US1841397A

US1841397A - Musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1841397A
Application number: US376528A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin H Bergh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-07-08
Filing date: 1929-07-08
Publication date: 1932-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1932. ER 1,841,397-

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 8, 1929 wzmywm MA T'TORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWIN BERGH, F STERLING, ILLINOIS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed July 8, 1929. Serial No. 376,528.

My invention has reference to musical instruments, and pertains more especially'to that class of such devices which are provided with strings, such as violins, cellos, and the like. The chief purpose of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive substitute for the instruments mentioned, which can be played in the same manner, and with aclose imitation of the tones of the other instruments.

The chief characteristic of the invention consists in the provision of a body portion of reduced dimensions, and which is channeled or hollowed out in one of its sides, leaving a more or less shell-like body. Another feature thereof consists in forming the body, finger-board, and key-piece, or head of the instrument of a single piece of material.

Another purpose of the invention is to render the same readily adaptable for use by persons of different ages and sizes. This is accomplished by means of an adjustable endpiece by means of which the length of the instrument may be increased or diminished,

? as desired.

Another novelty of the device consists in so forming the body of the instrument that the bridge which supports the strings will project little higher than the body of the intrument and finger-piece, as a result of which the strings will be in substantially parallel relation with said parts, and in proximity thereto.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the same in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a lower edge view thereof.

The reference number 1 indicates the body portion of one embodiment of the invention, such as would be designed as a substitute for a violin, which body portion is of block formation, one cross-section diameter of which is substantially twice that of the other one, although the proportions shown can be varied considerably without affecting the results which it is desired to attain. Said body portion is projected atone end into a combined neck and finger-piece 2, ending in a recessed head 3, holding a plurality of keys 4. The

body 1 is also channeled on one side, forming a cavity extending inwardly as .far as the broken line 5 in Fig. 2, and leaving a pair of thin walls at the sides, as at 1". The depth and shape of the cavity can be varied from that shown, however, without affecting the general purpose of the invention.

At that end opposite to the finger-piece the body l-is cut away, and provided with an inclined face 6, at the inner end of which is an arcuate recess 7. The body 1, neck 2, and

head 3 are integrally formed, and are preferably produced from a well-seasoned piece of wood. Othermaterials may be made use of, however, forthe production thereof.

A bridge 8 is held in a cross-channel in the bridge can be adjusted with varying effects upon the spacing of the strings with reference to the body, and on the character of the tones of said strings. The instrument is played in the usual manner by means of a how, the recess 7 affording clearance for said bow in its operation. Itwill be noted that on account of the bridge 8 being supported in the depression 7 the upper part of the bridge is very little above the upper edge of the body 1, as a result of which the strings 10 are positioned near such edge and near the neck 2, sothat the fingering can be done directly on the neck and that part of the body adjacent thereto, and a separate finger-piece, such as is in common use with violin, is omitted. The instrument is provided with an adjustable end-piece 15, by means of which the length of the instrument may be varied from a half size to a three-quarter size, or to a full size, the last-named being the equivalent of IOU that of a violin of standard size. The endpiece is provided with a tongue 16, at right angles therewith, and slidable in a channel 17 in the end of the body 1. The tongue 16 is also fitted with a slot 18, engaging a bolt 19 passing through the body 1 and pro vided on one of its ends with a thumb-nut 20. By turning said nut downwardly the body portion at the sides of the channel 17 is clamped against the tongue, holding the same in adjusted position. F or the shortest length of the instrument the end-piece 15 is held against the end of the body 1. The bridge 8 can be changed in position, to accommodate the same to variations in the length of the instrument. The end-piece 15 can be used as a chin-piece, or it may be employed for the support of a chin-rest of usual type, such as is shown at 21 in Fig. 2.

liile the instrun'ient has been set forth herein as being of a violin construction, chan can be made in the proportions thereof to adapt the same to use a cello or other stringed lllStlUll'lGDt, and for use in other ways than with a bow, as for operation by the fingers, or with a pick.

On account of the low cost at which the invention can be produced and its adaptability for use by persons of different sizes, it is of special service as a practice instrument for use by students in schools in which the violin is taught, enabling each of the students to possess one of the instruments, whereas the possession of a standard violin for such purposes is frequently prohibited on account of the relatively high cost thereof.

The space formed in the body of the instrument can be conveniently used for carrying a handkerchief or other small article, and in the case of larger instruments, such as the cello, they can be arranged to contain the bow when not in use.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

l. A musical instrument, comprising a body member hollowed out in one of its sides, and having a cut-away portion at one of its ends, a combined neck and finger-piece at the opposite end, a head at the end of said neck and linger-piece, and keys held in said head, said body member, combined neck and finger-piece, and said head being integrally formed, a string support on said cut-away portion, a tail-piece in proximity thereto, held in the end of the body member, and a series of strings connected with said keys at one end and with said tail-piece at the other end, and passing over said support.

2. A musical instrument, comprising a shell-like body member having a cut-away portion near one of .its ends, a neck at the opposite end of said body member and keys at the end thereof, a tail-piece at the end of the cut-away portion adapted to hold a series of strings in proximity to said neck, a series of strings connected at their ends to said keys and tail-piece, respectively, and passing over said support, and an extension for said body member, forming a chin-rest.

3. A musical instrument, comprising a block-like body member hollowed out in one of its sides, a neck therefor forming a fingerpiece, string supports at the outer end of said neck, means for supporting a series of strings in proximity to said neck, an end-piece provided with a tongue having a slidable con nection with the body member, and means for holding said tongue in adjusted positions.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, a block-like body member of relatively thin construction, recessed in one of its thinner faces, and provided with a cavity in its op posite face, the recess being provided with two or more bridge-seating channels, a neck extension for said body member, a head at the end of said neck and keys therein, a tailpiece at the other end of said body member, a bridge supported selectively in one of said channels, strings connected with said keys and tail-piece and passing over said bridge, in position to be fingered on said neck, a chinpiece provided with a tongue having a slidable connection with the end of said body member, and means for holdingsaid tongue in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWIN H. BERGH.