US1605101A - Soprano saxophone - Google Patents

Description

'Nov. 2 1,926. 1,605,101

H. E. DREYES SOPRANO SAXOPHONE Filed July 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H'EDREVE? Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,605,101 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY EJDREVE S, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. N. \VHITE COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

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Application filed July 12',

This invention relates to an improvement in musical instruments, and moreparticus larly in a soprano saxophone, a musical instrument of. the reed, type. As usually constructed the soprano saxophone is made in two forms, one commonly called a curved model and the other a straight model. I

The curved model embodies a bow or bend in the body at its lower end and abell. In the curved model the bendfat the lower end causes the sound-vibration to travel unevenly and the tone leaves the saxophone with a mu'iiled sound. Also, the bow or curved end of the saxophone obstructs the air passage and makes the instrument hard to play as well as interfering with the clearness of tone. Another objectionable fea ture is the presence of tone holes in the curved or how and bell part of the curved instrument, such tone holes making an uneven air column as the sound-vibration travels around i the bends. The curved instrument is also too short to hold in a restful position while sitting, and in using this instrument the bell opening can not be held conveniently at the proper angle to deliver thetones direct and true to the audience. 7 p

The straight model is used in preference over the curved model by professional musicians because it has a clearer and truer tone than the curved model, due to the fact that the air column, comprising the neck, the body, and the bell, is built in a straight line with no obstruct-ions. Notwithstanding the straight Saxophones in use also have their objections and disadvantages. For example, where a musician must face his audience while playing, the straight saXophone must be held horizontally in an up lifted position in front of the face, which places the wrists and arms in a cramped position, and makes the instrument very tiresome to hold and play. A straight soprano instrument cannot be supported effectively by a neck strap and it is very difficult to hold while playing open tones. Another objection to the straight saxophone is that the musician cannot rest his fingers and wrists, while playing in a sitting position, by supporting the bell end of the instrument upon his knees or lap. If he attempted to support the end of a straight soprano saxophone in that way he would partially close the bell end and dlrect the 1924. SerialNo, 725,745.

sound into his lap, which woulddeaden the 10f the instrument in a particular way so that the musician can face his audience while playing and still permit his wrists and arms to remain in a natural, restful position. Moreover, the present construction of the neck, body and bell allows the instrument to hang or be held vertically close to and parallel with the body of the user, and permits the bell opening to be disposed perpendicularly so that the tone will issue unmu'flled, and be clear and true and projected in full directly toward the audience. Also, the design and construction of'the instrument permits the musician to rest the bottom edge of the bell on his knees or lap while playing the instrument in 'a sitting position, thus relieving the operator of the weight of the instrument. In addition, the structural form of the present instrument also permits a neck strap to be used if desired, to support and control the instrument in playing the open tones.

A further object of my invention is to provide a straight tapering body and a curved bell, without a bend or reverted por tion in the body, so that all of the tone holes may be placed in the straight body of the instrument. In this way the air columnis smooth and true, that is, a large volume and true tone is produced as the air column leaves the instrument; and because the plane of the bell opening is perpendicular and parallel with the instrument body the tone is delivered directly and squarely to the audience. Moreover, by making the full length of the tapering body straight instead of curved the instrument possesses the requisite length to place the edge of the bell in a natural rest position upon the thigh or knee of the musician; therefore, the instrument is exceptionally easy to support and operate while the player is in a sitting position.

is a front view of the instrument resting in an upright position upon the thigh of an operator.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a front View, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the instrument.

The invention comprises a main body 2 which is tubular and gradually tapered on straight lines from end to end. In a soprano saxophone, body 2 must possess a given length to produce the acuteness or gravity of sound or tone'desired, and in the present instance the body is made straight its full length to permit all of the tone holes 3 to be made in a straight tapering part of the instrument and not in a bend. By making body 2 straight its full length I may also utilize a short curved bell 4 without tone holes at the enlarged end 5 0f the tapered body, and the plane of the bell opening 6 may also be placed parallel with the axis of bod ang es and forwardly in a horizontal direction while the operator is playing and holding the instrument in a vertical position. To facilitate playing of the instrument in this manner the mouth piece 7 is supported upon a short tapering extension or neck piece 8 which projects rearwardly and upwardly from the smaller end of body 2 at an inclination of approximately forty degrees from the vertical or longitudinal axis of the body. The neck or extension 8 contains a single tone hole 9 and carries a key 10, but all the other tone holes 3 are contained in straight body 2 and all of the other keys 11 are mounted upon this straight body, together with all the associated shafts and operating and controlling devices that are commonly used in that connection. A ring 12 and a hook 13 are also fixed at the rear side of body 2 to permit a strap to be attached and used 2 so that the sound will issue at right.

if desired. The curved hell 4 be used to support the instrument upon the thigh of the operator in playing the instrument while 7 he is sitting, as delineated in Fig. 1, and the sound or tone may issue in full volume squarely to an audience and without being muffled when the instrument is being used in that way. The operator is also relieved of the weight of the instrument and has perfect freedom of action and control of all the keys, and the operator may also sit erectly and face the audience without bending or inclining his head. In brief, the operator is enabled to play this instrument freely in a natural and easy posture and it imposes no physical burden upon him in playing for prolonged periods of time.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A saxophone, comprising a tapered bore straight bodyprovided with tone holes, and a bell afiixed to the larger end of said body, determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, and extending at substantially right angles to said body.

2. A saxophone, comprising a taperedbore straight body provided with tone holes, and a'bell affixed to the larger end of said body, determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, free from tone holes, and extending at substantially right angles to said body.

3. A saxophone, comprising a taperedbore straight body provided with tone holes, a bent neck secured to the smaller end of said body, a mouthpiece secured to said neck, and a bell aifixed to the larger end of said body, determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, and extending at substantially right angles to said body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY E. DREVES.

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