like.
I, JOSEPH VIVIER, of 89 Rue Berckmans, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, 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 :—
My invention consists of improvements in and relating to stringed instruments
such as violins and the like by means of which superior musical effects are
obtained.
In the annexed drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a violin.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 represent horizontal sections of the extremities of a similar
instrument but of larger dimensions such for example as a violoncello.
The instrument at the parts a, b, c, d, and at e, f, g, h, is the same as in ordinary
violins, the wall or board E surrounding the instrument and against which the
strips Gare applied being of the usual construction. My instrument differs from
ordinary instruments at a h¹ d¹. Instead of having solid blocks at the
corners m, m, n, n', as in ordinary violins these have been replaced by spaces A B
CD filled with air and hermetically closed as shown.
The air imprisoned at these spaces acts as a cushion and facilitates the vibratory
movements of the boards T and T' in a far better way than the solid blocks which
ordinarily fill the corners m, m, n, n', of the instrument.
The double walls or boards F which extend from point a¹ to point e¹, and from
point to point h³ are made of pear, plane, maple or other wood suitable for the
purpose.
To make the parts of the boards T and T' which touch the neck of the instrument
more sensitive to the vibrations, I surround the block K by a board L made of pear
For the same
wood or any other suitable wood extending from point b to point c.
reason and in the same way I surround the block K' with a similar board L' running
from point to point g.
I also make the parts of T and T more sensitive to the vibrations by diminishing
the length and the width of the blocks K K and by perforating them with circular
openings O. It will be seen that the instrument is not only strengthened interiorly
at the parts a, b, c, d, e f, y h, by the strips G but also round the blocks K K' by
the boards L L¹.
Between these boards L L' and the blocks K K¹ are thus left
are closed above by the boards T and beneath by the boards T¹.
filled with air as in the case of the spaces A, B, C, D.
spaces P P¹ which
These spaces are
For stringed instruments larger than the violin, such for example as the
violoncello, after having removed as much as possible the blocks K and K¹
I arrange the boards L L' as is shown in Figures 3 and 4 in order to have the
openings PQR and P' Q'R' hermetically closed as in the case of the other spaces
herein before mentioned.
Any competent instrument maker can transform an existing instrument of the old
type into one of my invention.
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 improvements in and relating to stringed instruments such as violins and
the lilze ubstantially set forth

page_text: 2. In an instrument such as set forth the employment of spaces A, B, C, D,
substantially as set forth.
3. In an instrument such as set forth the employment of spaces P, Q, and R
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of September 1893.
JOSEPH VIVIER,
Per J. G. L.