A Keyboard Apparatus for Double Basses and Violoncellos, and a Reed Wind Instrument to be employed in combination therewith.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
TRUVIDIONAL DI ALTIVATION.
A Keyboard Apparatus for Double Basses and Violoncellos, and
a Reed Wind Instrument to be employed in combination
therewith.
I, LOUIS JEAN MARIE DUVIVIER of 12 Rue Richomme, Paris, France,
Musical Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a keyboard apparatus to be applied to double basses,
and violoncellos for the purpose of substituting for the action of the fingers upon
the strings for producing the different notes, a series of pressing levers which are
actuated by the fingers acting on a keyboard. There is also provided a bar, one
end of which is fixed to the bottom plate of the instrument to which the strings
are attached, which bar has a notch at its other end that fits on to the bridge so as
to hold this accurately in position.
The keyboard apparatus is constructed and arranged as follows:-A box shaped
framing is formed with a longitudinal slot on its underside, of a configuration to
fit accurately against the sides of the neck of the double bass or cello, to which it
is temporarily attached by screws clips or other means so that the keyboard with
the strings is situated within the framing. The latter carries at its upper side a
keyboard the pivotted keys of which are played upon by the fingers and have tails
connected by wires to the one end of double ended levers pivotted to the bottom
of the framing in such positions that the other end of each lever overhangs a string
of the instrument at a position corresponding to a certain note, and to each lever is
attached a pressing pad, so that on the depression of the lever by the corresponding
finger key, the pad presses the string down upon the finger board in the same way
as is done by the finger for producing a certain note when vibrated by the bow, this
being worked by the hand in the ordinary way.
For firmly holding the instrument while it is being played, there are secured
to the sides of the neck two metal bars having studs that are pivotted in forks
on the upper end of a trestle stand, the side bars having catches that catch into
notches on the trestle so as to hold the latter rigidly in position ou the double bass
or cello. The heads of the string pegs are arranged so as to project on the upper
side of the head of the instrument, for easy manipulation.
On the finger board of the double bass or cello there are fixed, at the points
immediately below the pressing pads of the levers small strips of leather on to
which the string is nipped by the pressing pad, so as to insure the accurate action
hereof.
The levers and finger keys are raised into their original position again by springs,
after having been depressed. When not in use the keyboard is enclosed by a
hinged cover.
With the above described keyboard apparatus may also be combined a removeable
reed wind instrument which is mounted upon the keyboard framing, and contains
ordinary vibrating reeds in passages provided with valves, of which there is one
to each key on the keyboard and which are so arranged that on the depression of
a key the corresponding valve is opened, thus allowing the corresponding reed to
be sounded by a current of air produced by a bellows external to the instrument,
and worked in any convenient manner either by the performers foot or by another
person.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A Keyboard Apparatus for Double Basses and Violoncellos, and
a Reed Wind Instrument to be employed in combination
therewith.
I LOUIS JEAN MARIE DUVIVIER of 12 Rue Richomme Paris France Musical
Instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a removeable key board apparatus capable of being
attached to double basses or bass viols and violoncellos for the purpose of
facilitating the study aud practice of music with these instruments as hereinafter
described.
According to my invention I substitute for the action of the fingers upon the
strings for producing the different notes a series of pressing levers which are
actuated by the fingers acting on a keyboard. There is also provided a bar, one
end of which is fixed to the bottom plate or tail piece of the instrument to which
the strings are attached, which bar has a notch at, its other end that fits on to the
bridge so as to hold this accurately in position.
With the above described keyboard apparatus may also be combined a removable
reed wind instrument which is mounted upon the keyboard framing, and contains
ordinary vibrating reeds in passages provided with valves, of which there
is one to each key on the keyboard and which are so arranged that on the depression
of a key the corresponding valve is opened thus allowing the corresponding reed to
be sounded by a current of air produced by a bellows external to the instrument
and worked in any convenient manner either by the performers foot or by another
person.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in transverse section a keyboard
apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Figures 2 illustrates in plan the arrangement of the keys and their connections.
Figure 3 illustrates in perspective a double bass or bass viol combined with a
keyboard apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Figure 4 represents in front and side elevation the stand or trestle employed for
supporting the instrument when the keyboard is employed.
Figure 5 illustrates in plan and side elevation, a bar forming a support or stay
for preventing the bridge of the bass viol being turned over by the action of the
key board.
Figure 6 is a detail shewing the mode of suspending the bow underneath the
keyboard.
Figure 7 illustrates in detail a bolt employed for connecting the keyboard to the
neck of the instrument.
The key board in question is constructed with a box or case A containing a series
of keys B vibrating upon a support a and connected at their inner or tail ends by
wires of adjustable length to levers C pivotted at c and provided at their
extremities with pressing pads p arranged in suitable positions for acting upon the
strings 1, 2, 3 of the instrument at points corresponding with the notes to be
produced the neck D of the instrument being introduced into an opening formed
in the bottom A' of the casing A. Springs attached to the support a and bearing
against a shoulder on the wires b constantly tend to cause the keys B to return
to their normal position at the same time moving the levers C out of contact with

page_text: the strings. A lid or cover provided with a pane of glass E hinged at e covers the
keys B and protects the mechanism from dust when the instrument is not in use.
