Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
1, CARL GOTTLOB SCHUSTER junior, of Markneukirchen, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide stringed instruments for instance violins
and others, with ready and efficient means for ascertaining standards of tone, to which
reference may be made during the tuning of the instrument for the proper adjustment
of the tone of the strings.
To this end I provide in a suitably accessible position on the violin or other instru-
ment, a tuning fork or forks or a similar metallic or other sounding object or objects
capable of giving, when struck or sounded, always a certain standard tone or tones..
The said sounding object or objects are preferably mounted on the tongue which holds"
the strings. Where a separate sounding object is arranged for each string as a
standard of tone thereto, the said objects are rendered adjustable for different standards:
of tone. They may be steel wire or rods capable of sliding and being fixed at suitable
position in a holder, whereby the length available for vibration may be adjusted and
corresponding standards of tone thereby attained.
Dated this 24th dow of Ton 1888

page_text: Improvements relating to the Tuning of Stringed Instruments.
I CARL GOTTLOB SCHUSTER, Junior, of 255/256 Erlbacherstrasse, Markenukirchen,
in the Empire of Germany Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide stringed instruments for instance violins
and others with ready and efficient means for ascertaining standards of tone to which
reference may be made during the tuning of the instrument for the proper adjustment
of the tone of the strings.
To this end I provide in a suitable accessible position on the violin or other instru-
ment a tuning fork or forks or a similar metallic or other sounding object or objects
capable of giving when struck or sounded always a certain standard tone or tones.
The said sounding object or objects are preferably mounted on the tongue which holds
the strings. Where a separate sounding object is arranged for each string as a
standard of tone thereto, the said objects are rendered adjustable for different standards
of tone.
They may be steel wires or rods capable of sliding and being fixed at suitable
position in the holder whereby their length available for vibration may be adjusted
and corresponding standards of tone thereby attained.
For violins and like instruments the sounder may be placed on the tongue or tail
piece, for pianofortes on the cross bar or other accessible place.
A further improvement consists in providing a tuning fork as such sounder with a
removable damper for preventing vibration thereof and for causing such vibration by
its removal.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates in plan and Fig. 2 in elevation a tuning fork of known shape
arranged on the tongue of a violin.
Fig. 3 illustrates in plan and Fig. 4 in elevation a holder having four vibrating bars
arranged on the tongue of a violin.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation. Fig. 6 is a plan view and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 sectional
and detail views showing the tuning fork provided with the damper.
Referring to Fig. 1 A is the tongue carrying the ends of the strings of a violin. In
the example shown a slot is cut in the tongue and the tuning fork a is fixed therein so
that one of its limbs may be easily struck when tuning the violin giving out the
normal "A" note from which the "A" string may be tuned the others being tuned
by comparison with the "A" string. In the modified device shown in Figs. 3 and 4
a bridge C is connected by a rigid arm F to the tongue A. The arm F has two lateral
claws D catching over the edge of the tongue A and clamped up under the latter by
the set screw E or it may be otherwise fixed to or made rigid with the tongue. The
rods g da e named after the corresponding musical notes are fixed or adjustably held

page_text: in sockets in the bridge C said sockets being preferably so arranged equidistant,
the outer sockets below the level of the inner sockets and all inclined so that the rods
lie in the manner shown in Fig. 3 whereby the striking of the rods is facilitated. The
rods g da e if fixed in the bridge vibrate, to the notes of one standard only, to render
them capable of adjustment for different standards they may be made to slide in the
sockets of the bridge C and set screws be arranged in the bridge holding them in the
positions required.
In Figs. 5 to 9 a tuning fork is shown with a movable damper so contrived as to
prevent vibration of the fork during performance on the instrument or at other times
when desired and by the act of its removal to set the fork in vibration. This con-
trivance can also be multiplied so that there is one for each string.
The construction is as follows:
The tail piece is provided with the cavity b into which is inserted the fork shaped
sound indicator B. The latter has at the ends of its forks the shoulders i. On the
front of the tail piece is the slides which can be easily moved by the player. This
slide carries the damper p which can be moved on or between the shoulders i of the
fork thus preventing all vibration of the sound indicator during the performance of
the instrument. When the slide is moved outward and the damper is drawn towards
the shoulders i the fork is quickly spread and let loose so as to vibrate and remit a
sound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with the string holder of a stringed instrument of tone giving
apparatus attached thereto and consisting of one or more tone indicators adjustable or
fixed for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the tongue of a stringed instrument with a tuning fork B
inserted into said tongue said fork having shoulders i and a slide p provided with a
damper in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of a bridge C, a series of sounding rods g da e adjustably
attached thereto an arm B, claws D D and set screw E substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dotad this 92nd dox of October 1888