US937121A

US937121A - Stringed musical instrument.

Info

Publication number: US937121A
Application number: US29049705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicola Turturro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1905-12-05
Filing date: 1905-12-05
Publication date: 1909-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1926-10-19

Description

N. TURTURRO. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. ABPLIOATIN FILED DBO. 5, 1906.

937,121( Patented 0Ct.19,19o 9.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW, la4 Gamm co.. Piiovcxumoaumms, WASHINGTON. u. c.

'N. TURTURRO.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 5, 1905.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llrfllnnlilnlll ...llLIl-IIII.

vVllllllnglli ANDREW4 B GIAMM oo.. Puomumosnlmzns. wAsmNa'mn. n. c,

N. TURTURRO.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION PILPD mo. 5, 190s.

937,121. Patented 001;. 19, 1909,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Pam)

"- l. MW

Witwe/aereo v 2 0 /0 a/wefvutoc ANDREWA a. GRAHAM co.. moro-Lxfnocmwzns, wAsmrmTcN, D. c.

N. TUYRTURRO'. STRINGED MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT.

A PPLIOATION FILED DBO. 5, 1905.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mnnzw. a. GRAHAM co, pnowumocmwzns. wusmmon. u c` T FFMC.

NICOLA TUBTURRO, F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

patented (1ct. 19, 19M).

Application led December 5, 1995. Serial No. 290,497.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, NICOLA TUR'rUnno, a subject of the King of italy, residing at Mount Vernon, county of Westchesten and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical nstruments, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, formingl a part of the same.

rllhis invention relates to improvements in `guitars and similar stringed musical instruments which are played by picking the strings with one hand While the other hand is employed in stopping the strings for producing various desired tones.

The object of the invention is to increase the compass or range of tones of the instrument, especially by adding to the usual available tones of the instrument a number of bass tones lower than those which the instrument is capable of producing without my invention.

rlhe invention aims further to secure the above object by means of an attachment which may be applied to existing instruments and readily attached to and removed therefrom.

rllhe invention aims further to provide means whereby the additional tones may be produced solely by the use of the thumb of the right or playing hand, without adding anything whatever to the duties of the left hand of the player and without regard to the position of the players left hand.

.et full umilerstanding of the invention can best be given by a detail description of a preferred construction embodying all the features of the invention in a preferred form, and such a description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the invention as embodied in an attachment for a guitar.

Vln said drawings: Figure 1 is a face or plan view of a: guitar provided with my improved attachment. Fig. 2 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan .view of the body or playing end of the attachment, the protecting casing being removed and parts broken away in order to show the construction more clearly. F et is a side view of the playing end of the attachment, the protecting casing being partly broken away.` Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the playing end of the attachment. Figs. 3, et and 5 are drawn to about actual size. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 of Figs. 3 and et onv a still further enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8 of Fig. et. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the damper throwing lever and connections. Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the damper levers. Fig'. 11 is a detail view of the lever and connections for operating the means for increasing the strength of action of the pickers. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the releasing lever by which the picker guides are allowed to return to normal position. Figs. 13, 14e and 15 are detail views of one of the linger keys and the picker actuated thereby and the picker guide. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively plan and side views on the scale of Figs. 3 to 5 of the end of the attachment which lies near the head of the instrument showing the stop fingers for changing the sounding length of the strings, partl of the projecting casing being broken away. Fig. 1S is a detail bottom plan view on the same scale showing means for actuating the stop lingers for one of the strings. Fig. 19 is a section on line 19 of Figs. 16 and 17 on the scale of Fig. G. Fig. 20 is a detail view of a` pair of stop fingers. Fig. 21 is a detail view showing the connection for the spring act- F ig. 22 is a View partly broken away of one of the stop finger actuating rods. Fig. 23 is a view of one of the releasing rods hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of a` guitar of the usual form having a neck B and provided with the usual number of strings t extending from the bridge Z) to the head the neck being provided with the usual frets 712 against: which the strings are pressed by the fingers of the players left hand for changing the sounding lengths of the strings.

