US1352618A - Playing attachment for zithers - Google Patents

Description

F. M. NICKERSON.

PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR ZITHERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1919- PatentedSept. 14,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK M. NICKERSON, F EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHON'O- HARP COMPANY, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR ZITHERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed March 12, 1919. Serial 170,282,154.

To all whom it may concern: .1

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. NIOKER- SON, a citizen of the Domlmon of Canada,

the following is a specification.

' The object of this invention is to provide a simple improved attachment by which the chord strings of a zither or like instrument may be played. Such attachments are sometimes termed left-hand attachments, as

. the groups of chord strings are usually cated on the left side of the melody strings which are arranged to furnish either a diatonic or chromatic scale. Each of the groups of chord strings usually consists of four strings, one tuned to constitute the funda} mental bass, and the others tuned to furnish a triad in harmony therewith. Anattachment embodying the present invention preferably is provided with one hammer for striking the bass string and a hammer for striking the associatedstrings of the same group of chord strings, so that there are two hammers for each group.

On the accompanying draw1ng,-

Figure 1 represents in plain view a portion of a zither provided with a left-hand attachment embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 represents a plan View of a portion ofthe attachment on a larger scale.

ig. 3 represents a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and shows the hammer in a normal inactive position.

Fig. 4: is a similar view, but shows the hammer in dotted lines as engaged with the string, and in full lines as raised and ready to be released.

Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 6 illustrates a portion of the frame and shows how the hammers are mounted.

Fig. 7 illustrates aportion of the handrest and cover.

Fig. 8 represents a perspective view of one of the hammers. 7

Referring to the drawings,lhave shown a portion of a zither comprising a sounding board 10, .and having a series of melody strings, some of which are indicated at 11, and four groups of chord strings, each group comprising a bass string 12, and three strings 13furnishing a triad.

The attachment comprises a hammer 14 for each bass string and a hammer 15 for the remaining strings of each group. These hammers may be all identical in construction, although, if desired, the hammers of the triad strings may be somewhat wider than those for the bass strings. These hammers are all pivoted or fulcrumed near their rear ends upon a pivot, which may consist of a rod or wire 16. Each hammer may, if desired, be made of wood or other suitable material, and has a shank with a flat upper face 17, and at its free end is formed or provided with a finger-piece consisting of an upwardly extending projection 18, the front face of which is preferably concave. Each hammer has a notch 19 to receive the pivot. This construction permits the independent detachment of each hammer. The hammers are engaged by leaf springs 20, so arranged that the pressure of the springs upon the flat top faces of the hammers normally holds the hammers at an angle to the strings, as shown in Fig. 3. WVhen the operator engages the finger-piece 1S and lifts the hammer to the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 4, the free extremity of the spring is raised, thus storing power in the spring; and then, when the finger-piece is released, the spring forces the hammer downwardly until the head of the hammer engages the string as shown by the dotted lines in the last-mentioned figure. When in the last-mentioned position, the rear extremity of the hammer (in the rear of the pivot 16) lifts orflexes the spring, so that, as soon as the hammer head has struck the string, the spring returns the hammer to its normal position. The head of the hammer may be formed in any desirable way as b securing to the shank a piece of felt or other material 201.

It is quite evidentthat any suitable frame or holder for the action may be employed and that it mav be located at any convenient point on the zither. As shown, the rear ends'of the springs are secured in the bar (see F ig. 6), but of course they may be separate leaf springs. There is an advantage, however, in stamping or cutting them from a sheet of-resilient spring metal, as the correct spacing of the individual spring members is secured. The securingbar consists of a sheet of metal folded to provide two members 25, 26, which embrace the strip '24 and rigidly clamp it. At its end the bar has forwardly projecting fingers 27 through which pass the screws 28 which fasten said bar to the end blocks 22 of the 7 frame. The upper faces of said blocks are.

recessed as at 29 'and the screws 28 pass down into the blocks between the end walls of sa'id'recessesf Hence, by adjusting the screws, the bar 21 may be tilted slightly to adjust the ends of the springssimultaneously 30which embrace the'blook's 22,'a,rear wall toward or from the strings.

Theaction is provided with'a combined hand-rest and'cover which consists of a thin metal plate. It has a top wall 291, end walls 31 which laps the rear ends of the blocks, andv a front wall 32 lapping the front ends of said blocks. The cover has a verticalwall 7 so that'the finger pieceslie in the reentrant angle formed by saidwalls. 'In forming. the slots 36, tongues ior lips 37 are bent clownwardly into parallelism to furnish spacers for the hammers to prevent them from being -laterally dislocated.

