Improvements in or connected with Zithers and similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Zithers and similar Musical
Instruments.
I, THEODORE MEINHOLD, Manufacturer, of Klingenthal, in the German
Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has for its object, to play zithers mechanically by means of
exchangeable music or pattern sheets.
For this purpose, I employ a perforated sheet, placed across the strings and above
the same, the perforations in the said sheet being arranged in rows and corre-
sponding to the piece of music to be played on the instrument, so that the required
strings may be struck by means of a pin passing over the said perforations.
The said sheet may be mounted in a frame and supported by bars or ledges, or,
in the case of long sheets, it may be wound on a drum or roller placed across the
instrument, and drawn off the same by means of a pair of transporting or friction
rollers, which cause the sheet to pass between the strings and a grid-like striking
frame mounted above the strings and adapted to act on a ratchet mechanism which
turns one of the said friction rollers. For this purpose the grid bars passing over
the strings may be supported at their ends by a pair of double armed levers placed
right and left of the music sheet, and carrying ratchet pawls which turn a pair of
ratchet wheels mounted on the axle of the upper friction roller. Consequently,
when the striking pin, in passing over the music sheet, comes into contact with one
of the grid bars and thereby depresses the striking frame, the ratchet wheel will be
set in motion.
.
г
As an alternative to the above described arrangement, the music sheet may
be placed below the strings, and the notes printed or otherwise indicated thereon,
so as to lie under the respective strings and show which of the strings and in what
order they have to be struck. For this purpose, the notes may be represented by
circles or dots, and connected in groups by means of zig-zag lines.
I also employ a special kind of damper, so that strings, which are placed close
together, may be set out of action separately or in groups by an oblique down
motion of that damper.
The said damper chiefly comprises one or more rails placed across the strings,
each rail being armed on its underside with a row of oblique or curved teeth and
supported and guided at its ends by a pair of crank pins, or by means of pins and
oblique or curved slots, in such a manner, that the motion of the said rail or rails
introduces the teeth between contiguous strings and then presses them downward
obliquely against the strings to be damped.
The return or upward motion of each rail, which causes the teeth to recede from
the strings, is effected by a spring or springs..
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Zithers and similar Musical
Instruments.
I, THEODORE MEINHOLD, Manufacturer, of Klingenthal, in the German
Empire, 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 has for its object, to play zithers mechanically by means of
exchangeable music or pattern sheets.
For this purpose, I employ a perforated sheet, placed across the strings and
above the same, the perforations in the said sheet being arranged in rows and
corresponding to the piece of music to be played on the instrument, so that the
required strings may be struck by means of a pin passing over the said perforations.
In the accompanying drawings :
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a zither carrying a music sheet mounted in its frame,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial section through the music sheet and frame along
line R-R of Fig. 2,
Fig. 4 is a transverse section along line S-S of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows a music sheet provided with parallel grooves,
Fig. 6 is an elevation of a zither and section through a music sheet wound on a
drum,
Fig. 7 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 8 shows a ratchet feed mechanism for the music sheet represented in Fig. 6
in a different position.
Fig. 9 is a transverse section corresponding to Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a zither with a music sheet placed underneath the
strings.
Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the same,
Fig. 12 a plan of the same.
Fig. 13 shows a music sheet to be used with the same.
Figs. 14 and 15 show different methods of representing or marking the notes.
Fig. 16 is a plan of this zither provided with a device for producing harmonious
chords.
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section parallel to the strings.
Figs. 18 to 20 represent details of mechanism for fixing the music sheet.
Figs. 21 and 22 illustrate a modification of the feed mechanism for the music
sheet.
Fig. 23 represents a music sheet fixed by hooks,
Fig. 24 the same fixed by pins.
Fig. 25 the same fixed by means of specially arranged ledges.
Fig. 26 is a plan of Fig. 25.
Fig. 27 shows a music sheet fixed to the lower bridge by pins.
Fig. 28 the same fixed by hooks,
Fig. 29 the same fixed in a groove of the lower bridge,
Fig. 30 the same fixed by a bent piece of sheet metal.
Fig. 31 represents a fastening pin or hook provided with a spring.
This zither is provided with a frame R placed above the strings, and serving as
a holder for the music sheet N; but the latter may also be supported by bars or
ledges t, to protect it from bending.
