An Improved Thumb Rest for Violins, Violas, and other like Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb.. 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Thumb Rest for Violins, Violas, and other like Stringed
Musical Instruments.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLLIS, of Newcastle Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent,
Teacher of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Learners of the violin, and other like stringed musical instruments, are apt to
change the position of the hand, in applying the fingers directly to the strings.
This change of position is detrimental to the production of the proper notes, and
efficient playing.
The object of my invention, is a thumb rest for the fingering hand of the player,
and is so constructed and arranged, that the hand is by its means, kept in a
determinate position with respect to the neck and strings, so that the fingers when
applied, relative to the strings, proper notes are produced.
My invention consists primarily of a neck clip, with a loop or semi-loop thumb-
rest directed from its side, or from the near side of the said clip, when applied to an
instrument.
Thus, in carrying out my invention, I make the clip horse-shoe shape in form,
and with a stem or branch, directed obliquely upwards from the near side of it,
and which branch, is terminated by an open or spring clip suitable for the taking
of the thumb, or the end of it.
The said clip, which constitutes a rest for the thumb, may be semi-circular, or
opened at the front, or it may be a full circle or ellipse, split in manner, so as to
yield in accordance with the size of the thumb inserted, although I prefer to employ
generally, an open-fronted rest, alike unto a half-hoop.
Instead of a complete or half hoop rest, I may employ a fork shaped one, or
a bar.
When in use, the clip part of the rest, embraces the head, at the junction of it
with the neck, whilst the branch carrying the rest itself, is directed towards the
body of the instrument, and with the top side of the rest, disposing itself nearly in
a plane with the string-board, or top side of the neck.
When in use, a person passes the thumb through the rest, or against the rest,
and with the fingers taken around the off-side of the neck onto the strings, which
are to be fingered.
Dated this 20th day of May 1890.
FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLLIS.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Thumb Rest for Violins, Violas, and other like Stringed
Musical Instruments.
1, FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLLIS, of Newcastle Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent,
Teacher of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in wha
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
•
Learners of the violin, and like stringed musical instruments, are apt to change

page_text: the position of the hand, in applying the fingers to the strings. This change of
position is detrimental to the making of the proper notes, and good playing.
The object of my invention, is a thumb-rest, for the fingering hand of the player,
and is so constructed and arranged, that the hand of a player is by its means, kept
in a proper position, with respect to the strings and string board for the production
of proper notes in playing.
My invention consists primarily, of a neck clip, with a bar loop, or semi-loop
thumb rest, directed from it, or from the near side of it, when applied to an
instrument.
In carrying out my invention, I make the clip, preferably horse-shoe shape in
form, and with a stem or branch directed obliquely upwards from its near side, which
is terminated by an open or closed, or partially closed, thumb rest, in the form of a
bar or loop.
This said bar or loop, which constitutes a rest for the thumb, may be straight,
curved, semi-circular, or opened at the front, or it may be a full circle or ellipse,
split in manner so as to yield to the size of the thumb inserted, although I prefer to
employ generally, an open fronted rest, alike unto a bar or half hoop.
When in use, the clip part of the rest, embraces the head part of the violin, at
its junction with the neck, whilst the branch carrying the rest itself, is directed
towards the boby of the instrument and with the top side of the rest, disposing
itself nearly in a plane with the string-board, or top side of the neck.
When in use, a person passes the thumb through the rest, or against the rest, and
with the fingers taking around the off-side of the neck, onto the strings, which are
to be fingered.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in side elevation, the head and
lower neck part of a violin, provided with a thumb rest attachment, constructed and
applied according to one form of my invention.
Figure 2 represents a top side plan of Figure 1, showing the position of the rest
with respect to the neck finger board, and with the clip which is the inner part,
embracing the shoulder of the head, at the junction of the neck part with it. The
said view also shows the horse shoe shape of the clip, and how the same embraces
the shoulder part as aforesaid.
Figure 3 represents an underside plan of Figure 1, while Figure 4 shows a plan
of the thumb rest attachment separately.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the same. a is a horse-shoe shaped clip consisting
of a half-hoop bent piece of metal, with fore extensions a², of the branches of it.
b is a branch or stem, obliquely directed upwards from the near side of the said clip,
and with the same terminated by a curved and open thumb rest bar, against which
the thumb of the player, takes its bearing, and whereby the hand is kept in an
assigned position, for the application of the fingers upon the strings.
d is the head of the violin, with shoulder d', at the junction of it with the
neck e.
Figure 6 represents in side elevation, a thumb rest attachment, constructed
according to another form of my invention. The appliance is secured to the head
of a violin, by a clamping screw, passing through a branch of the said attachment,
and taking its bearing against the said fiddle head, hence the attachment of
the rest.
Figure 7 represents a transverse section of Figure 6, upon the dotted lines A. B.
Figure 8 is a front elevation, looking towards the thumb bearing of the rest.
a is the clip, embracing the head at the junction of the neck part of the violin.
a² is a rear and hooked end, and a³, a fore part, with a screw box a' through it,
wherethrough a clamping screw a, takes, with a swivelling head a, taking its
bearing upon the head d, at the junction of the neck e. c is a thumb rest, consisting
of a curved bar, against which the thumb takes its bearing, when the hand is in
position for playing.
The application of my invention to like stringed musical instruments as violins,
differs in no essential respect from its application to a violin as herein set forth.

page_text: 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 1
claim is :-
:
First A thumb rest attachment for violins and the like, consisting of a bar,
loop, or like rest, or stop, connected or secured to the said instruments, in manner,
and for the purpose as described and set forth.
Secondly-A thumb rest attachment for violins and the like, consisting of a
clip a, with open or loop rests c, with or without a branch, stem, or extension b, as
described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Thirdly-A thumb rest attachment for violins and the like, consisting of a bar
or loop rest c, with bracket attachment a, a, a, screw box a', and clamping
screw a, a, arranged and combined substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th dor of Fahm 1001
FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLLIS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.