US9268A - Tuning-peg fob guitars - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFC.

JAMES ASHBORN, OF WOLCOTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

TUNING-PEG- FOR GUITARS.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, J. ASHBORN, of IVOI- cotville, Connecticut,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tuning Pegs or Keys for Guitars, Violins, and other Stringed Instruments, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan; and Fig. 2 a section in the pla-ne of t-he axis of the keys.

The same letters indicate like parts in the two figures.

The modes heretofore and now universally employed for tuning guitars and violins are the wooden pegs and the metallic keys. The former of these are defective for the reason that they are too apt to slip under the tension of the string, and if they be wedged in too hard then it is difiicult to turn them, the fingers not having suiiicient leverage to overcome the tension of the strings and the fric tion of the surfaces. And as it is a Well known fact that in such cases the pegs can only be turned by jumps, as it may be termed, accuracy in the tuning becomes exceedingly difficult, particularly on the bass strings where a very slight variation in the tension produces a marked difference, in the tone. And the latter'of these modes is objectionable on account of the weight, expense and the injurious effects on the tone of the instrument, as it is well known that the presence of metal connected with any part of the instrument affects its vibrations, and besides this the slightest defect in the construction or wear will occasion a rattling sound which is very offensive to the ear.

Notwithstanding the metal key avoids en tirely the difculty of turning presented by the wooden peg, yet the other defects are so great, that for all good instruments the wooden peg is preferred by all good musicians.

The object of my invention is to combine all the advantages of both modes, and to this 9,268, dated September 21, 1852.

end the nature of my invention consists in making that part of the wooden peg which is fitted to and turns in the handle of the instrument, and which may be called the journal, of much greater diameter than the barrel or part on which the string is coiled or wound up, and thereby give such leverage to the surface which makes friction and which resists the tension of the spring as effectually to hold the string without the necessity of wedging or driving in the peg too hard, and at the same time so enlarge the radius that if it be turned by jumps or jerks the effect will be so much reduced on the string as greatly to facilitate the accuracy of tuning.

In the accompanying drawings a represents the handle of a guitar, b, the head, and c the pegs fitted thereto. These pegs are in all particulars like the ordinary pegs, except that the part d, (which may be called the journal) fitted to the hole in the head is of a much greater diameter than the barrel part e, on which the string is coiled. The handle part f, may be made in the usual or any form desired, and as the surface of the journal part is much increased the holes in the head can be bushed with ivory or other hard subst-ance which will be more durable.

IVhen applied to violins, the pegs on this improved plan need not pass through both cheeks as heretofore, it can be done if desired, but they will be found to hold suficiently by passing through one side only.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Making the tuning pegs of guitars and other like stringed instruments, with the journal part of much greater diameter than the barrel on which the string is coiled, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

. JAMES ASHBORN.

Vitnesses:

GEO. D. WADHAMs, HENRY I. BARLEDEN.

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