s, s and s2 represent three supplemental strings for producing bass tones lower than the lowest tones which can be produced by the regular strings o. These supplemental strings are preferably mountedon aremovable bar or supplemental neel; 10 which is detachably secured at one end to the bridge of the guitar, as by means of screws 11, and at the other end is secured to the head b of the guitar by means of a bracket. 12 which is detachably connected to the head of the guitar. The supporting bar also carries the ing on one of the stop linger actuating rods.

linger keys and stop lingers and the various actuating; and connecting mechanisms 'lor picking' the supplemental strings and tor i so changing their sounding lengths, and a the damping' keys and mechanism and the keys and mechanism lior increasing' the strength oit operation of the pickers. The supporting' bar 10 and the yarious parts carried thereby Will thus form an attachment Which may be applied to and removed trom the `Q'uitar at will, the ,Quitar .vithout the attachment being' merely an ordinary instrument ol its kind.

The supplemental strings may be secured at the body end ol the bar 10 in any suitable manner, and are secured at the head end ot' the bar to tension devices. as spiinlles adapted to be turned by linger keys 13, such as are usually employed lor putting the de.- sired tension on strings in guitars.

For changing; theI sounding` lena hs ot thel supplemental strings so that each strine may be employed lor producing' a plurality ol tones, one or more stopping devices are provided l'or each string. is shown, there are provided three stopping' devices t, t and if: lor each string' so that each string` may be caused to produce tour tones, that is, the tone corresponding' to its lull length and three other tones corresponding to the solitudine' lengths otI the string' produced by the operation ol its three stopping' devices. The three supplemental strings will thus give 12 tones, and when properly tuned and with the stopping' devices properl-7 placed will thus give the notes oit a lull chromatic scale, this increasing the range o'l the instrument by a lull octave for all keys in which it may be played.

rlhe stopping' devices tor changing' the sounding' lengths oit the supplemental strings are pret'crably termed by pairs olE upwardly projecting' pivoted stop lingers 15, the. two lingers ot each pair extending' on opposite sides ol and normally clear ot the string, as shown in Fig'. 19, and beine' thrown toward each other to engage the string as shown in Fig'. 2O when actuated to stop the string or change its sounding length. For actuating' these stop lingers to engage and release the strings each linger is provided with a downwardly extending: tail or projection 1li, the projections 1G ot each pair ot stop lingers extending' into oppositely inclined cam slots in a sliding' cam plate 1?'. For each string there are three cam plates, 1T, 1Tc and 17d, 1T" beine; the cam plate 'tor actuating' tie stop lingers forming the stopping' device t, 1TC being the cam plate iter actuatinf the stop lingers 'forming the stopping' device z, and 1Td being the cam plate loi' actuating' the stop lingers forming' the stopping' device 251. These cam plates are slid lor aetuatine; the stop lingers by means ol" actuating rods 18h, 18C and 18d, respectively. The

cam plates 17 are preferably mounted on the under side ot a supporting' plate Q0 over the upper side ol which plate extends the actuating' rods 1S, these rods being prel'erably llat metal rods standing' on edge side by side.

The connection between each cam plate and its corresponding actuating rod is etlected by means of a` projection or lng 21 ou the cani plate extending,` upwardly through an opening' in the supporting' plate Q0 and into a notch i2 in the actuating;` rod so that by the movement ol the rod the cam plate will he slid to actuate the stopping tingers. rllhe actuating rods 1S are held in normal position, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, by means ol" springs 23 acting' on the lugs Q1, and when in this position the cani plates are in position, as shown in Fig. 18, to hold the stop lingers in their open or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 19. iVhen one ot the actuating rods is moved endwise to the lett ol Figs. 1G and 17, that is, to 'ard the body end ot the supiriortinlg; bar 10, the corresponding cam plate will be moved to throw the corresponding` pair ol stop lingers into operative position, as shown in Fig. 20. The operating rods extend to and are actuated from the body end ol the attach ment by means which will. be hereinafter described.

rllhe actuating' bar 18" is cut away at f/ in order to clear the lug 21- extending' upward from the cam plate 17C to engage the actuating bar 18C, and the actuating bars 18" and 1Su are cut away at g in order to clear thc lug 21 extending' upward trom the cam plate 17d tor engagement with the actuating` bar 18d. The ends oit the actuating' bars and connections are prelerably covered by protecting casings 25, as shown.

