Improvements in Mutes for Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mutes for Stringed Instruments.
I, EDWARD WEGMANN, of Englewood, in the County of Bergen, and State of New
Jersey, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention pertains to mutes designed to be employed on Violins and other
stringed Instruments, wherein a bridge is used to support the strings, and my
invention consists of a clamp formed of two pieces of material designed to be placed
one at either side of a bridge, and to be tightly secured thereon, beneath the strings,
for the purpose of lessening the vibrations of said bridge and thereby reducing the
power of the notes produced upon the strings. I preferably interpose pieces of felt or.
other soft material between the clamp and the bridge to give a sufficient sound to the
notes.
In order that my snid device may be quickly applied to or disengaged from the
bridge of a stringed instrument I preferably hinge its parts together at one end, and
provide a spring catch at the free ends by which, with the aid of a slight pressure
the said parts can be readily united or disconnected.
:
and
In the drawings accompanying the application:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mute, applied to a bridge.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of said mute.
Figure 3 is a similar view in detail, of the spring catch which is employed.
Figure 4 is a side detail view of the spring.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of iny improved mute.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mute, showing a modified form of catch device,
Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 5.
In said figures, A indicates a bridge, as the bridge of a violin, and B, B', respec-
tively refer to the two main parts of my improved mute. The parts B, B¹ are arranged
in parallelism, and have respectively at contiguous ends, the disk like lugs b, b', said.
lugs lapping and being connected by pivot a, said lugs and pivot thus forming a
hinge.
At the free end of part B is a slot c, and at the free end of part B is a similar
slot c¹.
In one of said slots, as in slot c, I pivotally mount a catch stud d, upon pivot d¹,
which is secured transversely in the slot c. A preferably flat spring piece e extends
along the inner surface of piece B and is connected thereto, as by pin e'. Said spring
has an enlarged end f, and a slot fi therein, approximately co-incident with, slot,ic.j
The stud d passes into slot f¹ and said stud d has a recess d² which engages a portion
of spring piece e, said spring thus holding the catch stud normally against a rocking,
movement upon its pivot d¹. The upper edge of stud d is rounded or bevelled to
facilitate its entrance into the slot c¹ of piece B1, when the pieces B and B are, pressed
together. The stud d has a nose g which, as it passes, into slotch cants the stud
rearwardly against the tension of spring e, said nose portion, when passed by slot c. (at
which time stud d returns to its normal position) serving to hold, the piece, B in the
Price 8d1
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page_text: closed position. A shoulder h on the rear of stud 'd may be employed to limit the
inward movement of piece B.
I provide pieces of felt C, C¹, or other soft material respectively against the inner
sides of the pieces B, B', being secured thereto by cementing or by stitches taken
through the holes i, or as otherwise desired.
In fitting the said device to a violin or other bridge, the parts B, B₁, are opened
upon their hinge and passed side wise over said bridge, between the strings and belly
of the instrument, the felt pieces in closing, coming against the sides of the bridge.
The free ends of the device are then closed together until the stud d has engaged
through slot c' with the piece B. By placing the mute higher or lower upon the
bridge, such bridges being commonly narrower toward their upper portion, it is enabled
to perform its function in a greater or less degree, as may be desired. The softest
effect is produced when the upper edges of the felt pieces are placed in contact with
the strings of the instrument."
In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a modified means of fastening the mute upon
the bridge.
Said figures show a stud j rigidily secured upon the piece B, and arranged to pass
through a slot in the piece B¹. A lever is pivoted at to the outer side of piece B¹,
said lever having a depending wedge shaped tooth m, which is adapted to enter a
throat or recess 'n in stud ; when said stud has been projected through the slot k, and
thus to bind the parts B and B together.
I am aware that other modifications of the fastening means may be used, and do
not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown.
Dated this 16th day of October 1896.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mutes for Stringed Instruments.
