Improvements in or connected with Musical Instruments, specially applicable to Violin-pianos.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Musical Instruments, specially
applicable to Violin-pianos.
->
I, JOHN MUTCH, of 32 Cawley Road, Victoria Park, Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object, certain improvements in or connected with musical
instruments inore particularly those of the violin-piano" class.
::
According to my invention, the strings are arranged horizontally over a sounding
box or similar device, or series of sounding boxes representing the violin, viola,
violoncello, and bass &c. and are carried at the tuning end by a cross piece of wood,
or other suitable material representing the small part of an are of a circle with a
radius equal to its distance from the bridge. This cross piece may be connected to
the sounding body by an arm or arms, or may be separate.
Upon the front of this arc, is what term, a carriage (one for each string)
composed of wood, metal, or other suitable material with wheels or quadrants, or
similar device, the whole working up and down the face of the arc. Each string is
attached to its carriage or to a tuning screw on the back of the carriage. The face
of the carriage next the cross are is also a part of the arc of a circle with a radius
equal to its distance from the bridge.
The wheels or quadrants may vary in diameter according to the strain on the
strings and the up and down movement of the carriage varies according to the
length of the string from the bridge. The bridge is flat on the top and may be
angled across the sounding body. At the other end of the sounding body, the
strings may be attached to a tail piece with tightening screws, or may be connected
to a cross piece independently. Each string may also be attached to a spring,
lever, weight, or similar device arranged in the most convenient form and place
regulated to the tension on the string when in tune, so that any expansion or
contraction &c. is allowed for and the tension remaining the same, the string is
thereby always kept in tune, or nearly so. The string may be carried over rollers
or pullies to case the friction.
From the carriage, by means of a simple lever arrangement, a connection is made
to the key board, so that when a key is touched it moves the carriage up the are
and presses the string against an endless hair bow on adjustable band of steel or
other material running across the strings. The rod or lever from the carriage which
carries the string is common to the white key and to the black key immediately
adjacent to it on the right hand side, so that when either key is pressed, it moves
the carriage, the string having the sound corresponding to the white key.
Attached to the black key, is another rod or lever which touches the string at a
short distance in, sufficiently reducing the vibrating length of the string to give the
sound represented by the black key. When the black key is therefore depressed,
it moves the carriage and touches the string at the same time thereby giving it its
proper note and thus doing away with a string carriage, tuning screws, &c.
A number of keys may also be similarly treated, for instance, all the notes
represented on each string of the different violin instruments, one carriage to every
string with its usual note and key, and the string shortened according to the note
required by the lever arrangement on the other keys, the movement of the carriage
being common to all the keys representing the notes on that string.
Where the string is touched and its vibrating length thereby reduced it may be
pressed or grasped as desired in order to give a full note. Where the strings are in
great tension, a balance spring may be fitted to the carriage and travel up and
down with it in guides to relieve the tension and reduce the pressure required at the

page_text: keys to move the carriage. Springs or similar devices are used to bring the
carriage down the arc.
Across the face of the strings is a frame with a tooth to each string. These
teeth are thrown in and out of gear by levers and foot pedal. When the teeth are
in gear they are close to the strings, and when the latter are moved up they touch
the tooth causing the "pizzicato" sound. A self acting spring and peculiar shaped
tooth allows the string to go noiselessly back ready for the next stroke, the endless
band can, at the same time, be raised by a foot pedal.
A small part of the end of the black keys may be reduced to the level of the
white ones in order to facilitate running the fingers along.
The above arrangement refers to a horizontal violin piano but a vertical violin-
piano may be similarly arranged.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Mutch.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Musical Instruments, specially
applicable to Violin-pianos.
1, Jonx MUTCH, of 32 Cawley Road, Victoria Park, Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for object, certain improvements in or connected with musical
instruments more particularly those of the violin-piano class.
