Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, FRANZ KÜHMAYER, Gentleman, of VII Leichenfelder strasse, Vienna, Austria,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to instruments in which sounds are produced in the
manner of bow instruments, and has for its object the construction of an instru-
ment of this kind, which, however may be operated by keys or similar devices,
like a piano on an organ.
In this improved instrument there are provided for every note two parallel,
equally tuned strings Closely by, but not touching each pair of stings moves
with suitable speed an endless band which runs upon rotary rolls or pulleys,
one of each pan of such rolls or pulleys being adjustible so as to peimat of
giving the required tension to the bands All the bands are moved simultaneously
and continually by means of suitable driving 1olls or pulleys and a driving
band or bands. These drivers may be operated by band or by any suitable motor
By preference the different bands are moved at different speeds according to
the higher or lower note of the pair of strings to which they belong In the
same manner the width of the different bands may be varied, and in this manner
great beauty of sounds is obtained.
Near each band, at the place where it crosses the pair of strings for which
it is intended, is placed a two armed lever, the one aim of which is suitably
connected with the corresponding key of the key board, while the other end by
preference provided with a small roll or rolls, brings the moving band in contact
with its pair of strings when that key is depressed. The moving band then
operates upon the strings in the same manner as a bow, and produces the sound.
Each pair of strings is provided with a damper which is lifted off when the core-
sponding key is depressed.
The bands are by preference made of leather and impregnated with wax.
ni 11.
1000
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, FRANZ KUHMAYER, Gentleman, of VII Lerchenfelderstrasse, No. 16, Vienna,
Austria, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
Price Sd1

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained m
and by the following statement:
My invention relates to instruments, in which sounds are produced by endless
bow bands in the manner of bow instruments, and which are operated by keys or
similar devices, in the manner of a piano oi organ, the object being the improve-
ment of such instruments
In such an instrument the different strings are played and made to sound,
by endless bands, which operate upon them the same as a bow, when the cone-
sponding key of the instrument is touched. In this manner the most simple
as well as the most complicated passages of music may be performed, and the
instrument permits of all manners of playing, such as staccato or legato pranis-
simo crescendo or fortissimo, quavers as well as appoggiaturas
In the annexed drawing the mechanism of an instrument of this kind is shown,
of which Figure 1 represents a front view diagram, and Figure 2 a side view
diagram. Figure 3 shows in longitudinal section a device for tuning the strings
of this instrument.
The essential feature of this instrument is that, for every note or key of the
same, two equally tuned strings a are provided, which are placed at a certain
distance above each other, and in close proximity to which runs an endless band
upon rolls or pulleys b. b, means being provided to press this band against a
pan of stings, when the corresponding key is struck. For this purpose serve
two armed levers d, pivoted at e, which carry a loosely running ioll k, at one
end, while at the other end or aim they have an inclined surface against which
bears a pin connected with the key h Thus, when a key is depressed, its
ping, operates upon the inclined surface of the one arm lever d, whereby the
roll upon its other arm is made to press the band e against the corresponding
pair of strings a, which are thereby caused to sound, the intensity and duration
of this sound depending upon the lighter or heavier and longer or
pressure upon the key
shorter
For each pan of strings a separate band c is provided; each band runs upon
a pair of rolls or pulleys bb, which are simultaneously and continuously driven
by a common mechanism. One of each pair of rolls is rigidly connected with
a somewhat larger roll or pulley R upon the same axis or pivot. All these rolls
or pulleys are placed so with reference to each other that they can be all
rotated by a common endless band b, which is duiven by a pulley A upon an
axis A. This diving pulley A may be set in motion by any suitable motor or
by hand.
The bow bands e may be made of any suitable material, but the best results
have been obtained by making them of thin leather, impregnated or coated with
a resinous solution.
The beauty of the sounds is considerably mcreased by suiting the speed as
well as the width of the bands to the note of each pair of strings For this
purpose the diving rolls R are made of different diameters, so that the speed
of the bands will be slower for the lower notes and faster for the higher notes.
In order to prevent the resounding of the strings dampers? are provided,
which are elastic, and bear upon the stings as long as they are not played.
When any of the keys are struck, a pin j of the lever lifts the corresponding
damper away from the stings, which returns against the strings as soon as
the key is released
The rolls of the bands are adjustable, so that the required tension can be
given to them.
By the disposition of two equal strings above each other, the tuning screws m, m
must also be placed above each other, as shown in Figure 3. For the same
reason the string bearings 0, 0 upon the sounding post n are not only arranged
one above the other, but the top one rests immediately upon the lower one. In
order to permit the introduction of the lower strings, the upper bearings
provided with recesses p.
are

page_text: Having now fully described my invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is. —
1. In a musical instrument, in which the stings are sounded in the manner
of a bow instrument, but which is operated by keys or such like in the manner
of a piano or organ, the combination with the strings ananged in equally
tuned pairs of endless bands moving with suitable speed in close proximity to
the stings, and of the means for bringing these bands to bear against the
strings when a corresponding key is touched, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying diawings
2. In a musical instrument of the kind herein described, a device for bringing
the endless bands to bear against the strings consisting of two armed levers d,
the one arm of which carries a roll for pressing the band c against the strings,
and the other arm of which is provided with an inclined surface against which
bears a ping in connection with the key h, so that when this latter is depressed,
said pin will operate upon the inclined surface and cause the roll of the
other aim of the fever d to press the band against the strings.
c
3. In musical instruments of the kind herem described, a damper consisting
of an elastic piece which rests against the strings, and is litted off by a pin
of the level when the corresponding key is pressed
+ In musical instruments of the kind herem described the disposition of
the strings in equally tuned pairs, each pair being sounded by a common endless
band arranged and operating substantially as herein before described and shown
in the accompanying drawings
5. In musical instruments of the kind herein described a system of rolls or
pulleys R, by preference of different diameters according to the respective keys
for driving the rolls simultaneously and continuously substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Dated on November 1899
FRANZ KUHMAYER,
By George Downing & Sons.
Chartered Patent Agents, 8, Quality Court, London, W.C.