Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
JOHN THORPE 23 Vicarage Road, Croydon, Surrey Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A tail-piece is constructed of two portions, one being remale, and the other male.
The rear part of female portion, and the forward part of male portion is connected
by a vertical pin with a cam on centre, passing through said parts.
The top part of vertical pin is provided with a lever.
The forward part of female portion of tail piece is provided with holes for
connecting the strings in the ordinary way.
The rear part of male portion is provided with means of attachment to
instrument.
In the case of a violin, the improved tail piece is attached to strings, and gut
at "button in the ordinary manner. The strings of instruments may be relaxed
when not in use, or instantly tightened simultaneously, by means of the vertical
cam pin being operated on by lever, thereby lengthening & shortening tail piece.
On musical string instruments that are not provided with a tail piece, this
mechanism may be applied, for the purpose of simultaneously relaxing and re-
tightening strings, by the cam action of pin, which may be vertical or horizontal,
as in the case of pianos etc.
Dated 13th day of April 1892.
JOHN THORPE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
JOHN THORPE 23 Vicarage Road, Croydon, Surrey, 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 mode for relaxing all strings simultaneously
of musical stringed instruments, violins, and other instruments of such nature, and
retightning same to precisely the same tension.
I attain these objects by constructing a tailpiece consisting of two parts. One
male and the other female, and connecting the two said pieces, by a pin, with a
cam in centre, passing through said parts as shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan of tailpiece shewing same closed or tightened.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through E E.
Figure 3 is a portion of plan of tailpiece, shewing same extended or relaxed.
The male portion A has a tongue or link D in centre of forward end. This
tongue is provided with a hole in the centre of end. The female portion B is
slotted longitudinally and of sufficient width and thickness for receiving the tongue
of male portion. The rear part of this female portion is provided with holes.
The forward part is provided with holes for receiving the strings in the usual
way.
The two portions A and B are connected together by a pin C, having a cam in
centre. The top portion of pin is slotted transversely for the purpose inhereafter
explaned. When the two portions are connected together by the pin, they form
one extending tail-piece. This tail-piece is connected to the strings at forward
part B in the usual manner. The rear portion A is secured to the "button" of
violin.

page_text: When the strings are required to be slackened a tool is placed in the slot at the
top of the pin. By this leverage the cam is turned, extending the tail-piece longi-
tudinally as shewn in Figure 3.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
Claim 1. In a tailpiece of violin, of a female portion B having longitudinal slot
in rear part, and holes passing through said slot, substantially as shewn.
Claim 2. In a tailpiece of violin, of a male portion A having tongue or link D
at forward part, and having a hole in centre thereof as shewn.
Claim 3. In combination, of a pin C. with tranverse slot, having cam in centre,
passing through aforesaid holes, of rear portion B, and forward part of portion D.
substantially as shewn for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of January 1893.
JOHN THORTE,
Applicant.