Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-01-25

luis invention Consists, nrst IN the arrangement oil
the reed-board; second, in a method of tuning, by
which peculiar quality Of tone is produced aud by
which the power Of the instrument greatly increas
ed without increased resistance in the action and
without increase of power being necessary to Ope
rate the bellows. The advantages gain ed by my pecu
liar arrangement are u northumberland power aud
variety OF tone. This is effected by the Of an ad-
ditiona set of reeds commencing at tenor there
abouts and running upward through the scale Of the
instrument, and tuning the same in the peculiar man
ner hereinafter described. No other reed musical in
strument containing the same number Of reeds so far
as know, has possessed great a variety or
pleasing quality of tone, while simplicity Of construc
ton, compactuess of form and Of operation are
other e1celences Of this arrangement not found in
others will now describe particularly the consruc
tion OF that part OF my instrument which forms the
subject Of this patent. Thecise, bellows, pedals etc.
may be, in general construction and arrangement, like
those in common use and therefore special descrp
ton is required. The foundation Of the reed-board is
also constructed in the usual manner but the reed
board proper, in itself differs from the ordinary
reed.bOard on tho following particulars, viz: The
main-board contains two sets Of reeds running
through the entire scale the back set Of which Ia
marked and IL tuned as a unison or dapasou while
the front or octave set marked D. is tuned octave
above the diapasnn. In the arrangement OF these
reeds 1t will DO seen that the longest and lowest reeds
in the diApasOn and octave sets placed with their
vibrating ends as near together as they can be, with
room only for the tracker-pin which communicates
the motion Of the key to the valve beneath the reeds
But as the reeds continually shorten they advance
upward In the scale there necessarily vacant space
left between the diapason set aud the octave set b.
which constantly enarges itself aud has heretofore
been regarded as useless Within this space, com
scale have introduced third set Of reeds L. which
forms the distinguishing feature of this instrument.
These placed IN the reedboard the octave set
b. and run obhquely to the foundltion-board q, as
shown in Figure 3, the vibrating ends resting the
same base as the other sets of reeds, and b. These
reeds Of the same size the corresponding
in the dapason and are tuned either trihe above
below the diapason, but ouly sufficiently to pro-
duce slightly waving and undulatiug quality ef-
feet without producing any discord Anew trials will
enable auy tuner of reed instruments to tune these
reeds so as TO realize the best effect This method Of
no Of eda fXKbir hay lam
ed the Harmonic Celeste) is drawd aud used in
nection with the diapason, produce most wonderful
ly pleasing and captivating effect while the power and
beauty of both sets OF reeds e greatly augmented
aud enriched in a manner which cannot be realized
without being heard. Figure shows top view Of
the reedboard proper, wherein the location Of the
reeds s shown with reference TO the divergence Of the
reeds Of the diapason set and the octave b, aud
also the space Afforded for the Introduction of the
third set L. Figure exhibits transverse section Of
my reed and foundation board, showing the arrange
men of my reeds and the valve ectious In this
figure is the reed-ooard @ is the foundation board
d is the valye-opening is the valve, aud the
throats over which the reeds are located and placed
The valve is retained In its proper place by the pins
aud spring II, and is operated by the trackerpu l.
which rests upon its upper surface and passes up
wards through the reed board to the under surface
the key n. The sweuboards and and stop
dampers aud NJ are raised, whenever desired, by
the kneestop c. Fig !, or by hama draw-sop, or by
some other convenient device Another important
advantage arising from the introduction of the Har
monte Celeste is that greater power and variety
attained than be by the of any of the octave
coupling arrangements now in use. These, while
they augment the power by drawing down octayes to
the keys actually played are Objectionable inasmuch
they offer more than double the resistance to the
key, aud thus often exceedingly undesirable. In
my instrument no such objection can ever arise, as
the pressure upon the keys is always the same wheth
err ali the sets of reeds used. This IS Of
prime importance to the performer a the required
exertion becomes involuntary and not matter Of cal
culaon, and thus the mind is not distracted from
proper feeling and expression OF the music perform
ed. The claims Of the patent are follows: l. The
arrangement, in reed musical instrument, OF the
reeuOOQrQ A. having the diapaaOn aud its octave
set and the additional set L. extending from about
at tenor upward through the scale substantial as
and to the effect set forth. q The reed-board aud
fonndation-board g, constructed with the contracted
valve'openings E F, aud the reeds arranged in re.
relation thereto all in the manner described. 8. The
ulApAson a. aud us octave or principal o. arranged
over the same vayeopening, described that the
ootave unison may be produced wheh desired; with
out tue use OF coupler and without any additional
pressure upon the keys. 4. Iu connection with the
reedboard having the sets a, and L, as described
| the Independent hampers, and NJ, as set forth.
The circuit court made an interlocutory de.
cree declaring the patent to be valid so far as
claim l ard are concerned that those two
claims had been infringed that the plaintiff
was not the original and first inventor OF
| what is set forth in claim f. and did not be
| fore the commencement of this suit file a dis
claimer of what is claimed in claim 4 apc
had not unreasonably neglected to file sucE
disclaimer and had presented evidence of his
having filed such disclaimer; that no evi
dence had been offered to show any infringe
ment of claim 3 and that the plaintiff wa
entitled to recover profits and damages be
cause of such infringement. A reference tc
a master to ascertain the same was ordered
and perpetual injunction was awarded as t
claims l and 2. On the report of the master
final decree was made for the plaintiff, TO
$16l, 0l1.79, without costs to either party
The decisions of the circuit court in the cas-
are reported in 10 Blatoht0rd @. O. r $40
10 ID, l05 and 10 ID, l. The defendant
have appealed.
An examination of the text of the specif
cation shows that the inventor proposed t.
cover by his patent two things ID new at
rangement of the reed board 90 a neN
method of tuning. In the application TO
the patent claim l read as it does now, Will
claims 2, 3 and had specific reference I
the method of tuning described. The paten
office rejected all the claims. The plaintil