IMPROVEMENTS IN VIOLINS, VIOLAS, VIOLONCELLOS, AND GUITARS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bell, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in
Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VIOLINS,
VIOLAS, VIOLONCELLOS, AND GUITARS."
Sealed the 8th February 1867, and dated the 13th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th August
1866.
I, HENRY BELL, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VIOLINS, VIOLAS, VIOLONCELLOS, AND GUITARS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the introduction into the body of the violin, viola,
violoncello, or guitar of a sheet or plate of crystal or glass, which extends
horizontally along and across the instrument, and being supported by blocks
or cushions so as to admit of its vibration acts as a sounding board, and
imparts a fine tone to the instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BELL, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant. unto me,
the said Henry Bell, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Bell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Bell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VIOLINS, VIOLAS, VIOLONCELLOS, AND GUITARS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that he, the said Henry Bell, his executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under his, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bell, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to a contrivance for improving the tone of violins,
violas, violoncellos, and guitars; it consists in the introduction within the
body of the instrument of a rectangular sheet or plate of crystal or glass
curved transversely and extending along nearly the whole internal length of
the instrument, and across nearly the whole internal width of the narrowest
part or waist thereof. The position of this sheet or plate of crystal or glass is
parallel to the back and belly of the instrument with its convex surface turned
towards the back thereof. The sheet or plate is supported at each end by the
front and back blocks respectively of the instrument, which are cut so as to

page_text: receive and give support to one surface of the sheet or plate. The bearing
surfaces of the sheet or plate are held between pieces of chamois leather or
other similar material set upon and glued to the aforesaid blocks. A second
block is fitted to the opposite surface of the sheet or plate, and glued to each
of the first-mentioned blocks and to the chamois leather or other similar
material holding the sheet or plate. A perforation may be made in the sheet
or plate, through which the sounding post of the instrumont should pass
without contact.
And in order that the said Invention may be more particularly described,
I shall refer to the Drawings on the Sheet hereunto annexed, the same letters
of reference indicating the same or corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure I. is a longitudinal section of the instrument with the sheet or plate
fitted into it; Figure II. is a transverse section of the same; and Figure III.
is a plan of the sheet or plate.
A is the instrument (a violin); B is the front block; C is the back block;
D is the sounding post; a is the sheet or plate; b, b, are the second blocks;
and c is the perforation through which the sounding post passes.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim any part of
the several musical instruments herein-before named, nor the second blocks
separately; but what I claim as my Invention is, the curved sheet or plate of
crystal or glass arranged with a perforation, and so as to be supported and
held in a desired position by the blocks, for the purposes above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February,,in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
HENRY BELL. (L.S.)