US Patent: 3,433,113 - Ligatures or reed-holders for single-reed musical wind instruments


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US Patent: 3,433,113

Ligatures or reed-holders for single-reed musical wind instruments

Patentee:

Bernard A. Portnoy (exact or similar names) - New York, NY

USPTO Classifications:

84/383R, 984/141, D17/13

Tool Categories:

musical instruments

Assignees:

None

Manufacturer:

B. Portnoy - New York, NY

Witnesses:

Unknown

Patent Dates:
Applied:	Oct. 22, 1965
Granted:	Mar. 18, 1969

Patent Pictures:

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Description:

The inventor had been principal clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. By the time this patent was issued he had retired from orchestra work and was a teacher at Julliard and elsewhere. He also developed a series of clarinet mouthpieces and ligatures.

The ligature of this patent is based on the Bonade ligature of patent 2,791,929 but uses wider ribs to better keep the ligature from touching the edges of the reed. On either side of the reed ribs the band of the ligature has a V-cut that is intended to provide more stability.

Surviving examples are marked "B. Portnoy / Des Artistes / Pat. Pending" and were reportedly hand-made. Apparently Portnoy was never able to find a manufacturer who could cost-effectively mass produce his design.