An Improvement in or pertaining to Bows for Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or pertaining to Bows for Stringed
Instruments.
1, EMIL KONSER, of Johannes Street 6, Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German
Empire, Musician and Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
This invention relates to an improvement in or in connection with bows for
stringed instruments of various kinds such as violins and violas and has for its object
to ensure the proper position of the bow between the fingers and to protect the
thumb against injury during playing.
It is well known that when holding the bow between the fingers and the thumb
during playing the latter is liable to strike against the frog and thus become injured.
Furthermore for good playing it is essential that the bow be held exactly in the
proper position. It will be of value therefore not only for the learner but also for
the accomplished musician, to have a safe and normal support for the exact grasping
and holding of the bow, and the object of this invention is to provide such a
support and at the same time to prevent the striking, pushing or rubbing of the
thumb against the frog.
According to my invention I employ a knob or disc the outer surface of which
may be flat, but is by preference concave. This knob or disc is fixed to or forms
part of a ring, which surrounds the stick of the bow and is held thereon by a small
screw in any desired angular position to suit requirement.
The bow is grasped by placing the thumb on the concave surface of the knob or
dise and laying the fingers against the rear side of the stick. While playing the
thumb rests with its upper part in the concave surface of the knob or disc whereby
the proper position of the bow is ensured and any striking pushing or rubbing of
the thumb against the frog is prevented.
Dated this 29th day of June 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or pertaining to Bows for Stringed
Instruments.
1, EMIL KOHSER, of Johannes Street 6, Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German
Empire, Musician and Mechanic, 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 an improvement in or in connection with bows for
stringed instruments of various kinds such as violins and violas and has for its
object, to ensure the proper position of the bow between the fingers and to protect
the thumb against injury during playing.
It is well known that when holding the bow between the fingers and the thumb,
during playing the latter is liable to strike against the frog and thus become
injured. Furthermore for good playing it is essential that the bow be held exactly
in the proper position. It will be of value therefore not only for the learner but
also for the accomplished musician, to have a safe and normal support for the exact
grasping and holding of the bow, and the object of this invention is to provide such
[Price 8d 1

page_text: a support and at the same time-to prevent the striking, pushing or rubbing of the
thumb against the frog.
In the accompanying drawings are shewn bows according to this invention.
Figs. 1 and 3 being respectively, an elevation and cross section of part of a bow
for a violin or viola; and
Figs. 2 and 4 respectively an elevation and cross section of part of a bow for a
cello.
e is the surface of the hair, g the frog and the head of the screw for tightening
or slackening the hair.
According to my invention 1 employ a knob or disc a the upper surface of which
may be flat, but is by preference concave as shewn. This knob or disc is fixed to
or forms part of a ring & which surrounds the stick c of the bow and is lield thereon
by a small screw d in any desired angular position to suit requirement.
The relative angular position of the surface of the knob or disc to the surface of
the hair of the bow will be different in bows for violins or violas (see Figs. 1
and 3) to that in bows for violincelli (see Figs. 2 and 4) because with violins or
violas the strings are touched with the rear edge of the hair surface whereas with
violincelli the front edge of the hair surface touches the strings. The bow is
grasped by placing the thumb upon the concave surface of the knob or disc a and
laying the fingers against the rear side of the stick. While playing the thumb
rests with its upper part upon the concave surface of the knob or disc a whereby
the proper position of the bow is ensured and any striking pushing or rubbing of
the thumb against the frog g is prevented.
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 I
clain is-
aL
My improvement in or pertaining to bows for stringed instruments comprising
knob or disc a fixed to or forming part of a ring adapted to be adjustably secured
upon the stick of the bow substantially as described and shown for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 28th day of March 190.)