Improvements in Violins and other similar stringed Instruments
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
Improvements in Violins and other similar stringed Instruments
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Dion, of 7 Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, France, Electrical Engineer, to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in violins, and other similar stringed
instruments, and it has for its object to obtain increased volume and purity of tone in
violins generally.
•
The invention consists of a combined bridge and sound post, the latter being in one
piece with, and forming a prolongation of one foot of the bridge which passes through
an aperture in the belly, and bears either directly or indirectly upon the back, as
hereinafter described.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated an
example thereof in the accompanying drawings and I will proceed to describe it with
reference thereto.
Figure 1 shews a front view of a violin, and figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 shew cross
sections thereof taken on lines 1-2, figure 1, each section illustrating a different way
of carrying the invention into effect. The same letters of reference represent the
same parts in all the figures.
The bridge a instead of resting by both feet upon the belly g, rests thereon by one
foot only, generally the foot beneath the fourth or bass string 6, while to the other
foot of the bridge which comes beneath the first string c is attached a leg d of wood or
other material, which passes through an orifice h in the belly and rests upon the back i,
its end being received either in a slight hollow in the back as in figure 3 or in a cup f
as in figure 2, or being pointed as in figures 4 and 5, and so forming its own seat in
the back.

page_text: This leg fulfils the functions of the sound post usually set up between the belly and
back. The leg or soundpost d although usually situated beneath the first string
might be placed beneath the bass string as shewn in figure 5, in which case the
bar e usually placed below the bass string 6 would be placed beneath the other foot
of the bridge.
The leg a passing through an orifice in the belly offers no impediment to the
sound waves issuing from the f holes in the belly, but produces a much more powerful
tone and more perfect harmony than has been hitherto attainable.
It is evident that the invention can be readily applied to existing instruments.
Dated this 12th day of November 1886.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Violins and other similar Stringed Instruments.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Charles Dion of 7 Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, France, Electrical Engineer,
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 improvements in violins and other similar stringed
instruments and it has for its object to obtain increased volume and purity of tone in
violins generally.
The Invention consists of a combined bridge and sound post, the latter being in
one piece with, and forming a prolongation of one foot of the bridge which passes
through an aperture in the bally and bears either directly or indirectly upon the back,
as heroinafter described.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification,
wherein figure 1 shews a front view of a violin and figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, show
cross-sections thereof taken on lines 1-2 figure 1, each section illustrating a difforent
way of carrying the invention into effect. The same letters of reference represent
the same parts in all the figures.
The bridge a instead of resting by both feet upon the belly y rests thereon by one
foot only, generally the foot beneath the fourth or bass string b, while to the other
foot of the bridge which comes beneath the first string e, is attached a leg d of wood
or other material which passes through an orifice h in the belly and rests upon the
back i, its end being received either in a slight hollow in the back, as in figure 3, or
in a cup f, as in figure 2; or being pointed, as in figures 4 and 5 and so forming
its own seat in the back. This leg fulfils the functions of the sound post usually set
up between the belly and back. The leg or sound-post d would usually be situated
beneath the first string c, but it might be placed beneath the bass string b, as shewn
in figure 5, in which case the bar e usually placed below the bass string 6 would be
placed beneath the other foot of the bridge. The leg d passing through an orifice /
in the belly, offers no impediment to the sound-waves issuing from the holes in the
belly, but produces a much more powerful tone and more perfect harmony than has
hitherto been obtainable.
In order to avoid the liability of the leg d being displaced and coming in contact
with the sides of the orifice h, the arrangement shewn in figure 6 may be adopted. In
this arrangement, a wood post or support is fixed to the back of the violin and its
upper end reaches to within about two lines of the undersurface of the belly g and is
made hollow or concave, to receive the rounded end of the leg of the bridge. The

page_text: leg is in this manner, considerably reduced in length and is no longer liable to be
displaced to such an extent as to touch the sides of the orifice h through which it
passes. The ordinary sound post is also retained in its usual position and by slightly
shifting it forwards or backwards the power of the two upper or two lower strings can
be increased or reduced at will.
It is evident that the invention can be readily applied to existing instruments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;
The employment in violins and other similar stringed instruments, of a bridge
having a leg d formed in one therewith and passing down through an aperture in
the belly g and bearing either directly or indirectly upon the back i, substantially as
herein before described and shewn, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 10th day of August 1887.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.