A Swing Figure Musical Toy.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
A Swing Figure Musical Toy.
I, FELIX ALEXANDER SOMMER, of 39 Chancellors Road, Hammersmith, Middlesex,
Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
--
The object of this invention is to construct or arrange a framework, within which a.
dummy figure weighted or otherwise can be swung to and fro like a pendulum, and
by the oscillations to cause an escapement anchor, or like contrivance, to move a crown
or other wheel round in intermittent order, which wheel through the connection of its
axle and suitable gearing will operate a pinned or studded barrel, which as it rotates
strikes against reeds and produces musical notes, so that snatches of songs or ballads,
or a few notes of opera or polka music can be heard, while the figure say, that of, a
little girl, is swinging.
I purpose fitting a spring in connection with the apparatus, in order that the whole
or any quantity of the song, ballad, operatic, or other musical notes can be performed,
or until the spring has run down, the oscillations of the pendulum being continued
during the time.
Dated this 11th day at Sentomba 198e
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said Felix Alexander Sommer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Swing Figure Musical Toy.
FELIX ALEXANDER SOMMER of 39 Chancellor's Road, Hammersmith Middlesex,
Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
mannner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct or arrange a framework, within which a
dummy figure, weighted or otherwise, can be swung to and fro like a pendulum and
by the oscillations to cause an escapement anchor or like contrivance to move a crown
or other wheel round in intermittent order, which wheel through the connection of its
axle and suitable gearing will operate a pinned or studded barrel which as it rotates,
strikes against metal tongues and produces musical notes so that snatches of songs or
ballads or a few notes of opera or polka music can be heard while the figure, say that
of a little girl, is swinging.
This invention is only intended to perform music of a simple character, such as is
suited to a toy, as will be understood by the annexed drawings. Figure 1 is a
perspective vertical section and Figure 2 a section. The pin barrel A is preferably
arranged to play 16 bars (takten) of a polka or similar music from the metal tongues B
and representing a duration of exactly 64 quavers (achtel-töne). The toothed wheel C
on the barrel has 64 teeth corresponding to the number of quavers in the melody, and
it gears with the pinion D having 16 teeth.
The crown wheel E has 8 pins requiring 16 strokes of the pendulum F to make one
revolution (by "stroke" is meant the swing from one side to the other). It is evident
therefore that each stroke of the pendulum F moves one tooth of the wheel C on the
pin barrel A it also plays one quaver of the melody, and as the music contains no
notes of less duration than a quaver it must necessarily always keep
"time"
(taktmass) with the pendulum F when swung by the cord H.
I is a pressure blade to prevent the wheel E moving except when actuated by the
teeth of the escapement G at each stroke of the pendulum F.

page_text: It is usual in small musical boxes playing a single tune to allow a momentary pause
after each repetition of the music. This is effected by placing the pins on the barrel A
over a length of surface which is slightly less than the entire circumference. Now I
purposely avoid this pause by placing the pins over the entire circumference of the
barrel so that when the music has been played through, the repetition begins in
strict "time" with the next following stroke of the pendulum F.
Melodies of less or longer duration than 64 quavers can be performed in the same
way and the number of pins in the crown wheel E can also be varied provided that the
number of teeth in the pinion D is double the number of pins in the crown wheel E.
. I can also occasionally make the melody contain notes of a smaller duration than
one stroke of the pendulum but as the "time" of any notes falling between two
strokes would slightly vary according to the force and uniformity with which the
string H actuating the pendulum F is pulled, I would use such small notes very
sparingly and only at such points in the melody where a slight variation in "time"
would not be musically unpleasant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1. The musical swing toy shewn on the annexed drawings and with the parts
arranged as described.
2. Operating a music producing pin barrel from a pendulum and escapement
anchor, as described.
3. The combination of, or arrangement of the parts marked G, E, D, C, A, B, I,
when operated by the swing pendulum F from the cord H as described for the
purpose set forth.
The 5th day of June 1889.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said F. A. Sommer.