US936624A

US936624A - Violin-tailpiece.

Info

Publication number: US936624A
Application number: US43918308A
Authority: US
Inventors: Noah C Hale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-06-18
Filing date: 1908-06-18
Publication date: 1909-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1926-10-12

Description

N. C. HALE. VIOLIN TAILPIECB. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1s, 190e.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909. 4

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UNlrliED STATS PATENT QFFlQE.

VIGLIN-TAILPIECE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (let. 12, 1909.

Application filed June 18, 1908. 'Serial No. 439,183.

To all whom it may concern:

le it known that l, Nour C. HALE, citizen of the United States, residing at Boat right, in the county of Calloway and State ot' Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Violir1-'l`ailpieces, of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention in its specific application is designed for violins and like stringed musical instruments, but obviously may be adapted to musical instruments of any kind employing strings as the sound lproducing means.

The invention enables the unskilled to tune an instrument to any desired pitch, the latter being determined by a scale, each string having a tension device and a scale in cooperative relation therewith to determine the tension corresponding to the required tone.

The invention is particularly adapted to instruments of the violin type, having a tail-piece to which the strings are attached and is illustrated in this adaptation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' a violin provided with a tail-piece embodying the invention. FiO'. 2 is a top plan view of the tail-piece. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of a tube or barrel. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tube or barrel. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an end portion of a tension spring', showing the disk to which the musical string is attached and which disk is provided with the pointer. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modiiication, showing means for securing the disk or like part in the adjusted position. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line :U-x of Fig. 6.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawingsby the same reference characters.

The tail-piece 1 may be of any construction designed according to the particular make and style of instrument for which intended. The tailspiece is provided with a tensioning device and scale for each string. rlhe tensioning device may be fitted to the tail-piece in any approved manner so as not to be in the way and yet admit of attaining the objects of the invention and permitting of access being readily had to the parts for any purpose.

Each tensioning device consists of a tube or barrel 2 and spring 3 located therein and l consistingl ot a spiral formed of wire of selected gage best adapted for the purpose. A slot 4- is provided in a side of the tube or barrel for the pointer 5 to move in. A scale (3 is provided at one side of the slot et and cooperates with the pointer 5 to indicate the tension of the spring 3 and the musical string 7 connected thereto. The pointer 5 in the tube or barrel 2 and having one end otl the spring 3 securely attached thereto. The opposite end of the spring 3 is secured to the end of the tube or barrel in any manner. the barrel and closes the same and the end oit the spring 3 is connected thereto. The disk or bar 8 has an aperture 1() through which the string 7 passes, said string being knotted in the accustomedway to prevent its withdrawal through the opening` l() when subjected to tension. Normally the pointers 5 ot' t-he several tensioning devices stand at Zero and after the Astrings have been connected to the parts S and stretched by the tuning pins or keys, the springs 3 are subjected to tension, the degree of tension being indicated by the pointer 5 and scale 6. The tension of the spring 3 is such that when an A string is tightened to move the pointer to the letter A of the scale, said string is in proper tune. When an E string is stretched so that the pointer '5 of the tensioning device is opposite the letter E of the scale 6 it is known that said stringis in proper time. Each string is tightened until the scale of its tensioning device indicates the letter or mark determined upon. It will thus be understood that it is not necessary to try the several strings to harmonize the tones in tuning, the instrument being tuned when the several strings are stretched or tightened so that the tensioning device connected therewith indicates the points to which the tightening should be effected.

lt is to be understood that the invention may be applied to mandolins, guitars, banjos and like stringed musical instruments having tail-pieces, or even to the strings of other musical instruments by adaptations and modilications which will readily adjust themselves to the skilled artisan.

To prevent movement ot' the part 8 to which the musical string is attached after the string has been properly stretched or tightened, suitable means are employed to tix the position of the part 8. In Fig. 6, a

is carried by a disk or like part 8 movable As shown, a cap 9 is fitted to an end of 'threaded stein l2 extends freni the part 8 und passes through the slot 4 Qt the tube or barrel 2 und receives zi plete 13 and a thumb nut M, the pitite 13 havin@ :i pointer to CO- opei'zite with the Scale t5 und said plete being` nut llt.

The Zero-point o t' the spring 3 iiiziy be reguhited by ineens of ii sereiv l5, is Shown iuost clearly in Fig. 67 said screw being thiiudet't into the Cap or end 1G Closing the tube Having thue1 described the invention, ivhzit is ehiinied is new is:

1. in e device ne specified, the eoinbiiiiidetei'niiiiiiig the tension of it String iiiid iiieune for securing Suid indiezito f rigidtiY iii adjusted position.

in :i device us speeitied, the eoiiibiiiiitioii with :i tait-piece of ineens for deterniining the relative teiieioii oi strings extended ii'oii'i .Suid tail-piece und u ehiini eurried by said tension iiieuns for securing the .strings in u, rigid position.

3. In :i device ne Speeitied, the eonibiiietion with i tail-piece of tubes;4 cui-rieti by sziid tait-piece, coil Springs uri-tinged in said tubes, stringe extended from seid springs, :uid indicatore extended troni sind springs t t t I t t t t t t i i i through Suid tubesy te iiidieiite upon Seules on Suid tubee4 the tensionsl oi'i Siiid Stringa.

deviee zie specified eoinpi'isinf ii tiiil piece ii pturzitity of tubes having ioiigitudinel stets i'orined in the upper ohiiiiped against. the tube by the thumbl eide thei'eoi.E

disposed iii the forward end oi the tiiitpieee, Seidee termed on e id tubes iidjiieent,

the slots therein7 coil el'iriiifege` iongitudiiiuttv i iiioeitioiied iii seid tubes und eeeui'ed tit their retti' eXtreii/iities te sind tubes7 disks eurri'd iii sind tubes b v the 't'oiiviii'd extifeniities ot' Suid springe, stringe4 secured to eiiid disks and extended therefrom through Suid tubes,

e Jiioiiitei's ulnviirdtv extended 'trot i seid diste;- through the iongitudinid shite termed in the tion with ai tail-piece oit' un indicator 'fori upper Side` ot seid tubes, ,wid pointers :idzipted to eoiiet ith Enid .states 'formed upon eiiid tubes iter intftieiiting the tt-iieiou ot' sfiid springs` tliuiub nut,y peeitioned upon Suid pointure, :ind pluie@ disposed upon Huid iitiintere` beneath ySuid thuiiib nut."r nud udujited t to be ehiingied iigziint Suid dime i'gidtivv in l adjueted position.

in testinioiii whereof 'l :ittif: niv si iii preeeiiee ot' 'tivo Witneefee.

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