US1700395A - Violin - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,395

L. YUKL VIOLIN Filed Dec. 1'7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/"tor 110mb Vat? Jan. 29, 1929.

L. YUKL VIOLIN Filed Dec. 1 7 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuenlicw Load) Yiz/EZ Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES LOUIS YUKL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

VIOLIN.

Application filed December 17, 1926.

This invention relatesto certain new and useful improvements in violins, and has more particular reference to an improved method of and means for improving the resonance and strengthening and ennobling the tone of violins as heretofore constructed.

It is a well-recognized fact that most violins produced at the present time, and espe cially the cheaper grades of them lack to a pronounced degree the desired resonance, and strength and nobility of tone. For this reason, the violinist is ever faced with the necessity of exercising considerable skill and care in the selection of an instrument suitable for his use, and an instrument of the required sonority and tonal qualities can then only be commanded at a great expense made necessary in part by the tedious and costly method of manufacture of and material employed for the few satisfactory instruments.

As a result of a long series of experiments, I have found that these unsatisfactory violine can be treated in a. simple manner and modified slightly so as to be rendered entirely satisfactory as to resonance and tonal qualities, the treatment and modification being economical and consuming very little time.

More specifically, my invention involves treatment of the resonance box of a violin so as to condition the material from which the parts of this box are formed, whereby the sonority of the box is greatly enhanced and the tonal qualities of the instrument greatly improved.

The invention also involves a particular modification of the resonance box in the nature of a resonance reed attachment therefor, whereby the improved sonority of the resonance box is accentuated and lengthened or rendered more enduring, to bring the tonal qualities to their final required standard.

In the course of my experiments, I have also found that by imparting a certain peculiar form to the resonance reed, the vibration of the latter is brought most perfectly in harmony with the vibration of the resonance box and the tone of the strings, thereby affording an instrument whose volume and sweetness of tone is pronounced.

I have further discovered that by proportioning and arranging a pair of resonance reeds in a certain manner, to be hereinafter set forth, with relation to the resonance box, a most desirable enhancement of the tonal qualities of the instrument is had.

Serial No. 155,376.

l/Vith the above stated and inferred objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel method and means hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a violin whose resonance box has been treated and modified in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of the resonance box thereof with the belly removed;

Figure 3 is a back view of the belly;

Figure & is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially centrally through the rear end portion of the resonance box;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, taken through the forward end portion of the resonance box; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the forward reed shown in Figure 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the wooden resonance box of the violin, as usual, comprises a vertical wall or body 5, a suitably shaped back 6 and belly 7, usually glued at their ma 'gins to the respective edges of the wall 5, and internal end stays or props 8 fixed centrally of the end portions of wall 5 as shown, the longitudinal sound bar 9 being secured to the inner face of the belly 7 near but at one side of the longitudinal center of the latter. Thus far described, the construction is conventional and is that which is treated and modified in accordance with my invention to improve sonority and tonal qualities. However, is noted that the wood employed in the construction of these resonance boxes, as a general rule, and invariably in the cheaper grades, in its natural or commonly seasoned condition, is very sensitive to temperature and atmospheric changes and has a relatively short vibration period. It naturally follows, therefore, that the instruments in question not only have tonal qualities which are inferior, but which vary to an objectionable degree.

This inferiority is apparently caused to a great extent by the presence of moisture in the wood, the moisture apparently having a dampening effecton the tone and also an anti-vibrating effect. The variancev of the tonal qualities seems to depend to a great extent upon the moisture absorbing qualities of the wood and the existing humidity in the vicinity of the instrument.

After considerable experimentation, I have found that by subjecting both sides of the parts of the resonance box to the direct heat of a flame for a period of time sufficient to cause substantially all moisture to be driven therefrom, the resonance of the box will be greatly improved and the tone of the instrument correspondingly ennobled. I have further disc vered that this heat treatment, if accomplished by passing a small flame or jet back and forth over the surfaces of the parts, will not result in objectionable chairing of the same, but will leave them with hard surfaces which prevent or resist absorption of moisture and insure an instrument whose improved tonal qualities will not readily or meterially deteriorate or change.

The external surfaces of the parts of the usual resonance box are usually finished with stain, varnish, or both, and by passing the flame over the margins of the baclr and belly the finish thereon is removed and the glue securing these parts to the body is softened sufficiently to permit ready separation of the back and belly from the body. I then pass the frame back and forth over the outer surface of each of these parts until the finish is entirely removed therefrom and this surface has a hard somewhat glazed or burnished appearance. This drives most of the moisture out of the wood and some to the inner surface, and the latter is driven off by repeating the above operation relative to the inner surfaces of the parts. The treatment of each surface is repeated in cases where considerable moisture is present or where the general characteristics of the wood demand it, and then the parts are ready to be again secured together and exteriorly finished.

