GB2039121A

GB2039121A - Device for enabling the production of vibrato on a harpsichord

Info

Publication number: GB2039121A
Application number: GB7835116A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BERTEMES F
Current assignee: BERTEMES F
Priority date: 1978-08-31
Filing date: 1978-08-31
Publication date: 1980-07-30

Abstract

Vibrato in a harpsichord is procured by varying the tension of the string by means of a rod lying between the key and the part of the string between turning pin and nut bridge. In an alternative arrangement (illustrated) a bell crank lever 25 to which the string 19 is attached is operated by a rod 28 from the key 12. A fine tuning mechanism 27 also acts on the bell crank. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for enabling the production of vibrato on a harpsichord The present invention concerns a device for modifying a conventional harpsichord to enable the production of vibrato thereon.

Up to the present time it has not been possible to produce vibrato on the conventional harpsichord as the strings are plucked on the upward travel only of a jack by a tongue, secured at right angles thereto, when a note is struck; it is therefore an object of the invention to enable this to be done by modulating the tension in the string by means of pressure changes on the key.

According to the present invention a device for enabling the production of keyboard operated vibrato on a harpsichord comprises a rod connecting a key and a part of a corresponding string extending between a nut bridge and tuning pin.

In one embodiment of the invention the lower end of the vibrato rod rests freely on the felt fixed to the key, the rod passing through a hole in the wrest plank of the harpsichord and is provided with a groove at its upper end in which the string is guided between the nut bridge and the tuning pin. A distance screw may be arranged at the bottom of the rod for height adjustment and movable guide may also be provided for disengaging the rod when it is not required for use in the rendering of a particular piece of music.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through the key controlled string portion arrangement of a harpsichord incorporating a vibrato rod in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of an alternative arrangement of vibrato rod.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a harpsichord comprises a base board 10 provided with a plurality of pivots 11 on which keys 1 2 are mounted. A wrest plank 13, secured to the harpsichord frame (not shown), is spaced at a suitable distance above the keyboard. A sound board 14 is arranged behind the wrest plank 13, the upper surfaces of these two members being at substantially the same level. A vertical member 15, secured at its upper end to the sound board 14, carries a jack guide 1 6 near its lower end.A jack 1 7 passes through an aperture in the guide 1 6 and is mounted on a distance screw 1 8 arranged on the rear end of the key 1 2. The proximal end of a string 1 9 is secured to a tuning pin 20 from where it passes over a nut bridge 21 mounted on the wrest plank 13, past the jack 1 7 and over a bridge 22 mounted on the sound board 14. A conventional name board 24 is provided in front of the wrest plank 1 3 which additionally conceals the inner workings of the harpsichord.

A vibrato rod 23 is freely mounted on the key 1 2 and passes through an aperture in the wrest plank to take up a position between the nut bridge 21 and the tuning pin 20. Suitably the upper end of the rod 23 is nearer the pin 20 than the bridge 21. A distance screw (not shown) may be provided at the lower end of the rod 23 for height adjustment. The top end of the rod 23 is grooved to receive the string 1 9. Additionally, a movable guide may be provided for disengaging the vibrato rod 23 when not required.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a different device for producing vibrato; however, like reference numerals denote like parts.

The tuning pin 20 is now located on a rear frame member instead of the wrest plank 13, tuning of the string 1 9 here being effected by a fine tuner 27 located on a member secured to the reverse side of the name board 24. A support 26, mounted on the wrest plank 13, is provided for a pivot of a bell crank lever 25, the tuner 27 acting on one end of the lever 25 whilst the other end is connected to a threaded rod 28 which latter passes through the jack guide 1 6 to rest on the upper surface of the key 1 2. Upper and lower adjusting buttons are provided on the rod 28, one on either side of the bell crank lever 25. Means (not shown) for disengaging the rod 28 from the key are provided. Alternatively the rod 28 can be located between the nut bridge 21 and the fine tuner 27, in which case the rod passes through an aperture in the wrest plank 13.

