Improvements in or connected with Zithers and similar Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Zithers and similar Instruments.
I, THEODOR MEINHOLD, Manufacturor, of Klingenthal, in the German Empire,
do hereby declare the nature of this iuvention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 26 of the accompanying drawings relates
to a device applicable to zithers and similar instruments, and distinguishable by its
peculiar construction and operation. Its main feature resides in the provision of
movable and adjustable dainpor bars or strips adapted to be depressed either by
means of levers, which are, for this purpose, mounted above the same, or through
the medium of studs or keys guided by fixed bearings. And it further comprises
an indicating device, whereby the chords requisite for a piece of music-no matter
to what key it be set--may readily be found by a purely mechanical process.
The construction and arrangement of the various parts of the invention and of
its several modificatious will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figs. 1 to 3 represent an arrangement wherein the damper bars or strips are
fitted for operation by means of freely movable levers.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the damper-dopressing levers are
mounted upon an axle or pivot.
Figs. 6 to 7 show an arrangement in which the damper-bars are placed under a
cover-plate and adapted to be moved to the required extent by means of a dampor-
adjusting device.
Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which the displacement or adjustment of each
damper-bar is effected by means of a depressing knob.
Figs. 9 and 10 are views of a similar arrangement, wherein each damper-bar is
connected by an adjustable spring with another similar plate or band to be employed
in depressing it.
Fig. 11 shows a similar arrangement, the damper-bars being also connected with
the depressing plates by springs.
Fig. 12 is another similar view of a damper-bar movable together with the
depressing plate by means of pins or studs.
Fig. 13 is an elevation, and Fig. 14 a plan, of a damper arrangement with a
chord shect placed over it.
Fig. 15 is a plan similar to Fig. 14, but showing the major signs or symbols
marked upon the damper bars.
Fig. 16 is a section, and Fig. 17, a plan, of a chord sheet, which in addition to
setting the chords, serves for the corresponding adjustment of the damper bars.
Fig. 18 is a section and Fig. 19 a plau, illustrating a method of fitting the chord
sheet in position in such a manner that the damper bars may be adjusted without
the necessity of removing the chord sheet.
Figs. 20 to 22 nro sections of damper bars strengthened or stiffened by means of
metal ribs or fittings embedded in them.
Fig. 23 is a sectional elevation of a dumper arrangement, wherein the knob of
the depressing plate is not connected with the damper bar adjusting pin passing
through, and emerging from, the said plate.
Fig. 24 is a similar view of an arrangement in which the depressing knob aud
damper bar pin are joined together; and

page_text: Fig. 25 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 26 a corresponding plan, of a similar
arrangement, in which, instead of a depressing lever, a fixed plate is placed over
the damper bars.
The zither or similar instrument is provided with damper plates or bars A
adapted to be operated by means of depressing levers C placed over them.
These depressing levers always act, each, upon the central portion of the damper
plato underlying it, it being possible, nevertheless, to make the several levers of
unequal length and with their depressing knobs or keys (respectively) out of line
with each other (see Figs. 1 to 5, 11 to 19, and 23 to 26).
The levers may either be free or pivotted nt a.
The complete damper arrangement may be closed in or covered over by a guard
plate, but so that the depressing knobs d project above the said plate (see Figs. G
and 7).
As shown in Figs. 9, 10, 25 and 26, the said depressing knobs or keys may, if
desired, be connected with the lower adjustable damper bars A, in which case each
lever C should be provided with a guiding slot for the pins of the depressing
knob to move in.
For arresting the parts of an arrangement such as this in the required position,
spring-controlled bolts or catches and recesses or notches g, for their reception,
are provided between the levers C and the damper-bars A (see Figs. 23 to 25).
Each knob d, while serving its proper purpose of depressing the dampers, is here,
at the same time, the means of adjusting the corresponding damper bar (see Fig. 24).
Where the series of damper bars are covered over with a plate, such plate should
be provided with slots 6 for the free displacement of the depressing pins (see
Figs. 8, 25 and 26).
•
The damper bars, which may vary in shape as desired, and are arranged, secured
and guided in any suitable manner, may, for instance, have special sliding pins h
(see Figs. 6 and 7) for shifting the damper bars longitudinally, and therefore at a
right angle to the strings.
Furthermore, the said damper bars, in order to be capable of assuming as great
a number of different positions as possible, may have a much greater length than
would correspond to the distance between the extreme right and left hand strings
of the instrument (see Figs. 23 and 25).
Each of the damper bars is provided with a suitable number of damper pads c,
located in convenient positions.
To prevent the damper bars and the depressing levers becoming warped or bent,
they are stiffened with metal ribs or fittings k, of any suitable shape, extending
through them longitudinally, as exemplified in Figs. 20 to 22.
In order that the said damper bars may retain their position after adjustment,
suitably constructed retaining or arresting devices may be combined with the
adjusting pins h.
The complete instrument, fitted with damper-bars in accordance with this
invention, may vary within wide limits, as regards its particular type, finish and
general appearance.
To render the damper bars adjustable, while at the same time ensuring their
uniform descent, without resorting to any special depressing levors, but by the
employment of fixed depressing pins or studs only, an arrangement, such as is shown
in Figs. 6 to 8, may be adopted, the sories of levers being here replaced by a fixed
plate or bridge B.
The knobs d or keys, whilst being primarily intended for the depression of the
dampers, may also be made serviceable for retaining the damper-plates A in the
required position after adjustment, as illustrated (for example) in Fige. 6 to 8.
This number of damper-bars, the arrangement of the damper-pads, and the
manner in which the instrument is constructed and fitted up as a whole, may all
vary within wide limits.
For the purpose of raising the damper bars, an arrangement, such as is shown in
Figs. 9 and 10, may be employed, that is to say, there may be provided, above the

