A New or Improved Guitar-zither.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Guitar-zither.
We, FREDERICK MENZENHAUER, Manufacturer of No. 10 Lincoln Street Jersey City
Heights, New Jersey, and OSCAR SCHMIDT, Merchant, of No. 9 and 11 Lincoln Street,
Jersey City Heights, New Jersey, United States of America, 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 an improved musical instrument or guitar-zither of that
class in which a number of leading or melody strings are arranged at one side of the
sounding-board of the instrument and accompaniment strings are arranged in groups
tuned in harmonic chords with the leading strings at the other side of the sounding-
board; and the invention consists of a guitar-zither the sounding-board of which is
provided with a continuous angular scale-rib carrying the straining-pins of the strings
over which the leading-strings and accompaniment strings are stretched the strings
being attached to a straining rib at the opposite side of the instrument and protected
by a hand-rest extending over the latter rib. The leading strings are arranged along
the inclined part of the scale-rib at one side of the sounding-board while the accom-
paniment strings are arranged at the remaining part of the sounding-board and in
groups tuned in harmonic chords to the leading strings.
A fret-board and string is arranged preferably between the group of leading-strings
and accompaniment strings at the angle of the scale-rib.
In the accompanying drawing :—
Fig. 1 represents a top-view of our improved guitar-zither and
Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sections on lines 2-2 and 3-3 Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to the drawing:-A represents the improved sounding-board of our
improved musical instrument or guitar-zither which is made in any suitable size and
shape and at one end of the sounding-board is arranged a continuous angular scale-
rib by which the tuning-pins b are driven into the end rail of the instrument. The
scale-rib is provided with a number of straining-pins over which the strings are
stretched. At the opposite end of the guitar-zither is arranged a second rib over
which the strings pass being attached to the rail at the opposite end of the instrument
as shown in Fig. 2. The leading-strings C are stretched over the inclined portion of
the scale-rib while the accompaniment strings are arranged in groups five being shown
in the drawing each group composed of four strings that are tuned in harmonic
chords with the leading-strings.
Below the leading and accompaniment strings is arranged a printed strip which
contains the figures and letters so that the instrument can be played according to a
fixed system of notation. Between the leading and accompaniment strings is arranged
a narrow fret-board and a tuning string by which the strings of the instrument can be
readily tuned in the well-known manner.
At the lower end of the instrument is arranged a hand-rest E that is screwed to
the end-rail of the instrument by means of screws said hand-rest projecting over
the lower ends of the strings and serving to give rest for the bands while playing the
instrument. The hand-rest does not touch the strings so as to interfere with the
vibration of the same.

page_text: Our improved instrument can be easily and quickly learned especially when played
with specially-prepared music and forms a comparatively cheap instrument for the
reason that it can be manufactured cheaply and for the reason that a continuous
angular scale-rib is used which permits the quick putting together and stringing of
the instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A musical instrument or guitar-zither consisting of a sounding-board, an angular
continuous scale-rib at one end of the instrument, a tail-rib at the opposite end of
the same, leading-strings stretched over the inclined portion of the scale-rib at one
side of the sounding-board groups of accompaniment strings arranged at the opposite
side of the sounding-board and tuned in harmonie chords with the leading strings
substantially as set forth.
2. A musical instrument or guitar-zither consisting of a sounding-board having a
continuous angular scale-rib at one end of the instrument, a tail-rib at the opposite
end of same leading-strings stretched over the inclined portion of the scale-rib and
tail-rib, groups of accompaniment strings arranged at the opposite side of the
sounding-board and tuned in harmonic chords with the leading-strings and a hand-
rest attached to the frame of the instrument and extending over the tail-rib and
strings substantially as set forth.
DLL
T1005
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.