CLAIM

1. The present invention claims to enable a harpsichord player to execute a vibrato i.e. a controlled variation of pitch of the vibrating string by means of pressure changes on the key.

This is achieved (a) by change of pressure transmitted from the key by means of a rod to the part of the string between the tuning pin and the nut bridge.

(b) by change of length of the string by means of a system of levers operated by the key.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Device for enabling the production of vibrato on a harpsichord The present invention concerns a device for modifying a conventional harpsichord to enable the production of vibrato thereon.

Up to the present time it has not been possible to produce vibrato on the conventional harpsichord as the strings are plucked on the upward travel only of a jack by a tongue, secured at right angles thereto, when a note is struck; it is therefore an object of the invention to enable this to be done by modulating the tension in the string by means of pressure changes on the key.

According to the present invention a device for enabling the production of keyboard operated vibrato on a harpsichord comprises a rod connecting a key and a part of a corresponding string extending between a nut bridge and tuning pin.

In one embodiment of the invention the lower end of the vibrato rod rests freely on the felt fixed to the key, the rod passing through a hole in the wrest plank of the harpsichord and is provided with a groove at its upper end in which the string is guided between the nut bridge and the tuning pin. A distance screw may be arranged at the bottom of the rod for height adjustment and movable guide may also be provided for disengaging the rod when it is not required for use in the rendering of a particular piece of music.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through the key controlled string portion arrangement of a harpsichord incorporating a vibrato rod in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of an alternative arrangement of vibrato rod.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a harpsichord comprises a base board 10 provided with a plurality of pivots 11 on which keys 1 2 are mounted. A wrest plank 13, secured to the harpsichord frame (not shown), is spaced at a suitable distance above the keyboard. A sound board 14 is arranged behind the wrest plank 13, the upper surfaces of these two members being at substantially the same level. A vertical member 15, secured at its upper end to the sound board 14, carries a jack guide 1 6 near its lower end.A jack 1 7 passes through an aperture in the guide 1 6 and is mounted on a distance screw 1 8 arranged on the rear end of the key 1 2. The proximal end of a string 1 9 is secured to a tuning pin 20 from where it passes over a nut bridge 21 mounted on the wrest plank 13, past the jack 1 7 and over a bridge 22 mounted on the sound board 14. A conventional name board 24 is provided in front of the wrest plank 1 3 which additionally conceals the inner workings of the harpsichord.

A vibrato rod 23 is freely mounted on the key 1 2 and passes through an aperture in the wrest plank to take up a position between the nut bridge 21 and the tuning pin 20. Suitably the upper end of the rod 23 is nearer the pin 20 than the bridge 21. A distance screw (not shown) may be provided at the lower end of the rod 23 for height adjustment. The top end of the rod 23 is grooved to receive the string 1 9. Additionally, a movable guide may be provided for disengaging the vibrato rod 23 when not required.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a different device for producing vibrato; however, like reference numerals denote like parts.

The tuning pin 20 is now located on a rear frame member instead of the wrest plank 13, tuning of the string 1 9 here being effected by a fine tuner 27 located on a member secured to the reverse side of the name board 24. A support 26, mounted on the wrest plank 13, is provided for a pivot of a bell crank lever 25, the tuner 27 acting on one end of the lever 25 whilst the other end is connected to a threaded rod 28 which latter passes through the jack guide 1 6 to rest on the upper surface of the key 1 2. Upper and lower adjusting buttons are provided on the rod 28, one on either side of the bell crank lever 25. Means (not shown) for disengaging the rod 28 from the key are provided. Alternatively the rod 28 can be located between the nut bridge 21 and the fine tuner 27, in which case the rod passes through an aperture in the wrest plank 13.

CLAIM

1. The present invention claims to enable a harpsichord player to execute a vibrato i.e. a controlled variation of pitch of the vibrating string by means of pressure changes on the key.

This is achieved (a) by change of pressure transmitted from the key by means of a rod to the part of the string between the tuning pin and the nut bridge.

(b) by change of length of the string by means of a system of levers operated by the key.