' conceals all of the action with the exception The cover covers or of the finger-pieces 18, and itis secured in place, by the same screws 23 which fasten the blocks 22 to thesounding board. It will be observed from Fig. l that the upper end walls 38 of the slots serveas stops to limit the upward movement ofthe hammers when they are lifted preparatory to causing them to strike the strings. The rear wall 31 has same l orizontalplane as the wallfi which rests upon the front ends of said blocks.

/ It is quiteclear that various changes may I be 'made'in the details of construction herein Havingthusexplained the nature fi described without. departing from the. spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in'the claims. 1

said invention and described a way of. making and using thesame, althoughwithout attempting to set forth all ofthe forms'in which it maybe made or all of the modes'of 7 its use, what I claimis:"

1. 'The combination:with a zither, ofia playing attachment therefor, comprising a hammer'arranged above the strings, a pivot on which said hammer is fulcrumed near its 'frame. 7 n

6; The combination witharzither, of a' 7 left-hand playing attachment for the, groups rear, end, a leaf spring normally bearing upon the hammer on both sides of the pivot and holding the hammer head apart froin its associated string-or strings, substantially as set forth. 7 V

2.'The combination with a zither,'of a left-hand playing attachment for the groups of chord strings, comprising a frame, a

pivot rod supported by said frametransversely of the strings, a plurality of inflexible hammers, each fulcrumed near its end on said pivot, aplurality of leaf springs associated with said hammers, each. spring;

normally engaging its associated hammer in front and in rear of said'pivot and holding the hammer head apart from said string, and means for securing the rear ends 'of said springs to said 'frame; v

3. The combination with'a Zither, of, a left-hand playing attachmentfor the groups of chord strings, comprising a frame, a pivot rod supported by said frame transversely of the strings, a plurality of inflexible hammers, each fulcriunedf'near its'e'nd on said pivot, a plurality of leaf springs associated with said hammers, eachspring normally engaging its associated hammer in f front and in rear of said pivot and holding thejhammer head apart fromsaid'string, means for securing the rear ends of said springs to said frame,a nd a hand rest locatedabove the springs andtserving asa stop to limit the upward movement of the hammers.

a. The combination with a 'zither, of a left-hand playing'attachment for the groups of chord strings, 'comprisinga "frame, a pivot rod supported by saidv frame tran'sverselyof thestrings, aplural'ity of inflexible hammers, each fulcrumed near its end on said pivot, and having at its'headed end an upwardly extending. finger-piece by a which the saidheaded end may be liftedby I the operator, a'pli rality of leaf springsassociated w th said hammers, each spring front and inrearof said pivot and holding the hammer head apart" from said, string,

and means for securing the rear. end of said spr ngsto'said frame.

5. The combination with a zither, ofa

left-hand playing attaeliment for the groups of chord strings, comprising aframe, a pivot rod supported by sa d frame transversely of thestrings, a plurality of inflexible hammers, each fulcrumed near its :end' on said, pivot, ,astrip of springimetal hav of chord strings, comprising a frame,.'a

. pivot rod supported by saidlframe trans:

a V V v normally engaging its associated hammer in tongues or lips Bal wlnch rest uponthe rear ends'of the blocks, and'which are in the versely of the strings, a plurality of inflexible hammers, each fulcrumed near its end on said pivot, a plurality of leaf springs engaging said hammers, a securing bar for said springs consisting of a folded strip between the members of which the springs are clamped, and means for securing said bar to said frame.

7. The combination with a zither, of a left-hand playing attachment for the groups of chord strings, comprising a frame, a pivot rod supported by said frame transversely of the strings, a plurality of inflexible hammers, each fulcrumed near its end on said pivot, and having at its headed end an upwardly extending finger-piece by which the said headed end may be lifted by the operator, a plurality of leaf springs associated with said hammers, each spring normally engaging its associated hammer in front and in rear of said pivot and holding the hammer head apart from said string, means for securing the rear ends of said springs to said frame, and a cover affording a hand-rest, and having at its front portion horizontal and vertical walls forming a reentrant angle, said walls being slotted to receive and expose the fingerpieces on the hammers.

8. A zither playing attachment comprising a supporting frame, a pivot rod supported by said frame transversely of the strings, a hammer having a notch near its end riding on said wire, whereby the hammer is fulcrumed on said wire, and a leaf spring contacting with the hammer on both sides of the fulcrum, whereby the hammer is held against displacement from said rod and in normal position out of contact with the strings.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

FREDERICK M. NICKERSON.

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