Patent GB-190117617-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Automatically Operated Musical Instruments.
Filed: 1901-09-03
Granted: 1902-01-23
Abstract: 17,617. Powers, T. B., Jewell, M. R., and Magnetic Piano Co. Sept. 3. Automatic instruments.-The invention relates to electrical means for playing upon keyboard instruments, and is described in connection with a piano, the keys of which are operated by rotating armatures through connections which do not prevent their manual operation. The pedals are also operated by electromagnets, the armatures of which are engaged by catches when the magnets are energized, the pedals being thus held down until the catches are released by separate magnets. The electromagnets and their connections with the keys are contained in the piano casing, the remaining parts being in a casing of their own. The magnets are in circuit with spring fingers 32, Fig. 9, which make contact with a conducting-bar 31, when permitted to do so by the tune-sheet 30, which is preferably made of sheet metal. The bar 31 fits into a support 75, and can be withdrawn for cleaning. The tune-sheet passes over an eccentrically-pivoted round bar 34, provided with a number of collars, into the spaces between which points 38, carried by pivoted arms 39, drop through the perforations of the tune-sheet. The arms 39 support the fingers 32, and the electromagnets thus become energized. The fingers 32 communicate with the electromagnets through resistances 40 mounted on a pivoted arm 43, the movement of which thus influences the strength of the magnets. The arm 43 is operated by magnets 44, 45, 46, 47, each of which is energized by fingers similar to 32, and moves the arm to a different degree, thus graduating the force applied to the keys. This and several other of the movements, which are automatically performed, can also be effected by hand. Referring now chiefly to Fig. 7, the storage roller 91 and the take-up roller 92, each with its actuating gear wheel, together with the bar or bridge 34, are mounted on a carriage 65, which turns outwards on the release of a catch, round a pivot 84, into the position partly shown in dotted lines, under the influence of a spring. The driving-mechanism, consisting of gears 129, 130, 131, 132 and a pulley 133, is mounted on an oscillating arm 71, which is pivoted at 72 to the fixed frame of the apparatus. The arm is influenced by a spring 67, which can be strained by turning the bridge 34, and thus the take-up roll 92 can be operated for playing the piece of music, or the storage roll 91 for re-winding the tune-sheet. In the former case, the bridge is in such a position that the tunesheet is properly strained so as to enable it to act on the arms 39. The operations effected are as follows :-At the end of the piece of music a special hole in the tune-sheet operates so as to energize a magnet 57. This magnet serves the double purpose of breaking the circuits of the pedal and sound - modifying magnets already referred to, and also of releasing a lever 64 connected to the bridge 34. The bridge then turns, releasing the tune-sheet and reversing the motion of the rolls. When the tune-sheet has been re-wound, a rod 124, with which it is fitted at the end, engages with a casing 106 surrounding the roll 91 and turns the casing. The casing then releases the catch which holds the carriage 65 in position, which then moves into the position shown in dotted lines, so that the tune-sheet can be changed. The roll 91 with its casing 106 is held in its bearing 93 by a spring which can be compressed so as to release the roll. The carriage in its outward movement actuates a switch 139, which breaks the circuit of the motor. The motor is regulated by a centrifugal governor, which operates a switch.