An Improved Violin Mute.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Violin Mute.
GEORGE SKINNER 27 Medora Road Elm Park Brixton Hill S. W. Accountant
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An appliance which can be instantly affixed to a violin or other bow instrument
by a clamp and thumb screw and which by the player slightly elevating the violin
during a performance causes the chin of the performer to press against a hollowed
plate, which brings the mute into contact with the bridge of the instrument, and
subdues the tone.
Dated this 24th day of Inl, 1902
243.
I, GEORGE SKINNER 27 Medora Road Elm Park Brixton Hill London, S.W.
Accountant 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in violin mutes, and is a novel form of
appliance for enabling the player to mute or subdue the tone of a violin or other
bow instrument without interrupting his performance.
It consists of the combination of parts as shewn in the accompanying drawing,
that is to say-
A clamp, either hinged, or spring (a) by means of which the appliance is affixed
to the tailpiece of the instrument, this clamp carries a support (6) having eyes, or
holes through which runs a wire rod (c), at the lower end of this rod is fixed at
about right angles the push plate (d), which is of an irregular oval, or other
convenient form, and may be covered with india rubber or other soft substance for
the chin of the performer to press against. At the opposite, or upper end of the
rod (c) is a U shaped spring (e) to which is attached the muting plate (f) con-
structed of soft metal, vulcanite or other suitable material of a form approximating
to the form of the bridge of a violin, set with a slight inclination forward & having
two or more vertical openings (g g) to admit the strings of the instrument, the face
being finished flat & covered with thin leather, or the like, to prevent jarring from
the vibration of the bridge. A spiral or other form of spring is fitted to the rod (c)
to bring the muting plate back clear of the bridge when the pressure on the
plate (d) is discontinued.
The appliance may be constructed wholly of metal, or partly of metal, and
partly of any other suitable material, and it will be understood that so long as its
principal features are retained, the shape, disposition, or arrangement of certain of
its parts may be somewhat varied, or simplified, as for convenience in manufacturing,
and so forth.
Its action is as follows. The appliance being affixed to the tailpiece of the
instrument upon which it is desired to use it, by means of the clamp (a) as
aforesaid with the upper part of the muting plate () at the distance of about of
an inch behind the top edge of the bridge, & the instrument being held in the
usual position for playing, the push plate (d) is (in the case of a violin or other
[Price 8d.J

page_text: upon
the
bow instrument which is played at the chin) in touch with the chin of the
performer, when either by raising up the violin, so as to press the plate (d) against
the chin, or by a slight push of the chin against the plate, the rod (c) is pushed
forward, carrying with it the muting plate (f) until the upper part of the muting
plate meets with the top edge of the bridge, further pressure acts
U shaped spring (e) and causes the muting plate to flatten against the bridge,
maintaining its contact therewith, notwithstanding a certain amount of play of the
rod (c) so that should the pressure against the push plate (d) be temporarily
relaxed to some extent as it might be during the performer shifting from an upper
to a lower position on the fingerboard of the violin, such relaxation of the pressure
would not cause the muting plate to come away from the bridge so as to unmute
the violin.
For the larger bow instruments not held at the chin, as the violoncello, and
contrabass, the appliance would be constructed in the same manner but made
of a suitable size, and the plate (d) would be pressed with the foot of the
player.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
The construction of an appliance which may be affixed to the tailpiece of a violin
or other bow instrument for muting or subduing the tone thereof, substantially as
herein shewn and described.
ALL of Amil 1004
む
GEORGE SKINNER.