US757462A - Harp. - Google Patents

Description

' hlm-757,462. PATBNTED APR. 19, 1904.

' T. J. HISSBM.

HARP.

APPLIOATION FILED O0T.19, 1903. NO MODEL.

17." ffssEM W/YYVbSES:

UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1994..

PATENT OFFICE.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 757,462, dated April 19, 1904. i Application led October 19, 1903. Serial No. 177,584. (No model.)

and useful Improvements in Harps, of which the following is a specification, which when taken in connection with the accompanying` drawings, forming a part thereof, is sufficiently clear and concise as to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains toj make and use the same.

My present invention does not contemplate a radical departure from the principles heretofore involved inthe construction of harps, but rather the adoption of well-known principles with their mechanical elements reduced to their simplest proposition and the system and arrangement improved to accomplish the named objects and, as a natural sequence, accentuating the utilitarian and musical benefits thereof and adapting them to subserve the highest economic ends.

The object of my invention, broadly speak ing, is to provide a harp composed of coperating, interdependent, and subsidiary elements arranged and combined to subserve the highest economic ends and to produce the highest measure of efliciency.

Another object is the provision of a harp which will be comparatively easy 0f operation, compact in its several parts and proportions, to reduce the number of parts to a minimum without detriment to its musical efficacy, in which the parts are arranged and combined to cause the most direct vresponse from the part to be acted on, in which the mechanical operations will be absolutely noiseless, and in which the construction will be symmetrical and pleasing to the eye in appearance.

A further object is to provide a harp adapted to be tuned eleven strings to the octave, thus enabling the performer to make a chromatic run with ease, and by means of my improvements the harp is rendered more eiiicient either for capricio, orchestral, operatic, or symphony work.

A still further object is to provide a harp having a positive, eicient, and easily-operated action for changing the tone of certain ofthe strings thereof, each having independent mechanisms constructed to accomplish its object in the swiftest manner possible.

A further object isto provide a new system of arranging the stringsfof the harp in order that the-gamut or scale may be run chromatically and also accomplishing the work with less manual labor and at the same time providing means whereby a higher grade of musical technique may be produced by the ordinarily` proficient operator.

Other Yobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification by reference tothe accompanying drawings, and as more specifically pointed'out in the accompanying claims. l

The invention consists of the arrangements and combinations of the several parts, together with their configurations, substantiallylas shown in the accompanying drawings," in which- Y* Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upperportion of the left-hand side of my harp. Fig..` 2 is a section of a portion ofl my harp, taken on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. v3 is a detail face view of one of the adjustable plates anddisks and the means for operating same. Fig. 4 is a central section taken on the' line Y Y yof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the 'bell-cranks.` Fig. 6 is an isometrical view of one of the horizontal connecting-bars. Fig. 7 is a detail isometrical view of one of the spindles and its permanent arm secured thereto and the helical spring therefor. Fig. 8 isa detail view of one of the adjustable' arms, and Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the'upwardly-extending connecting-bars.

Similar indices refer to and denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Referring now to my invention in detail, the numeral l denotes the head of my harp, 2 the body, 3 the neck, and L the column,l which parts may be of any suitable form or construction, as desired. Asis indicated in Figs. l and 2, a horizontal rectangular recess is cut out of the under sideof the neckB, eX- tending fror'nthe post toward therear of the harp, andan aperture corresponding thereto in cross-section is formed opposite thereto in the head 1, as indicated. The head 1 and the IOO column 4 are hollow,as suggested in the drawings. To the neck 3, on each side of said recess therein, isa plate-6 on the left and 6' on the right-secured by screws, as indicated in Fig. l, said plates being larger' than said recess and mortised in, as shown, in order that their faces will be flush with the respective faces of the neck 3, as indicated in Fig. 2. By the above it will be manifest that a space is formed in the neck by said plates.

Pivoted in the plates 6 and 6', across the space therebetween, are the spindles 8, 8, 8, 8, and 8d, each having permanently secured thereto and extending up therefrom the arms 10, 10, 10", 10, and 10. Extending across between said plates within the head 1` is a shaft 9, and pivoted thereon through the eyes 5C are five bell- cranks 5, 5', 5", 5"', and 5"", each having the eye 5 for pivoting it to the shaft 9, and also in the opposite points are the eyes 5'L and 5, as indicated in Fig. 5. The arms 10, 10, 10", 10, and 101 are pivotally connected to the respective bell- cranks 5, 5', 5", 5"', and 5"" by connecting- rods 12, 12, 12, 12, and 12d, respectively. Pivoted in the eye 5 of the bell-cranks are connecting-rods c, Z, c, d, and e, which extend down through the column 4, where each is connected to a separate pedal for moving said rods c, I), c, d, and e endwise vertically and by which the rods 12, 12, 12b, 12, and 12d are thus adapted to be moved endwise horizontally.