According to my invention, the strings are arranged horizontally over a sounding
box or similar device, or series of sounding boxes representing the violin, viola,
violoncello, and bass &c. and are carried at the tuning end by a cross piece of
wood, or other suitable material representing the small part of an arc of a circle
with a radius equal to its distance from the bridge. This cross piece may be
connected to the sounding body by an arm or arms, or may be separate.
Upon the front of this are, is what I term, a carriage (one for each string)
composed of wood, metal, or other suitable material with wheels or quadrant or
Each string
similar device, the whole working up and down the face of the are.
is attached to its carriage, or to a tuning screw on the back of the carriage. The
face of the carriage next the cross arc is also a part of the arc of a circle with a
radius equal to its distance from the bridge.
The wheels or quadrants may vary in diameter according to the strain on the
strings and the up and down inovement of the carriage varies according to the
length of the string from the bridge. The bridge is flat on the top and may be
angled across the sounding body. At the other end of the sounding body, the
strings may be attached to a tail piece with tightening screws or may be connected
to a cross piece independently. Each string may also be attached to a spring,
lever, weight, or similar device arranged in the most convenient form and placc
regulated to the tension on the string when in tune, so that any expansion or
contraction &c. is allowed for and the tension remaining the same; the string is
thereby always kept in tune, or nearly so. The string may be carried over rollers
or pullies to case the friction.
From the carriage by means of a simple lever arrangement, a connection is
made to the key board, so that when a key is touched it moves the carriage up the
are and presses the string against an endless hair bow on adjustable band of steel,
or other material running across the strings.
The rod or lever from the carriage which carries the string is common to the
white key and to the black key immediately adjacent to it on the right hand side,

page_text: that when either key is pressed, it moves the carriage, the string
he sound corresponding to the white key. Attached to the black key is another
od or lever which touches the string at a short distance in sufficiently reducing the
ibrating length of the string to give the sound represented by the black key.
Vhen the black key is therefore depressed, it moves the carriage and touches the
tring at the same time, thereby giving it its proper note, and thus doing away
ith a string carriage, tuning screws &c.
A number of keys may also be similarly treated, for instance, all the notes
epresented on each string of the different violin instruments one carriage to every
tring with its usual note and key and the string shortened according to the note
equired by the lever arrangement on the other keys, the movement of the carriage
being common to all the keys representing the notes on that string. Where the
string is touched and its vibrating length thereby reduced, it may be pressed or
grasped, as desired, in order to give a full note. Where the strings are in great
ension, a balance spring may be fitted to the carriage and travel up and down with
it in guides to relieve the tension and reduce the pressure required at the keys to
move the carriage; springs or similar devices are used to bring the carriage down
the arc.
Across the face of the strings is a frame with a tooth to each string. These
When the teeth are
teeth are thrown in and out of gear by levers and foot pedal.
in gear, they are close to the strings, and when the latter are moved up they touch
the tooth, causing the pizzicato sound.
A self-acting spring and peculiar shaped tooth allows the string to go noiselessly
back ready for the next stroke, the endless band can, at the same time, be raised
by a foot pedal.
A small part of the end of the black keys may be reduced to the level of the
white ones in order to facilitate running the fingers along.
The above arrangement refers to a horizontal violin-piano but a vertical violin-
piano may be similarly arranged.
In order that my invention may be more readily comprehended, I have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an instrument embodying the several parts
of my invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation illustrating the method of obtaining the hait or black
note tones.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the part mentioned under the third head of my
invention.
Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the particular construction of bridge piece
referred to under the fourth part of my invention.
Figure is a plan of an instrument with one sounding box of ordinary violin
shape, and the usual number of strings, showing an arrangement for obtaining all
the notes usual to each string.
Figure 6 is a plan of a sounding box for producing approximately the sound of
various instruments.
By the construction and arrangement of the several parts illustrated in the
drawings in the manner hereinafter fully described, I am enabled to produce an
instrument that can be operated or played upon by one or more persons with the
same facility as an ordinary piano, to which it bears a close resemblance in its
outward formation, but the essential difference is that instead of the strings being
struck by hammers they are vibrated by contact with a revolving endless hair bow
or bows emitting the sounds of a violin, viola, violoncello, and bass instrument,
either individually or collectively, the fulness or volume of sound being controlled
by the pressure exerted upon the keys, or by the speed of the bow.