For sounding; the supplcmei'ital strings, a

plurality oit lin/ger keys 30 are provided tot" each string', 'tour linger keys 301, 30, SOC and 30 being' provided tor each string in the construction shown. Any suitable picking means may he provided to be actuated by the line/'er keys, but prelieralily there are provided lour pickers, 31', 3l", 31 and 31"' 'for each string', cach oit which is operated independently ol the others by its corresponding linger key. rlhe linger keys 50, as shown. are each lormed ol2 a linger piece and a tubular stem 32 which is mounted to slide on a vertically arranged stud and held in its normal raised position by means ot a spring $4-, the studs 33 beine; mounted on supporting' plates The pickers 31 are each carried by one oit the linger keys 30 and are arranged so as to strike the strings when moved downward by the downward movement ol the linger keys and to move clea r of 'the string on their ui'uvard movement. For this purpose the pickers are arranged to have a slight horizontal movement, as by being formed of spring fingers carried by downward extensions 36 of the finger keys 32, the upper end of such spring fingers being bent to form the picker proper and being provided with shoulders 37 adapted to engage inclined guides 3S between which the spring linger moves and by which it is forced forward on its downward movement into position to engage the string. illhen a picker has been moved downward so as to carry the shoulders 37 below the guides 38 the picker will spring back to the position shown in Fig. 13, thereby releasing the string and tak- .ing a position such that its shoulders 37 will engage the under side of the guides 38 on the upward or return movement of the picker whereby the picker will be caused to move clear of the string. lhen the picker has been returned to its normal position, the shoulders 37 will have moved above the guides 3S and the picker will have sprung outward again to the position shown in Fig. 6 so that when next moved downward the shoulders 37 will again engage the upper face of the guides 38 and the picker will be forced outward to engage the string.

To provide for varying the strength of the picking action of the pickers, the several sets of guides 3S are arranged so that they may be moved horizontally for the purpose of throwing the picker forward toward the string' a greater or less distance. For this purpose the pairs of guides 38 for the four pickers for each string are carried by a rock shaft 41 by the rocking of which the guides 38 may be moved horizontally toward the string from their normal position as shown in the drawings. For the purpose of rocking the shafts 41 for shifting the picker guides, there is preferably provided an operating finger key or lever 42, and the rock shafts 41 are each provided with a downwardly extending arm 44 which connects with an actuating rod 4'5, which rod 45 is also connected with a downward extension 46 of the linger lever 42, so that when the lever is thrown inward from the position shown in Fig. 11 the actuating rod will be moved to the right (see Figs. 6 and 11) thereby rocking the shafts 41 so as to throw the picker guides 3S forward to cause the pickers when depressed to project farther over the strings and thereby to cause a stronger picking action and consequently to cause the production of a louder tone. In order that the picker guides when moved into position for increasing the strength of action of the pickers shall remain in this position until released, a sliding latch 47 is pro* vided, which, when the finger lever 42 has been moved inward to throw the picker guides forward as just described, moves to the right in Figs. 4 and 8 under the action of a spring 48 (see Fig. 8) to engage a shoulder 49 on the rod 45. For retracting the.

latch 47 to release the rod 45 and permit the picker guides to return to normal position, a. releasing linger key or lever 50 is provided (see Figs. 8 and 12) which is normally held in the position shown by means of a spring 51 and is provided with a cam extension 52, which when the lever is thrown inward engages the sliding latch 47 and moves it against the tension of its spring 4S to release the rod 45. When the rod 45 is thus released, the shafts 41 will be rocked to return the picker guides to their normal position by means of a suitable spring or springs, as the springs 53.

