Improvements in Harps, Zithers, and similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harps, Zithers, and similar Musical Instruments.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18
Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by Alfred
Dolge, of New York, N.Y., United States of America, Manufacturer, and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improvement in harps and the invention consists in
the novel features of construction set forth in the following Specification and claim
and illustrated in the annexed drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the harp.
Figure 2 is a section along x x Fig. 1.
In this drawing the letter A indicates the back of a harp or zither and B is the
sounding board. The strings C extending over bridges Dare secured to hitch
pins E and tuning pins F. From the sounding board extend risers or arms G in
which are journalled bars H having fingers or dampers I.
The projections or noses K on the bars are pressed by triggers or pushers L.
By depressing a pusher the corresponding rod H is turned so as to swing its
dampers toward the strings. By arranging the dampers on a bar so that they
will silence or cut out certain strings on contacting with the latter the bars can be
used with great effect since the uncut or speaking strings may be such as to produce
a certain chord.
When the trigger L is released a spring M will swing the bar H to restore the
dampers to the starting point away from the strings. One or more bars may be
employed as desired.
By arranging the bars H underneath the strings C said bars will not obstruct
the player's view of the strings nor will said bars interfere with the fingers of
the player sounding the strings so that the required strings are left free or
unobstructed for playing while at the same time the bars can produce their
damping effect.
The bars can be provided with marks or characters which are readily visible
between the overlying strings and which marks or characters can indicate the
strings cut out by the bar or if desired the chord or strings left free or uncut when
said bar is actuated.
In the drawing are shown a series of bars but of course the number of bars
can be increased or diminished, for example in simple instruments or toy instru-
ments or in instruments for teaching beginners one bar may be sufficient,
while by increasing the number of bars the variety of damping effects can be
increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a harp of a series of bars (one or more) arranged
transversely across underneath the strings thereof and provided with fingers or
dampers for contacting with and silencing or cutting out certain strings when said
bars are moved substantially as described.
2. The combination with a harp of a series of rotary bars (one or more) arranged
transversely across the strings thereof and provided with fingers or dampers for

page_text: contacting with and silencing or cutting out certain strings when said bars are
rotated substantially as described.
3. The combination with a harp of a series of rotary bars (one or more) arranged
transversely across the strings thereof and provided with fingers or dampers, triggers
or pushers made to act on the bars and restoring springs for said bars substantially
as described.
4. The combination with a harp of a series of bars (one or more) arranged trans-
versely across underneath the strings thereof and provided with fingers or dampers
and triggers or pushers for the bars made to extend from the latter up above the
strings substantially as described.
5. The combination with a harp of a series of bars (one or more) arranged trans-
versely across underneath the strings thereof and adapted to silence or cut out
certain strings and to leave the remaining strings free or exposed substantially as
described.
لبدو
ليد
1
1
1000
R. HADDAN.