Improved Musical Instruments of the Violin Kind.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Musical Instruments of the Violin Kind.
I, WILLIAM HAMPTON, 50 Brechin Road, Arbroath, Forfarshire, Iron-turner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
An instrument of the violin kind, as at present constructed has a hollow body, on
the exterior. of which body rests a bridge or support for strings or wires, the
vibrations of the strings" or wires being conveyed to the body of the instrument
through the bridge. From a series of experiments on instruments of this kind, I
have discovered a very simple means whereby their tone is greatly strengthened and
improved in quality.
The nature of this will be easily understood if I describe how I apply it
to a violin of ordinary construction. I remove the bridge and make a small hole
in the breast where either of its feet rested, I then remove the sound-post, as it is
not required in the improved instrument, then I lengthen one of the feet of bridge
by a piece of wood or other material of a size to pass freely through the small hole
in the breast and rest on the interior of the back. It will thus be seen that
an improved instrument differs from an ordinary one in having one of the feet of
the bridge resting on the breast and the other on the back.
Dated this Eleventh day of February 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Musical Instruments of the Violin Kind.
I, WILLIAM HAMPTON, of 50, Brechin Road, Arbroath, in the County of Forfar,
Iron-turner, 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 :-
By a musical instrument of the violin kind, I mean an instrument whose body has
in its interior a resonance chamber and sound-post; and which receives the impulses
that cause the sound thereof from strings, through the medium of a bridge, both
feet of which rest on, or impart vibrations to, the exterior surface of the breast.
From experiments made by me on instruments as above defined, I have discovered,
or invented, a very simple device, by means of which their tone or sound is
strengthened; and likewise improved in quality.
The fundamental principle of this invention, as indicated in my Provisional
Specification, is the resting of one foot of the bridge on the breast, or belly, and
the other on the interior surface of the back; and the removal of the the sound-
post. Although it was chiefly by the sound produced that I was guided in the
abovementioned experiments, still, I have a theory in regard to the vibration of the
violin; and the structural object of my device is that of relieving the belly from
superfluous and damping direct bridge pressure and impulses, and transferring the
pressure and impulses so removed to the interior surface of the back, where
the impulses are made to do useful work by imparting vibrations to the back.
The back therefore, instead of, as hitherto, being only the bottom of a resonance
chamber becomes as effective as the breast in producing sound.
The reasons why this arrangement improves the tone, can, I think, be explained
as follows:-
In a sounding body such as the breast of a violin, the vibrations which cause the
sound have their greatest energy (and should have their greatest amplitude) in the

page_text: i
region where they are imparted, namely, the part on which the bridge rests
or presses. If, therefore, from this part we remove one foot of the bridge, and as a
consequence its damping effect on the vibrations imparted by the other foot, the
sound should be augmented. Again, if we diminish the area on which the breast
receives the impulses that cause its vibrations, the result should be (owing to one
sound wave not interfering with another, as they all originate at one point) a
corresponding increase in purity of tone. Further, if from the underside of the
breast, and from the aforesaid active region, we remove an obstruction (the sound
post) a further augmentation of sound should result.
In accordance with, and for the ends indicated in, the above theory; an 'improved
musical instrument of the violin kind,' differs, structurally, from an ordinary instru-
ment in the following particulars:-1. There is an opening (hereinafter called a
posthole,') through the breast. It may be under either foot of the bridge. Its
exact position and size is regulated by the 'bridgepost.' 2. One foot of the bridge
is made in the form of a post. (Hereinbefore and hereinafter referred to as the
bridgepost.) The 'bridgepost' is preferably round in cross section, and about
the same strength (and length, plus the thickness of the breast) as the sound post
would be in an ordinary instrument. It must pass through the breast without
touching; and it stands, preferably upright, on the interior surface of the back, when
the bridge is in position. The 'bridgepost' and the rest of the bridge, may be of
one piece, or they may be made from different pieces, and afterwards united by
cement, or other suitable means. The bridge, and post, are made of the ordinary
wood used for such purposes.
From the above Specification it will be seen that an improved violin equals an
ordinary one, minus the soundpost and the small piece removed from the breast to
form a posthole,' plus a 'bridgepost.'
And if we regard the 'bridgepost' of an improved instrument as the soundpost
taken from an ordinary one and attached to the bridge, the difference, as regards
substance, is the small quantity of matter taken from the breast of the improved
instrument; to give clearance to the bridgepost.' But, although there is such a
slight difference as regards the substance, it will be seen that there is a very great
'difference of the manner in which the pressure of, and impulses from, the strings, is
distributed in, and imparted to, the instrument.
I have also found that the tone of an improved instrument is rendered more
brilliant, if the bridge be lightened, by cutting notches in its top, between the
strings. Likewise, that the tone is rendered very soft and pure, if the whole body
be made of pine wood. A modification of an improved instrument is as follows. In
some of the experiments above referred to, I used an internal beam, or platform, to
support some of the pressure of the bridge, and so take some of the strain off the
breast and back. This beam is attached to the top and bottom blocks, and must
not touch the instrument except at its ends. The bridge communicates with it, by
a central post, in the same manner as it communicates with the back by means of
the 'bridgepost." The pressure on the beam is regulated by the central post.
If it is wished to reduce the pressure on the beam, the post is shortened. It may
be necessary to use this device in some varieties of the violin which have thin
bodies. The bridge in this modification will thus have three feet. An improved
instrument might also be modified by having the 'bridge-post' detached from the
bridge, and attached to the interior surface of the back. Note. No sound post is
required in an improved instrument or its modifications. The full size drawing
which accompanies this Specification shews my modifications, and arrangement, of
the parts of a violin having a body 14 inches long. A is a cross section of part of
the breast through the centre of the 'posthole' B. C is the body of the bridge and
is of an inch thick at top, tapering to of an inch at bottom, and the dotted
notches N, N, N, at its top shew the method of lightening it, specified above. Dis
: a cross section of part of the back and on it rests the 'bridgepost' E.. The dotted
parts H and I shew respectively, the internal beam, and central post, which might
be required in instruments having thin bodies.

page_text: 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 wha
I claim is :
1. A musical instrument of the violin kind, having its parts modified and arranged
as above specified, the functions of such modified parts and arrangement thereof, and
the ends sought to be attained by such modifications and arrangement, being
substantially as above specified.
2. A bridge for musical instruments of the violin kind, modified as above specified
the function of such modified bridge, and the ends sought to be attained by such
modification, being substantially as above specified.
3. A body for musical instruments of the violin kind, modified as above specified,
the function of such modified body, and the ends sought to be attained by such
modification, being substantially as above specified.
Dated this 24th day of October 1892.
WM. HAMPTON.