Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM HILLS HOWE, of Watertown, County of Middlesex, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention to be as follows:-
"
Violins, and other instruments of this kind, invariably have to a greater or less
extent certain troublesome notes, or tones, technically called "wolf-notes the
effect of such notes upon the ear being a discordant tremor, and the skill of the
maker is always taxed to the utmost to eliminate them, but his efforts have been
attended with no greater success than to so change them that their presence is felt
with less intensity.
The defect is more discernible in good instruments than in bad ones, as inferior
instruments are so little susceptible to true vibrations, that they are naturally less
sensitive to the false ones.
Numerous attempts have been made to ascertain the direct cause of these
"wolf-notes," but as the most minute variation in the construction of the instru-
ment, necessitates radically different treatment to diminish the "wolf," no direct
cause or reason has ever been assigned, which is applicable alike in all cases.
There is a general vibration, caused by the whole sound-board responding to
the string-notes, but there is also a particular local sensitiveness to certain
notes, and it has been said that if any certain notes cause the local to exceed
or contradict the general vibrations, a tremor or wolf is the instant result.
I have discovered that by graduating the top or back of the instrument,
preferably both, in a certain novel way, the general vibration is enhanced,
and the local sensitiveness to certain notes eliminated, and the "wolf" is not
present.
In carrying out my invention, I graduate the top or back of the instrument in such
a manner that the pressure over the entire surface is the same, the distribution of
the wood being such as to bring about this result.
Heretofore, the top of the instrument has been graduated in such manner that
the graduations extend radially from an established centre, that is, a central
portion of a predetermined thickness, which is located beneath the bridge, as for
instance, the usual thickness under the bridge, and for an area of say three and
one-half inches, or more, toward the neck and tail, and one and one-half inches
toward the sides, is one-eighth of an inch, or thereabouts, gradually diminishing to
half that thickness toward the edges, becoming there a little thicker that the edges
may be strong.
To distribute the wood so that the pressure over the whole surface is the same,
owing to the peculiar yet artistic shape of the top and back, I find that the
graduations must radiate at or near the centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and the
other at or near the centre of the lower bouts or lobe, and as the surface area of
the lower bouts or lobe is slightly greater than the surface area of the upper bouts
or lobe, the established centre of the lower bouts or lobe, is made slightly thicker
than the established centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and the graduations extend
radially from these centres toward the edges, and toward each other in the same
relative proportion, so that close to the edge the top or back will be the same
thickness all round.

page_text: It is this peculiar mode of graduating the top or back of the instrument, which
constitutes the essence of my invention.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, shows an elevation of the back,
Figure 2, shows the top of an ordinary violin, the dotted lines representing the
graduations.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the top of a violin, the dotted lines representing
graduations in accordance with this invention and
Figure 4, is an enlarged vertical section of Figure 3 on the line y, y.
Referring to Figure 1, a single established centre of greatest thickness is
represented by the dotted lines a, and from this centre the wood gradually
diminishes in thickness toward the edge, becoming a little thicker at the edge.
Referring to Figure 2, a single established centre of greatest thickness is
represented by the dotted lines b, and from this centre the wood gradually
diminishes in thickness toward the edge, becoming a little thicker at the edge.
These two figures represent the ordinary mode of graduating respectively the
back and top of the instrument, and it will be noted that in each case, a single
established centre or centre of predetermined thickness, is provided beneath or
opposite the bridge.
Referring to Figure 3, the points e and d, represent two established centres, that
is to say, two centres of a predetermined or established thickness, one as c being
located at or near the centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and the other as d, being
located at or near the centre of the lower bouts or lobe, and from these two established
centres the wood gradually diminishes in thickness toward the edge, becoming a
little thicker at the edge.
As the surface area of the lower bouts or lobe is greater than the surface
area of the upper bouts or lobe, I have made the centre d a little thicker than
the centre c, as for instance, the centre d may be made ten-sixty-fourths of an
inch, and the centre c, nine-sixty-fourths of an inch in thickness.
The graduations are radial from these two centres, toward the edge, and toward
each other, being made relatively proportionate, so that the wood is an even
thickness at the thinnest part next to the edge, as at the dotted line e.
Owing to the peculiar shape of the top and back the radial diminution in
thickness is not the same in all directions, but starting from a fixed point as c
or d, I have represented by dotted lines f, a part of the bouts or lobes that is of an
even thickness.
By thus graduating the top or back of the instrument, or both, the general
vibration caused by the whole sounding board responding to the strings is
equalized, the pressure being the same over the whole surface, and the undesirable
"wolf-tones" and nasal effects are eliminated.
The tone has a peculiarly flute-like quality, pleasing to the performer, as well
as to the listener, and has a superior carrying tone.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM HILLS HOWE, of Watertown, County of Middlesex, State of
Massachusetts, 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 stringed musical instruments.