Surrounding the spindles 8, 8, 8b, and 8 is a coil-spring 14, one end of which contacts with the arm 10, 10, 10, and 10 and the opposite end with the plate 6, and a similar spring 14 surrounds the spindle 8, one end of which contacts with the arm 10'l and the other end with the plate 6', the objects of said springs 14 being to prevent the mechanism from rattling by keeping the adjustable outer arms contacted with their respective plates.

Adjustably secured by a set-screw to the left-hand ends of the spindles 8, 8, 8", and 8", outside the plate 6, are the respective arms 7, 7, 7 b, and 7, and adjustably secured by a set-screw to the right-hand end of the spindle 8d, outside the plate 6', is the arm 7. The arms 8, 8, 8, 8, and 8Ll have pivoted to their outer ends the respective connecting- Y bars 13, 13, 13", 13, and 13, as shown.

The indices 15, 15, 15, 15, and l5d each represent an identical adjustable plate, the four former being secured on the left-hand face of the neck 3 and the latter on the righthand face of the neck 3 in the respective positions indicated in Fig. 1. Through each of said plates, near each side thereof, is a vertical slot 15 to receive each a screw A to be inserted in the side of the neck through said slots, whereby said plates may be adjusted vertically. In the center of the plate 15 is a threaded aperture to receive an axial screw B. Contacting with the plate 15 is the washer 16, with a central opening therethrough through which passes the screw B. Contacting' with the washer 16 is the inner disk 17 also having a central opening through which passes the screw B and having two oppositely-disposed ears 17', extending out beyond its periphery, with threaded screw-holes through said ears to receive the screws C and of same size as the disk 17, and contactable therewith is the outer disk 19, with a central opening therethrough to receive the screw B in snch a manner that it will be flush with the face of the disk 19, as indicated. The heads of the screws C are adaptedwhen tightened to engage the disk 19 and hold it securely in contact with the disk 17, or by loosening said screws the outer disk may be adjusted cireumferentially, as desired. Extending out from the :face of two oppositely-disposed points near the outer edge of the disk 19 are the two lingers 20. Integral with the disk 17 and extending out therefrom is the arm 18, having' pivotally connected to its outer end the connecting-arm 13,' above referred to. Immediately preceding I have referred more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4; but it should be understood that each of the live disks and their individual mechanisms are of the same construction, and the above des l3ription of one particularly will answer for a l.

I will now refer to two octaves of the strings of my harp, it being understood that other similar octaves may be continued, as desired. Commencing nearest the column 4, the first eleven strings constitute the bass-octave, and the respective strings are designated byn umbers and in musical terms, as follows: The numeral 50 denotes the F string; 51, the (ir string; 52, the A string; 53, the B-liat; 54, the B; 55, the C; 56, the C-sharp; 57, the D; 58, the E; 59, the F, and 6() the F-sharp. Constituting the treble-octave the respective strings are designated by number and by musical terms, as follows: 6l denotes the G string; 62, the A string; 63, the B-flat; 64, the B; 65, the C; 66, the C-sharp; 67, the D; 68, the E; 69, the F; 70, the F-sharp, and 71 the G. The live disks I have shown are arranged to operate on the five strings 50, 51, and 57 in the bass-octave and 61 and 67 in the trebleoctave, the disk 19 being located slightly back of its respective string with the two fingers 20 thereof disposed one on each side of its string and being so arranged that by turning the disk 19 the fingers thereof will bc caused to grasp its string, and when so brought into action the string operated on will be changed in tone to sharp-thus, for instance, the F string 5() may be changed to F-sharp, the Gr string 51 may be changed to G-sharp, the D string 57 may be changed to fl`)-sl1arp, the G string 61 may be changed to G-sharp, and the D string' 67 may be changed to D- sharp-which operations are accomplished by depressing the respective rods c, t, c, LZ, and e by any suitable mechanical means, such as IIO pedals. In order to individualize each disk mechanism, they are to be known as follows:

Beginning with the one nearest the head 1,'

the first is the F-sharp disk, the second is the G-sharp disk, the third is the E-flat disk, the

fourth is the G-sharp disk, and the fifth is the E-iiat disk, and it will be apparent that by bringing the fingers of the disk into action 'with its string its string will be changed in tone to that just indicated.

connecting-arms, as 13l and 13, (shown in Fig. 1,) may be pivoted to the outer ends of the arm 18 in addition to the arms 13c and 13d and extended to other disks to operate on correspondings strings in other corresponding octaves.

