IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO VIOLINS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A LIKE KIND
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the Firm of Edwards and Co.,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
VIOLINS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A LIKE KIND." A com-
munication from abroad by Felix von Zebrowski, of Gnesen, in the Empire of
Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1881.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO VIOLINS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS OF A LIKE KIND." [A communication from abroad by Felix von
Zebrowski, of Gnesen, in the Empire of Germany.]
This Invention has for its objects improvements in the bridges and other parts
of violins.
In order to carry out the first part of my Invention, which relates to the bridge
of the violin or the support upon which the strings rest and by which the sound is
carried to the body of the instrument, I form such bridge of two horizontal and
four vertical bars.
These vertical bars are arranged at equal distances apart upon the lower
horizontal bar, which has feet like those of an ordinary violin bridge and which
rests upon the body of the violin.
At the upper ends of these four bars or supports is formed the upper horizontal
bar having notches upon which the strings rest. The bridge thus constructed is
lighter and conveys the sounds produced from the strings to the body of the violin
with greater effect and in a more perfect manner than is the case with the ordinary
bridge.
The second part of my Invention relates to that part of the violin known as the
damper or mute, and consists of a small board or plate of the proper size to fit the
back of the bridge made as above described, and to which I attach on one side
מ

page_text: three cushions or pads of leather or other suitable material of such shape and size
as to fit into the apertures or spaces between the vertical shafts or supports
composing the bridge.
Between these cushions or pads and the board or plate described I also fix a
piece of leather or other suitable soft material, and upon the opposite side of the
said board I fix a light arm of convenient length and provided at its lower end or
that end which is furthest from the cushion board with a catch which fit into one
or other of two notches upon the lower side of the tail piece to which the strings
are fastened; through the tail piece I also form a slot, and upon the arm of the
dainper described I fix an adjustable button which slides in this slot.
When it is desired to soften or deaden the sound of the strings upon the body of
the violin it is only necessary to loosen the button upon the ario, push it with the
damper slightly forward in the slot described, and the pads or cushions are forced
against the bridge and into the apertures in it, when the button can be tightened
and the damper will remain in this position until it is desired to withdraw it.
The distance which the damper moves is regulated by the notches.
The last part of my Invention relates to an improved method of conveniently
fixing what is known as the chin rest which is used by the performer playing upon
the instrument.
I fit the chin rest by means of two vertical bands of wood or other material to a
strap, one end of which is provided with a hook. This hook engages in the edge
of the notch in the side of the body of the violin, and the other end of the strap
described is provided with a loop or fork which can be drawn to the button at the
bottom of the violin by a cross piece and two nuts.
By this means the strap and chin rest are strained and fixed in the proper
position with great case and facility, no notches or holes being required in the
body of the violin.
Parts of the improvements as above described may be modified to suit different
circumstances, and may be used for other musical instruments of a like kind as
well as for violins.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmund. Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th March
1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO VIOLINS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS OF A LIKE KIND." A communication from abroad by Felix von
Zebrowski, of Gnesen, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention has for its objects improvements in the bridges and other parts
of violins.
In order to carry out the first part of my Invention, which relates to the bridge
of the violin or the support upon which the strings rest and by which the sound is
carried to the body of the instrument, I form such bridge of two horizontal and
four vertical bars.
These vertical bars are arranged at equal distances apart upon the lower
horizontal bar, which has feet like those of an ordinary violin bridge which rests
upon the body of the violin. At the upper ends of these four bars or supports is
formed the upper horizontal bar having notches upon which the strings rest. The
bridge thus constructed is lighter and conveys the sounds produced from the strings
to the body of the violin with greater effect and in a more perfect manner than is
the case with the ordinary bridge.
The second part of my Invention relates to that part of the violin known as the
damper or mute, and consists of a small board or plate of the proper size to fit the
back of the bridge made as above described, and to which I attach on one side
three cushions or pads of leather or other suitable material of such shape and size
as to fit into the apertures or spaces between the vertical shafts or supports
composing the bridge. Between these cushions or pads and the board or plate
described I also fix a piece of leather or other suitable soft material, and upon the
opposite side of the said board I fix a light arm of convenient length and provided
at its lower end or that end which is furthest from the cushion board with a catch
which fits into one or other of two notches upon the lower side of the tail piece to
which the strings are fastened; through the tail-piece I also form a slot, and upon
the arm of the damper described I fix an adjustable button which slides in
this slot.
When it is desired to soften or deaden the sound of the strings upon the body of
the violin it is only necessary to loosen the button upon the arm, push it with the
damper slightly forward in the slot described, and the pads or cushions are forced
against the bridge and into the apertures in it, when the button can be tightened
and the damper will remain in this position until it is desired to withdraw it. The
distance which the damper moves is regulated by the notches.
The last part of my Invention relates to an improved method of conveniently
fixing what is known as the chin rest which is used by the performer playing upon
the instrument.
I fit the chin rest by means of two vertical bands of wood or other material to a
strap, one end of which is provided with a hook. This hook engages in the edge
of the notch in the side of the body of the violin, and the other end of the strap
described is provided with a loop or fork which can be drawn to the button at the
bottom of the violin by a cross piece and two nuts.
By this means the strap and chin rest are strained and fixed in the proper
position with great ease and facility, no notches or holes being required in the
body of the violin.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing, which is in illustration of my Invention, Figure 1
is an upper view of the violin, Figures 2 and 3 side views, and Figure 4 a front
view of the same.
Figure 5 shews in detail the bridge, Figure 6 is a cross section of the bridge and
damper, and Figure 7 is a front view of the damper.
a is the bridge composed of two horizontal and four vertical staffs, as
described.
The damper consists of the small board b (Figure 6) to which are attached at
one side the leather plate c and the three small leather cushions c', c², c³, at the
other side of the arm & (Figure 7)..
The arm d is provided with a button f (Figure 3) sliding in a slot of the string
holder or tailpiece f¹. The catch e at the end of the arm d may enter one of the
two notches shewn at the lower side of the string holder f' (Figure 3).
If by means of the button f the three cushions c¹, c³, (Figure 7), are pressed in
the three corresponding hollows of the bridge a the sound of the violin is damped.
By withdrawing the button f the cushions c¹, c², c³, no longer touch the bridge a
and the violin sounds undamped as before.
The chin-rest k is fixed to the two small standards n³ and n attached to the
strap n. One end of the strap n is provided with a hook n' embracing the edge of
the body, the other end being provided with the fork o.
By means of the two nuts 8, 8, (Figure 4) and the cross-piece r the fork o may
be pressed against the button of the violin x (Figure 4). By so doing the strap n
is strained and the chin rest secured to the violin without the necessity for notches
or holes in the body of the violin.
Parts of the improvements, as above described, may be modified to suit different
circumstances and may be used for other musical instruments of a like kind as
well as for violins.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-The bridge of a violin formed by two horizontal and four
vertical staffs, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn; also the
damper of a violin consisting of the leather plate c, leather cushions c¹, c², c³, and
the arm d with button f, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn;
also the chin-rest h consisting of the standards n³ and n, strap n, hook n', and
fork o, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my hand
1
T1000