A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RENDERING TIMES IN MUSIC PERCEPTIBLE TO EYES AND EARS AT THE SAME MOMENT
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Carl Gley and Emil Landé at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1880.
CARL GLEY, Music Master, and EMIL LANDE, Merchant, both of Berlin, in the
Empire of Gennany. "A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RENDERING
TIMES IN MUSIC PERCEPTIBLE TO EYES AND EARS AT THE SAME MOMENT."
The object of our said Invention is to assist, by mechanical means, the mental
operation of "counting time" in musical practice.
The essential parts of the apparatus are as follows:-A horizontal base or
stand; a vertical dial plate, perforated with holes and engraved or marked with
lines; a hand or pointer in front of the dial plate, mounted on a central axle;
clock work at the back to turn such axle; two bells, preferably of different tones,
mounted concentrically with such axle behind the dial plate, and between the dial
plate and the clock work; an arm behind the bells fitted to the axle and revolving
with it, which arm carries three levers of the first order for striking the bells at
suitable intervals, and pins to insert in the holes in the dial.
The dial plate may be divided, after the manner of a clock face, into any number
of divisions and subdivisions, but in order that our Invention may be more readily
understood we will describe that which we find convenient as to divisions and
perforations.
Three principal radial lines are made upon the dial plate, dividing the circle into
three equal parts of 120 degrees each. Each of these spaces are divided into eight
equal parts, and again each of these parts into four equal parts. The circumference of
the dial is thus divided into 96 equal parts. Five circular concentric lines are also
made on the dial plate, like the ordinary lines or staves used in musical notation,
and hereinafter called the staves. At a short distance from and inside (or nearer
to the centre than) the staves are 24 equidistant holes drilled through the dial plate
in a circle, and each one being in a line with one of the principal 24 divisions of the
circle. Outside the staves and opposite to the 96 divisions above mentioned are
drilled, in like manner, 96 holes, one in every 4 of which holes coincides with one
of the 24 holes of the inner circle; and outside these again, in a still larger circle,
are drilled in like manner 72 holes, dividing the circle into 72 equal parts, one in
every three of which holes coincides with one of the 24 holes of the inner circle.

page_text: The clockwork is wound up at the back, and its speed may be regulated by a
fan or other suitable regulator, so as to actuate the rotation of the axle at the speed
required. In front of the clockwork, and between that and the bells, an arm is
fixed to the axle and rotates with it; one end of this arm carries three pins, which
act as the fulcrum centres to the levers, and upon which pins the three striking
levers work, the other end of the arm being balanced with a weight. The three
striking levers carry light hammers at the ends of their longer arms wherewith to
strike the bells, and their outer (shorter) arms are arranged to come in contact
with and be actuated by pins inserted into and through the holes in the dial plate.
There being three circles of holes, three sets of pins, and three levers, each lever is
only actuated by the pins inserted in that circle for which its radius is suited.
In front of the dial plate and mounted on the axle is the hand or indicator, which
points as it rotates to the hole or holes and divisions in the dial plate.
The two bells may be tuned to musical thirds or any other harmonious interval,
so as to give distinct sounds and yet to avoid discords when both are struck
together.
Three series of pins are used for insertion in the dial plate, each series having a
different length, the outer of the three circles of holes receiving the longest pins, and
the inner circle the shortest pins, thereby ensuring contact each with its own lever
only, and striking its own bell at the right moment.
From the above description it will be seen that this arrangement affords facilities
for "counting" in musical operations in a more comprehensive manner than can be
done with ordinary metronomes. If desired, it can be used first as ordinary
metronomes are used, by dividing the pins regularly round the circle so as simply
to count so many notes to a bar; secondly, as last before mentioned, with the
addition of a sound from the second bell at the end of each bar; thirdly, in addition
to both the cases before mentioned, it can be arranged to count so many bars of
music with the exact notes, which may be inserted by the composer in the piece
which is to be read and performed. Moreover, the sounds of the bells indicate the
periods to the ear, and the hand similarly indicate such periods to the eye.
Various modifications may be made in the number of bells, striking levers, holes,
and divisions.