For damping the string after a note has been sounded, a damper formed by a pivoted lever 55 carrying a suitable damping pad 56 is provided for each of the supplemental strings. The damping lever for each string is carried by a rock shaft 57, each of which shafts carries also a series of rocking arms 58, one for each of the four finger keys, eX- tending in position to be engaged by lugs 59 on the finger key stems, so that when any linger key is depressed its lug 59 will engage one of the arms 58, thereby rocking the shaft 57 to carry the damping pad 56 out of engagement with the string, as shown in Fig. 10. iVhen the finger key is released and raised again, the shaft 57 is allowed to rock in the opposite direction under the tension of a spring 60 to carry the damping arm and pad back to'their damping position, as shown in Fig. 6. To provide for simultaneously throwing all the dampers out of operation so as to permit free vibration of the strings, each of the rock shafts 57 is provided with a short arm 61 which is adapted to engage with a shoulder 62 on a pull rodl 63 so that when the rod is moved to the right in Fig. 6 the shafts 57 will be rocked to carry all the dampers down to an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 10. Then the pull rod 63 is in the position as shown in Fig. 6, each of the rock shafts will be free to be rocked by the depression of a finger key as above described for the purpose of momentarily moving one of the dampers away from its string. The pull rod 63 is moved endwise to the right in Fig. 6 for throwing the dampers out of operation by means of a lever 64 (see Figs. 46 and 9), the upper end of which is connected to the pull rod and the lower end of which extends in position to be engaged by a finger lever 65 and to be thrown inward to give the pull rod 68 its actuating movement when the finger lever 65 is thrown inward to the position shown in Fig. 9.

For holding the dampers in their thrown off or inoperative position, a sliding latch 66 is provided which tends to move to the right in F S under the pressure of a spring 67 so that when the finger lever 65 has been moved into the position shown in Fig. 9, thereby throwing the dampers out of engagement with the strings, the latch 66 will move to cause the end thereof to enter an opening in an ear (38 on the linger lever 65 and to thereby hold the finger lever in the position shown in F ig. 9. For effecting the return of the dampers to operative position, a releasing lever 70 lis provided, which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. G by means of a spring 71 engaging the tail of the lever, and which is provided with a cam projection 7u adapted to engage the latch (56 when the nger lever 70 is thrown inward from the position shown in Fig. G and to thereby retract the latch and release the finger lever 65, whereupon the shafts 57 will be rocked under the tension of their springs G0 to retract the pull rod 63 and to return the dampers to operative position.

Each of the four finger keys provided for each of the supplemental strings is intended to cause the sounding of a different tone, the depression of the finger key 30a of each series causing its corresponding string to sound the tone corresponding to its full length, and each of the other finger keys of each series being connected to operate one of the stop linger actuating rods 18 when depressed to operate its picker, the depression of the finger key 30" causing the actuating rod 18b to be moved to close the stop lingers 15 of the stopping device t, and the depression of the

finger keys

30 and 30d, respectively, causing the rods 18C and 18 to be moved to close the stop lingers of the stopping devices t and 152 respectively.

As before stated, the actuating rods 18h, 18C and 18l extend from the head end of the supporting bar 10 to the body end thereof, and the actuating bars for each string are positioned at the body end of the instrument by suitable guides, as the

guides

75 and 78, as shown. For each string there is also provided at the body end of the attachment a releasing bar 7 8 which is slidably mounted within the guides T5 and 7G against the bar 18h, which bar 78 does not extend to the head end of the attachment, and the object of which will be explained hereinafter. T he actuating bars are normally held in the position shown in the drawings by the springs L3 at the head end of the attachment as heretofore explained, the stop fingers 15 being opened as shown in 19 when the actuating bars are in this position.

