IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CALLED 'OCARINA,' AND IN MACHINERY CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Fiehn and Eduard Witte at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
HENRY FIEHN, Manufacturer of Musical Instruments, and EDUARD WITTE,
Merchant, both of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CALLED 'OCARINA,' AND IN MACHINERY
CONNECTED THEREWITH."
22
This Invention relates to the manufacture of the musical instruments known as
" ocarinas from plastic clays or other ceramic plastic materials free from lime, and
it consists in the employment for that purpose, in combination with moulds, as
herein-after described, of a press working with an eccentric, or of lever or other
presses, which enable a sufficient pressure to be exerted on the materials employed.
The eccentric press constructed in the manner herein-after described is by preference
employed on account of the facility of its manipulation, and of the pressure being
produced in an upward direction.
In carrying out this Invention the apparatus is constructed with a frame, sup-
porting at its lower part a main shaft carrying a toothed wheel, to which motion is
imparted by means of a pinion on a shaft situate above the said wheel, and rotated
by hand by the aid of lever arms.
The toothed wheel is provided with an eccentric pin actuating a connecting rod,
which works in a parallel guide, and is connected to the lower platen of the press
in such a manner that when the wheel is operated the lower platen is moved towards
the upper platen, and the operation of moulding is accomplished.
The centre of gravity of the toothed wheel is situate out of its axis of rotation, so
that the mould (which is arranged above in the manner herein-after described) is
opened automatically after the pressure has been applied by the apparatus.
On the axis of the pinion is provided a ratchet wheel for exerting a more powerful
and continuous pressure when manufacturing instruments of exceptionally large
size.
The moulds or forms, which are constructed by preference of cast iron, are placed
in a brass box supported on blocks of wood; these moulds consist of four pieces, viz.,
two halves for forming the external surface of the instrument, carried by the lower

page_text: platen, and two halves or cores for forming the internal surface of the instrument
attached to the upper part of the box, the said cores being provided with ten pro-
jections or elevations which penetrate the plastic argillaceous material during the
compression, and form the holes or sounding orifices.
The harmonious gamut is obtained by means of these holes. The hole to which
the mouth is applied, and another hole, are situate on one side., viz., at the lower
part of the instrument. The first gives the tonic, and the second the noted; the
remaining eight holes, which gives the tones d, e, f, g, a, b, c, and e respectively are
situate at the upper part of the instrument.
The two halves of the mould, previously to their being used, are moistened with
petroleum or essence of turpentine, and they are then filled with the material or
composition selected, and are placed in the brass box of the press. The upper part
of the box is then secured by a pin or key passed through corresponding holes
provided for the purpose in the cover and sides of the box, so as to enable it to
resist a considerable amount of pressure. The press is then set in motion, and the
cores secured to the cover of the box form the requisite hollow in the plastic clay.
The internal moulds containing the formed material are then taken out of the
press with the blocks of wood, and after covering the edges of the two corresponding
halves thus obtained with a small quantity of the same description of plastic
material, made somewhat less stiff, they are pressed forcibly together. By these
means the two halves of the instrument are caused to adhere to one another, and
on separating the two halves of the mould the ocarina may be taken out entire, after
which it is completely dried, and subsequently baked at a high temperature, by.
preference in a furnace or muffle.
The instrument when thus baked is fit for sale, or, if preferred, it may be pre-
'viously coated with varnish; and to enable the player to perform with greater.
facility and correctness the 9 sounding orifices may be each provided with a metal
hoop or ring, so as to enable them to be closed by the application of the finger with
greater facility and completeness.