Object Details
- patentee
- Robertson, William
- Description
- This keyed fingerboard was patented by William Robertson of New York, New York on November 8, 1853 and received U.S. Patent number 10,213. Robertson’s invention is for a mechanical-keyed fingerboard that is placed over the strings of a normal violin to assist amateurs. The fingerboard has thirty-two buttons that can be depressed to change pitch without bringing the fingers directly in contact with the strings. The instrument is a commercial Mirecourt violin with heavily crazed varnish made around 1850. This violin is made of a two-piece table of spruce, two-piece back of maple with even medium-fine gently descending figure, ribs of similar maple, plain field maple neck, pegbox and scroll, and a semi-opaque yellow-orange varnish.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- 1853
- ID Number
- MI.66.094
- catalog number
- 66.094
- accession number
- 249602
- patent number
- 10213
- Object Name
- violin
- Object Type
- Patent Model
- Physical Description
- spruce (table material)
- maple (back material)
- Measurements
- overall: 23 1/2 in x 8 in x 2 3/4 in; 59.69 cm x 20.32 cm x 6.985 cm
- Place Made
- United States: New York, New York City
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Violins
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_605655
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-4f1e-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