For moving the bars against the tension of the springs Q3 for causing the stop fingers to close against the string in the manner hereinbefore described, there is preferably provided for each series of actuating bars a series of pivoted operating levers 801, C and 8Od provided with upwardly projecting ends 82 extending in position to be engaged by the stems 82 of the

finger keys

80, 30c and 30 respectively, the upwardly projecttion to be engaged by the finger key 80u, and the upwardly projecting ends of the levers 8OC and 8Ol extending into position to be engaged by the fingers keys 3()C and 30 respectively. rllhese operating levers each have a cam shoulder 83 by which a short lever 811: pivoted on a stationary support 85 is actuated. when the operating lever is depressed. Each of the levers 811 engages a shoulder 8G on one of the actuating rods 18 so that when any one of the operating levers 80'), 8Oc or 8Of1 is depressed the corresponding actuating rod 18", 18c or 18l will be moved to the right in Figs. 3, L1-, &c., that is, against the tension of its spring 28. rlhe depression of any one of the finger keys 80D will thus cause the stop fingers 15 forming the stopping device L* of the corresponding string to be actuated to change the sounding length of the string, and similarly the depression of any one of the linger keys 30C or 30d will cause the corresponding stopping devices t or t2 to be actuated. lThe shoulders 8G on the actuating bars 18", 18c and 18l1 are preferably formed by notches n', n? and far respectively. These notches for forming the shoulders 8G on the several actuating bars do not register with each other, but are formed at different points longitudinally of the bars. To accommodate the ends of the levers 8st and the pivotal portion of the levers 8O and the mountings therefor, at the point where these notches occur the other two of the actuating levers, as also the releasing lever 78, are formed with corrcspoiiding notches n, n2 and n3, whieh,however, are extended farther to the left in Figs. 8, 4t, &c., so as to permit the lever 8-/1 to engage the shoulder 8G.

If the actuating bars after having been moved to effect trie operation of the stopping devices were allowed to return to normal position when the finger key was released, the sounding length of the string would thereby be restored to the full length of the string, and if the string continued to vibrate the tone produced by such continued vibrations might be different from that first produced by the operation of the linger key. To avoid this, means are provided for holding the actuating bars in the position to which they have .been moved after the releasing of the finger key and until another rVinger key in the same series is depressed. For this purpose a sgi-ingpressed pivoted catch is provided f gage a shoulder 92 on the upward extension 82 of the operating lever to hold the lever in its depressed position and thereby retain the actuating bar in the position to which it has been moved by uthe depression of the operating' lever. These catch levers are mounted in the under side of the supporting ing end of the lever 80b extending into posii plates 35, and as shown are held in position for each of the operating levers 80, which 'at their operating ends by means ofl a lip 93 projecting through an opening in the plate 35 and turned down over the upper side of the plate.

lt is necessary that an actuating bar which has been moved to operate its stopping device and then held by its catch lever' 90 shall be released when another linger key of the same series is depressed'. This result is secured on the depression of the linger keys 30h, 30B and 30d by means of the movement of the actuating bars moved by such linger keys. its there is no stop linger actuating bar corresponding to the linger key 30a of' each series, however, since these linger keys act to cause full length vibration of the strings, the releasing bars 7S are provided to perform the releasing' operation when these keys are depressed. Each of such releasing bars is moved against the tension of a spring 79 by the depression of the corresponding linger key 30 through the operation of a lever 802l acting on a lever 8d which engages a shoulder 86 on the releasing bar in the same manner that the actuating bars are operated by the levers h, 80e and 80d. The shoulder 8G on the releasing bar 78 is also formed by a notch a in its lower edge of the bar, the actuating bars being also formed with corresponding notches which are eX- tended farther' lto the left in Figs. 3, Arc., to permit of the operative engagement of the lever 8st with the shoulder 86 of the releasing bar.