page_text: Violins, and other instruments of this kind invariably have to a greater or less
extent certain troublesome notes, or tones, technically called "wolf-notes," the
effect of such notes upon the ear being a discordant tremor; and the skill of
the maker is always taxed to the utmost to eliminate them, but his efforts have
been attended with no greater success than to so change them that their presence
is felt with less intensity.
The defect is more discernible in good instruments than in bad ones, as inferior
instruments are so little susceptible to true vibrations, that they are naturally less
sensitive to the false ones.
Numerous attempts have been made to ascertain the direct cause of these "wolf-
notes," but as the most minute variation in the construction of the instrument,
necessitates radically different treatment to diminish the "wolf," no direct cause
or reason has ever been assigned, which is applicable alike in all cases.
There is a general vibration, caused by the whole sound-board responding to the
string-notes, but there is also a particular local sensitiveness to certain notes, and
it has been said that if any certain notes cause the local to exceed or contradict
the general vibrations, a tremor or wolf is the instant result.
I have discovered that by graduating the top or back of the instrument,
preferably both, in a certain novel way, the general vibration is enhanced, and
the local sensitiveness to certain notes eliminated, and the "wolf" is not present.
In carrying out my invention I graduate the top or back of the instrument in
such a manner that the pressure over the entire surface is the same, the distribution
of the wood being such as to bring about this result.
Heretofore, the top of the instrument has been graduated in such manner that
the graduations extend radially from an established centre, that is, a central
portion of a predetermined thickness, which is located beneath the bridge, as for
instance, the usual thickness under the bridge, and for an area of say three
and one-half inches, or more, toward the neck and tail, and one and one-half inches
toward the sides, is one-eighth of an inch, or thereabouts, gradually diminishing
to half that thickness toward the edges, becoming there a little thicker that the
edges may be strong.
To distribute the wood so that the pressure over the whole surface is the same,
owing to the peculiar yet artistic shape of the top and back, I find that the
graduations must radiate at or near the centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and
the other at or near the centre of the lower bouts or lobe, and as the surface
area of the lower bouts or lobe is slightly greater than the surface area of the
upper bouts or lobe, the established centre of the lower bouts or lobe, is made
slightly thicker than the established centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and the
graduations extend radially from these centres toward the edges, and toward each
other in the same relative proportion, so that close to the edge the top or back will
be the same thickness all round.
It is this peculiar mode of graduating the top or back of the instrument, which
constitutes the essence of my invention.
In the drawing left with my Provisional Specification
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the back,
Figure 2 shows the top of an ordinary violin, the dotted lines representing the
graduations.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the top of a violin, the dotted lines representing
graduations in accordance with this invention and
Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section of Figure 3 on the line y y.
Referring to Figure 1, a single established centre of greatest thickness is repre-
sented by the dotted lines a, and from this centre the wood gradually diminishes in
thickness toward the edge, becoming a little thicker at the edge.
Referring to Figure 2, a single established centre of greatest thickness is repre-
sented by the dotted lines b, and from this centre the wood gradually diminishes in
thickness toward the edge, becoming a little thicker at the edge.
These two figures represent the ordinary mode of graduating respectively the

page_text: back and top of the instrument, and it will be noted that in each case, a single
established centre or centre of predetermined thickness, is provided beneath or
opposite the bridge.
Referring to Figure 3, the points c and d, represent two established centres, that
is to say, two centres of a predetermined or established thickness, one as c being
located at or near the centre of the upper bouts or lobe, and the other as d, being
located at or near the centre of the lower bouts or lobe, and from these two
established centres the wood gradually diminishes in thickness toward the edge,
becoming a little thicker at the edge.
As the surface area of the lower bouts or lobe is greater than the surface
area of the upper bouts or lobe, I have made the centre d a little thicker than
the centre c, as for instance, the centre d may be made ten-sixty-fourths of
an inch, and the centre c nine-sixty-fourths of an inch in thickness.
The graduations are radial from these two centres, toward the edge, and toward
each other, being made relatively proportionate, so that the wood is an even
thickness at the thinnest part next to the edge, as at the dotted line e.
Owing to the peculiar shape of the top and back the radial diminution in
thickness is not the same in all directions, but starting from a fixed point as c or d,
I have represented by dotted lines f, a part of the bouts or lobes that is of an even
thickness.
By thus graduating the top or back of the instrument, or both, the general
vibration caused by the whole sounding board responding to the strings is
equalized, the pressure being the same over the whole surface, and the
undesirable "wolf-tones and nasal effects are eliminated.
"
The tone has a peculiarly flute-like quality, pleasing to the performer, as well
as to the listener, and has a superior carrying tone.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The top or back of a violin, or other instrument of this kind, graduated
radially from two established centres one at or near the centre of the upper
bouts or lobe, and the other at or near the centre of the lower bouts or lobe,
substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.