Year: 1888

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In violin-bows as heretofore constructed, it has been customary to either attach
the hair permanently to the bow, or, when removable clasps have been employed,
they have been so constructed as to attach the hair in a straight line; which caused it
to be overlapped by a portion of the clasp, which was exposed upon the outside, thus
interfering with the "bowing" by catching upon the strings of the instrument, while
the hairs were liable to pull out of the sockets or clasps. Such construction is less
desirable than the old form in which the hair is permanently attached to the bow. This
does not interfere with a satisfactory use of the bow, but is open to the objection that
when the hair becomes broken or worn out, it cannot be replaced except at unnecessary
expense and trouble.
The object of this invention is to overcome these objections and to provide means
whereby the hair may be removably attached to the bow so that it cannot pull out,
while at the same time the hair itself and not the clasp by which it is held at the
respective ends of the bow, may be brought directly into contact with the violin
strings.
A further object is to so construct the bow handle that it may be more readily
grasped by the thumb ;--all of which is hereinafter more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side view of a bow showing the improvement applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view in detail showing the manner of attaching the hair to
the detachable clasps, as well as a perspective view of the clasps themselves.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view in detail of one of said clasps, showing
the hair therein.
Figure 4 is a view, partly in section, of the bow, showing one mode of attaching the
clasp thereto.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing a modification, thereof,
Figure 6 is a face view of said modification, and
Figure 7 is a detail view of the bow-handle, showing an opening therein for the
reception of the thumb.

page_text: Like letters of reference designate like parts in the different figures.
A, in the drawings, represents the rod of a violin bow, of which B is the head and
C the movable block forming a part of the handle to which the hair is attached and by
means of which its tension is regulated. D represents the hair the respective ends of
which are secured by means of wax cement or shellac within flat hollow metal
clasps E, E better shown in Figures 2 and 3. The clasp E, is provided with a short
outwardly bent flange or hook F, Figures 2, 3 and 4, for attaching the same to the
bow as hereinafter stated. The inner ends of the parts B and C respectively are cut
away at b, e to an extent corresponding substantially to the thickness of the clasp E in
addition to that of the hair attached thereto. An ordinary flat headed screw G,
Figure 4 is then preferably inserted within each of the cut-away portions of the
parts B and C, the head of said screw being flush with the sunken surface of the
cut-away portion. A notch g sufficiently large to receive the hook F, is then cut into
the wood next to the screw-head and between that and the raised portion B¹ or Cas
the case may be.
In order to attach the hair to the bow, said hair is lapped over upon the clasp E, so
as to lie parallel therewith as in Figure 2, and the hook F inserted in the notch g and
in engagement with the screw-head as clearly shown in Figure 4. The duplicate
clasp is attached in like manner at the other end and the hair is tightened by means of
the usual thumb-screw A¹ upon the end of the bow-handle.
Figures 5 and 6 show modifications of the construction above described. In lieu of
the screw G a plate H, Figure 6 may be screwed or otherwise fastened to the part B ;
said plates being bent to fit the depression b, and provided with slots formed therein
to serve in lieu and as the equivalent of the notch g Figure 4, and the screw-head
there shown.
g
It will be observed that by doubling the hair over the clasp it is much less likely to
pull out while at the same time it presents a smooth surface to be brought into contact
with the strings; thus avoiding so-called "breaks" in bowing. By simply loosening
the thumb-screw A¹, the hair may be detached at will and replaced with new ;-t
cost of the clasps E, being merely nominal.
-the
In Figures 1, 4 and 7 I have shown an opening J in the handle which is flared
outwardly towards the front as at j, Figure 7 and is curved as shown at j¹, so that the
thumb may be readily inserted therein. This is a great advantage as it gives a more
certain grasp in bowing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination with the hair and bow of a violin, of clasps having sockets
to receive the ends of the hair, said hair being bent over upon or parallel with the
clasps, hooks upon the outer ends of said clasps respectively, and upon the side thereof
next to the bow, and sockets in the respective ends of the bow for the reception of said
hooks, substantially as shown and described.
Second. The combination with a violin-bow of the thumb-opening J, formed in the
handle thereof substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 1st day of Octobar 1000