US643125A

US643125A - Stringed musical instrument.

Info

Publication number: US643125A
Application number: US69226898A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adolf Gunkel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1898-09-30
Filing date: 1898-09-30
Publication date: 1900-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1917-02-13

Description

Patented Feb; I3, 1900.

A. GUNKEL.

'STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (Application filed Sept. 30, 1898. 3

(No Model lizzper 07"; /M/Z i I (aw E" TO-UTHO" WASHINGTON m c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF GUNKEL, OF BLASEWITZ, GERMANY.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 643,125, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed September 30, 1898. Serial No. 692,268. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADOLF GUNKEL, chamber-musician, asubject of the King of Saxony, and a resident of Blasewitz, near Dresden, in the Empire of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and has for its object a key or scale mask or frame for the purpose of enabling a beginner, when learning to play a stringedinstrumentsuch as a violin, Violoncello, or similar instrumentto become accustomed from the outset to the correct position of the left arm and hand, and to insure, especially when practicing scales, such an execution of the fingering as to attain a musically correct tone, so that while learning the manual execution the critical judging capacity of the ear is exercised.

According to my invention I arrange above the strings of the instrument, in close proximity thereto, a readily-removable bent plate or frame which I term a mask. This mask or frame, which is made of thin rigid materialsuch as sheet metal, wood, hardened rubber, celluloid, or other suitable substance-is provided with frets or bridges and free spaces for the fingering, according to the key in which the performer requires to play. A different mask is required for each key, and each mask has the key for which it is adapted marked thereon.

In order to insure a correct position of the left hand relatively to the finger-board, means are provided for retaining the left hand thumb in a given position, while the open spaces in the mask or frame oblige the learner to exert finger-pressure only at those points where the shape of the said spaces leaves an opening for each string of the instrument, respectively, according to the key, thus insuring a result that has not, so far as I am aware, been hitherto attained by any known auxiliary means.

In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the neck or finger-board of a violin with a key, mask, or frame attached thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are a plan and a side view, respectively, of the carrier or support to which the said mask is fixed. Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan and a side View, respectively, of a mask for a different key to that shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the mask shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 is an end View of the carrier or support.

a a are the side pieces of the carrier or support and are arranged one at each side of the neck of the instrument.

0 is a bridge-piece connecting the pieces a a together at the top end of theneck and pass ing over the strings of the instrument. This bridge a is provided with a pin e and a springcatch t'.

c is a bridge-piece connecting the opposite extremities of the pieces a or together and also passing over the strings of the instrument. This bridge 0 is provided with a hooked pin e.

b is a clasp which slides upon the side pieces Ct a and passes beneath the neck of the instrument.

f is a spring attached to the clasp b and bearingagainst the neck of the instrument to retain the carrier or support in position.

01 is the thumb-holder attached to the carrier and adapted to receive the thumb of the left hand in order to prevent the accidental displacement of the said hand upon the fin- I ger-board or neck of the instrument.

It is the key or scale mask or frame, provided with the perforations Z Z.

The carrier or support is first applied to the neck of the instrument, and the key mask or frame is then attached thereto by first passing the perforation Z over the hooked pin 6 and then passing the perforation Z over the pine, the top or narrow end of the mask being retained by the spring-catch 't' and its lower end being retained by the hooked pin e in the position shown in Fig. 1.

As already stated, a separate mask, having its bridges and spaces differently arranged, is required for each key. The mask or frame shown in Fig. 1 is for Gmajor and that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is G major.

Although described in connection with a violin, it is obvious that my invention may be readily adapted to other stringed instruments.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A key-mask for attachment to the fingerboard of a stringed musical instrument each string of which is capable of producing a variety of tones, said mask being provided With openings through which finger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means for preventing such finger-pressure on the strings at other points longitudinally of the fingerboard, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a carrier adapted to be attached to the finger-board of a stringed musical instrument each string of which is capable of producing a variety of tones, a mask provided with openings through which finger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means for preventing such fingerpressure on the strings at other points longitudinally of the finger-board, and means for fastening the mask to the carrier, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a key-mask for attachment to the finger-board of a stringed musical instrument each string of which is capable of producing a variety of tones, said mask being provided with openings through which finger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means for preventing such finger-pressure on the strings at other points longitudinally of the finger -board, and a thumb-piece for attachment to the fingerboard at or near the opening in the key-mask, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a carrier adapted to be attached to the finger-board of a stringed musical instrument each string of which is capable of producing a variety of tones, a plurality of interchangeable key-masks each corresponding to a particular key and adapted to be removablyattached to the mask-carrier, each of said key-masks'being provided with openings through which finger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means for preventing such finger pressure at other points longitudinally of the finger-board, and a thumb-piece fastened to the mask-carrier at or near the opening in the key-mask, substantially as described.

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

ADOLF' GUNKEL.

\Vitnesses:

HERNANDO DE So'ro, PAUL AREAS.