US552116A

US552116A - Stringed musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US552116A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1912-12-31

Description

(No Model.)

0. H. GASKINS., STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Dec. 81, 1895.

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M. PHOTO-D1110. WASHINGTON. [M1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE H. GASKINS, OF SHAMOKIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 552,116, dated December 31, 1895.

Application filed February 20, 1895. Serial No. 539,040. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLAUDE II. GASKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Shamokin, in the county of N orthumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication.

My'invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments, which in some degree combines the characteristics of a mandolin and a harp, and which I term a mandolin-harp.

The object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of the above character in which the volume of sound will be increased, greater strength be imparted to the structure, and the tone and quality of the instrument be improved.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of a mandolin-harp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the sounding-board being removed, showing the rim, the neck and the head being made integral in one piece. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 06 :1 Fig. 1, showing the perforated braces for strengthening the instrument.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the body and 2 a curved extension or prolongation on the left or upper side thereof; 3, the neck provided with the usual finger-board at, frets 5, head 6, and keys 7.

The numeral 8 designates the tail-piece 9, the bridge.

In constructing the instrument, I proceed as follows: I first saw or otherwise produce out of a suitable piece or block of wood the neck 3, head 6, and the rim consisting of two

sections

12 and 13, all of which are made integral. The said rim-sections extend from the left-hand upper end of the head, rearwardly therefrom, to form the extension 2 and body 1, the said rim following the configuration shown in the drawings, forming the curved front 14;, rear portion 15 and

side depressions

16 and 17, the latter of which forms a support for the instrument resting upon the knee of the player. The bottom 18 and soundingboard have their edges curved toconform to the configuration of the rim, and are secured thereto, as usual. The sounding-board at a point in front of the bridge, and also in the extension or prolongation, is formed with sound-openings 19. The neck, being formed integral with the head and body, is braced and strengthened, there being no liability of its breaking at its point of junction with the body, which is always the weakest point in instruments of this character or description. Located at suitable points in the body and extension are braces 20, consisting of thin strips of wood formed with perforations 21, so as not to obstruct the sound-waves.

prolongation, as described, the volume of sound is increased and the tone of the in strument improved in quality. The neck, head, and rim, being made in a single piece or integral, the instrument is greatly stren gthened, whereby it is rendered more durable in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In a stringed musical instrument, the combination with the curved body rim, the curved and tapering extension rim, and the neck, united with said body rim and with the contracted end of the said extension made integral therewith and formed with apertures intermediate said contracted end, and the body rim, to receive the string keys, of the bottom secured to said rims, the top secured to said rims provided with sound openings, and the series of braces extending transversely across the instrument and formed with sound openings, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as any own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

CLAUDE H. GASKINS. lVitnesses:

P. J. HORIGHTON, AUGUST PETERSON.

By forming the body with the extension or