F or causing the release of any one of the actuating bars by 'the movement of either of the other two actuating bars or of the releasing bar, the catch levers 90 are each provided with an arm the end of which eX- tends into position to be engaged by shoulders 9G on the actuating bars and releasing bar, such shoulders being' preferably formed at the right hand end of the notches n, n and a2, as shown. The ends of the releasing arms 95 of the catch levers 90 extend across the path of the three actuating bars and the releasing bar so as to be engaged by a shoul.- der 96 on any one of the said bars, but as the catch lever for holding the lever S0 for operating each of the actuating bars must be free to engage such operating lever when it is depressed, each actuating bar will not be provided with a shoulder 96 for engaging the releasing arm of its corresponding catch lever. For each releasing` arm 95', therefore, there will be an engaging shoulder on the releasing bar and on two of the actuating bars, the notch a, n or a2 of the other actuating bar being extended to the right in the drawings so that such bar when moved by its operating lever will not engage the releasing arm of its corresponding catch lever. A catch lever 90a may also be provided, as shown, for engaging the upward extension 82 of the operating lever 80a to hold the releasing bar in the position to which it has been moved, and this catch lever will also be provided with a releasing -tion of its various parts will be understood from the foregoing description, and need not be further described. lt may be pointed out aga-in, however, that the production of the various tones from the supplemental strings and the controlling of the loudness of the tones and their character in regard to their being sustained or damped notes may be effected entirely by the use of the thumb of the players right or playing hand. It will be understood, however, that features of the invention might be embodied in instruments or attachments intended to be operated by other lingers of the players hand. it will be understood also that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement of parts as shown and to which the foregoing description has been mainly confined, but that it includes changes and modifications thereof within the claims. lt will be understood also that while the invention is preferably embodied in an attachment which may be applied to and removed from the instrument with which it is to be nsed, and this idea forms a feature ol the invention, yet the invention is not to be liniited in all its features to a removable attachment.

That is claimed is :-l

l. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of one or moreV supplemental strings, and means for picking said supplemental strings located adjacent to the main strings of the instrument in position to be operated by the thumb of the players playing hand while said hand is in position to linger the main strings, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of a supplemental string, a stopping device for changing the sounding length of said supplemental string, and means for actuating said stopping device located adjacent to the main strings of the instrument at the body or playing end of the instrument in position to be operated byy the players playing hand while said hand is in position to linger the main strings, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of a supplemental string, a stopping device for los vllO

changing the sounding length ol said strings, and means l'or actuating said picking means and said stopping devices located adjacent to the main strings el' the instrument in positien to be operated by the thumb of the players playing hand While said hand is in position to linger the main strings, substantially as described.

5. rllie combination vvith a stringed niusical instrument ol the class described, ol a l supplemental string, a plurality ol playing keys lor said string located adjacent to the main strings ol the instrument in position to be operated by the thumb ol the playersl playing hand While said hand is in position to linger the main strings, and means controlled by said keys lor changing the sounding length ol said supplemental string, substantially as described.

t3. rllie combination vvitli a stringed musical instrument ot the class described. of a supplemental string, a plurality of linger keys located adjacent to the main strings or the instrument in position to be operated by the players playing hand While said hand is in position to linger the main strings, means actuated by said linger keys for picking said supplemental string, and means controlled,

by said linger keys lor changing the sounding length ol said supplemental string, substantially as described.

T. The combination ivith a stringed musical instrun'icnt olf the class described, ol a supplemental string, a plurality el linger keys located adjacent to the main strings el the instrument in position to be operated by the players playing hand While said hand is in position to linger the main strings, a picker actuated by each ol said linger keys lor picking said supplemental string, and means controlled by said linger keys 'for changing the sounding length o said supplemental string, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a stringed niusical instrument oi" the class described, ol a supplemental string, a plurality ol linger keys located adjacent to the main strings ol the instrument in position to be operated by the players playing hand .vliile said hand in position to linger the main strings, means actuated by said linger keys lor picking said supplemental string, a stopping device at the head end of the instrument lor changing the sounding length ol said supplemental string, and means lor actuating said stopping device when one ol the linger keys is operated, substantially described.

