US959318A - Musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. DESSUREAU.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLIUATION FILED'SEPT. 22, 1909,

959,318. Patented May 24, 1910.

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' ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. DESSUREAU, OF I-IAZELHURST, WISCONSIN.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM H. DES- SUREAU, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hazelhurst, in the county of Oneida and State of WVisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Musical Instrument, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description.

The invention relates to gramophones, and its object is to provide an improved means for connecting the stylus with the bridge of a violin, and for supporting a violin on the casing of the gramophone.

For the purpose mentioned a stylus or needle is attached to a violin or a like instrument, and the latter is held suspended, with the stylus or needle in contact with a revolving record, so that the violin forms the.

sound reproducer and amplifier.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification, in which similar 0 aracters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved musical instrument; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged face View of the bridge of the violin and the stylus or pin in position thereon; and Fig. at is an edge view of the same.

The casing A contains a motor (not shown) for driving the record B, and on one side of the casing A is secured an arm C, carrying at its free end a rest O for receiving and supporting the neck D of a violin D of any approved construction. The violin D is provided at its bridge D with a carrier E, supporting a stylus or a needle F in contact with the record B, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. The carrier E is preferably provided with clamping forks or arms E, straddling the bridge between the adjacent strings D (see Figs. 3 and i) and the said carrier E is also provided on its under side with a curved contact portion E seated on the top of the bridge, to make a firm contact between the carrier E and the bridge D The carrier E is provided on its top with a socket E for receiving the shank F of a stylus or needle F, and a set screw G serves to fasten the stylus in place on the carrier E.

By the arrangement described, the carrier E with the stylus or needle F attached thereto can be readily placed in position on the bridge D of the violin D, whenever it is de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 518,988.

sired to use the violin as the sound reproducer and sound amplifier, it being understood that when the violin D is in position on the rest C, and the stylus or needle F is in contact with the record B and the latter is rotated, then the record sounds are reproduced, as the violin D serves as a reproducer and amplifier. By the arrangement described the harshness in reproduction of the sounds is avoided and undesirable metallic sounds are eliminated.

The carrier E with the stylus or needle F can be readily attached to the bridges of various violins, and the violins can be successively tested, so as to enable a customer to make a proper selection when buying a violin in a store, it being understood that the customer is readily enabled to judge for himself which of the violins produces the softest and sweetest tones especially when using the same record B when testing the various violins.

Although I have shown the instrument provided with a disk record, it is evident that a cylinder record medium may be used and the stylus or needle provided with a sapphire or other point.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a casing provided with a rest, a record mounted to turn on the casing, a violin having its neck resting on the rest, and having its body extending over the record, a stylus, and means for securing the stylus on the bridge, said means comprising a carrier provided at each end with clamping forks for engaging the bridge, said carrier having on its upper side a curved contact portion for engaging the bridge.

2. In a device of the class described, a carrier provided at each end with a clamping fork for engaging a bridge, and with a contact portion intermediate the forks, said forks being spaced apart from the ends of the contact portion to receive a string therebetween.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM H. DESSUREAU.

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