String Olamp for Musical Instruments.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1894--Accepted, 20th Apr, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
String Olamp for Musical Instruments.
We, HOWARD WILLARD HAFER and JESSI OIIS LOVE, both of the City of
Fort Scott, in the County of Bourbon, State of Kansas, one of the United States
of America, Tailors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement
Our invention relates to string clamps for musical instruments, and more
particularly to that class whereby the string is secured without first inserting or
threading it end-wise through an opening, but which is secured in position by fitting
it laterally in a notch or iccess formed to receive it and clamping it therein Tho
object of this invention is to produce a clamp of the type of character referred to
which is simple, durable and inexpensive of constinction, more easily mampulated
than others of the same type, and which is equally positive and reliable in
operation.
To the above purposes, our invention cousists in certain novel and peculiar
features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described
and pointed out in the claims.
In order that the invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying diawing, in which
Figure 1. is a perspective view of the head and neck of a mandolin, showing the
stungs thereon secured by clamps embodying out invention
Figue 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the clamp with its parts
detached.
Figure 3. is a vertical sectional view of one of the clamps enlarged, and
Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, showing the strings secured
therein in operative position.
In the said drawing, designates the head of a mandolin, and 2 the strings
thereof. 3 designates a clamp post, which is mounted vertically in the head of the
mandolin, and adapted to be rotated in the ordinary manner. The post is formed
with a centrally located access 4 in its upper end, and from the lower end of said
recess to a suitable depth is internally sciew-threaded, as shown at 5 Projecting
marginally upward from the upper end of the post so as to form the horizontal
shoulder 6, is an annulni im or flange, and thus rim o flange is notched radially
in its uppei maigi so as to form the alternating V-shaped recesses 7 and V-shaped
projections 8. The recesses 7 are preferably made round or semi-circula at their
lower end at 9, while the upper end or apex of each V-shaped projection must be
pointed sufficiently to positively deflect the stung toward the bottom of the
corresponding 1ccess
The bolt 10, which engages the internal threads of the post 3, is provided
with a milled head 11, and said head is annularly grooved at 12 in its upper side,
so as to form the horizontal flange 13, which is adapted to oppose the shoulder 6,
aud the annular ring 14, which engages externally the upper end of the post 3,
and closes the upper or open ends of the notches 7, when in operative position.
In operation, the bolt is 1otated to elevate its head above the upper end of the
post, so that the sting may be inserted laterally into one of the notches 7, and
then bent around the neck of the bolt, or that portion interposed between the
shoulder 13 and the threaded portion, and is fitted into a second notch, preferably
the notch adjacent to the notch first engaged by the string. The bolt 18 now

page_text: screwed home, and the shoulder 13, impinging tightly upon that portion of the
string lying within the notched m of the post, forces the same tightly against or
upon the opposing shoulder 6 of the post 3, and the flange 14 embraces externally
the upper end of the post It will be apparent that it will not be necessary to
pass the string around the post, as shown at Figure 4, but that it is preferable to
do so because a more extended bearing suface is provided for the shoulder 13.
'The post is now operated to tighten or tension the sting, and the projecting end
of the sting, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, is broken oft, so that the head
of the mandolu will be of a neat and attinctive appearance.
From the above description, it will be apparent that we have produced a clamp-
post for musical instruments which is positive and reliable in operation, and which
is simple, strong, durable and inexpensive of construction, and which can be easily
and quickly manipulated to tighten or tension the sting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of om said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1 A suing clamp for musical instruments, compusing a rotatable post, a m
projecting magmally from the upper end thereof and provided with alternating
V-shaped notches and projections, and a bolt engaging said clamp-post, and
provided with an annulat rim embracing externally the upper end of said post
and closing the upper ends of said notches, substantially as set forth.
2. A sting clamp for musical instruments, comprising a rotatable post which
15 internally screw-threaded and is provided with an annular and upwardly
projecting rim having alternating V-shaped notches and projections in its upper
margin, and with a horizontal shoulder ward of said im
bolt engaging
said interual sciew-threads and provided with a head having a shoulder adapted
to fit within said rim and oppose the shoulder of the post, and having a
depending annular flange which externally embraces the upper end of the post
and closes the upper and open end of said V-shaped notches, substantially as
Bet forth.
Dated this did day of December 1894.
HOWARD WILLARD IIAFER
JESSE OTIS LOVE