An Improved Method of Making Violins and other similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application. 30th June, 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
COMILEIN DIPUITIVATION.
An Improved Method of Making Violins and other similar Musical
Instruments.
We, WILLIAM BROWN, Hatter, and JOHN HENRY BROWN, Hatter's
Apprentice, both of Willis Street, in the City of Wellington, in the Colony
of New Zealand, 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, that is to say :-
The objects of our invention are to manufacture violins and other similar musical
instruments in an expeditious and effectual manner by making use of a novel
homogeneous material and a method of manufacture, by which a good quality of
tone can be obtained with greater certainty, and instruments constructed which
will be almost counterparts of one another.
We then
To perform these objects we take about five pieces of calico, (by preference) that
which is called in the trade "hatter's calico" and five pieces of twill, (by
preference) that which is called in the trade "hatter's twill." We also prefer that
these pieces of calico and twill should vary in the size of their mesh.
prepare a solution of shellac in the following manner. We take one pound of
shellac, preferably best orange shellac, one ounce of liquid ammonia of about a
specific gravity of 880, and one quart of water. Having boiled the water, we
place it in the shellac and ammonia, taking care that the shellac is on the top
as to prevent evaporation as far as possible. We then slowly boil these
ingredients together for about one hour and allow the mixture to cool. Having
thoroughly soaked the calico in the solution we prefer to hang and stretch the
several sheets alternately one of calico and one of twill on a frame pressing each
piece, and as each piece is placed on rubbing out any air bubbles or inequalities so
as to make them lie evenly and smoothly.
SO
Having stretched the layers of material on the frame as aforesaid we leave them
to dry for about 24 hours according to the state of the weather, after which we
place them whilst still on the frame, over a stove to dry more thoroughly, which
generally takes place in about 12 hours. When the heat of the sun can be made
use of we find it very effectual without using the stove. After being thus dried we
consolidate the several layers by pressing and smoothing with hot irons, continuing
the operation until the substance is comparatively cold. Of course this operation
can be performed by rollers, presses, or other mechanical means.
Having thus thoroughly consolidated the substance it can be cut into pieces of
suitable size and placed on blocks or moulds, and pressed by hand or by mechanical
means into the required form for the back and front of the violin.
For the ribs of the violin, we take a strip of the same material, but (by
preference) made of seven thicknesses of the textile fabric, and we fit the strip to
the form of the ribs with a hot iron so as to suit the various curves. This
operation may be more readily performed by making the iron in the form of a
roller, heating it, and running it round the edges of the violin so as to thoroughly
fit the ribs to the bottom and top. To receive, attach, and strengthen the ribs
and also to attach the handle, we make use of the usual blocks as in an ordinary
instrument, and we fasten the whole together by means of a well known varnish
formed of shellac and methylated spirits such as is used by hat makers, and which
may be further strengthened by the addition of Gum Sandarach.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details,
as for instance other textile fabrics such as silk or linen might be used, or Kauri
Gum might be used instead of shellac, and the several details may be varied without
departing from the principle of our invention.

page_text: 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
The manufacture of violins and other similar musical instruments with the
materials and by the process, substantially as described herein.
Dated this 30th day of June 1891.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.