Improvements in and relating to Recording Instruments for Musical Improvisations.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Recording Instruments for Musical
Improvisations.
We, TOMASZ NOWAKOWSKI, Engineer, of Ogrodowa 13, Warsaw, and STANISLAW
STUCKGOLD, Engineer, of Zorowia 16, Warsaw, both in the Empire of Russia, 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:-
This invention relates to an apparatus which enables a music composer to record
his improvisations the arrangement being such that the music which he plays is re-
corded by suitable marks or signs upon the paper, and such marks or signs can
then be subsequently transcribed by means of a scheme of notes into proper
musical notes by any person.
This invention has the great value that the improvisations which generally occur
to a composer at a time when it is impossible for him to write the music down are
thereby not lost to posterity but can be transcribed into notes and corrected or
further amplified or treated at any time.
The invention may be carried into effect by mechanical or electrical means
as hereinafter described.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which represents a
transverse section of an apparatus made in accordance therewith in which mechani-
cal and electrical means of actuation are shown.
In the accompanying drawing a represents the key of an ordinary pianoforte,
and to it is secured by means of a catch a¹ the connecting rod 6 which is provided
with a milled nut c and with screw thread for the purpose of regulating the length
and which on the depression of the key is drawn down. The rod 6 moves a lever
which is pivotted at the point 3 and which in its turn raises the rocking beam A
which is provided at its extremity with a writing roller e and presses it against the
abutment f. A paper strip is moved uniformly by means of a suitable mechanical
device between the abutment and the writing roller as illustrated.
The rocking beam A is mounted upon the standard or upright K.
It is obvious that on depressing the key, the writing roller e, which is continually
covered with color or ink from the rotary ink pad i is pressed against the abutment
and leaves behind it a mark or line corresponding in length to the value of the
note.
Each key is provided with the above described device; and, if desired, for the
purpose of facilitating the reading of the notes the flats and sharps may be indicated
and distinguished by different colors.
The entire strip of paper is wound on the shaft W and is guided by means of
rollers ¹, h, and h¹ the lower roller h¹ being pressed by means of the spring by
which it is carried against the upper roller h.
The drawing out of a strip of paper is effected by means of clockwork which also
serves to rotate the ink pad i.
In the actuation of the recording apparatus by electrical means a contact 6 is

page_text: closed upon the depression of the key a whereby an electric circuit is completed
in which an electro magnet m is comprised so that the armature o mounted on
the rocking beam A is attracted, and the writing roller is pressed against the
abutment f.
The whole apparatus is mounted in a box which may be arranged on the piano
above or below the keyboard according to the available space.
In the case of the electrical apparatus, it is obvious that there is no necessity to
select any particular position for the apparatus, as the wires may be lead to it
wherever it is placed.
"
Above the box in which the printing apparatus is mounted, there may be pro-
vided a box enclosing a transcribing device to be used when transcribing the
printed characters into the usual musical notation. This device consists of a
crank p, upon the axle of. which is formed a worm or endless screw " which
actuates the worm wheel and through it the roller z. A second roller 2¹, having
its bearing in springs, is pressed against the former roller z, and revolves by
contact with it. The paper on which the characters have been printed by the
apparatus in the lower box is led through a slit q into the upper box which
encloses the transcribing device, over the guide roller V, and between the
rollers zz to a second
paper drum r. The upper part of the front wall of the
upper box is cut away, and on the upper edges of the front wall thus cut is
marked a scale or series of notation letters (names of keys) corresponding in position
with the keys of the piano. The paper as it is wound by the handle is brought
near to this scale of letters, and the musical names of the keys struck and
characters printed on the paper can be read off, and transcribed by hand by the
observer. All keys which have been struck at the same time will leave a printed
record in a line across the reel of paper, and as the handle is turned these printed
characters will all appear at once. Other characters will appear in the same order
as that in which the corresponding keys were struck, whilst the length of the
printed character will indicate the value to be given to the note. As the paper
is slowly wound past and the names of the printed characters read off, they can be
written on the usual music paper in the ordinary musical notation. The part of the
front wall of the upper box which was cut away may be partly covered with glass
and partly left open so that the person transcribing may strike out with a pencil
any characters which have been copied.
It is to be understood that the characters indicating the notes may be made
with ink or lead pencil or they may be punched, cut, or carved or milled out of
the paper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A recording instrument constructed and operated substantially as herein-.
fore described and illustrated.
2. An automatic device for recording notes, characterized by the fact that the
notes which are struck or sounded during the musical improvisation are recorded
upon a strip of paper either by mechanical or electrical means, and from which
strip of paper they may be subsequently translated or transcribed.
3. A recording instrument such as specified in Claim 2 in which the key to
be operated actuates a writing device such as e f through such medium as a bent
lever 6, whilst the paper strip to be written on is passed through this writing
device by means of rollers actuated by suitable known mechanism the arrange-
ment being such that after the termination of the improvisation, the characters
which have been produced and which may consist of dots and dashes are passed
through a transcribing apparatus substantially as described.
4. A recording instrument such as specified in Claim 2 in which the key to
be operated closes a contact 6 which is included in an electric current circuit.in
series with an electro magnet m, the arrangement being such that the armature

page_text: of the said electro magnet operates a writing device such as e f through a beam A,
whilst the strip of paper to be written upon is passed through this writing device
by means of rollers actuated by suitable known mechanism so that on the termina-
tion of the improvisation the characters thereby produced and which may consist
of dots and dashes, are passed through a transcribing apparatus substantially as
described.
ted this 16th day of July 100.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.