Improvements in the Construction of Musical Boxes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
Improvements in the Construction of Musical Boxes.
I ALEXANDER BROWNE of 9 and 10 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of musical boxes and
consists in the manner of mounting the barrel or cylinder (carrying the pins which
impinge upon the teeth of the comb) as hereinafter described.
The motive power is transmitted from the spring barrel to the pin barrel in a
peculiar manner. The pin barrel has no centre spindle or shaft as is customary but
is provided at either end with a pin or stud near the circumference these two pins
being placed in a line that is to say on the same radius.
The pin nearest the spring barrel engages with a slide or crank the position of
which is determined by means of a set screw arrangement and this slide connects the
pin barrel with the working train of wheels. On the spindle which carries the slide
there is a coiled spring the tension whereof is regulated by a sleeve and set screw.
The stud upon the pin-barrel furthest from the working train of wheels also engages
with a kind of crank and a short spindle with a conical end supports it.
The said spindle carries a coiled spring and may be withdrawn and fixed in position
by means of a button or handle working in a bayonet slot.
By this invention the pin barrel may be very easily changed.
Dated thin 12th day of October 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Musical Boxes.
I ALEXANDER BROWNE of 9 and 10 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, (being a communication from abroad by Arthur
Junod of Sainte Croix, Switzerland, musical box manufacturer):-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of musical boxes and
consists in the manner of mounting the barrel or cylinder (carrying the pins which
impinge upon the teeth of the comb) as hereinafter described.
The motive power is transmitted from the spring barrel to the pin barrel in a
peculiar manner. The pin barrel has no centre spindle or shaft as is customary but
is provided at either end with a pin or stud near the circumference, these two pins
being placed in a line that is to say on the same radius.
The pin nearest the spring barrel engages with a slide or crank the position of
which is determined by means of a set screw arrangement and this slide connects the
pin barrel with the working train of wheels. On the spindle which carries the slide
there is a coiled spring the tension whereof is regulated by a sleeve and set screw.
The stud upon the pin barrel furthest from the working train of wheels also engages
with a kind of crank and a short spindle with a conical end supports it.
The said spindle carries a coiled spring and may be withdrawn and fixed in position
by means of a button or handle working in a bayonet slot. By this invention the pin
barrel may be very easily changed.
And in order to explain my said invention more fully I will proceed to describe the
same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. I shews a
longitudinal section of a musical box constructed according to this invention.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 are details hereinafter referred to, Fig. 7 is a section on line A. B
Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of a modification of this
invention.
The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.
In Fig. I a shews the pin cylinder or barrel, hereinafter called the cylinder; with
holes in the ends to receive the extremities of the arbors o and d on which it revolves
said arbors being in line and mounted upon the supports 11 and ii; to ensure rigidity
the said supports are cast in a piece with the frame k. The arbor o has keyed to it the
spur wheel turning on a pin or screw in the side of the wheel t is the cam s and
ratchet y in order to change the air (shewn detached at Fig. 8) by means of the
pawl which is fastened to the arbor 7, but this arrangement can be varied, and if
desired, placed at the other end of the cylinder as shewn at Fig. 6.
The cylinder a runs loose on the arbors o and d and is driven by means of a stud
or pin c screwed into the end of it, the said pin engaging with a fork piece or crank u
attached to the wheel t. The pin c is constantly pressed against the face of the cam
by means of the spring placed between the supports the said spring also keeps

page_text: the arbor d and with it the cylinder pressed against the arbor o. The arbor d is
provided with a
cone end e revolving on a pin e¹; by this means the cylinder
revolves with less friction than would be the case if it were keyed to the arbor d,
the placing of the cylinder in position is facilitated and the centreing of the same
ensured. The thrust of the spring fis taken at one end by the support and by the
collar p at the other, which collar is fixed to the arbor d by means of a set screw h
working in a bayonet slot g to enable the arbor d to be drawn back, and locked in
that position by turning the screw through an angle of from 45° to 90° to the vertical.
It will be easily understood that all cylinders of the same dimensions and of similar
construction will fit between these arbors and be immediately ready for working
without any possibility of error in their adjustment in respect to the comb. In Fig. 6
is shewn a modification of this invention in which the ends of the cylinder a are
formed with gudgeons 11 the extremities of the said gudgeons are provided with
pivots or centres 5 and 6 resting and revolving in slots formed in the arbors o and d
the former having a keyhole slot to receive the pivot 5 and the flattened part 3 of the
gudgeon by which the rotation of the cylinder is effected when the machine is put in
action. The arbors o and d carry also sleeves 7 and 8 which fit over the gudgeons 1. 1.
which are kept in their proper position by the pressure of the springs g. h. The
sleeves 7. S. are provided with slots through which pins in the arbors project to limit.
the end motion, these slots may be bayonet slots as previously described. To put the
cylinder in its proper position, the forks g attached to the sleeves 7 and 8, and shewn
detached in Figs. 2 and 5, are placed in the position shewn by the dotted lines
(Figs. 2 and 5) and the sleeves 7 and 8 drawn back to their fullest extent, the ends of
the gudgeons are then placed in the forks and slid down into position the pivot 5
and Hat 3 dropping into the keyhole slot in the arbor o and the pivot 6 into the slot in
arbor d. The forks are then turned into the position shewn by the full lines
Figs. 2 and 5. Unless the forks are in the position indicated by the dotted lines
Figs. 2 & 5 the cylinder cannot be taken out or placed in position. The springs g¹
and also keep the pivot 5 pressed against the arbor o.
In order to prevent play of
the cylinder a defect in musical boxes as manufactured up to the present time I form
the bearing of the arbor o partly parallel and partly conical as shewn in Figs. 1 and 6
and turn a conical piece 3 on the arbor o to fit the conical portion of this bearing
spiral spring n keeps the cone 3 pressed into the bearing, thus automatically taking up
any wear between the cone and the hearing. The tension of the spring n is regulated
by a collar m and set screw 2. By this means this portion of the mechanism is
considerably simplified.
a
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is
I. In a musical box the combination of the sliding arbors and revolving cone end
interchangeable cylinder driven by means of pins and forked crank as shewn in Fig. I
substantially as and for the purpose set forth."
II. The modification shewn in Fig. 6 substantially as set forth.
III. The combination of the coned arbor and bearing to prevent play of the
cylinder regulated by a spiral spring substantially as set forth.
IV. The improved musical box substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 12th day of July 1887.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.