A Combined Rest and Guide for the Left Hand in Playing the Violin.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1885
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Rest and Guide for the Left Hand in Playing the
Violin.
FRANCIS LICHTenberger of Number 2, Mount Street, Stafford, in the County
of Stafford, Professor of Languages and Music, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
An appendage formed of wood or of some other suitable material which is attached
to the neck of the violin in order to sustain the left hand in its proper position―
and extending from the junction of the neck with the body of the violin to the
limit of the proper position for the thumb of the learner, & having a projection so
moulded as to support the fleshy part of the thumb in such a manner as to prevent
the hand from improperly twisting back to the left.
Dated this Fourth day of March 1895.
A Combined Rest and Guide for the Left Hand in Playing the
Violin.
I, FRANCIS LICHTENBERGER of 2 Mount Street Stafford, Teacher of Music,
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.
Learners of the violin experience a great difficulty in holding their instruments
in a steady and proper position with the left hand. They are apt to flatten the palm
of the hand upon the under part of the neck, and also, in making the notes on the
1st & 2nd strings, they twist back the hand towards the left, which is most detri-
mental to their becoming good players.
The aim of my invention is to provide a guide to enable the learner to assume at
once the right position with his left hand on the neck of the violin, and to be also a
rest when making the notes on the 1st & 2nd strings, especially the former.
In carrying out my invention I take a block of wood of such length as to reach
from the body of the violin, A Fig. 1, along the neck "b. b. b." so that it just touches
the thumb B when it is placed in the proper position on the neck. It must be about
2 inches in depth, and three inches in breadth.
It is hollowed out on the top and on the side where it joins the body of the
violin A, so that it fits the neck "b. b. b" accurately, surrounding it to very near
the level of the fingerboard "a. a."
"
Two notches "g" are cut out to fit it in the upper rim "c" one of which only is
shewn in Fig. 1, the other notch being on the opposite side of the neck, and
the bottom part "A" is reduced so that it just rests on the lower rim "d." To
produce a good model so as to give it its proper shape that it may fulfil its
purpose, let an expert violin player put his left hand in the proper position on the
Deck, placing his fingers so as to produce correctly and in the proper style the

page_text: notes on the 1st string F, G. A. B. If the block of wood is then so moulded
or hollowed out that it fits the hand exactly in the above mentioned position, it is
perfect.
It is then finished off in the usual manner.
To render it softer to the hand, it may be padded where it touches it.
As lightness is of great importance, those parts of it which do not interfere with
the purpose for which it is designed, may be reduced in thickness so far as to leave
sufficient resisting power to withstand the pressure of the thumb and wrist. When
accurately made it does not require any special fastening, it holds itself firm when
pushed on to the neck, the fleshy part of the thumb resting on it also helps to hold
it in position at the scroll end of the neck. To prevent its creaking as the hand
presses against it, the hollow part surrounding the neck may be lined with some
soft material, or it may be glued to the neck.
"
When in use the outer part of the thumb rests upon the point "B" on the left hand
side of the neck, the fleshy part of the thumb on that part marked in Fig. 1. "e. e.'
and the lower part of the thumb and wrist on "f.f."
27
Fig. 1, gives the front view of the rest & guide in its position on the neck “b. b. b.”
and on the body of the violin A. "g" is the notch on the front view fitting in the
upper rim "c."
"e. e." is a convex projection against which the fleshy part of the
thumb rests, and "f.f." is the lower, somewhat hollowed out projection to receive
the lower portion of the thumb and part of the wrist in order to hinder the hand
from twisting back to the left.
Fig. 2, shews that part of Fig. 1, where it ends towards the scroll end of the
neck "b. b. b." and the finger-board "a. a." B is the point where the outer part of
the thumb touches it.
The application of my invention to a viola does not in any essential respect differ
from its application to a violin as herein set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :-
First. A combined rest & guide attachment for violins, consisting of a block
of wood, secured to the said instrument, in manner, and for the purpose as described
& set forth,
Secondly. A combined rest & guide attachment for violins, consisting of a block
of wood, C, as described and set forth in Figs. 1 & 2.
Thirdly. A combined rest & guide attachment for violins, consisting of a block
of wood, moulded as shewn in Fig. 1, arranged and combined substantially as set
forth.
Dated this Fourth day of June 1895.