US681753A - Harmonica. - Google Patents

Description

No. 68l,753. Patented Sept. 3, |901.

E. STRIEFFLEB.

HARIOIICA (Apphcntwn led lay 15 1901 (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

EDIVARD STRIEFFLER, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,758, dated September 3, 1901.

Application iiled May 15,1901. Serial No. 60,337. (No model.)

To (0M Awlw/1L it mfr/y concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD STEIEEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bisbee, in the county of Oochise and Territory of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harmonicas; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved mouth-harmonica attachment and to a holder therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a resonating-chamber attachment for harmonicas, through which the air is ejected from the cell-block of the harmonica to increase the volume and timbre of the tone, said chamber being removably connected to the body of the harmonica, so that it shall be optional with the player to use the harmonica with or without the attachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable holder for holding the said resonant chamber in position upon the shoulders of the player and in front ot the mouth in proper position to enable the harmonica to be operated with facility by the lips when the hands are engaged in playing another instrument.

With these and other objects in view,which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mouth-harmonica, showing the application of the invention thereto; and Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a harmonica of the ordinary or any approved construction, and the numeral 2 the resonatingchamber, adapted to be attached thereto. The chamber 2 may consist of a natural horn, as shown in the present instance, or of a metallic cone truncated and open at its base or large end 3. The cone or chamber is slotted lengthwise upon one side, as shown at 4, which slot serves to establish communication between the cells of the harmonica 1 and the interior of the cone. Upon the front side of the chamber or cone above the slot is secured a flanged bearing or supporting plate 5, the flange 6 of which projects outwardly at right angles to the body of the plate and in the plane of the upper wall of the slot. Upon the front side of the cone or chamber is also mounted a clamping-plate 7, which is located below the slot and has a iiange 8 projecting outwardly and parallel with the iiange G of the bearing-plate 5. The body portion of the clamping-plate 7 is provided with slots f), through which pass headed pins or studs 10, iixed to the cone or resonating-chamber 2, this construction forming a slot-and-pin connection between the clamping-plate and cone to adapt said plate to be slid toward and trom the bearing-plate 5 to clamp and release the harmonica 1 and to provide for the reception between the flanges 6 and 8 of harmonicas varying to some extent in thickness. The lower portion of the body of the clampingplate 7 is reduced and extended downwardly to form a finger-piece 11, having a slot 12, through which projects a threaded stem 13, upon a plate or bracket lei, secured to the cone or chamber 2. At the junction of the stem 13 with the plate or bracket 14E a head 15 is formed either integrally with said parts or by the application of one or more disks or washers thereto, which head serves as a bearing for said finger-piece 11. A thumbnut or clamping-nut 16 is threaded upon the stem and is adapted to be adjusted thereon to clamp or release the plate 7 in a manner connection with the resonating-chamber or attachment I employ a support for holding hands free to play another instrument.

the same from the shoulders of the wearer, so as to bring the harmonica into proper position in front of the mouth to be operated with facility by the lips, so as to leave the This holder or support comprises the transverse horizontal bar 17, which is designed to rest against the breast of the operator and is held supported from the shoulders by hooks 18, formed of Wire and made of suflicient extent t'o engage the shoulders. These hooks are fixed at their lower ends in the breast-bar, and the Wires of which the same are formed are thencepreferably extended and projected upwardlyand forwardly to form arms 19, which are suitably secured to the horn or chamber 2 and are adapted to hold or support the same in proper position, so that when said chamber is connected With the harmonica the latter will be held in proper position opposite the lips, so that it may be readily and conveniently operated.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is#- v An attachment for harmonicas comprising a conical resonating-chamber provided in one side With a slot, a flanged bearing-plate secured to the chamber upon one side of said slot, a flanged clamping-plate located upon the other side of the slot and adapted to clamp the harmonica between'it and said bearingplate, studs or pins secured to the resonatingchamber and projecting through slots in the clamping-plate to slidably connect the same to the chamber so that it may be adjusted toward and from said bearing-plate, and means for adj ustably securing the clamping-plate to the chamber, substantially as described.

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

EDW. STRIEFFLER. Witnesses: v

M. J. BROWN,

GEo. B. WILooX.

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