An improved Concert iners.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec,,
1899
An improved Concert iners.
I, FRITZ PETERMANN, of 35, First Street, New York City, State of New York,
U.S.A., Clerk, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the musical instruments
known as concert-zithers by which the scope of said instruments is enlarged
by arranging the leading or melody strings and the groups of accompanying
strings in such relative position to each other that a zither combining the character-
istics and advantages of an ordinary zither and a concert-zither is obtained.
The invention consists of a concert-zither provided with an open scale of
leading strings and a number of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel
therewith, each system of strings extending beyond the other system respectively
at opposite ends of the instrument; secondly of a concert zither provided with
an open scale of leading strings and a number of groups of accompanying strings
arranged parallel and in the same plane therewith each system of strings
extending beyond the other system respectively at opposite ends of the instru
ment; thirdly of a concert zither provided with an open scale of leading strings
arranged longitudinally of the sounding-board at one end of the same and a
number of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel therewith at the
other end of the sounding board the groups of accompanying strings being tuned
to the intervals of separate harmonic chords for the leading strings and entering
the system of leading strings at the inner end of and in approximately the same
plane with the same and each system extending at its outer end beyond the other
system of strings; and further in certain details of construction and com-
bination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and finally
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of my improved concert-zither, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section drawn on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings-A represents the sounding board of my improved
concert-zither the general shape and size of which is that of the ordinary well-
known concert-zither. An open scale of leading strings C is arranged at the
right hand side of the instrument while a number of strings C are arranged
according to the number of chords in groups of four at the left-hand end of the
instrument.
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The strings C of each chord are tuned so as to be in harmony with the corre-
sponding strings C of the open scale. The leading or melody strings C are
stretched over a scale rib at the right-hand end of the instrument while
the opposite ends of the leading strings are passed over grooved straining-pins f
and attached to small fastening-screws that are passed through the sounding-
board and into a stiffening brace f' extending diagonally across the supporting

page_text: frame of the sounding-board. The tuning pins f³ for the leading strings are
arranged outside of the scale-rib D at the right-hand end of the instrument.
At the left-hand end of the instrument is arranged an independent "scale-rib"
for the groups of accompanying strings said scale-rib being provided with
straining-pins i for said strings while the tuning pins gl for the accompanying
strings are arranged outside of the scale-rib at the left-hand end of the instru-
ment as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner ends of the accompanying
strings are stretched over the ends of grooved straining pins and attached
to fastening screws g³ which pass through the sounding-board into a transverse
brace of the frame of the instrument. The body of the instrument is made
of such length that the entire series of leading strings are arranged in parallel
line with the groups of accompanying strings and in the same plane therewith
and in such a manner that cach system of strings enters the other system nt
the inner end of the same as shown in the drawing. This permits the playing
of the leading strings at the right-hand end of the instrument in the usual manner
while the groups of accompanying strings are sounded at the left-hand end by
the fingers at that end of the instrument. The different groups of accompanying
strings C furnish the accompaniment for the leading strings or open scale
and produce by the vibration of any one group a full and harmonious accom-
paniment to the leading strings. The chord strings C are arranged
as stated in groups there being four strings in each group of which
one is the leading or bass string of the group. Below the right-hand end of the
system of leading strings is arranged a strip d provided with the numbers and
notation of the leading strings while below the left-hand end of the groups of
accompanying strings is arranged a similar strip provided with the numbers
of the chords and the musical notation corresponding to the accompanying strings.
The pieces of music which are used for playing are not printed in the ordinary
musical notation but the notation is advantageously the generally accepted one
used for instruments known as guitar-zithers in which the string of the open
scale and the corresponding chord are indicated by numbers corresponding to the
numbers on the strips d and d. The strings are advantageously arranged longi-
tudinally of the body of the instrument.
Above the tuning pins fa for the leading strings at the right hand end of
the instrument is arranged a rest board F which is attached by hooks or other
fastening-devices to the right hand end of the instrument and which serves
as a rest for the right hand in playing the leading strings. A small rest-board
(not shown in the drawings) may be used at the left hand end although in this
case it is not so necessary as the free space between the groups of accompanying
strings and the edge of the body of the instrument can be used as a rest for the
left hand. The sounding board A can be supported either on a simple wooden
frame as illustrated or on a frame made of cast metal in the nature of the metallic
frames of a pianoforte whereby the tone of the instrument is rendered more
sonorous and bell-like and the so-called "woody" tone is avoided.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A concert-zither provided with an open scale of leading strings and a number
of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel therewith each system of
strings extending beyond the other system respectively at opposite ends of the
instrument substantially as set forth.
2. A concert-zither provided with an open scale of leading strings and a
number of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel and in the same
plane therewith each system of strings extending beyond the other system
respectively at opposite ends of the instrument, substantially as set forth.
3. A concert-zither provided with an open scale of leading strings arranged
longitudinally of the sounding-board at one end of the same and a number of

page_text: groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel therewith at the other end of
the sounding-board the groups of accompanying strings being tuned to the
intervals of separate harmonic chords for the leading strings and entering the
system of leading strings at the inner end of and in approximately the same
plane with the same and each system extending at its outer end beyond the
other system of strings substantially as set forth.
"
4. A concert-zither provided with an open scale of leading strings and a number
of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel and in the same plane there-
with, independent "scale-ribs at both ends of the instrument, one for the
leading strings and the other for the accompanying strings, tuning pins for the
leading strings near the "scale-rib" for the same, a separate group of tuning
pins near the "scale-rib" for the accompanying strings, braces beneath the
sounding-board of the instrument intermediate of the "scale-rib" ends of the
string systems, straining pins arranged in said braces, and fastening screws
arranged in said braces for attachment of the inner ends of the leading and accom-
panying strings substantially as set forthi.
"
5. A concert-zither composed of a sounding-board, a frame for said sounding-
board, separate "scale-ribs" at opposite ends of the instrument, tuning pins
adjacent to said "scale-ribs" respectively for the leading and accompanying
strings, transverse braces intermediate of said scale-ribs," an open scale of
leading strings applied to the scale-rib and tuning-pins at one end of the
instrument and to straining pins and fastening screws applied to one of said
braces, and a number of groups of accompanying strings arranged parallel and
in the same plane with the leading strings and applied to the "scale-rib" and
tuning-pins at the opposite end of the instrument and to straining pins and
fastening screws applied to a second brace of the frame substantially as set
forth.
6. A concert-zither provided with an open scale of leading strings arranged
longitudinally of the sounding-board at one end of the same, and a number of
groups of accompanying strings arranged at the opposite end of the sounding-
board, the leading strings entering the system of accompanying strings at the
inner end of said system, and each system extending at its outer end beyond the
other system, and tuning-pins for each system of strings respectively at each
end of the sounding-board substantially as set forth.
Dated 1141
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.