An Improved Mute for Violins and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mute for Violins and like Musical Instruments.
I, JACOB FENIGSTEIN, of 68, Columbia Road, Hackney Road, in the County of
London, Surgical Instrument Maker, 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 improved mute for violins and like stringed
instruments having bridges.
When applying such mutes as hitherto constructed it has been necessary to force
or push them on to the bridge of the instrument thereby frequently causing the
bridge to shift its position and alter the pitch of the instrument or make it out of
tune, at the same time this forcing of the mute on to the bridge frequently injured
or defaced it.
My invention has for object to provide a mute which can be applied to the bridge
of an instrument without having to force or push it thereon and to attain this
object I construct my mute in two parts connected together hingewise a suitable
spring being provided which always tends to keep the parts of the device, which
pass over the bridge, together. I also cover the inner faces of my mute with felt,
or other suitable soft material.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it
can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which:-
Figure 1 is a face view of a mute for violins and like musical instruments made
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an edge view, and
Figure 3 is a plan of the same:
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of part of a violin with my improved mute
placed on the bridge thereof.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
a and bare the two parts of which my mute is constructed such parts being
formed with slots a¹ to allow of the same being passed over the strings of the
instrument and hinged together at c, c.
d is the spring coiled around the hinge-pin e thereof for normally keeping the
parts closed (or any other suitable spring may be employed): f,indicate the felt
or other soft inaterial with which I cover the inner faces of the two parts a, b.of.
the mute.
In order to place a mute of this construction on the bridge of a violin or like
stringed instrument, the two parts a, b thereof being in their closed or normal
position as shewn by the full lines in Figure 2, it is only necessary with the finger
and thumb to press together the upper ends of the said parts so as to open the
lower ends as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 2 when the mute can without
pressure be placed in position over the bridge g, Figure 4, of the instrument and
being released will clip the bridge as shewn without risk of shifting the position of
the bridge the felt f, preventing the mute from scratching or otherwise injuring
the bridge and ensuring a firm grip.

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 I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of the improved mute for violins and like musical
instruments hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.