As an alternative, I may instead of using several sounding boxes, make one
sounding box of such a shape, see Figure 6, as to approximately give the essential
tones of a violin, viola, cello, and bass, or any intermediate tone to the strings as
they are vibrated by the bow. Or I may also utilize a violin, viola, cello, etc.

page_text: together or separately to form one complete instrument in itself, the four strings
being attached to fundamental keys, the other notes and half notes, common and
usual to each string, being obtained by auxiliary keys in the manner shown in
.Figure 5.
Referring more particularly to Figure 1, A is a key board containing in this
case, a complement of keys necessary to a 7 octave instrument, said keys are
centrally pivotted in the usual manner, or as shown in Figure 5. The inner end
of the keys are attached in any articulate manner to connecting bars B, the opposite
end of said connecting bars being attached to movable carriages C, on the front of
which are arranged a series of tuning hooks with strings D of gut, silver, or other-
wise, attached thereto, said strings passing through a long hole in the carriage,
affording a good bearing for same, and are tightly stretched over the sounding
boxes upon bridge pieces E of the particular, or other suitable form shown in
Figure 4, to other tuning hooks, if desired.
In order that the great static pull of the strings due to the tension put upon them
by the adjustable tuning hooks for obtaining the right tone or note shall not
interfere with the ease or freedom of movement in the keys, and also that the
pitch, or particular note of each string may not be altered by the movement of the
string when lifted by the keys, I curve the inside of the movable carriage C to
the arc of a circle with a radius equal to the distance of the arc from the bridge E,
the pull on each carriage C being borne by roilers, or quadrants Farranged at a
radial distance from the ring, and varying in diameter according to the strain upon
and vertical lift of the carriages, which is of course proportionate to the thickness
and length of the strings D.
To obtain the necessary lift of the strings D over the bass sounding box with
the same amount of depression of the keys, I employ a radius bar G, see Figure 1,
fulcrumed at one end, and attached to the connecting bar B at the other end, the
inner end of the key lifting the radius bar at about one third the distance from its
centre.
For the purpose of keeping the strings in perfect, or nearly perfect tune having
once been tensioned to the required degree, I employ the device shown in connection
with Figure 1, the back end of the string D being attached to a long lever I a
short distance from its pivotal point or fulcrum J, the opposite end of the lever
being adapted to carry a weight, which may be adjusted at any distance along the
lever to obtain the correct pull upon the string for obtaining the proper pitch of
note, and as the lever has a free movement, either up or down, it follows that
within given limits, the string may slacken out, or tighten up owing to varying
temperature, or moisture of the atmosphere, or other causes, without in any way
altering the pitch or correctness of the note. The lever automatically acting to
compensate for any movement of the string; it moreover has the advantage of
enabling an inexperienced person to keep the instrument in working order by
allowing him to shorten the string by means of the adjustable link K should it at
any time lengthen too much from any cause without interfering with the pitch or
correctness of the note for the reasons before stated.
An endless hair bow or bows L is or are arranged above the strings D and may
be made to revolve by means of a pedal and crank movement M, fly wheel N,
counter shaft. P and gut bands Q.
When it is required to produce what is known as the "pizzicato movement or
sound, or in other words, to produce a sound from the strings similar to that pro-
duced when the strings are vibrated, or thrummed by the fingers, I arrange a
number of teeth Y of the particular formation shown in detail in Figure 3 pivotted
to a cross bar Z superposed above the strings of the instrument, and capable of an
endwise movement by means of a pedal, and any system of levers and cranks, so
that when it is desired to produce the particular sound described, the instrumentalist
or player by depressing the pedal a moves a series of teeth Y into a position
vertically above the strings, which upon being lifted up are somewhat opposed by
the tension of the spring and peculiar formation of the tooth Y, so that upon a

page_text: 5
ontinued, or sudden upward movement of the strings, they pass the tooth quickly,
he temporary obstruction causing the strins to vibrate, and emit the peculiar
ound desired, and when released by the key to move noiselessly back into its
ormal position.
It is necessary when the sliding bar Z and teeth Y are moved into gear with
he strings of the instrument that the hair bow should be simultaneously lifted clear
of the strings, this may be effected in any suitable manner, such as a rod and cranks
connecting one to the other.
In a musical instrument with a number of strings stretched over the full width of
he sounding box, it is necessary that some particular form of bridge, such as that
shown at Figure 4 should be used, adapted to concentrate or convey the vibrations
of the outside strings to the middle of the box.
Upon referring more particularly to Figure 1, which represents the principle of
the arrangement of the strings, each key throughout the board has a string attached
to it, and of such a length as to give forth the note or tone usual to such key,
whether, black or white.
In the instrument hereinbefore described, the half notes (those represented by
the black keys) are obtained by separate strings attached to their respective keys,
but in cases where the black keys have no strings, an arrangement is adopted
similar to that shown in Figure 2, and whereby the note usual to each black key is
obtained by shortening the vibratory length of the string next below it by causing
the black key c to lift a finger d into contact with the string D at a sufficient
distance from the movable carriage C to obtain the note required, the quadrants F
in this case are made hollow, or are divided to allow of the insertion of the finger d
between them for the purpose described.
In cases where only the usual number of strings are stretched over the violins, or
sounding box or boxes, I arrange that each of the strings may be moved into
contact by fundamental keys e, the note emitted depending upon the free length of
the string, that is to say, other than the fundamental notes may be obtained by
depressing auxiliary keys, and in this manner to shorten the effective vibratory
length of the string to the degree required to produce the particular note the key
represents. This may be accomplished by the means shown in Figure 5, a
crosshead and finger with a V shaped cut being attached to each auxiliary
note, which when lifted prevents the string vibrating through its whole length,
and if the ordinary violin form is used as a sounding body, the violin may be
reversed, or base bar put on other side.
The half notes, or black keys are shaped to an acute angle, or cut level at the
front, so that a player can rapidly press both white and black keys when running
up the length of the board with the back of his finger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In a musical instrument of the violin-piano class, the combination of a
sounding box or boxes, with strings stretched over same upon bridges of peculiar
formation, the strings being attached at one end to an automatic tension or
tuning lever, and at the other. to movable carriages, and adapted to be moved
into contact with and vibrated by revolving endless hair bow or bows of the
kind described, or by teeth of peculiar shape, all for the purpose, and operated
in the manner substantially as described and shown.
2. In a musical instrument, a sounding box or boxes with gut, silver, or other
strings stretched over same upon a bridge or bridges, said strings being attached
to tuning hooks at one end, and to movable carriages at the other, and adapted
to be moved into contact with a revolving endless hair bow or bows, in the
manner substantially as described and shown.
3. In a musical instrument of the kind described, the use of a lever, or

page_text: equivalent device fulcrumed at one end with a sliding, yet affixable, weight at
the other for the purpose described.
4. The peculiar construction and arrangement of parts for producing the
"pizzicato" sound, and adapted to be thrown in and out of gear with the
strings, in the manner and for the purpose described and shown.
5. The peculiar formation of bridge picce, substantially as shown at Figure 4.
6. In an instrument of the kind described, with one, two, or more sounding
boxes, the means shown in Figure 2 for obtaining the sound of the black notes
by shortening the vibratory length of the strings next below them.
7. To the peculiar formation of the black keys as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
8. In an instrument with sounding boxes similar to a violin, viola cello, and
bass, together or separate, and with their usual number of strings, the means
shown in Figure 5 for obtaining a variety of notes, or all the usual notes
represented by that on each string, by shortening the vibratory length of the
strings, in the manner substantially as described, and shown in Figure 5.
The 26th day of March 1892
•
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Mutch.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Mutch.