US463368A - John c - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. J. 0. ST. JOHN.

HARP. No. 463,368; Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. 0. ST. JOHN.

BARR No. 463,368. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

ITOTNESSES. /NVNT0R.

UNTTEE STATES .PATENT QEFICE.

JOHN C. ST. JOHN, OE BOS'UN, MASSACHUSET'S, ASSIGNOR TO BARRY, OF SAME PLACE.

EDVARD P.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,368, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed December 11, 1890. Serial No. 374.376- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Ee it known that I, JOHN C. ST. JOHN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the ci ty of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to harps, more particularly such as are known as zithers, and it has for its object to provide novel means for vibrating and sounding the strings to produce a musical chord, air, melody, or other musical effect.

The invention consists in the combination, with a harp, of a pick -bar provided with finger-pieces or picks and movable lengthwise transversely to the harp-strings, and also movable in a direction toward and from the strings for the purpose of causing the fingerpieces or picks to bear upon or pass by certain strings, and thereby vibrate and sound the same.

The invention also consists in other features of construction and combination of parts, which are fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a harp or zither provided with my invention and showing a portion of the pick-bar casing broken away to more clearly exhibit the pick-bars Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional'view taken on the line at 4:, Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents the body and sounding-board of a zither having strings stretched and held thereon, all and otherwise as well known.

B is the appliance of this invention, and b b are its projected finger-pieces or picks. This appliance B is shown as composed of a straight bar (in a series preferably parallel and alongside of, each other) that lies across and above the strings, and on its under side has the downwardly-projected finger pieces or picks, in combination with aboxing or casing E for said bar or bars, if of a series. This casing D consists of end pieces D D firmly held on the harp-body, and a top plate or board D held on said end pieces. Each end piece on its inner wall has a shoulder d and (Z respectively, in the same horizontal plane, and one (I to serve as a rest forthe bar or bars when in their normal position, and the other (Z as a stop to the downward movement of the bar or bars toward the strings, and both as supports to the bar or bars on a movement thereof lengthwise across the strings.

f is a bent spring, one for each bar, and severally held on one of the end blocks of the casing and arranged to press upward on its bar, and g is a coiled spring, one for each bar, and confined in the opposite end block of the casing and there arranged to press against the end and lengthwise of the bar, which is at rest thereon. The downward movement of a bar is against and its upward movement is by reaction of the bent spring f, and the movement of a bar across the strings is in one direction against and in its other direction by the reaction of the coiled spring g. By the downward movement of a bar its picks are placed between certain strings of the harp, and then by its movement across the harp said picks are passed into contact with and by the strings, which are suitably situated therefor, the whole resulting in a vibration and sounding of such strings by the picks, and on relieving the pressure from the bar, causing said movement thereof, the bar returns automatically to its normal position in an upward direction by the reaction of its bent spring)" and in a lengthwise direction by the reaction of the coiled spring g.

For convenience of manipulating, as has been explained, the bar has a handle E near its downward, moving end which projects upward through a lengthwise slot h of the easing-top D", all such as to allow of the movements of the bar, as explained, and otherwise for the opposite ends of the slots to act as limits to the lengthwise movement in either direction of the bar.

Obviously for securing musical cifects such as the sounding of a chord, &c.-by the operation of a bar or bars, as has been explained, picks are to be suitably arranged therefor.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a harp, of a pickbar having finger-pieces or picks movable lengthwise transversely to the harp-strings, and also movable in a direction toward and from the harp-strings for causing the fingerpieces or picks to bear upon and pass by certain strings, and thereby vibrate and sound the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a harp, of an appliance consisting of a bar lying across and above the strings of the harp and having projected finger-pieces or picks b for vibrating and sounding certain strings, a casing D for said bar having opposite end blocks D held on the harp-body and on theirinner walls provided with shoulders (Z (Z and a top D, held on said end blocks and near one of them having a slot h, in combination with a handle on the bar extending through said slot 7b, and springs f g, held on the end blocks of the casing and otherwise in position to act, the one f upward on the handle end portion and the other 9 lengthwise of the bar, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wito nesses.

JOHN 0. ST. JOHN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, FRANCES M. BROWN.

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