I, EDWARD WEGMANN, of Englewood, in the County of Bergen, and State of New
Jersey, U.S.A. Gentleman, 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 pertains to mutes designed to be employed upon violins and other
stringed instruments, wherein a bridge is used to support the strings, and my inven-
tion consists of a clasp formed of two pieces of material designed to be placed one at
either side of a bridge, and to be tightly secured thereon, beneath the strings, for the
purpose of lessening the vibrations of said bridge and thereby reducing the power of
the notes produced upon the strings. I preferably interpose pieces of felt or other
soft material between the clasp and the bridge to give a sufficient sound to the
notes.
In order that my said device may be quickly applied to or disengaged from the
bridge of a stringed instrument I preferably hinge its parts together at one end, and
provide a spring catch at the free ends by which, with the aid of a slight pressure the
said parts can be readily united or disconnected.
In the drawings accompanying the application:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of niy improved mute, applied to a bridge.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of said mute.
Figure 3 is a similar view in detail, of the spring catch which is employed.
Figure 4 is a side detail view of the spring.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of my improved mute.

page_text: and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mute, showing a modified form of catch device,
Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 6.
In said figures A indicates a bridge, as the bridge of a violin, and B, B¹, respec-
tively refer to the two main parts of my improved mute. The parts B, B₁ are arranged
in parallelism, and have respectively at contiguous ends, the disk like lugs bb,
said lugs lapping and being connected by pivot a said lugs and pivot thus forming
a hinge.
At the free end of part B is a slot c, and at the free and of part B1 is a similar
slot c¹.
In one of said slots, as in slot c, I pivotally mount a catch stud d, upon pivot d¹
which is secured transversely in the slot c. A preferably flat spring piece e extends
along the inner surface of piece B and is connected thereto, as by pin el. Said spring
has an enlarged end f and a slot f¹ therein, approximately co-incident with slot c.
The stud d passes into slot f' and said stud d has a recess d² which engages a
portion of spring piece e, said spring thus holding the catch stud normally against a
rocking movement upon its pivot di. The upper edge of stud d is rounded or bevelled
to facilitate its entrance into the slot e' of piece B', when the pieces B and B are
pressed together. The stud d has a nose g which as it passes into slot c1 cants the
stud rearwardly against the tension of spring e, said nose portion when passed by slot c¹,
(at which time stud d returns to its normal position) serving to hold the piece B' in
the closed position. A shoulder h on the rear of stud d may be employed to limit the
inward movement of piece B¹.
I provide pieces of felt C, C1, or other soft material respectively against the inner
sides of the pieces B, B1, being secured thereto by cementing or by stitches taken
through the holes i, or as otherwise desired.
In fitting the said device to a violin or other bridge, the parts B, B¹, are opened
upon their hinge and passed side' wise over said bridge, between the strings and belly
of the instrument, the felt pieces in closing, coming against the sides of the bridge.
The free ends of the device are then closed together until the stud d has engaged
through slot c' with the piece B¹. By placing the mute higher or lower upon the
bridge, such bridges being commonly narrower toward their upper portion, it is enabled
to perforin its function in a greater or less degree, as may be desired. The softest
effect is produced when the upper edges of the felt pieces are placed in contact with
the strings of the instrument.
In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a modified means of fastening the mute upon the
bridge.
Said figures show a stud j rigidly secured upon the piece B, and arranged to pass
through a slot k in the piece B¹. A lever lis pivotted at to the outer side of
piece B', said lever having a depending wedge shaped tooth m, which is adapted to
enter a throat or recess n in stud; when said stud has been projected through the
slot kc, and thus to bind the parts B and B1 together.
I am aware that other modifications of the fastening means may be used, and do not
wish to be limited to the exact construction as shown.
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 :-
CLAIMS.
1. A mute for stringed instruments consisting of a pair of plates hinged
together, and each having soft material upon their inner surface, said plates and
soft material being arranged for the interposition of a bridge, and means upon the
free ends of said plates, to unite them upon the bridge when pressed together,
substantially as set forth.
2. A bridge for stringed instruments and a mute arranged to be connected thereto
entirely. beneath the strings, said mute consisting of a pair of plates hinged together

page_text: and having means for clasping them to and unclasping them from said bridge,
substantially as set forth.
3. The improvements in mutes for stringed iustruments substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described set forth and illustrated.
TAL: 101 dos of Iul., 1907
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.