However, while the above treatment greatly improves the sonority of the resonance box, there are still refinements, such as tone ennobling and sustaining which must be taken care of to cause the final instrument to measure up to the required standard as to strength and sweetness of tone produced. This final step of enhancing the instrument is obtained by incorporating vibrating reeds in the resonance box before the belly is again secured in place. I am aware that reeds have heretofore been used to improve the tonal qualities of violins, but as far as I am aware, the treatment of the resonance box, and the conjoint use of a box so treated with th cooperating reeds, are new and represent valuable advancements in the ar I have obtained best results by using two reeds, one reed 10 being supported by the rear rep 8, and the other reed 11 being supported oy the forward prop 8. Each reed is supported at one end only for free vibration, and the reeds are normally alined and project inwardly toward each other in spaced relation in the longitudinal center of the resonance box. Each reed is thus wholly positioned in a separate end portion of the resonance box, and somewhat closer to the belly than the back as respectively shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. l and 5. The reeds are alike in form but the forward reed 11 is somewhat longer than the rear reed 10. While an ordinary tapered reed will function fairly well, 1 have devised a reed which is considerably more sensitive and which acts in most perfoot harmony with the vibration of the resonance box and the tone of the strings. This reed is formed from a single strip of wood of uniform width and includes a relatively long stiff intermediate or body portion B and end portions E and E connected by rela tively thin portions T and T. The end portion E is set and secured in a recess of the associated prop 8 as at 12, a wooden bracing plate 18 similar form being secured thereon and also fitted in the recess to positively confine flexing and vibration to the thin highly flexible resilient connecting portion T. The connection T is very thin and gradually tapers thicker to merge with the body portion B, while the connection T is somewhat thicker and nearly stiff. The free end portion E is also quite short and tapered to a feather free end edge as at 14, and this, in the presence of the thinner nearly still portion T, long body B, very thin and highly flexible resilient connection T, and fixed rigid end E, provides a most sensitive and uniformly acting reed which acts in most perfect harmony with the vibration of the resonance box and the tone of the strings, so that the tone of the instrument is extremely sweet, strong, noble and enduring. It is particularly noted that the invention strictly involves narrow small flexible strips known as reeds, as distinguished from large internal sound boards which have been proposed in some instances to substantially conform to the shape of the resonance box or a major portion thereof.

From the above description, it is believed that the exact nature and manner of carrying out the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is 2- 1. The combination with the resonance box of a stringed musical instrument, of elongated resonance strip reeds attached at one end only and independently of each other at the same height above the back of the resonance box to the inside of the end portions of the body of said resonance box.

2. The combination with the resonance box of a stringed musical instrument, of elongated resonance strip reeds attached at one end only and independently of each other at the same height above the back of the resonance box to the inside of the end portions of the body of said resonance box, said reeds being in spaced longitudinally alined relation.

8. In combination with the resonance box of a stringed musical instrument, of elongated resonance strip reeds attached at one end only and independently of each other at the same height above the back of the resonance box to the inside of the end portions of the body of said resonance box, said reeds being of uniform Width and each embodying a relatively long intermediate portion and short attaching and free end portions connected by short thin portions, the thin portion between the intermediate portion and the attaching end portion being highly flexible and resilient.

4. The combination with the resonance box of a stringed musical instrument, of elongated resonance strip reeds attached at one end only and independently of each other at the same height above the back of the resonance box to the inside of the end portions of the body of said resonance box, said reeds being of uniform width and each embodying a relatively long intermediate portion and short attaching and free end portions connected by short thin portions, the thin portion between the intermediate portion and the attaching end portion being highly flexible and resilient, and the free end portion being tapered to a thin free end edge.

5. The combination with the resonance box of a stringed musical instrument, of elongated resonance strip reeds attached at one end only and independently of each other at the same height above the back of the resonance box to the inside of the end portions of the body of said resonance box, said reeds being of uniform width and each embodying a relatively long intermediate portion and short attaching and free end portions connected by short thin portions, the thin portion between the intermediate portion and the attaching end portion being highly flexible and resilient, and the other thin portion being substantially stilt.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUIS YUKL.

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