The keyboard proper is of a limited lengthy as represented by the dotted lines
in Figure 2 and the levers C being arranged in different planes diverge and cross
one another so as to enable them to reach and act upon the springs 1, 2 and 3 at
the points where they require to be pressed in order to reduce the vibrating length
in accordance with the sounds to be produced. The pads p are covered with leather
and are of different shapes according to the levers C to which they belong and
according to the plane of the latter relatively to the strings.
Under each string and opposite to the damper or pressing pad a strip of leather
is attached to the neck D to enable the strings to be properly pressed.
At the upper part of the box A there may be provided a box F containing a
series of free reeds m. This box and reeds are provided for the purpose of
increasing the sonority of the instrument by the action of the said reeds in emitting
notes corresponding with those produced by means of the bow and the pads being
provided with as many reeds m as there are notes in the keyboard and being
provided with bellows for producing the vibrations of the reeds. The said bellows
are actuated by a pedal provided for this purpose.
In order that the wind proceeding from the bellows may be caused to act upɔn
those reeds which require to vibrate it is simply necessary to provide a connection
between the reeds and the keys of the keyboard.
This connection is formed by means of rods or wires connecting each key with
a valve n controlling the reed producing the corresponding note so that when a key
is depressed by the performer it actuates not only the pad in the interior of the
box A but also raises a rod or wire f controlling the corresponding reed. This
movement of the wire opens the valve n which admits the necessary wind for
vibrating the reed and the two notes (that of the instrument and that of the reed
box F) sound in unison.
9.
At the lower part of the box A a space is reserved for the bow d and another
space is provided for the reception of the rosin box The hairs of the bow are
protected from injury and its handle is in a convenient position for the performer:
the said bow is supported at each extremity by hooks ( and d² Figure 6 provided
under the box A at the rear part the hook being situated on the right hand
of the performer. The rosin box G is connected by a pin or pivot repre-
sented by dotted lines in Figure 2 in the front part of the case of the keyboard.
The case A of the keyboard may be connected to the neck of the instrument in
any suitable manner. The neck may be provided with a number of pins engaging
with small bolts o provided underneath the case (Figures 1 and 7) being arranged
at suitable intervals as represented by dotted lines in Figure 2.
In order that the bridge g for supporting the strings may not be thrown down
by the pressure of the pads or dampers p the said bridge is supported by a strut or
bar H Figures 3 and 4 provided with a hook or notch engaging with the upper
part of the bridge and hinged at to a block on the tail piece I. The bar H is
suitably recessed at its upper part so as not to interfere with the middle string.
The employment of the keyboard renders it necessary for the performer to place
the instrument in a different position to that usually adopted and the instrument
is required to be supported in this position independently or without the aid of the
performer. With this object a trestle J is provided which supports the instrument
in the required inclined position. The said trestle J Figures 3 and 4 is formed by
two similar legs or uprights suitably connected together and bent at right angles
at their upper extremities; they are binged at to a plate k provided on each
side of the neck D of the instrument. A notch or recess is formed in the angle of
the legs which engages with a spring bolt or catch which retains the legs in the
required position.
By drawing back the bolt V the lege are released and the trestle can be
folded up.

page_text: The strings 2 and 3 rest upon a button m' and the string 1 or treble string rests
upon a button n'. These buttons are represented in Figure 2.
The tuning of the instrument is facilitated by the arrangement of the pegs 11 21
and 3' having their heads situated above the peg box within reach of the left hand
of the performer when seated in front of the keyboard. The left hand is used for
manipulating the keys when the cover E is open the bow being held in the right
hand. The cover when raised and secured by a wooden stay serves as a desk for
the music.
It is evident that the box or casing A containing the key board may be of any
suitable shape and that the details of construction may be modified in various ways
without affecting the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In connection with double basses and violoncellos a removable keyboard
provided with keys connected to levers carrying pressing pads or dampers which
act upon the strings at the required points the said keyboard being contained in a
box attached to the neck of the instrument and serving to facilitate practising
and performing upon the instrument to which it is applied substantially as berein-
before set forth.
2. The removable keyboard for double basses and violoncellos provided with
keys B connected by adjustable wires b to levers C carrying pads p for acting on
the strings the said keyboard being enclosed in a box A provided with a cover E
forming a desk and attached to the neck D of the instrument being further
provided with supports d' and d for the bow and a box g for the rosin all substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In double basses and violoncellos the combination of the removable keyboard
herein before described and claimed with a box F containing reeds the said com-
bination being worked by means of wires connecting the keys B with the said
reeds substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
4. In double basses and violoncellos the combination of a removable keyboard
with a bar or stay H for steadying the bridge and with a trestle J provided for
the purpose of supporting the instrument in the required inclined position and
holding it firmly in position substantially as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
5. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting a keyboard apparatus
for double basses and violoncellos and a reed wind instrument to be employed in
combination therewith substantially as herein before described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.