Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
I. EWALD GLAESEL, Instrument Merchant, resident of Markneukirchen, in the
Kingdom of Saxony, Planensche Strasse No. 109 Gerinan Empire, 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:-
The instrument shewn on the accompanying drawing is intended to take the place
of various popular instruments, by differently stringing the same body, whereby
the character peculiar to each respective instrument remains intact, whilst the
musical effect is fuller and richer than with the instruments hitherto in use.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 shows such a universal instrument in side view.
Fig. 2 the same in front view and
Fig. 3 an improved form of peg.
The construction of the body of the instrument differs somewhat from previous
forms. It is a so-called closed body, the neck being longer than usual. The body
nay if necessary be of other form, as for instance, with oval or round bottom or
the like. The main feature of the invention, however, is that it is only necessary
to string the universal instrument with the stringing peculiar to the particular
instrument which it is desired to play, in order at once to convert it into this latter.
Thus, for instance, for a banjo five strings are put on, for a guitar six, for a
mandoline eight. The universal instrument therefore serves as a substitute for any
of the above mentioned instruments, admitting of being played in the manner
peculiar to each, the instruments being thus represented both individually and also
united in one, at the same time.
A further peculiarity of the universal instrument is that it has an improved form
of peg, whereby a quick change of the stringing is facilitated, the individual strings
being at the same time securely kept from loosening. This peg arrangement, as
already stated is shewn in Fig. 3 of the drawing in section, and is constructed as
follows: The pin a is provided with a hole b to receive the string. This pin a carries
a square prolongation c, into which the threaded pin d is screwed. The peg e is
placed over the square prolongation e, and is held in position by the screw d. The
peg e has a projecting neck, which turns in the socket f. By this arrangement the
strings having once been tuned are firmly held in position, it not being possible for
the peg to turn backwards.
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:
1. A stringed instrument, which by a re-arrangement of the strings may
represent another instrument, such for instance, as banjo, guitar, mandoline or the
like, substantially as set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. A stringed instrument as mentioned in Claim 1, having a peg arrangement
with square prolongation of the pin for receiving the string and a peg turning

page_text: in a socket, all substantially, as set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.