US403743A

US403743A - Martin durick

Info

Publication number: US403743A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1889-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1906-05-21

Description

(No Model.)

M. DURIGK. BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. No. 403,743. Patented May 21 1889.

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MARTIX DFRICK, OF BUFFALO, Nl lll' YORK.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,743, dated May 21, 1889.

Application filed September 24, 1888. Serial No. 286,151. (No model.)

To all 1117007711 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN DURICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding-Bridges for Pianos, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of sounding-bridges used in pianos and otherstringed instruments; and it consists of a recessed metallic strip of metal, which is curved in conformity with the wrest-plank of a piano and in cross-section forms a hollow convexed bridge with a small rib or projection in its top surface upon which the wire rests.

The object of my invention is to increase the volume of sound.

I will now proceed to describe and claim the manner in which I propose carrying out my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of a wrest-plank, showing myimproved sounding-bridge in position with a wire resting upon it. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a wrest-plank with my improved sounding-bridge in. position thereon. Fig. 213 is a cross-section of a solid metallic soumling-bridge, and Fig. l shows another well-known sounding-bridge. Fig. 5

shows a modified form of my improvement.

Referring to the drawings, a is the wrestplank, to which the keys Z) are secured through the plate a.

c is the sounding-board, and d-the center bridge.

c is the plate having the pins e, to which the fixed ends of the wires are secured.

The construction 3' ust outlined is of old and well-known form. I have added my improved sounding-bridge f, (shown in cross-section in Fig. 1,) having the recess f in its bottom surface, and the small projection on its top surface, forming the contacting surface for the wires passing over it. Heretofore it has been the custom of manufacturers of pianos to construct their soumling-bridges either entirely of metal, forming a solid piece, as shown in Fig. 3, or of wood having a sunken wire on its top surface, as seen in Fig. i.

It will be seen that with my improved construction much better results can be obtained, as the vibrations of the sounding-bridge will greatly increase the volume of sound produced by the instrument.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of so u n din g-ln-idge,\vliicli dilfe rs from the bridge shown in Fig. 1 in having the bottom wall f forming a hollow strip of metal, and which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim A bridge for stringed instruments, consisting of a semitubular metallic strip, its open side adapted to rest upon the wrest-plank, and its upper side or apex. having a raised rib or projection upon which the strings rest, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN DI'RlC K.

\Vitnesses:

'W. T. MILLER, OTTO IIODDICK.