US1993647A - Violin - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1935. CERRQNE V 1,Q93,647

VIOLIN v Filed April 18, 1934 INVENTbR.

BY g i i 7 IATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES VIOLIN Andrew Cerrone,

Washington, D. 0.

Application April 18, 1934, Serial No. 721,205

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the broad class of stringed musical instruments of the non-fretted type, and has more specific reference to the violin family.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the violin family embodies principally the standard or regulation violin, viola, cello, and double bass. All of these instruments as now utilized embody four strings except in some rare instances. The principles of the present invention are, therefore, applicable to these various instruments but the idea was conceived with the thought in mind of its special adaptation to the violin and the suc-- ceeding disclosure may be interpreted accordingly.

The present-day violin embodies four strings identified as E, A, D, and G. By way of contrast with the conventional violin, the improved instrument constituting the subject matter of this application embodies six strings such as may be divided into a group of three pairs or sets assembled to provide two E strings, two A strings, and two D strings. The conventional G string is dispensed with entirely.

The principal advantage and purpose of the invention is reflected in the adoption and use of this triple group arrangement of strings wherein the strings of the respective pairs are tuned in octaves, the relative pairs of strings being tuned in fifths in the usual Way. Thus co-ordinated, it is possible for the performer to finger the two strings of each pair in unison so that the vibrations respond in octaves giving a duet effect such as might be produced, under ordinary circumstances, by two violins or violin and a cello.

It follows,therefore, that the principal feature of novelty is predicated upon an ensemble or band of strings tuned in octaves for simultaneous fingering and vibration, whereby to enhance and increase the volume of tone and to otherwise modify the results of the instrument in such a manner as to enable the accomplishment of heretofore unobtainable results.

Another feature of the invention is predicated upon the use of two D strings, that is, a main and supplementary D string arranged in companionate parallelism and playable in unison with the outermost D string individually playable to serve as a substitute for the omitted G string and to also permit the range of the instrument to thereby be increased to the extent of allowing the performer to play five half-tones lower than would be possible with the regulation G string.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawing.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a violin modified and reconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventive conception.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View showing a conventional peg box equipped with a string tuning attachment permitting the idea to be incorporated in a standard violin construction.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the arrangement depicted in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse or vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of an adapter bracket or fixture constituting a salient feature of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the assemblage or ensemble of strings in relation to the bridge.

By way of introduction, it is to be pointed out that in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, the construction of the violin proper is the same as any ordinary instrument with the exception that the peg box is longitudinally elongated and two additional pegs are incorporated therein to accommodate the supplementary strings. In the remaining figures, that is, Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, there is a conventional peg box shown and here I provide special metal adapter brackets or fixtures to take care of the two extra strings. It is evident, however, that the inventive novelty is generically the same in both embodiments. It is thought that the broad principle of the inven-- tion may well be exemplied as illustrated in Figure 1 and reference being had to this, it will be observed that the body of the instrument, which is conventional, is denoted by the numeral 7, the fingerboard-equipped neck. is denoted at 8, the peg box at 9, the scroll at 10, the tail piece at 11, and the bridge 12. The pegs, which are of the customary tapered wooden or composition type are difierentiated by the numerals 13. The mere fact that there are two extra pegs does not alter the mounting or function of the pegs, except that the strings are re-arranged to permit them to be attached to the most convenient pegs in an orderly manner. As before stated, the additional pegs make it necessary to construct the peg box 9 slightly longer than is usual. The novelty, however, is not predicated so much on the pegs or peg box construction, but rather on the adoption and special coordination of strings. As before stated, the usual G string is omitted and I am content to perform with three dual sets of strings. The strings are difierentiated as E and E, A and A, and D and D. The string E is tuned one full octave lower than the E, and the same idea is carried out with the A and D strings. It is manifest that by tuning the D string one octave lower than D, it not only allows it to be used in conjunction with D but permits it to be bowed separately and to serve as a substitute for the omitted G string. In fact, it permits the player to play even lower tones such as F-sharp, F- natural, E-natural, and E-flat below conventional G.

It is well-known that the playing of double and triple stops is diflicult of accomplishment if the sounds be caused to respond in tune. The average player encounters difliculty in attempting to execute such multiple stops and frequently plays out of tune or plays one tone false in relation to the other. Even so, under the present string assemblage, it is possible for the player to execute octaves. As a general proposition, this requires the use of two fingers, that is, the index finger and little finger of the left hand. Since these must be maintained in definite spaced relation it is evident that playing octaves in rapidly executed passages is an unreliable and somewhat jumpy task. It is evident, however, that by tuning the strings as just described, the playing of octaves is quite easy since it is only necessary to use one finger to bridge both strings E and E for example in order to play F and the same tone an octave lower.

The gist of the invention is exemplified in an arrangement characterized by three groups or pairs of strings omitting the customary G string and utilizing the regulation E, A, and D strings and supplementary or subordinate E, A, and D strings arranged in close spaced parallelism to each other in proper pairs so as to permit the fingers to press the strings against the finger board in unison for playing the same tone in octaves. This produces accordant and spontaneous tones such as are musically and scientifically correct and adds to the voluminous musical quality of the performance. The subordinate or auxiliary strings are in a sense accompaniment strings but both strings in each set or group are melody strings. By being tuned to the same pitch with the exception of one octaves difference, the relative intonations of the strings when simultaneously utilized is necessarily correct.

