US1773133A

US1773133A - Stringed musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1773133A
Application number: US326473A
Authority: US
Inventors: Faccaro John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-12-17
Filing date: 1928-12-17
Publication date: 1930-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1947-08-19

Description

Aug. 19, 1930. J. FACCARO 1,773,133

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 17, 1928 Patented Aug. 19, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JOHN' FACCARO, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI BTBINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application led December 17, 1928. Serial No. 326,473.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments and consists of the construction hereinafter disclosed.

The ob'ect of the invention is to provide a stringe musical instrument of the general type of a violin comprising a unitary structure in which there is a common neck and peg box connected with a body in which there are formed two sound boxes on reverse sides of a partition lin the box resulting in a structure by which a performer may produce different tonal qualities and effects.

The construction of the instrument w1ll be understood by those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which* Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one face of the instrument; and

Fig. 2 is an edge View partially in vertical section showing the construction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the body of the instrument has the general outline or contour of musical instruments of the violin type. The

body is formed from two face boards 1 and 2 each of which is provided with the usual sound holes 3. The space between the face boards is divided by a partition 4 coextensive therewith but having an offset position with respect of the median line through the 1nstrument; that is to say, as illustrated 1n the drawing, the space between the inner face of the member 1 and the partition is somewhat greater than the space between the inner face of the partition 2 and the face of the partition, thereby providing chambers 5 and 6 of unequal volumetric capacity. It is understood that this will result in different tonal qualities. It should also be understood that the tonal qualities of the sounding chambers may be varied by varying the thickness or character of wood from which themembers 1 and 2 are respectively made.

To the body of the instrument there is connected a unitary neck 7 having spaced arms 8 and 9; the distance between the arms 8 and 9 forming a space 10 of a sufiicient width to permit the insertion of the hand of the performer between the arms. The neck 7 is attached directly to the upper portion of the body and finger boardsll and 12 are connected with opposite faces of the neck. Formed integral with the neck is a pair of

peg boxes

18 and 14 which terminate in a reversely formed scroll 15.

Each face of the instrument .is provided with a separate bridge 16 and 17, respectively.

Separate tail pieces

18 and 19 areconnected by a common button20 to the body and extend on opposite faces thereof.

The strings, given the general reference numeral of 21, are strung on opposite faces of the instrument and may be of'a character to produce musical notes of different pitch. Each series of strings is attached to the

respective tail pieces

18 and 19, extend across the respective bridges 16 and 17-and are connected at their opposite ends to pegs 22 mounted in the

peg boxes

18 and 14; the peg holes in said peg boxes being respectively 7o offset in order to permit ready tuning of the strings without interference with the adjacent egs.

It 1s obvious from the foregoing description of the construction that an instrument is provided that has a wide range for solo or orchestral work as well as for special trick stage playing, .by which an unusual musical performance can be given with a singleinstrument.

I am aware that my invention may be modified in certain particulars without departing from the nature and principle there-l of; therefore, I do not limit myself in unessential particulars but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i 1. A stringed musical instrument comprising the combination of a unitary body, a partition dividing the body into sounding chambers of unequal volumetric capacity; 00 a neck attached to the body provided with peg boxes and pegs for sup orting one end of the strings, and a comp ete complementV of strings positioned across the respective sound boxes.

2. A stringed musical instrument com rising a body, an internal partition in the ody' dividing the body into sound chambers of different depths, a neck attached to the body, and a complete complement of strings strung 100 across opposite faces of the body and supported at the opposite'end at the upper end of the neck.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a partition dividing the body into separate sound chambers, a neck connected with the body, having separate arms spaced apart, finger` boards rsupported at opposite sides ofthe neck above said arms, and a complement of strings attached in a manner to cross the separate faces of the body and to be adj ustably connected at their opposite end at the upper extremity of the neck. v

4. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a partition dividing the body into separate sound chambers having different tonal producing construction, and a complete 'complement' of stringspositioned across the respective sound chambers.

JOHN FACCARO.