Improvements in Harps or Zithers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1691
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harps or Zithers.
We, WILLIAM WASHINGTON BATCHELDER, Junior, Piano-tuner 875 Washington
Street, Boston, Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, and JOSEPH RICHARDSON
GREEN, Piano Merchant 164 "A" Tremont Street in said Boston, United States
of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates especially to an attachment for small harps, zithers and
similar instruments whereby a set of strings forming chords may be struck without
setting the adjacent or unharmonious strings into vibration; and it consists in
certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth, the object being to produce a
simpler, cheaper and more effective device of this character than is now in
ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a zither provided with our improvement ;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation; and
Figure 3 an elevation showing a modification in the formation of the bridge and
shield.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of
the drawing.
A represents the zither which is of the ordinary form and construction and is
provided with strings, b, strung in the usual manner.
Below the strings and across the top-board, d, a series of three bridges f g h,
are secured in parallelism.
To each bridge a series of guards or shields i, preferably consisting of sections
of soft rubber tubes are secured.
Through these guards certain of the strings 6 pass without contact. These
guards are so arranged on each bridge that the strings not enclosed therein when
struck will vibrate in harmony; for example, when the pick is drawn longitudinally
of the bridge f, over the strings, the guards or shields i, on said bridge protect
certain strings from the action of the pick while those exposed on said bridge,
when struck are in accord.
The guards are so arranged respectively on each bridge that the exposed strings
will sound different chords in a manner which will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters without a more explicit description.
By employing the cylindrical guard, described, disposed out of contact with the
strings which they encircle, said enclosed strings are permitted to vibrate freely
and the tones thereof are in no manner interfered with when the pick or thumb-piece
is employed thereon in the usual way.
We preferably form the guards of rubber tubing, as the flexibility of the
material prevents any harsh, grating noise from contact with the pick which freely
passes over said guards without causing the strings enclosed to vibrate.
It will be seen that the necessity of using dampers or similar devices for
stopping the vibration of certain strings while the others are played in harmony
is avoided by the use of our improvement and the disagreeable grating noise
caused by the contact of the pick or finger with said strings is done away with.
The shields or guards may be formed integral with the bridge, as in Figure 3,
if preferred, or each of the protected strings may be provided with an independent
shield fastened directly to the sounding-board without departing from the spirit

page_text: of our invention, the purpose of which is to protect determined strings from the
contact of the pick in playing chords.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
:-
First. A zither provided with a shield or set of shields protecting determined
strings from contact with the finger, pick or thumb-piece, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Second. In a zither or similar musical instrument a bridge secured to the
sounding-board and provided with guards or shields encircling determined strings
of said instrument, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In a zither or similar musical instrument a series of bridges secured to
the sounding-board in combination with a series of guards secured to each bridge,
said guards respectively protecting determined strings of the instrument, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. A zither or similar musical instrument, A. provided with a series of
bridges, as fg h, in combination with the series of guards, i, constructed of rubber
tubing or similar flexible material, said guards being secured to said bridges and
encircling determined strings of said instrument.
Dated this 4th day of August 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.