US592850A - Christian weiss - Google Patents

Description

C. WEISS, Jr. HARMONICA.

. Patented Nov. 2, 1897'.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN WEISS, JR., OF TROSSINGEN, GERMANY.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,850, dated November 2, 1897.

Application led April 30,1896.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN WEISS, J r., manufacturer, of Trossingen, Kingdom of NViirtemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harmonicas, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to harmonicas in which the reeds are covered by caps whereby the sound is increased in such a degree that it resembles that of a trumpet. The arrangement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I shows a front View; Fig. 2, a crosssection; Fig. 3, a view from above; Fig. 4, a detail. Fig. 5 is the-front view of a modification, and Fig. 6 a sectional plan of the sounding-caps.

In order to increase the sound, I arrange in front of the several reeds a Sleeves or caps b, as shown in dotted lines by Figs. l and 5. The caps, which may have any suitable form, are preferably closed at the front end. In the example shown the caps have a semicircular form, but it is obvious that they mayV be also of an angular, oval, or any other shape. It is also obvious that the caps may consist of any suitable metal and material either from one or more pieces.

As shown in Figs. l to 4, the caps are fixed upon the reed-plates or the projecting wood block, respectively, by means of two plates c, representing at the same time the mouthpiece. According to Figs. 5 and 6 the caps may be fixed by laying a plate c upon the caps (either fastened or unfastened) and screwing or riveting the said plate to the reedplates or the projecting wood block, respectively. 'Ihe construction can also be effected Striano. 589,768. (Neiman.)

in such a manner that one cap covers one or 4o more reeds. It may be seen that by these caps covering the reeds and closed at one end while open at the other the effect is to highly increase the resonance and to produce a sound resembling that of a trumpet and differing from that of the usual harmonicas. If de sired, the caps could also be opened at both ends, but in this case the sound is not increased in such a degree as above described.

In view of the harmonicas hitherto known I attain by my construction the further advantage that the sound may be regulatedfor example, as in a flute--by closing the caps with the ngers in a suitable manner.

The series of caps may be formed separately, as in Fig. 6, tobe held by the plate c', or they may be formed integral with a base-plate, as in Fig. 4.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is.-

I. In combination in a harmonica,the block, a series of substantially arch-shaped caps over the reeds having sound-emission openings and plates for holding the caps in place, said plates forming mouthpieces for the instrument, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a harmonica, a block with its reeds and a series of independent caps with plates for securing them over the reeds, said caps having sound-emission openings, said plates forming mouthpieces for the instrument, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN WEISS, JUNIOR.

Witnesses:

KARL Boson, CHRISTIAN BAUER.

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