A New or Improved Musical Stringed Instrument.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1896
A New or Improved Musical Stringed Instrument.
We, HENRY MÜLLER, of 16 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California, United
States of America, Musical Instrument Maker, and WILLIAM YORK WRIGHT, of
Prairie Cottage, Baldock, Herts, Hotel Manager, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to construct a new or improved musical stringed
instrument, possessing the characteristic properties of a harp and a violoncello,
and which instrument is intended to be called a "cello-harp."
According to our invention, we construct a metallic frame of suitable strength
for sustaining the tension of the strings, with a base and socket, having (generally)
a form approximating to that of a harp and combining therewith the approximate
form of a violoncello. Ordinary screw-studs and other appliances are fitted, to
which the strings are attached, and whereby they may be tuned with the aid of a
tuning key. The back of the frame is provided with a dovetailed groove, or other
suitable means for attaching a sounding board extending across and covering the
back of the instrument. This sounding board may be formed of any suitable
material or combination of materials, and either cellular or solid.
In a suitable position, across the instrument, and between the sounding board
and the strings, we fit a sliding scale board upon which the notes are shown, and
arranged to slide in grooves or slots, whereby not only the normal scale or desig-
nation of the notes may be clearly seen by the performer but also the key in which
the music is played may be varied by simply sliding the scale-board in its groove
until the corresponding key-note is found, as required. Dampers are fitted to the
strings, operated by pedals or other suitable means.
WM. JORDAN,
120 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Musical Stringed Instrument.
We, HENRY MÜLLER late of 16 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California,
United States of America, but now of 20 Crawford Street Camberwell,
London S.E. Musical Instrument Maker, and WILLIAM YORK WRIGHT of Prairie
Cottage, Baldock, Herts. Hotel Manager, do hereby declare the nature of our said
רנס....מ

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our invention is to construct a new or improved musical stringed
instrument, possessing the characteristic properties of a harp; and which
instrument is intended to be called a 'cello harp."
According to our invention, we construct a metallic frame, of suitable strength
for sustaining the tension of the strings, with a base and socket, having (generally)
a form approximating to that of a harp, and combining therewith the approximate
form of a violoncello.
Ordinary screw studs and other appliances are fitted, to which the strings are
attached, and whereby they may be tuned with the aid of a tuning key. The
back of the frame is provided with a dovetailed groove, or other suitable means for
attaching a sounding board, extending across and covering the back of the instru-
ment. This sounding board may be formed of any suitable material or combina-
tion of materials, and either cellular or solid.
In a suitable position, across the instrument, and between the sounding board
and the strings, we fit a sliding scale board, upon which the notes are shown, and
arranged to slide in grooves or slots, whereby not only the normal scale or
designation of the notes may be clearly seen by the performer, but also the key in
which the music is played may be varied, by simply sliding the scale board in its
groove until the corresponding key note is found, as required.
Dampers are fitted to the strings, operated by pedals, or other suitable means.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the instrument.
Fig. 2 is a section of the frame on the line a b of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section illustrating the method of fitting the sounding board.
4 is the metallic frame of the instrument.
Studs 5 are fitted to the upper part of the frame to which the strings are attached,
and whereby they may be tuned. The frame 4 is so formed that a bridge is pro-
vided at 6, as shown in Fig. 2, against which the upper ends of the strings impinge.
The lower ends of the strings are fitted to studs, pegs, or pins, as usual in instru-
ments of a similar nature. From the cross frame 7 down to the lower end, and
extending across and covering the back from side to side of that portion of the
frame, a sounding board is fitted. This sounding board may be formed of any
suitable material, or combination of materials, either cellular, or solid, and secured
to the frame by screws 8, or in any other suitable manner. 9 is a sliding scale
board, upon which the notes are shown in a manner analogous to the keys of a
pianoforte. This scale-board is supported in slots at the back of the frame,
whereby not only the normal scale of the strings may be indicated and the notes
clearly seen by the performer, but also, by shifting the scale-board 9, the key in
which the music is played may be varied, the corresponding key note being found,
as required. 10 is the base or socket upon which the frame is supported; this
base is circular in plan and is provided with openings all round (not shown in the
drawing) in which pedals may be fitted for working dampers and otherwise, as
in ordinary harps. The method of fitting dampers is well known and need not be
described.
Although wires have been referred to, it is obvious that catgut or analogous
strings may be used.
The lower part of the metallic frame 4 approximates generally to the sections
shown at 11 in Fig. 3, the back edge 12 being made angular or dovetailed, as
shown. 13 is the sounding board, the edges of which are dovetailed to fit tightly
into the corresponding back of the frame. 14 is a wooden frame fitted to the back
of the sounding board, so as to press the same into the metallic frame, whereby
the sounding board is forcibly compressed transversely, the screws 8 drawing the

page_text: frame 14 together with the sounding board forward for that purpose. The sound-
ing board is sometimes constructed of hollow material or cellular formation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improved musical stringed instrument substantially as and for the
purposes
described.
2. In a musical stringed instrument as aforesaid, the combination of a metallic
frame, of a form approximating to that of a harp, having wires or strings stretched
thereupon; the frame being fitted with a sounding board, also with a sliding scale
board, severally operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
3. In a musical stringed instrument as aforesaid, the improved form of metallic
frame, whereby, strength, rigidity, and a suitable bridge, are combined, substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
De 991 T... 1807
WM. JORDAN,
120 Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.