Improvements relating to Harps and similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by Flagg ManufactURING COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Maine, and having its place of business
at Portland, in the said State, United States of America.]
Improvements relating to Harps and similar Musical Instruments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in harps, and
particularly to the shield by which the proper strings are exposed to or prevented
from contact, as desired, with the pick or instrument with which the harp is
played; and it has for its object to improve and simplify the construction
thereof while extending their utility; and it consists in the various features of
construction and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter more particularly
pointed out.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a harp according to this invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale of the shield, taken on the
line 2-2, of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross section on a larger scale of the shield, on the line 3-3 of
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a face view on a larger scale, of a music-card herein referred to, and
to be placed on the harp under and across the strings; and
Figure 5 is a side face view of the supports for the shield.
In the drawings, A represents the sounding-board, or top of a zither or harp,
and B its several strings, all as usual. C is a shield, extending across and beyond
the strings at one end-portion thereof; and, at each of its side edges and at
opposite sides of the sounding-board A, it is supported by supports D, preferably
constructed as hereinafter explained, and so that it may be slid on said supports in
a direction across the strings and adjusted as, and for the purposes hereinafter
described.
The scale of the strings is chromatic, and, as indicative of what each string
represents in the scale, the sounding board, at its end toward the player, is
provided with a representation of a key-board suitably lettered, as fully shown in
the drawings.
The shield has a series of parallel rows of openings a, separated from each other,
by raised ribs C2, arranged, as to each row, so as to expose certain strings, and to
cover the other intervening strings; so that at each row of openings, with the
shield properly adjusted, a determined chord may be sounded by drawing a pick,
or other suitable implement, over the shield, along said row of openings; the other
strings embraced in said row of openings being covered by the portions 6 of the
shield, intervening between said openings. The intervening portions of the shield
are made of india-rubber, felt or other like, or suitable resilient material, and at
one edge, they are held on one of the raised ribs C2, and at their other edge they
lie under the next adjacent rib (Figures 2 and 3) so that, as the pick is drawn
along any one row of openings, said portions 6 will yield thereto, and while

page_text: preventing the sounding of the strings which, are shielded by them, they enable
the pick to pass from one exposed string to another and through the series, with no
perceptible noise and in a smooth and even manner, the advantage of all of
which is obvious without further explanation. The intervening portions of the
shield depressed, as stated, by the pick, return automatically to their normal
positions as the pick leaves them, one after the other.
As shown more particularly in Figure 2, each portion b of the shield is composed
of a strip of felt, confined between a fold or double of a strip of metal, which
preferably has each of its edges first doubled over. This folded metal strip
constitutes, in the shield, the dividing rib C² between two rows of openings thereof,
and said several strips of metal at each end, are held on end-pieces C³. The shield
is provided with an index-mark H by which to set it, using the scale on the
sounding-board as a guide to any key that may be desired, as for instance, the key
of G, as shown, and thus enable the chords in that key to be sounded, as before
explained.
The index mark H', shows the minor; but all this will be clear to all musicians
without further explanation.
Figure 4 is an illustration of a music-card, by which, when placed under the
strings of the zither or harp and over the scale thereon, the performer may be
guided in playing the air of a tune, and at the same time sound the proper chords
in harmony with it, and at the proper times. The figures on the music-card
represent the strings to be plucked for the air, and letters near those figures, the
row of openings along which the pick is to be drawn, to sound the appropriate
chords; the said rows of openings being lettered in proper relation therefor. For
example, the pick is drawn from the base index or in row A, up to and
including the string over the figure 1, to sound the first chord; next the string
over the figure 2 is sounded, through the opening in row B; next the string over
the figure 3 is sounded, and fourth a chord from base index h² or h³ up to and
including the string over the figure 4; all of which will be clear even without
this explanation.
Each music-card has a series of rows of figures, from figure 1, upward, and
also, characters indicating the key in which it is to be played, and according to
which the card must be changed in its position under the strings; corresponding
characters being on the representation of the key board by which to properly set
the card therefor.
The supports D of the shield, as particularly shown, are made of side pieces
secured to the harp each with two guide posts d.
The sliding shield, as shown, rests on the supports D, and is adjusted for varying
keys by moving it end wise, as already explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination with a zither, or harp, of a shield, which extends above
and across and beyond the strings, and has a series of parallel rows of openings to
expose certain strings, and coverings adapted to be depressed toward and rise
from said strings, and supports for, and which are adapted for the longitudinal slide
of said shield, to adjust its openings as to the strings of the harp, substantially as
described, and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with a zither or harp of a shield, which extends above
and across and beyond the strings, and has a series of parallel rows of openings to
expose certain strings, and coverings adapted to be depressed toward and rise
from said strings, supports for, and which are adapted for the longitudinal slide of
said shield thereon, to adjust its openings as to the strings of the harp, and
means, which are on said shield and said harp, and are relatively adapted as guides
for said adjustments of the shield, substantially as described, for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Third. The combination with a zither or harp, of a shield, which extends above
and across the strings, suitably supported, and has a series of parallel rows of
openings to expose certain strings; and portions, in each of said rows, that intervene
between said openings, and cover certain strings, and are adapted to be depressed
toward, and to rise from the strings, substantially as described, for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The combination with a harp or zither, of a shield which extends
above and across the strings, suitably supported, and has a series of parallel
ribs and a series of parallel rows of openings to expose certain strings and
portions in each of said rows that intervene between said openings and cover
certain strings, said portions along one side being attached to, and along the other
side free of, said ribs; substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. A shield for a harp or zither, composed of end pieces, and a series of
parallel ribs each made of sheet metal doubled upon itself, and resilient or flexible
portions held and supported by said doubled-over ribs, and openings between said
portions; all substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 9th day of July 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.