Shoulder Rests for Violins and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Shoulder Rests for Violins and like Musical Instruments.
I, JOSEPH TAYLOR, of 5, Southborough Road, South Hackney, in the County
of Middlesex, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
-
This invention relates to shoulder resta for violins and like musical instru-
ments, and consists of a pad or cushion disposed under the body of the violin
in such manner that the end thereof is raised from the shoulder of the player
and supported in a manner which affords ease and enables the chin to obtain a
firm grip under gentle pressure
The rest may be formed of a pad or cushion of any suitable material such for
instance as leather, india-rubber combined cork and india-rubber, plush, velvet,
cloth, or any soft material having a wool or hair stuffing; or it may consist of a
rubber or other covering filled with air so as to form a pneumatic pad. Or it
may be made of metal framing or wood or any other hard substance with screw or
adjustable centre.
It may be attached to the violin in any convenient manner, but preferably
so that it may quickly and conveniently be detached A spring or clip may be
employed for this purpose, but in general I attach an india-iubber or other elastic
hand to the pad which is stretched across the body end of the violin so as to
hold it firmly in position, a loop or other fastening being also used which is passed
over and encircles the knob upon the body end of the violin
In some cases I attach a second pad formed of any suitable material to the
band which holds the shoulder rest to the violin, this being disposed upon the
upper side of the body end of the violin, forms a soft and comfortable pad or
rest for the chin of the playeı.
Shoulder Rests for Violins and like Musical Instruments.
I, JOSEPH TAYLOR, of 5, Southborough Road, South Hackney, in the County
of Middlesex, Diaughtsman, 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 shoulder rests for violins and like musical instiu-

page_text: Fig 4 is a back elevation partly in section with some modifications.
Fig. 5 18 a longitudinal section of a modified form of shoulder rest
Fig. 6 is an elevation of another modification.
Fig 7 18 an elevation of a shoulder rest suitable for attaching to Fig 8 which
is a chin rest.
Fig 9 shews a mode of connecting the two
The shoulder-rest shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is formed by a circular or other
shaped holder A having a raised portion a preferably covered with a strip of soft
material upon which the violin end iests and which grips the same The holder
1s formed of metal or other suitable material and has attached to it an outside
ubber cup B inside which is disposed a pneumatic ball or other elastic material C
which forms the cushion, the rubber cup is cemented or otherwise attached to the
body of the holder. The device for attaching this holder to the violin consists
of one or two metal bars D two being shewn which are capable of sliding in holes
formed in the holder A or in 11ngs a¹ formed thereon, the upper end of these
bars D are bent over towards the holder and have attached igidly to them a
gripping piece d preferably faced with a strip of soft material which when in use
is forced down upon the upper edge of the violin gipping it between the raised
portion a and the gripper d For the purpose of bringing these two to bear upon
the top and bottom of the violin the lower ends of the bars D, are bent over
underneath the projection a and formed integral with or rigidly connected to a
cross bar which 18 screwed in the centre to receive a thumb screw E the point
of which presses upon the underside of the projecting part a It will be seen
that when the body end of the violin is inserted between the projection a and
the gripper & by turning the thumb screw E the two can be drawn together in
such manner as to grip and firmly hold the holder and shoulder rest to the
violin. When in use the lower part of the cup B rests upon the shoulder and
forms a cushion which affords ease to the plaver and enables a firm grip to be
obtained under gentle pressure. I may in some cases use the present adjusting
screws for fastening, the bars would then be fixed in the holder proper
In some cases an elastic resilient grip is preferable and in such cases I employ
the device shewn in Fig 4. In this case the bars D, gripper & and cross piece
are formed as before sliding in the holes or projections a¹, but one or more helical

page_text: or other springs Gare inserted in such manner as to normally tend by pressure
on the cross bai d to draw downwards the bars D, and gripper d. By this
means the holder is spring connected to the violin
In this figure also is shewn instead of a pneumatic ball C, a pad C, formed
of sponge, air, wool, cork, or other soft material which serves the same purpose
being inserted inside the elastic cup B
In Fig. 5 a much larger rubber cushion H which may be of any suitable shape
is shewn being attached to the holder A by a neck or collar, this cushion may
be made of rubber, which itself affords elasticity or it may be closed and inflated
forming then a pneumatic shoulder rest
In Fig 6 a somewhat similar cusluon II is used which has a sack or inner tube
h for containing the air, this may be inflated by means of a valve fixed either
in the cushion or the holder.
In Fig. 7 18 shewn a shoulder rest of such shape as to be suitable for combining
with the chin rest K as shewn in Fig. 8, this chin rest being capable of attach-
ment to the violin either in the manner described and shewn with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or in the manner shewn and descubed with reference to Fig. 4;
the chin rest being disposed on the upper side of the violin and its underside k
serving the same purpose as the gripper d It will be understood that the pait ✗
in Fig 7 18 a continuation of and joined to the part Z in Fig 8, consequently
when the chin rest is securely fixed to the violin, the shoulder rest is likewise
held firmly
In some cases the parts X and Z of Figs 7 and 8 are not formed integrally
together, but attached to each other by a screw L, or other device such as 16 shewn
in Fig. 9; this affords an easy adjustment
Having now 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 18
1 A shoulder rest for violins and like musical instruments consisting essen-
tially of a holder A, a pad or cushion C, and means for attaching it to the violin,.
substantially as shewn and described.
2. In shoulder rests for violins and like musical instruments the combination
of the holder A, the elastic cup B, the pneumatic or other pad or cushion C, the
sliding bars D, the gripper and the screw E, substantially as described and
shewn.
3. In shoulder rests for violins and like musical instruments the combination
of the holder A, the elastic cup B, the pneumatic or other pad or cushion C,
the sliding bars D, the gripper d, and the springs G substantially as described
and shewn.
4 The shoulder rest for violin and like musical instruments substantially as
shewn and described with reference to Fig 5.
5 The pneumatic shoulder rest for violin and like musical instruments, sub-
stantially as shewn and described with reference to Fig 6
6 The combined shoulder and chin 1est for violin and like musical instruments,
substantially as shewn and described with reference to Figs 7 and 8
Dated this 23rd day of February 1899.
WILLIAM J MUNDEN,
75, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant
WILLIAM J MUNDEN,
75, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant