US1571823A - Musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2 1926. Q 1,571,823

F. R. WEAVER MUS I CAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 10, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,823

F. R. WEAVER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed NOV. 10, 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewvzii Z/ea Ver- INVENTOR wrruzss: ATmRNEY State of Missouri, have invented new Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES FRANK R. WEAVER, OF FAIRGROVE, MISSOURI.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed November 10, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. lVnavn-n, a citizen of the United States, residing at F airgrove, in the county of Greene and and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification. v I

This invention has reference to a nuisical instrument designed for use by a comic musician, and has for its object to provide astringed instrument, such as a banjo, with noise producing devices which will not interfere with the proper playing of the instrument.

A further object is to produce an in strument of this character whicn is elastically supported from the neck or shoulder of the musician and which has supported thereon a plurality of sound producing de vices that may be operated when the instrument is held in proper playing position and which are also designed to be sounded by contact with an obstacle when the musician forces the instrument away from him and expands the elastic support, and to be likewise sounded by contact with air currents or the contraction of the support and the return of the instrument to initial playing position.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present. themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a. perspective view showing the instrument supported in playing posit1on on a musician.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the instrument forced away from the player.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the improvement.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

The remaining figures illustrate details.

The stringed instrument of my improvement is in the nature, of a banjo, the head 1 of which being, however, of a smaller circumference than usual. Also preferably the band portion of the head may be of stronger material than that usually employed. The string board 2 may be also reinforced to strengthen the same. Secured to the head and to the neck of the instrument there are the ends of an elastic band 3, and this band Serial No. 674,604.

is arranged either around the neck or over the shoulder of the musician.

On its rear face the drum head of the instrument is formed with an outstanding peripheral flange t designed to protect the drum head when the instrument is thrown by the musician to contact with an obstacle, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. In addition to this the flange 4 provides a means whereby a plurality of sound producing devices are attached to the banjo. In the showing of the drawings these sound producing devices include a steel triangle 5 having loosely connected therewith a rod or tappet. The triangle is supported from the neck portion of a ratchet device 6, the same being provided with an operating handle which, when rotated, causes the ratchet wheel therein and the spring influenced dog engaged thereby to produce a sound similar to that made by a trap drum. On the upper or opposite side of the flange t there are supported other sound producing devices, those disclosed by the drawings being in the nature of a rubber bulb which operates an automobile horn and which is indicated by the numeral 9, a similar bulb which, when compressed, operates mechanism to imitate the bark of a dog, this device being inclicated by the numeral 10, and to the side thereof there is supported on the said flange 4 a small metal squawker 8 provided with a handle operated crank shaft which contacts with the vibratory element to produce a noise similar to that of an ordinary pawl and ratchet.

On the rear edge of the handle or neck 2 of the instrument there is supported a cymbal 11 and a castanet 1.2, while on the outer end of this portion of the instrument there is supported a string of metal sleigh bells hung on a leather thong, a handle 13 connecting the ends of the thong, and this handle is loosely secured on the banjo.

On its opposite end the neck of the banjo has secured on its outer corner a metal tap bell 14 and the operating handle 15 for the castanet 12.

In playing position, the instrument is supported as disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings. The instrument is designed to produce weird sounds as well as clear musical tones and is, as above inferred, designed to be played by a musical comedian or in a band. During certain parts of the playing of the banjo the musician will forcibly throw the implement away from playing position to cause the same to contact with an obstacle, as illustrated in Figure 2. Such contact Will sound the triangle, cymbal, castanet and sleigh bells. The elastic support 5 will return the instrument to initial position, and the contact of the bells, flexibly supported cymbal, flexibly supported castanet and likewise flexibly supported triangle Will cause the sounding of these devices.

Having described the invention, I claim In combination, a musical instrument adapted to support thereon a plurality of sound producing devices and an elastic strap for supporting said instrument from the body of the user and allowing said instrument to be thrown away from the user to cause the automatic operation of the sound producing devices and thereafter to return the instrument to playing position against the body of the user.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK R. WEAVER

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