IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PIANO AND ORGAN PLAYERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyrus Newton Androws, of San Francisco, in the County
of San Francisco and State of California, one of the United States of America,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
PIANO AND ORGAN PLAYERS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Cyrus Newton Andrews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1882.
CYRUS NEWTON ANDREWS, of San Francisco, in the County of San Francisco
and State of California, one of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PIANO AND ORGAN PLAYERS."
My said Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic
piano and organ players, in which the key of a piano-forte or the reed valve of an
organ is operated by the opening and closing of an electro-magnetic current, and
the object of my improvement is to provide a means whereby an organ or piano
may be played upon by opening and closing a current of galvanic electricity by
separating from each other or by bringing together the opposite poles of a battery
by means of an interposed perforated strip of non-conducting material, through
the medium of which the sound is produced, all of which will be hereinafter more
fully described.
I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,
in which―
Fig. 1 represents in perspective the general arrangement of the operating
mechanism.
Fig. 2 shews in plan and also in longitudinal section the slotted music strip or
sheet of non-conducting material.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views.
Similar letters of reference are used to designate like parts throughout the
several views.
The battery should be composed of such a number of cells A, A, as may be found;
necessary to furnish a galvanic current of the required strength and steadiness,
[Price Gd.]

page_text: "
To the
and the various cells should be connected together in the usual manner.
positive pole of the battery is attached the conducting wire B, which is connected
to the insulated cylinder D. To the negative pole of the battery is attached the
conducting wire C, which is connected to one end of the helix I. This helix should
be thoroughly insulated and firmly attached to any suitable portion of the
instrument to be played or acted upon.
Beneath the helix is placed the armature J upon one end of a non-conducting
lever arm or beam K, which lever arm is pivotted to the standard a, which is
attached to the instrument at any suitable point beneath the keys or valves.
To the opposite end of this lever arın I attach a cord or rod L, which is connected
to the key or valve M of the instrument. Immediately over the cylinder D is placed
the bar E, which may be provided with a means for vertical adjustment. To this
bar is attached the downwardly projecting insulator F, shewn in section in
Figure 4, which serves as a support and bearing for the platinum rod G, to which
is attached the conducting wire H leading from the helix I.
Slots corresponding in size and position to the notes of the music to be played
are cut or punched from a slip of paper or other non-conducting material, as is
shewn in Figure 2. The notes for the several keys are arranged in parallel lines,
and the length of the slot determines the comparative length or value of the note.
Each and every key or valve of the instrument to be played or acted upon should
be connected to a separato platinum rod in the manner hereinbefore described.
Each helix is to be permanently connected to the battery by means of the
conducting wire C which has as many branches as there are helices.
The operation of my improved automatic electrical piano and organ player will
be as follows, to wit:-
The perforated or slotted sheet O is placed upon a roller P, and as it is reeled
off in an automatic manner upon the roller Q it passes over the cylinder D, which
is charged with positive electricity from the battery and the platinum rods G,
which are charged with negative electricity have free play in a vertical direction
within their supporting insulator F. These rods and insulators are placed at
regular distances apart, corresponding with the rows of slots in the sheet O. And
when a slot is brought under a platinum point or rod it will by its gravity fall
down upon and remain in contact with the cylinder D, thereby closing the circuit,
which has the effect of drawing the armature J toward the helix I, and through
the intermediate connecting levers and cords strike a blow upon the sounding
wire N. The length of the notes will be regulated by the length of the slots b in
the strip O, and as it is drawn forward and the end of a slot reached, the platinum
rod G will be forced upward and the non-conducting material of the strip O will
be interposed between the lower end of said platinum rod and the cylinder D, the
circuit will be broken and the striking mechanism will resume its original position-4
and be ready to sound another note when the circuit is again closed by the
negatively charged pole G falling into a succeeding slot and in contact with the
positive pole D. In order to prevent the clicking sound, which would naturally
result from the sudden contact of the armature J with the helix I, it will be found
necessary to place a couple of small thin pads c, c, Fig. 5, of cork or rubber upon
the upper face of the armature which will serve to deaden the sound without
materially affecting the operation of the device.
The battery may be placed in the lower part of the instrument, and the carrying
rollers for the slotted music sheet operated in any well known manner that will
give a regular and even movement to the said sheet or strip. It should here be 5
observed that electrical bruslies may be employed instead of platinum rods, as
above described.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
is to be performed, I wish it distinctly understood that I claim,-
First. The means, substantially as herein described, of actuating or manipulating™ &
the keys of musical instruments, which consists essentially of a perforated sheet
of paper or other non-conducting material interposed between a positive and a

page_text: negative polo of a battery, so that when the said sheet or web is moved and the
negative pole falls into or engages the slots in said sheet, the circuit is complete,
and sound is produced upon the instrument; and when said negative pole is lifted
the circuit is broken, all when constructed, arranged, and operating substantially
in the manner and for the purpose set forth and specified.
Second. In an electro-magnetic piano or organ player in which the circuit is
closed or broken in an automatic manner, the perforated or slotted music sheet or
strip O, positively charged cylinder D (over which said sheet is caused to pass), and
negatively charged rod or point G, all whon constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth and specified.
Third. In an electro-magnetic piano or organ player the combination with an
automatic circuit closing and breaking apparatus of the helix I and armature J
mounted upon a lever arm K, connected to and by which a key or valve of the
instrument is operated, substantially in the manner set forth and specified.
Fourth. In an automatic electro-magnetic piano player the battery A, connecting
wires B, C, positively charged tube or cylinder D, negatively charged rod or
point F, slotted music sheet O, by which the current between the two electrodes
is closed or broken, and helix I with its armaturo J in combination with a system
of cords and levers by which the key or valve of the instrument is operated,
substantially in the manner hercin set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus Newton Andrews, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.