From the above it will also be apparent that the bass octave is complete in itself, while the treble disks only are designed to be connected to other disks in order that, for instance, the Gr and D disks may be connected to other disks to operate on all G and D strings. 1

My harp is herein shown with thirty-live strings, while if constructed for operatic work I would prefer to have it equipped with fifty-five strings.

In actual practice I have found it preferable to dispose the bass strings three-fourths of an inch apart, and the treble strings I dispose eleven-sixteenths of an inch apart, thus causing the strings to be very easy to reach.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to me for carrying out my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, buthold that any slight changes or variations as would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fall within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and the best means for its construction and arrangement to me known at this time, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Ina harp having the usual body and neck and hollow column and head, arecess formed in the under side of the neck and communieating with the interior of the head, a plate secured to the neck on each side of said recess, a plurality of spindles pivoted between and by said plates, an arm extending up from each of said spindles between said plates, a shaft secured between said plates within said head, a plurality of bell-cranks pivoted on said shaft, a connecting-rod pivoted to each of said bellcranks and to each of said arms of said spindles, an adjustable arm attached to each of said spindles outside of and adjoining one of said plates, a coil-spring surrounding said spindles, a plurality of adjustable plates secured on the side of the neck, an inner disk and an outer disk pivoted over said adjustable plates by a central screw, means for adjustably securing said outer disk to the inner disk circumferentially, a pair of fingers extending out from the face of the outer disks, an arm extending out from the inner disk, a connecting-bar pivoted at one end to said arm of the inner disk and pivoted at the other end to said adjustable arm, a rod pivoted to each of said bell-cranks and extending down through said column, all substantially as shown and de- It will be obvious that, if desired, other` scribed and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a harp having the'usual body, neck, head and hollow column, a recess formed in the under side of the neck adjacent to and in communication with the interior of the head, a plate secured to the neck on each side of said recess, a plurality of spindles pivoted to and between said plates, an arm extending up from each of said spindles between said plates, a shaft secured between said plates within the head, a plurality of bell-cranks pivoted on said shaft, a connecting-rod pivoted to each of said bell-cranks and to each of said arms, an adjustable arm attached to each of said spindles outside of said recess and adjoining one of said plates, a spring surrounding each of said spindles, a plurality of adjustable plates secured on the side of the neck, an inner and an outer disk pivoted over said adjustable plates, means for adjustably securing said outer disk to the said inner disk, a pair of fingers extending out from the face of the outer disk, an arm extending out from the inner disk, a connecting-rod pivoted, at one end to said arm of the inner disk and pivoted at the other end to said adjustable arm, a plurality of strings suspended vertically between said body and neck and tuned eleven strings to the octave, a bass octave and a plurality of treble octaves, certain of said strings being disposed over said outer disks whereby they 'are adapted to be engaged by said fingers, all substantially as described.

3. In a harp having the usual body, neck and head, a hollow column vertically connecting the body and neck with the interposed head, a plurality of strings suspended between said body and neck and tuned eleven strings to the octave, a bass octave having an F, G, A, B-iiat, B, C, C-sharp, D, E, F and F-sharp string with means for sharping the first, second and eighth of said strings, one or more treble octaves having a G, A, B-flat, B, C, C-sharp, D, E, F, F-sharp, and a G string with means for sharping the first and seventh of said strings, the said means for sharping certain of said strings consisting of the following instrumentalities: a recess formed in the under side of the neck adjacent to and in communication with the interior of the head, a plate secured to the neck on each side of said recess, a plurality of spindles pivoted by and between said plates, an arm extending up from each of said spindles between said plates, a shaft secured between said plates within the IOO IIO

IZO

head, a plurality of bell-cranks pivoted on l disk, a connecting-bar pivoted at one end to said shaft, a connecting-rod pivotcd to each of said bell-cranks and to each of said arms, an adjustable arm attached to each of said spindles outside of said recess and adjoining one of said plates, a plurality of adjustable plates secured on the side of the neck, an inner and an outer disk pivoted over said adjustable plates, means for rotatably securing said outer disk to the inner disk, apair of fingers extending out from the face of the outer disk, an arm extending out from the inner said arm of the inner disk and pivotcd at tlle other end to said adjustable arm, and means for preventing,l rattling of the parts, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony Wliereofl have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS J. HISSEM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT XN. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE.

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