At this time, it is to be pointed out that the idea is applicable to a regular or standard violin. Because of the short length of the peg box, facilities must be added to take care of the two extra strings. This is accomplished by using the attachment shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive. Referring for example to Figure 5 it will be observed that the numeral 14 designates what may be conveniently called an adapter bracket or fixture. This is in the nature of a light-weight, longitudinally curved metal plate 15 of appropriate proportions having hooked clips 16 and 17 at opposite ends to engage over the edge portion of the side wall of the peg box 18 as shown in Figure 2. Incidentally, the regulation pegs or keys are here denoted by the numerals 19 merely to distinguish from the extra or supplementary tuning keys 20. In order to accommodate the key 20, each plate 15 is provided with complemental lugs 21 serving as retention elements. These serve to retain in place a worm 22 mounted on the shaft of the key and cooperable with a worm wheel or gear 23 carried on a stub shaft 24 mounted in the extension portion 25 of the plate. It is of course evident that I provide two of these plates or adapter brackets and that each one is provided with a depending sustaining rod 26 having a screw-threaded end 27 to accommodate a finger nut 28. The nuts serve to clamp the tie or connecting bar 29 in place. This simply underlies the peg box permitting the rods 26 to be disposed on the exterior. In other words, the two brackets 14 are simply hooked over the parallel side walls of the peg box so that the rods 26 depend on the exterior allowing them to be tied together by the connecting bar 29 which is in turn fastened in place by the nuts 28. This provides a non-vibratory arrangement for the accommodation of the two extra strings. The regular pegs 19 are simply restrung so as to accommodate the strings in proper order. That is to say, that peg which would ordinarily be used to accommodate the A string is employed here to accomodate the extra E string. Moreover, the peg which is ordinarily used to accommodate the D string is here utilized to accomodate one of the A strings while one of the stub shafts 24 is utilized to accommodate the complemental A string and so on.

It is evident that the invention is portrayed in what may be considered to be two distinct phases. In other words, the arrangements depicted in Figure 1 covers the broad string ensemble idea which is the principle factor of the conception. Then too, novelty is predicated upon the secondary phase of the invention which has to do with the adoption and use of the special adapter brackets 14 to accomodate the extra strings and to permit the conventional violin to be employed in carrying the invention into practice. In the succeeding claims, the adapter brackets may appear in the singular inasmuch as each bracket is the same in construction.

It goes without saying that persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will, upon considering the drawing in conjunction with the description, obtain a clear idea of the innovation herein introduced. It is believed, therefore, that a more detailed description is unnecessary.

With my new arrangement of the strings, as the bow is drawn across three strings, these strings will vibrate simultaneously to produce a melody of three notes with harmonious sustained chords.

I claim:

1. In combination with a violin peg box, a pair of plates for disposition against the outer faces of the side walls of the peg box, inwardly extending hooks formed on the plates for engagement over the upper edges of the side walls of the peg box, rods projecting downwardly from the plates, the lower ends of the rods being threaded and projecting below the bottom of the peg box, a connecting bar extending over the rods, nuts threaded on the rods for clamping the bar against the bottom of the peg box and rigidly secure the structure on the peg box, and auxiliary string connecting members carried by the plates.

2. In combination with a violin peg box, a. pair of plates for disposition against the outer faces of the side walls of the peg box, inwardly extending hooks formed on the plates for engagement over the upper edges of the side walls of the peg box, rods projecting downwardly from the plates, the lower ends of the rods being threaded and projecting below the bottom of the peg box,

a connecting bar extending over the rods, nuts threaded on the rods for clamping the box against the bottom of the peg box and rigidly secure the structure on the peg box, auxiliary string connecting stub shafts rotatably mounted on the plates above the peg box, and means for actuating said stub shafts.

3. In combination with a violin peg box, a pair of plates for disposition against the outer faces of the side walls of the peg box, inwardly extending hooks formed on the plates for engagement over the upper edges of the side walls of the peg box, rods projecting downwardly from the plates, the lower ends of the rods being threaded and projecting below the bottom of the peg box, a connecting bar extending over the rods, nuts threaded on the rods for clamping the box against the bottom of the peg box and rigidly secure the structure on the peg box, auxiliary string connecting stub shafts rotatably mounted on the plates above the peg box, and means for actuating said stub shafts, said means including a worm gear on the outer end of each stub shaft, a key-operated shaft supported on each plate, and a worm on each of the last mentioned shafts for engagement with the respective worm gears.

4. In combination with a violin peg box, a pair of plates for disposition against the outer faces of the side walls of the peg box, extensions formed on the upper edges of the intermediate portion of the plates, inwardly extending hooks formed on the end portions of the plates at the upper edges thereof for engagement over the side walls of the peg box, rods projecting downwardly from the plates, the lower ends of the rods being threaded and extending below the bottom of the peg box, a connecting bar extending over the threaded rods, nuts threaded on the rods for clamping the bar against the bottom of the peg box to rigidly secure the structure on the peg box, a stub shaft to which an auxiliary string may be connected carried by each of the aforesaid extensions for disposition above the top of the peg box, a worm gear on the outer end of each stub shaft, a keyoperated shaft supported on each plate, and a worm on each of the last mentioned shafts for engagement with the respective worm gears, and laterally projecting pairs of lugs formed on the plates and their extensions in which the keyoperated shafts are mounted.

ANDREW CERRONE.

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