US375224A - talbott - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

S. J. TALBOTT.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 375,224. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

FIG.

a WW mm m VJ w WW 5? W/T/VESSES G/MWL 8 OGAOL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVANUS J. TALBOTT, OF MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO EDGAR F. TALBOT, OF SAME PLACE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,224, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed September 21, 1887. Serial No. 250,274. (No model.)

' separate string being'provided for each separate tone.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in perspective a front view of my improved instrument. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of the same.

The resonant-chamber is constructed,preferably, of wood. A is the plain back board of the chamber,and to this is glued or otherwise securely fastened the curved from B and the top and bottom pieces, 0 and D, respectively. The front board, B, is provided with suitable sound openingsyb b b ,into the hollow interior of the resonant-chamber, and c c c are the strings stretched from top to bottom along the curved upper surface of the chamber, firmly secured at the bottom in any suitable manner, as by tacks d d d, and at the top attached, preferably, the pins 0 e e, adapted to be turned by a key or otherwise, so as to tune each string to the required pitch. The top of the front board, B, is provided with a raised portion, g, on which is laid the curved upper bridge, w, made, preferably, of metallic wire. The

lower bridge, m, is placed diagonally across the face of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 1, and also consists of a metallic wire. Below the lower bridge, m, I commonly secure each string by a small staple, s.

I preferably use fifteen strings, tuned in octaves, though any number of strings can obviously be used, according to the number of tones desired. The curve of the front board, B, is such that a bow may be drawn easily across any string without touching the next, and is preferably the arc of a circle. The instrument is commonly made tapering, as shown in the drawings, and the bow is drawn across the strings in playing, about midway between the two bridges w and m. The instrument is further provided with two handles, h and k, by means of which itis held while being played or tuned.

What I claim is- 1. A musical instrument to be played with a bow, consisting of a hollow resonant chamber, the section of which is the segment of a circle, the arc of said segment forming the front, and

the chord the back of said chamber, provided with a curved upper bridge crossing the front at right angles to the axis of the same, and a curved lower-bridge crossing the front diagonally, and a number of strings arranged thereon with suitable means of tuning the same, substantially as described.

2. A musical instrument having strings arranged in a circular arc on a resonant-chamber whose section is the segment of a circle, substantially as described.

3. A musical instrument to be played with a bow, consisting of a hollow resonant-chamber having a plain back and a curved front, and provided with handles h and 7c, in combination with a number of strings and a diagonal bridge, all arranged substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SYLVANUS J. TALBOTT.

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