US583168A

US583168A - Henry d

Info

Publication number: US583168A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1914-05-25

Description

(No Model) H. D. GOCKBURN.

TAILPIEGE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 583,168. Patented May 25, 1897.

IN VENTOH UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY D. OOOKBURN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WVULSOHNER & SON, OF SAME PLACE.

TAILPIECE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,168, dated May 25, 1897.

Application filed August 81, 1896. Serial No. 604,391. (No model.)

To (all whom'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. COCKBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tailpieces for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to provide a strong, inexpensive, and easily applied tailpiece for stringed musical instruments, such as guitars. Said invention will be first fully described, and the novel fea tures thereof then pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part thereof and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guitar provided with a tailpiece embodying my said invention; Fig. 2,21 top or plan View of such a tailpiece separate; and Fig. 3, a detail sectional view through the tailpiece and immediately adjacent parts, thus clearly showing its relation to such other parts and the method of its use.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the body of the instrument; B, the bridge; O, my improved tailpiece, andD the strings of the instrument. All these parts except the tailpiece O are or may be of any usual or desired construction, and are shown merely to illustrate the relation which said tailpiece bears in use to said other parts, which, as they are not of my present inven tion, will not be further described herein, except incidentally in describing said invention.

The tailpiece O is formed of sheet metal, and its lower end O is bent down and is attached to the lower end of the instrument by suitable screws, nails, or rivets 0. Its body passes from the corner where it is bent along a short distance parallel to and in contact with the upper surface of the instrument, but after continuing in this direction for a short distance, as to point 1, bends upwardly slightly, so that from said point to the front end thereof it is out of contact with the surface of the instrument. At its extreme front end it is bent over to form a tube, and the bent-over portion contains a series of slits,

which terminate in openings 0, through which the knots d on the ends of the strings may pass. This is an extremely convenient device for the purpose, as it is manifest that the strings may be attached by merely putting them down through the slits and then pulling them endwise, which will draw the knots in through the holes to the interior of the tube formed by the drawn-over portion, so that the knots are completely concealed when in place, while the string can be removed and reattached instantly without any untying or unwinding of the string or knot. IVhen in place, the strings are obviously securely held by the knots. The tailpiece being thin and flexible the pull isa substantially straight one from the point 1 over the bridge 13 to where the strings are fastened at the upper end of the instrument. Not only is the pull straight, but the string is also straight, and starts high up out of contact with the body of the instrument, where it will produce the best effect.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the body, strings and bridge of a stringed musical instrument, of the tailpiece 0 having an attaching end 0 which extends down over the lower end of the instrument, and a body which after continuing in contact with the surface of the instrument for a short distance rises out of 0011- tact therewith and continues in a substantially straight line toward the bearing-point of the bridge, and a forward end formed into a roll or tube with slits through which the strings may pass and holes through which the knots on the strings may pass to the interior thereof from whence the strings run directly to the opposite end of the instrument, said tailpiece as a whole being formed of flexible sheet metal, all substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 17th day of August, A. D. 1896.

HENRY D. COCKBURN. [L. s]

\Vitnesses:

JAMES A. \VALSH, C. C. SroNEE.