Double Bass Bridge Adjusters

[gerry grable]

I just watched an old movie musical "Let's do it Again" (1952) with Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. Other than the bad voice-dubbing, it featured a lot of band members's interations. On one of the close-ups of the bass player, I was surprised to see bridge adjusters on his bass. They weren't silvery so I don't think they were aluminum, possibly brass? Still, I felt like I had seen a wrist watch in a cowboy flick
Does anyone know when bridge adjusters were first invented and/or used? And what were the early ones made of?
I don't remember ever having seen them in my early days in the 60s and only got my first-- and only-- pair in the late 90s

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Still, I felt like I had seen a wrist watch in a cowboy flick

Are you suggesting the bass player had time-travelled back to the past with his bass and got a part in a Hollywood movie!? Maybe he impressed the band leader with some nifty substitutions and used chord extensions that hadn't been heard of then!!

Or is he the 'Zelig' of the bass world?

 

[Paul Warburton]

I just watched an old movie musical "Let's do it Again" (1952) with Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. Other than the bad voice-dubbing, it featured a lot of band members's interations. On one of the close-ups of the bass player, I was surprised to see bridge adjusters on his bass. They weren't silvery so I don't think they were aluminum, possibly brass? Still, I felt like I had seen a wrist watch in a cowboy flick
Does anyone know when bridge adjusters were first invented and/or used? And what were the early ones made of?
I don't remember ever having seen them in my early days in the 60s and only got my first-- and only-- pair in the late 90s

Paul Toenniges. (kindly)

 

[gerry grable]

Thanks, Paul. I wasn't familiar with Paul Toenniges. Was he an actor, too? I never spent much time in the LA area an never in bass shops. But I found a lot of interesting reading in the old thread from May 2005. You even mention P.T. and bridge adjusters. His innovation seems to have taken a long time to become an ubiquitous "necessity."
I think I'm pushing my luck here, but I wonder if he ever thought of applying the same principle to an adjustable sound post?

 

[PaulCannon]

Paul Toenniges. (kindly)

+1

Probably around the 1940's, when he made the bulk of his basses? It's worth noting that his shop was in Studio City, CA, not far from where this film was likely shot.