Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-14
ELECTRICAL MELODY.
Piano Keys Connected by Wire With
a Curious Bit of Mechanism,
WHICH PLAYS MOZART WITH EASE.
1t Registers and Reproduces the E1tempor-
aneOus Gems of Musicians.
A NOVELTY IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Electricity has produced another wonder.
It is a pianist As usual with these subtle
inventions, the new musician is invisible,
and the piano will have the appearance of
playing itself. Spiritualistic mediums need
not apply, because there is nothing super
natural about it. D. J. Gable, the we'll
known electrician, of n Fourth avenue,
made the piece of hidden mechanism him
SELF 1t is for his own piano, and although
duplicates could be manufactured for at
tachments to any piano, he will not put it
into the market The work has occupied
him in his spare moments for months, and
he has just completed itthis week. He made
it just for amusement, but has now GER
tainly got novelty which for beauty and
genius cannot be surpassed in this country.
THE ELECTRICAL PIANIST.
The mechanical pianist is brass CYL
inder, very much resembling that in o
music box. 1t is operated by clockwork.
This roller is punched full of irregular lit
tie holes, into which are fastened metal
pegs. Thus tune appears on each Of the
small cylinders. Wires connect this instru-
ment with the piano. Under each piano
key is a small magnet, the armature of
which is fastened to the bottom of the piano
KEY. The cylinder is set in motion. AS
| the little pegs touch a series of springs in
sulated like the teeth of music-box's
roller, they one after another complete
circuit, an electrical current flashes across
to the piano and the magnet connected with
that certain spring pulls down the arma-
ture quick and sharply, and down comes
the piano key with it, producing the sound
as naturally as though struck by player of
delicate touch.
Mr.. Cables first roller will have upon it
"Home, Sweet Home" with some lovely
variations. After that he wants to have
another with a schottish composed by John
Robb. ESQ.,, which music critics say is a
mastery work. The cylinder and wires
may all be hidden, either in the piano or
down in the coal cellar.
How is such delicate work as perforating
the solid brass roller with tiny holes ac-
complished? By a very simple method,
also the original idea of Mr.. Cable. Often
in extemporaneous playing pianist pro-
duces bewitching chord, or in moments of
inspiration forms, by combination of the
keys, music which would be rare for its
beauty if it could be remembered and played
again.
A VERY SIMPLE METHOD.
To register a mans extemporaneous play
ing Mr.. Cable has invented an attachment
for the brass cylinder described above. Be
side the cylinder he has row of very small
| magnets The armatures in front of these
are engraved with the letter or sign of sharp
| or fiat note. Then piece of white paper is
rolled around the cylinder. 1t is set in
motion, and the extemporaneous player be-
gins his operation of the piano keys. AS
magnet and armature rests beneath every
key, each note that he strikes sends a cur
rent of electricity across the wires to the
cylinder, and the corresponding magnet
there draws down the armature with the en-
graved and linked letter, striking it upon
the paper. The paper is ruled, and as the
speed at which the roller is revolving is
known, the letters appearing upon different
lines indicates the exact number of seconds
between each note struck by the player.
Needle points placed in the armatures
over the cylinder will strike the brass if the
paper is removed, and thus indicate where
the hole and peg should be placed. By
this method all you have to do to mark the
brass roller for its preparation to play
"Home, Sweet Home by electricity, is to
sit down at the piano and play the piece as
you usually would. A few days later the
roller would be finished and would play the
piano for you exactly as you had done for it.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE INVENTION.
The possibilities of such an invention are
wonderful. If Mr.. Cable would consent to
allow the mechanism to be manufactured
the tuneful cylinders could be sold whole
sale for attachment to any piano. There
are many households where the upright"
or "grand" is merely piece of ornamental
furniture for the parlor. Nobody IN the
family can play on it. Visitors go away
saying:
piano for show. She's got nobody with
brains enough to play on it. ShoddyP'
With wires connecting her piano with
one of these cylinders Mrs. j might
have her revenge upon that visitor next
time she calls by excusing herself long
enough to direct Biddy to go down to the
cellar and wind up tthe electric piano
player"
If put upon the market the invention
might also do away with bull dogs and
burglar alarms. A tiny spring attached to
each door and window could be so connected
with wires as to set the clockwork
of the musical cylinders going the
moment either door or ndow
was opened after certain hour. That
would instantly send flood of melody
through the house, and the burglar, hear
ing the piano playing, would jump TO the
conclusion that Myrtle was still sitting up
entertaining her Alonzo, and hence he
would sneak away, leaving the family plate
| unmolested