Improved Chromatic Zither for Melodies and Chords.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1895--Accepted, 27th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Chromatic Zither for Melodies and Chords.
I, EWALD GLAESEL, Manufacturer, of Markneukirchen, in the Kingdom of
Saxony, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention consists of a zither by means of which both melodies and
chords may be played. In contradistinction to the zithers hitherto employed, the
present system enables all major and minor keys and their respective chords to be
played. This is accomplished by operating a slide mechanism by means of which
the instrument is adjusted by a single operation to the desired key.
Zithers constructed according to the present invention may be played by persons
having no knowledge of music, it only being necessary to make use of the
instructions furnished with the instrument.
And in order to make the present invention more easily intelligible reference is
had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters denote similar parts
throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 being a plan view.
Fig. 2 a section on the line a- of Fig. 1, and,
Fig. 3 a section on the line y-y of Fig. 1 of an instrument constructed according
to the present invention.
At the
The zither is tuned to the chromatic scale and includes three octaves.
left hand side of the instrument beneath the "A" string are arranged signs
corresponding to the notes A, G, G, F, etc., the various partitions being marked
by means of small strips on to which the string is pressed by means of the finger in
the usual manner. A is a slide by means of which all the damping strips may be
moved simultaneously, and the instrument adjusted to the desired scale. The slide
mechanism consists of a frame A, between the ends c, d, of which the damping
strips a are supported in angle pieces e, said damping strips being capable of being
depressed and being returned to their normal position after each depression by
means of the spiral springs farranged under the said angle pieces e. Above the
frame is arranged a bridge g in which six vertical stops h are loosely supported
each having its lower end resting on one of the damping strips. A scale having
Roman figures I, II, III, etc., is provided in front of the stops, said numbers
corresponding to the position of the stops, and designating the chords as prescribed
by the principal harmony. The slide is further provided with a scale having the
notations C, B, Bb, A, etc., representing the scales to which the slide may be
adjusted. The cross piece i is provided with arrows with which the line of the
scale must correspond, thus for instance, if it is desired to play in C-minor, the slide
must be pushed in until the line above c is in line with the two arrows of
the cross-piece i. As soon as the instrument has been adjusted to the proper scale,
the same may be played in the usual manner and if a chord happens it will only be
necessary to depress the corresponding stop h, which by means of a felt cushion
muffles or damps all the strings which are to be kept silent allowing only the strings
of the chord to speak. The damping strips or dampers a, a, consist advantageously
of split brass tubes a in which a strip of felt is clamped as at b in Fig. 3, said strip
being cut out at such points as correspond to the positions of the strings which are
to be allowed to speak when the said damping strip is depressed, as may be clearly

page_text: seen at Fig. 2. Damping strips of this construction possess the advantage over
those hitherto employed in that they are elastic and will not warp, whilst at the
same time they damp more effectually and without disturbing the harmony.
The music written for zithers of this kind is provided at the top of each piece
with a notice of the scale in which the piece is written and according to which the
slide is adjusted, whilst below each note the number of the stop to be depressed is
written and above the same the number of the string to be struck thus:-
Chord zithers of the kind hitherto employed are more complicated and necessitate
the adjustment of a number of stops before the piece can be played, whilst in the
present case a single movement of the slide adjusts the whole instrument and
the notes show which string is to be struck.
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) Chromatic zither for playing melodies and chords, having an adjustable slide
carrying damping strips of drawn brass tubes, said damping strips being capable
of simultaneous adjustment to any desired scale by one movement only, and having
a scale or register for shewing the adjustment for major and minor scales.
(2) The combination of the damping strips consisting of the split brass tubes
having clamped therein felt strips having notches along their edges as specified, and
interchangeable stops for actuating said damping strips in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as described.
(3) The combination of angle pieces e, e, to support the damping strips, and
springs underneath said angles for the purpose substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 20th day of May 1895.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention " Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.