US934068A - Violin. - Google Patents

Description

J. M. GRAY.

VIOLIN.

APPLICATION mun NOV. 21, 1908.

934,068. I Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

iilajst JOHN MARTIN GRAY, OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

VIOLIN.

osaoes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. l-t, 39%).

Application filed November 21, 1908. Serial No. 463,900.

To all whom it may concern:

in it known that 1, JOHN M. GRAY, a subjectof the King of Great Britain, residing at lVilmington, in the county of New Planover and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to violins or similar string musical instruments and more particularly to a one string instrument to he supported upon the knee or lap of the performer and to be played by means of a bow similar to a cello.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical instrument of this character which is novel and attractive in appearance and which may be effectively used for entertainment with a piano or orchestra accompaniment.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the improved one string musical instrument; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line l4 inFig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the sound bar.

The invention comprises a hollow body 1 preferably of square or rectangular shape and having flattened corners 2 for the purpose of ornamentation. Formed in the front of the body on opposite sides of a centrally arranged bridge are sound holes or openings 5 and within the body between its front and rear walls is a sound post 6, the latter being arranged, as shown in Fig. 4, nearer to oneside of the body and adjacent to one of the holes Secured to the bottom or face of the front 3 on the other side of the body and adjacent to the other sound hole 5 under.

is a longitudinally extending sound bar T of triangular shape, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

8 denotes a string passed over the bridge 4 and having one end passed over the bottom edge of the body and attached to a peg 9. The other end of the string extends over the linger board 10 arranged upon the upper face of a neck 11 which projects from the center of the upper portion of the body. Said neck 11 is disposed so as to incline rearwardly from the plane of the front face or top 3 of the body, as shown in 2, and at its lower end is a rearwardy and laterally arojecting member 12 which is secured to the body and serves to unite the neck to the body and also to space the lower end of the finger board 10 above the front or top face 3, as shown in said Fig. 2. The upper or outer end of the neck 11 is shaped to provide an open triangular head 13 in the diverging arms or members of which are formed alined transverse openings to receive a friction peg 1% for stretching the string 8. Said peg has a head at its outer end and upon its intermediate portion between the diverging arms of the head 13 is attached and wound the string 8. A nut 15 is arranged upon the upper end of the finger board at the junction of the neck and head for tne purpose of holding the string 8 spaced from the finger board.

In using the instrument, the body 1 is held between the knees and sound is produced by using a bow upon the string in a manner similar to that in which a cello is played.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

The herein described one string musical instrument comprising a hollow body of rectangular shape with flattened corners and formed in its front face, adjacent to its opposite sides, with sound openings, a transverse bridge upon the front face between said openings, a neck projecting from the top of the body, a single string stretched over the neck and front of the body and supported by said bridge, the vertical sound post 6 arsaid bar is triangular in shape when viewed 1 ranged within the body between its front from one side. and rear walls and disposed adjacent to one In testimony whereof I hereunto niy of the sound openings, and the sound bar 7 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

5 secured to the inner face of the front wall T T L T in a longitudinally extending position ad- JOHB MARTIL GRAA' jacent to the other sound opening, said Witnesses: sound bar having parallel side faces and long EDWARD C. CRAFT, and short converging bottom faces whereby J. V. B. ME'rTs.

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