US635347A - String-holder for violins. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 24, I899. H. W. PEARSON.

STRING HOLDER FDR VIOLINS.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES- INVENTEI F l g- M HT TY- UNITED STATES PATENT Orri cs.

HORACE \V. PEARSON, OF PORTSMOUTH, NETV HAMPSHIRE.

STRING-HOLDER FOR VIOLlNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,347, dated October 24:, 1899.

Application filed August 8, 1893. Serial No. 688,080. (No model.)

.l'o aZZ whom 222; may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE IV. PEARSON, of Portsmouth, in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in String-Holders for Violins or other Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art orscience to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tailpiece of a violin detached from the body; Fig. 2, an under side View of the same, showing my improved string-holder or reel in position; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section, enlarged, of the same; and Fig. 4:, a plan view of details.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

It is well known to players of stringed musical instruments, particularly the violin,that much difficulty is experienced by thefrequent breaking of certain strings of high pitch. This is especially noticeable with what is known as the E-string and results in much delay and trouble in knotting said string into the tailpiece and connecting it to the key. Moreover, these strings are usually construct ed of such lengths as to somewhat exceed thrice the distance from the tailpiece to the key, the surplus string being permitted to hang loosely from the key, a constant source of annoyance to the player. My invention is designed especially to supply an adjustable holder for this string that will take up the surplus, obviate the necessity of knottinginto the tailpiece, and withal will not in any degree interfere with the proper tuning or tension- ,ing of the string or with the sound of the instrume'nt.

The nature and operation of my improvement will be understood from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents a tailpiece of a violin detached. This piece is of the ordinary form and construction and is attached to the instrumentin the usual manner. For this reason it is not deemed essential to illustrate the neck and body of the violin, as my improvement is not dependent directly upon them. The tailpiece has the usual string slots or openings 1) in its forward end and the opening d for the attaching hook-pin in its outer end.

In convenient position adjacent the slots 1) on the under face of the piece A a plate g is secured rigidly by screws. The body of this plate g is circular (see Fig. 4) and at its pcriphery at one side is provided with two outwardly-turned lips 7L, which form ways or guides fora reel hereinafter described. The lip 7L nearest the strin g-hole I) also serves as a bridge for the string E, passing from said reel. Eccentrically of this circular plate att' a horizontally-swingin g clamping-lever 7c is pivoted of such length that its free end projects outside the edge of the tailpiece A. This lever has a boss or projection m, which overlaps the plate g, and when the lever is thrown forward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, will not engage said plate, but when thrown in the opposite direction will engage it, as shown.

A reel consisting of a hub 19, connecting a disk-shaped head q with a star-head s, is disposed detachably on the plate g. On this reel the E-string is wound. The head q of the reel is a disk that registers with the circular body of plate 9 and is held against said plate' by the lips or lugs h.

\Vhen the locking-lever K is thrown into dotted position in Fig. 2, the reel bearing the string may be adjusted on the plate under the lugs. The string end is then passed through slot 1) in the tailpiece and sufficiently unreeled to string the instrument. Then lever 7c is thrown to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and its boss or cam on engages the periphery of the disk 1 in the direction said reel is rotating as the string passes off. Said lever being eccentric of the reel, it will lock said reel against further rotation as tension is put upon the string in tuning in a manner readily understood by those conversant with such matters. When the string breaks and it is desired to obtain more, the reel is released from the locking-cam and the operation above described repeated.

Concealed under the tailpiece the apparatus does not present an unusual appearance on sounding-board interferes in no mannerwith" the tone of the instrument.

It is my intention that reels provided with strings shall be supplied the users, only one equipment with the base-plate being necessary.

Harps, bass viols, mandolins, and any stringed instrument, it will be understood, may be provided with my improvement, but its especial utility is in a violin.

I am aware that the tailpieees of instruments of this class have been employed for storing surplus string. My device is designed, however, to supply a detachable reel that may be quickly and easily adjusted and held in place in such manner as not to interfere with the looks or sound of the instrument.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim iS 1. The tailpiece in combination with the plate rigidly secured to the under face thereof and provided with a lip or projection; the lever pivoted to said plate; and the string-containing reel detachably secured to said plate by said lever and lip, eccentric to the pivot of said lever substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The tailpiece in combination with the plate secured to the under face thereof and having the lip, h; the cam-bearing lever pivoted on said plate; the reel fitted to rotate loosely on said plate eccentric to the leverpivot and provided with the star-wheel, said lever being arranged to lock said reel to said lip against rotation when thrown in one direction and free said reel when thrown in the opposite direction substantially as described.

HORACE XV. PEARSON.

Witnesses:

NELLIE M. WHIDDEN, SAMUEL R. GARDNER.

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