The music sheet is provided with a number of slots or perforations i, (Figs. 1 to 7)
arranged in parallel rows. These rows are either provided with grooves o, Fig. 5,
or they may be smooth, and serve to let the pins for striking the strings pass
4

page_text: over the perforations (in the direction of the arrows) in such a way, that the
strings are sounded according to the piece of music to be played, the notes which
are to be sounded longer or shorter being marked on the music sheet by corre-
sponding signs. For suitable accompaniment, a music sheet n for the bass may be
arranged in the corner, which facilitates the sounding of the harmonious chords
and is provided with the accord perforations v. The removeable music sheet N
may also be arranged to strike different chords.
As it is possible only to play short pieces in the above described manner, I
have devised an alternative arrangement represented by Figs. 6 to 9, by which
it is possible to play with a long music sheet N¹, the same being wound on a roller
mounted in front of the striking frame S above the strings; it passes under the
striking frame and over the strings and is drawn off by the feed roller m (acting
in conjunction with the lower roller p) in lengths corresponding to the intervals
between the rows of notes; the striking pin, after striking the notes marked under
the striking frame, being passed over a lever reaching above the frame, and
thereby the lever pressed down i.e. turned around its fulcrum r, thus turning the
pawls of the ratchet wheel, and consequently the feed roller m, the distance
required for the suitable progress of the music sheet N'.
In my new method of playing on zithers by means of music sheets serving
to indicate the strings to be struck, the acting together of music sheet and
zither may also be brought about in the following manuer :
The zither is underneath the strings provided with bars w w¹, between which
the music sheet N1 is inserted, so as to be guided and supported by the same.
The music sheet has no perforations, as in the former case, but is marked with
black signs, as shown in the drawings, or the notes are written on it. These signs
correspond with the notes of the piece of music, Figs. 13-15, may be indicated
either by dots or circles forming part of continuous lines, and marked with the
symbols commonly used in musical notation, said signs lying under those strings,
which should be struck, when a certain melody is to be played.
The notes on the music sheet N" are arranged in rows forming zigzag lines, so
that they may be played by the player in succession by striking the strings
situated over the notes. The notes are marked as half notes, full notes etc.,
and it is besides indicated by inserted figures 1, 2, 3, etc., that the accompani-
ment which is brought to sound by the arrangement x, should be struck. By this
arrangement the playing of certain melodies is much facilitated and music sheets,
which are very long and made up of moveable parts, Fig. 11, or music strips rolled
off and on rollers u u', Figs. 21 and 22, may be employed.
In order to secure the position of the parts of music sheets, or generally the
correct arrangement of the music sheets below the strings, a holding device is
employed consisting of a retaining spring y, Figs. 14-18, the point of which falls.
into the recess z of the music sheet, and secures the correct position of the
latter.
This holding device may assume various forms, and those hereinafter indicated
are considered the most important. In Figs. 23 and 24, the music sheet is kept
by hooks b or pins d, which are fastened to the cover of the zither in any
suitable way. Those pins, which guide the music sheet at its two edges running
under the strings, may be replaced by bars L, Figs. 25 and 26, which have guide
grooves. The lower bridge may also serve as a music sheet holder, the same being
provided with pins f, Fig. 27, hooks g, Fig. 28, grooves k, Fig. 29, or with folded
strips of sheet metal, Fig. 30. The pins, hooks, or bars may be provided with
spring action, and for this purpose the upper parts of the pins and hooks are
provided with elastic flaps or plates, Fig. 31; the holders may also be shaped as
index hands, Fig. 26, and stops provided for the music sheet, in order to give it a
correct and secure position and allow the necessary adjustment.
These attachments may be applied to zithers of various types, and may be made
in a more or less finished style.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
J claim is ;-
1. A zither provided with an exchangeable music sheet N mounted across the
strings and having rows of perforations corresponding to the notes, so that the
strings may be sounded and the desired piece of music played mechanically by
passing a suitable pin over the perforations of the music sheet, substantially as
.described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.
2. A zither provided with a music sheet N¹ mounted as a roller across the
strings, a feed roller or rollers (m, p,) a striking frame S, and a ratchet
feed mechanism, adapted to be set in operation while the player passes the
striking pin across the music sheet, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 6 to 9.
3. A zither provided with a moveable music sheet N placed underneath the
strings and bearing written or printed notes or other symbols similar to those
generally employed in musical notation, said notes being so placed that in the
correct position of the moveable music sheet, they lie under the corresponding
strings to be sounded in the order of succession as is indicated by the notes,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10 to 20.
4. The means for guiding the music sheets indicated in Claims 1 to 3, com-
prising hooks b, pins d, or ledges L, mounted on the zither, so as to guide the
edge of the music sheet, the lower, bridge of the zither being adapted to guide
and hold down the sheet by means of pins f, hooks g, grooves k, or folded
strips q, substantially as described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 7th day of February 1893.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents.