IMPROVEMENTS IN VIOLINS AND SIMILAR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and -
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VIOLINS AND SIMILAR
STRINGED INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad by Edward R.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VIOLINS AND SIMILAR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad
by Edward R. Mollenhauer, of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to the internal construction or arrangements of violins,
altos, violincellos, and contre-basses, without altering the shape of these instru-
ments or the method of playing. It has for its object to increase the power of
these instruments, and to produce a rounder and fuller sound, without sacrificing
their good qualities. The Invention consists in placing a board between the
sounding board and the back of the instrument, and parallel to these two boards,
so as to divide the interior into two compartments. This intermediate board is
provided with sound holes and a bass-rod.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VIOLINS AND SIMILAR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad
by Edward R. Mollenhauer, of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to the internal construction or arrangements of violins,
altos, violincellos, and contre-basses, without altering the shape of these instru-
ments or the method of playing. It has for its object to increase the power of
these instruments, and to produce a rounder and fuller sound, without sacrificing
their good qualities. The Invention consists in placing a board between the
sounding board and the back of the instrument, and parallel to these two boards,
so as to divide the interior into two compartments. This intermediate board is
provided with sound holes and a bass-rod.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a violin provided with my modifications; and
Fig. 2 shows a violin to which my modifications have been added, and from which
a part of the back has been removed. Corresponding parts are designated with
A is the sounding board of the instrument: B. the back; C, the
11

page_text: against the walls in such a position that the upper edge coincides with the centre
line of the casing. The object of this lining is to provide a support for the inter-
mediate board F made of the kind of wood usually employed for sounding boards.
It has the same shape as the violin, and is of such a size as to adapt itself perfectly
to the sides of the casing. It rests on the lining in contact with the casing, thus
dividing the instrument into two equal parts. The partition or intermediate board
is made in a peculiar manner as follows:-From a point immediately under the
centre of the bridge the thickness of the partition is reduced towards the sides, so
as to make its lower sides convex. The point of the partition is thus the thickest
part, the difference amounting to about an eighth of an inch. The shape of this
partition gives a greater facility of vibration, and may be modified. Two crescent
shaped sound holes e, c, are provided in the partition right and left of the centre
line and immediately under the opening f of the sound board. The partition is
further provided with a hole g at a point corresponding to the usual position of the
core; however this hole may be omitted, and the core made to rest on the
partition F. On the opposite side and under the string a bass-rod / is glued under
the partition parallel to the centre line.
The object of this rod is to arrest the vibrations of this string. Notches i, i, are
cut in the extremities of this partition to receive the lugs j, j, in front and at the
back, and the partition is placed in the instrument, resting with its sides on the
lining upon which it is glued, and against the sides E, as shewn in Fig. 1.
The introduction of a partition into the interior of the violin will cause a great
improvement in the sound of the instrument, not only by increasing its volume
but by producing a rounder sound to such an extent that a very inferior instrument
obtains by this addition a tone equal to that of the most perfect instrument.
Although the Drawings are limited to the illustration of a violin, the modifica-
tions described are applicable to all instruments above named, and in the same
manner as has been described for violins.
Claim. Placing in the casing of violins, altos, violincellos, and contre-basses a
partition corresponding to the length and width of the casing, and the border of
which is in contact with the sides E, and attached to a lining c, for the purpose of
increasing the strength and improving the quality of the sound, this partition F
being provided with crescent, shaped sound holes e, and with holes for the core g
and the bass rod h.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, 1881.