Musical Instrument.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Novel Musical Instrument.
I, RICHARD PRIGGE, Artist of 41 Neuer Steinweg at Hamburg in the Empire
of Germany do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to a stringed instrument whose chief distinguished
feature consists in the fact that whereas in all instruments of this kind in use up to
the present the strings are at rest and the hand performs the motions necessary to
produce the sounds, in this case the hand to a certain extent rests on the strings
while the latter are set in motion. While furthermore, in the ordinary stringed
instruments, only one string gives the desired note, this note in consequence being
somewhat weak, in the instruments which we shall now describe, a considerable
number of equally tuned strings are provided for each note, so that a great
increase of sound, such as is demanded especially for artistic performances in large
balls filled with people, is obtained.
In the accompanying drawing the new instrument is represented in one of the
forms in which it is made.
Fig. 1 shows it in a view from the front, Fig. 2 in a section at X-X1
of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 shows the box after the upper cover has been removed, thus making the
working mechanism visible.
Fig. 4 gives a detail of the instrument with regard to the arrangement of
the strings with the mute in an upper view and finally Fig. 5 is a transverse section
of Fig: 4.
The instrument consists principally of a sound-box A and a number (in this
case 24) of the sound-bodies supporting the strings, which-as will be seen
from Fig. 2-are arranged on shafts which are moveably mounted in the sound-
box A and inside the latter bear the pulleys C.
These pulleys are connected in any kind of way-in the present case by endless
cords but otherwise also by toothed-wheel gearing etc.-in such a manner with each
other, that from a pulley D (Fig. 3) by means of a crank K all the shafts a and
thus also all the sound-bodies B must be simultaneously made to rotate. As will
be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 strings 6 and 61 are radially attached to these sound-
bodies, after the manner of the spokes in bicycles; the strings denoted by b, which
are all tuned to one note, run from the upper part of the nave direct to the edge of
the sound-body B, while the strings 61, which are likewise all equally tuned, but to
a different note from that given by the strings b, run from the lower part of the
nave over a bridge c to the edge of B.
This arrangement has the effect that at one time all the strings b, at another
time only all the strings 61 can be struck, while when it is desired the double note
of both strings can be produced by striking them at the point where they cross
each other.
The sound-bodies are of diameters varying in size and a number of them are
strung with uncovered and the others with covered strings.
In the form of instrument under consideration for instance there are present:
8 sound bodies of 0-6 m. diameter each with 2 x 84 or 168 covered strings ;
8 bodies of 0.7 m. diameter with each 2 x 96 = 192 uncovered strings ;
7 bodies of 0-8 m. diameter, with each 2 x 96 = 192 covered strings; and
1 body of 0.9 m. diameter with 2 x 120 covered strings.

page_text: Fig. 3 shows the box after the upper cover has been removed, thus making the
working mechanism visible.
Fig. 4 gives a detail of the instrument with regard to the arrangement of the
strings with the mute in an upper view and finally
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of Fig. 4.
The instrument consists principally of a sound-box A and a number (in this.
case 24) of the sound-bodies supporting the strings, which-as will be seen from-
Fig. 2 are arranged on shafts which are moveably mounted in the sound-box A,
and inside the latter bear the pulleys C.
As
These pulleys are connected in any kind of way-in the present case by endless
cords but otherwise also by toothed-wheel gearing etc.-in such a manner with,
each other, that from a pulley D (Fig. 3) by means of a crank K all the shafts a
and thus also all the sound-bodies B must be simultaneously made to rotate.
will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, strings 6 and 61 are radially attached to these.
sound-bodies, after the manner of the spokes in bicycles; the strings denoted by b,
which are all tuned to one note, run from the upper part of the nave direct to the
edge of the sound-body B, while the strings 61, which are likewise all equally
tubed, but to a different note from that given by the strings b, run from the lower
part of the nave over a bridge c to the edge of B.
This arrangement has the effect that at one time all the strings b, at another-
time only all the strings 61 can be struck, while when it is desired the double note
of both strings can be produced by striking them at the point where they cross each.
other.
The sound-bodies are of diameters varying in size and a number of them are.
strung with uncovered and the others with covered strings.
In the form of instrument under consideration for instance there are present:
8 sound bodies of 0.6 m. diameter each with 2 x 84 or 168 covered strings,
8 bodies of 0.7 m. diameter with each 2 x 96 = 192 uncovered strings,
7 bodies of 0.8 m. diameter, with each 2 x 96 = 192 covered strings, and
1 body of 0.9 m. diameter with 2 × 120 covered strings.
The instrument has thus 48 different sounds, but of course it can be given more
according to need.
In order to cause the sound to cease at will a mute is provided for each sound-
body consisting of two gutta-percha rings dd1 (Fig. 5) attached to a frame-ring
subject below to the pressure of a spring.
These rings can be pressed by the hand on the strings thereby immediately
deadening the sound. On the pressure ceasing the rings are raised again from the
strings by the pressing of the spring.
The instrument made in this manner is played by all the sound-bodies B being
made to revolve and by the artist holding a little peg of ivory or the like to the
strings, which produce the desired note. By the rapid rotation of the bodies B
(2 to 3 rotations per second) all the strings are rapidly carried past the little peg
and touched by it. The sounds of the different strings thereby melt into a single-
sound which, it will be easily understood, is greatly increased.
By pressing the peg more firmly or less firmly on the strings, the sound can be.
modified from fortissimo to the lightest piano.
When used by artistes for stage performances the instrument is of course
provided with proportionate ornamentation, which can be adapted to suit each
individual taste. It goes without saying, as we have mentioned at the beginning-
the form of instruments, as here described and drawn, is only an example of the-
various forms which the instrument can be made to assume with reference to the-
general arrangement of the sound-bodies B on the sound-box as well as with
reference to the number and construction of the latter.
For instance instead of the sound bodies B simple wheels may also be used, on
which the strings are stretched; then instead of these wheels, cylinders might he
employed which would turn towards the sound-box, or instead of the mute here.