9. rlhe combination with a stringed niusical instrument oitl the class described, ol a supplemental string, a plurality ol linger keys, means actuated by said linger keys tor picking said string, a plurality ol stopping devices lor changing the sounding length ol said string, means lor actuating and latching said stopping devices controlled by the movement oli said linger keys, and means ttor releasing the stopping device which has been actuated by any linger key `when another linger key is operated, substantially as described.

l0. rlhe combination with a stringed niusical instrument ol the described. ot a supplemental string, a plurality ol linger keys, means actuated by said linger keys` lor picking said string, a stepping device lor changing the sounding length olf said string, means 'lor actuating and latching said stoping device ivhen one el said linger keys is operated, and means it'or releasing said stopping device when another ol said linger keys is operated, substantially as described.

ll.. The combination with a stringed inusical instrument ot the class described. ol a supplemental string, a plurality of linger keys, means actuated by said linger keys lor picking said string, n'ieans controlled by said linger keys :for changing the sound ing length ol said string, a damping device, a linger key lor throwing said dan'iiliing device out ot' operation, and a key lor returning the damping device to operative position, substantially as described.

l2. rlhe combination with a stringed inusical instrument ol the classl described, ol a supplemental string, a plurality ol linger keys, means actuated by said linger keys lor p'cking said string, a damping device normally in engagemeiit with said string, means for moi/'ing said damping device momen.- tarily out ol engagement with said string when any one ol the linger keys is operated, and means for throwing said damping device out ol operation and lor returning it to operative position at will, substantially as described.

13. rl`he combination ivith a stringed musical instrun'ient ol the class described, ol a supplemental string, a linger key, means controlled by said linger key for picking the supplemental string, means :for causing a stronger action of the. picking means. a linger key lor throwing said last mentioned means into operation, and a linger key lor throwing said last mentioned means out of operation, substantially as described.

let. The combination with a stringed niusical instrument olf the class described, ol a supplemental string, a linger key, a picker lOl) esami 31 operated by said finger key for picking said string, a guide 38 for guiding the picker on its picking movement, and means for moving the guide 38 toward and away from the string for causing a stronger or weaker action of the picker, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a stringed inusical instrument of the class described, of a. supplemental string, a plurality of finger keys, means controlled by said finger keys for picking said string, means controlled by said finger keys for changing the sounding length of said string, means for causing a stronger action of the picking means, a finger key for throwing said last mentioned means into operation, and a releasing key for throwing said last mentioned means out of operation, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of one or more supplemental strings, a plurality of finger keys for each of said strings located adjacent to the main strings of the instrument in position to be operated by the players playing hand while said hand is in position to finger the main strings, pickers operated by said finger keys, means operated by said finger keys for changing the sounding length of said supplemental string or strings, and means for causing said pickers to project more or less over the strings in making their picking movements for producing louder or softer tones, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of a removable attachment therefor comprising one or more supplemental strings, and means for picking said supplemental string or strings located adjacent to the main strings of the instrument in position to be operated by the thumb of the players playing hand while said hand is in position to linger the main strings, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of a removable attachment therefor comprising one or more supplemental strings, a stopping device or devices for changing the sounding length of said supplemental string or strings, and means located adjacent to the main strings of the instrument at the body or playing end thereof for actuating said stopping device or devices, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of an attchment for providing supplemental strings for the instrument comprising one or more strings, means for picking' said strings, stopping devices for changing the sounding length of said strings, and means for actuating said picking means and said stopping devices located to be adjacent to the main strings of the instrument in position to be operated by the thumb of the players playing hand while said hand is in position to finger the main strings.

20. The combination With a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of an attachment for providing a supplemental string for the. instrument comprising a string, a plurality of linger keys located to be adjacent to the main strings of the instrument in position to be operated by the players playing hand while said hand is in position to finger the main strings of the instrument, means actuated by said linger keys for picking said supplemental string, means controlled by said linger keys for changing the sounding length of said supplemental string, and means for detachably securing the attachment to the instrument.

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

NICOLA TURTURRO.

1Witnesses A. L. KENT, J. A. GRAVES.