Improvements in Reeds for Organs and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reeds for Organs and like Musical Instruments.
I JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Argyll Lodge Kensington in the County of
London Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to improve the tone of reeds for organs and like
musical instruments especially free-reeds by imposing on their tongues au artificial
rigidity or constraint and at the same time preserving the softness and ductility
which is necessary for their shaping or "voicing."
Purity of tone so far as the reed itself is concerned depends mainly upon two
points viz.
"
1st. The rigidity of the reed tongue whereby a small " excursus or short range
of vibration is secured.
2nd. The perfect bending, curving, or shaping of the reed-tongue known as
"voicing."
These two conditions are naturally opposed, as rigidity in a reed, whether secured
by the nature of the metal or by its own proportions or any external appliance
precludes that softness and ductility which is necessary for the perfect curving and
shaping of the reed-tongue.
According to my invention I artificially oxidize the reed tongue itself. To
effect this I may employ any oxidizing agent that will oxidize brass or the metal
employed for the reed tongue. For example I may use a strong acid such as nitric
acid which at once forms a hard coating on the surface of the reed-tongue and
increases its rigidity to such an extent as greatly to effect its pitch.
This process supplies to a reed of ordinary proportions and ordinary softness a
rigidity which could only be otherwise obtained by greater hardness of metal,
wider proportions or external constraint.
In order to secure the softness and ductility necessary for "" voicing" I reserve
the process of oxidizing until the voicing has been effected.
On the other hand, as the great hardness caused by oxidization would render
tuning difficult, I reserve or leave unoxidized the upper or outer side of the
tongue, so far as is required for this purpose.
By these devices the "voicing" can be effected before the process of oxidization
and the tuning after this has taken place.
Dated this 28th day of May 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reeds for Organs and like Musical Instruments.
I, JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Argyll Lodge Kensington in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to improve the tone of reeds for organs and like

page_text: musical instruments especially free-ends by imposing on their tongues an artificial
rigidity or constraint; and, at the same time, preserving the softness and ductility
which is necessary for their shaping or voicing."
{"
Purity of tone, so far as the reed itself is concerned, depends mainly upon two
points; namely
:-
66
"
1st. The rigidity of the reed-tongue whereby a small excursus or short range
of vibration is secured.
2nd. The perfect bending, curving, or shaping of the reed-tongue, known as
"voicing."
These two conditions are naturally opposed, as rigidity in a reed, whether
secured by the nature of the metal or by its own proportions, or any external
appliance, precludes that softness and ductility which is necessary for the perfect
curving and shaping of the reed-tongue.
According to my invention I artificially oxidize the reed-tongue itself. To
effect this I may employ any oxidizing agent that will oxidize brass, or the metal
employed for the reed-tongue. For example I may use a strong acid such as
nitric acid which at once forms a hard coating on the surface of the reed-tongue, and
increases its rigidity to such an extent as greatly to affect its pitch. The acid
may be conveniently applied by means of a glass brush.
This oxidation supplies to a reed-tongue of ordinary proportions and ordinary
softness a rigidity which could only be otherwise obtained by greater hardness of
metal, wider proportions or external constraint.
In order to secure the softness and ductility necessary for "voicing" I reserve
the process of oxidation until the voicing has been effected and I may further soften
the unoxidized metal of the tongue by annealing. On the other hand, as the great
hardness caused by oxidation would render tuning difficult, I reserve, or leave
unoxidized, the upper or outer side of the tongue, so far as is required for tuning
purposes.
By these devices the "voicing" can be effected before the process of oxidation,
and the tuning after oxidation has taken place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The artificial oxidation of a reed-tongue substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
2. The manufacture of reeds by "voicing" and then oxidizing on one side
leaving the other side, or the necessary portions thereof, unoxidized for tuning
purposes substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 27th day of January 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.