page_text: depressing levers, the corresponding number of upwardly pressing springs m; the
levers C being, however, connected with the underlying damper bars by intermediate
loose or "sweeping" springs which, moreover, serve as a convenient medium for
retaining the longitudinally movable damper-bars in position.
The arrangement which enables the chords, corresponding to the given piece of
music in key, to be found mechanically or automatically, and the damper-bars to be.
accordingly adjusted, is substantially as follows;
It is necessary, to remark, that slides are used for adjusting or setting the chord
plates, or their respective duinper-pads to the required notes, and it is this part
which frequently causes inconvenience to the performer.
But even though slides be dispensed with, some difficulty must yet be experienced
in striking the required chords; and, to obviate this difficulty, special chord-sheets.
have been provided.
The object of these chord indicating sheets R is, to enable the plates-which-
require depressing in order to produce chords corresponding to the key of the piece.
or tune which is being played-to be easily and quickly found.
The said sheets R may either be placed over the chord-plates lo-sely, or retained
above the same by means of a suitable clamping device (see Figs. 13 and 14); or
they may be provided with slots, such as i (Figs. 16 to 19), so as to facilitate the
proper adjustment of the chord slides, provided on the several chord plates of the
zithor.
The relative position of the said slots is such that, unless the slides are in their
proper situations, the chord plates cannot be passed over the projections or handles s
of the slides, in being laid over the chord plates; or, in other words, such.
projections will not, otherwise, engage in the slots i.
In instruments provided with slides or runners of the class referred to, the chord
indicator need not, however, be passed over such slides.
The slides may, moveover, be moved in accordance with a predetermined
diagram or pattern, as shown, and the chord iudicating plate may, if desired, be:
arranged beside such slides or runners.
Figures 16 to 19 illustrate such an arrangement of a chord indicating sheet,.
whereas Figures 14 and 13 represent an arrangement adapted for use in connection
with zithers unprovided with slides or runners.
The surface of the chord indicating sheets (Figs. 14, 17 and 19) is provided with
letters indicating the key, and with other symbols or marks combined with the-
letters to indicate in what manner the notes are to be played.
The numbers appearing ou tho sheots indicate the order in which the damper
bars are to be depressed in order to produce the melody marked on the sheet.
Fig. 19 also shows a chord indicating sheet, adapted to change the key while the
music sheet is in use, the slots i being so prolonged in the direction of the motion of
the bars, that the slide knobs s can be shifted while the music sheet lies on the
instrument, aud that the player may immediately pass from a najor to a minor key
and vice versa, after the corresponding damper bar has been placed in the required
position by shifting the slide.
The last mentioned symbols may have various shapes and colours.
The sheets may be made of cardboard, paper, wood or metal.
The shapes and dimensions of the several parts of the device may vary in all the
modifications herein described, and the general form or appearance of the eutiro
instrument may be diversified at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In zithers and similar string instruments, the combination of the damper bars,
with levers situated above the same aud adapted to depress the said bars uniformly,.
substantially as described and shown.
2. In zithers and similar string instruments, the combination of damper-bare.

page_text: capable of being shifted, with levers adapted to depress the said bars uniformly,
substantially as described and shown.
3. In zithers and similar string instruments, the combination of damper bars
capable of being shifted, with levers situated above the same and adapted to depress
the said bars uniformly, and a cover plate adapted to guide the depressing pins or
keys, substantially as described and shown by Figs. 8, 25 and 26.
4. The construction and arrangement of the depressing levers and damper bars
in such a manner, that the depressing pins or keys are guided in the levers C by
means of slots, and are so connected with the damper bar, that they may also
serve as slides, the cover plate situated above the damper bars being also provided
with slots for the laterally (horizontally) movable depressing pins, and spring bolts
being provided for securing the damper bars in their position, substantially as
described and shown.
5. Chord-indicating sheets for zithers and similar string instruments, having the
characteristic feature, that they are provided with numbers for the chord bars to be
depressed and also with marks for major and minor, said sheets being either placed
loosely over the chord bars, or held fast by means of a suitable clamping device, or
provided with slots i, which will only allow the sheet to be placed over the damper
bars, if the chord slides s applied to the bars are placed correctly, substantially as
described and shown.
6. Damper-bare, depressing bars or chord plates for zithers and similar string
instruments, containing strips of metal or other suitable material sunk into the said
bars to prevent them from warping, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of March 1895.
THEODOR MEINHOLD,
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.
THEODOR MEINHOLD,
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.