IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOTIVE MECHANISM OF CABINET ORGANS AND OTHER CYLINDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THAT CLASS.
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOTIVE MECHANISM
OF CABINET ORGANS AND OTHER CYLINDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THAT
CLASS. A communication from Lodovico Gavioli, a person resident at
Paris.
Sealed the 7th May 1861, and dated the 13th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 13th November 1860.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOTIVE
MECHANISM OF CABINET ORGANS AND OTHER CYLINDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF
THAT CLASS," to be as follows:-
The main object of the Invention is to replace, by a mechanical arrange-
ment actuated by the pedal, the handle and corresponding mechanism at
present employed to produce the rotation of the cylinder in cabinet organs
("orgues d'appartement") and other instruments of that class. To this end a
combination of levers in communication with the bellows pedal is so arranged
as to wind up continuously a spring fitted in a barrel, and which working with

page_text: a fly in a somewhat similar manner to the mechanism of the Geneva music
box, gives a uniform rotatory movement to the cylinder, the simple pressure of
the foot on the pedal sufficing to keep up a constant degree of tension. The
rack arrangement generally employed in this kind of movement to maintain
the charge of the spring is in the present case replaced by a system of peg
catches, which, instead of cogging with teeth, work on a smooth disc, thus
rendering noiseless the action of the motive mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence, that I, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOTIVE
MECHANISM OF CABINET ORGANS AND OTHER CYLINDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF
THAT CLASS," (a communication from Lodovico Gavioli, a person resident at
Paris) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine
François Mennons, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Figures of the accompanying..
Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
The main object of this Invention is to replace by a mechanical arrange-
ment actuated by the pedal the handle and corresponding mechanism at
present employed to produce the rotation of the cylinder in cabinet organs
("orgues d'appartement,") and other instruments of that class.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing represents the outer face of the improved
mechanism; Figure 2 is a section of the barrels A, B, with the cylinder and
key frame; Figure 3 is a three-quarter view of the barrels surrounded by a
metallic circle or disc replacing the ordinary rack arrangement; Figure 4
represents the inner face of the mechanism; Figure 5 represents the inner
side of the mechanism mounted in a cabinet organ, with key board and
other accessories. This arrangement may of course be modified according to
the nature of the instrument.
J is a pedal, acting on the articulated lever L, by means of which the
winding-up movement is transmitted to the driving springs. The two barrels
A, B, Figs. 2, 3, are both mounted on the arbor of the main wheel C acting
on the cylinder C¹ and on the toothed pinion E, which communicates the
movement to the fly. The springs in the barrels wind up in contrary
directions, as indicated by the red arrows in Figures 2, 3. The core M of the
spring enclosed in the barrel A is free on the arbor, but connected with the rack
F by two studs ff. placed outside the plate P, P, Figure 2. The corresponding
core of the spring of the barrel B is fixed on the arbor by a slight projection
seen below M³, Figure 2. N is a metallic disc replacing the ordinary rack
work, and surrounding the spring barrels, as shewn in Figure 3. One-half of
the width of this disc is fitted to the circumference of the barrel B, while the
other half, forming a circular lateral projection, is left free throughout
towards the barrel A, thus permitting the action of the key-catch fitted to the
latter, as seen in Figure 4. When the lever L rises this catch presses the
circle; when the lever is depressed under the action of the pedal, the catch is
left free to slide. The two pairs of small springs I, I, held by the catches
at each side of the disc, serve to protect the latter from abrasion during the
movement.
The second catch G, which like H is mounted on a transversal arbor, has
an independent movement, and only exerts its action on the disc when the
latter is relieved from the other (H.) In order to render the action more
certain this catch G is fitted to a lever formed by the transversal arbor X,
Figures 2, 4, which allows it to rise and fall according to the inequalities

page_text: which may be present in the disc. The catch H is provided with a slightly
elongated entry, which enables it to follow the same movement. The square
stud seen on the ratchet F maintains and regulates the tension of the two
barrels, the springs of which are of equal power.
On depressing the pedal of the instrument constructed as above the lever
acting on the barrel A, which, as before stated, is free" on its arbor, winds up
the spring to a certain extent, while the barrel B remains motionless; during
this movement the catch H glides freely over the disc N. When the pedal
rises this catch presses upon the disc, which it carries round, thus winding up
the spring of the barrel B; when the pedal is again depressed, the catch G
comes into play to maintain the charge of the barrel B, the tension of which
being exerted on its core M¹ fixed to the arbor, causes the latter to revolve
with the driving wheel C and the cylinder C³.
.
The discharge of the barrel B is limited to a quarter revolution by means
of the stop Q, which is fixed to the core by two studs 8, s, and on which
presses at each quarter turn the pivot T fitted to the lateral part of the barrel,
as seen in Figures 2, 4. This limited discharge is strictly necessary to
permit of the spring being so far wound up by the first movement of the pedal
as to carry round the cylinder at the same speed as when the barrel is com-
pletely charged. By this means a constant degree of tension is maintained,
the barrel B being charged by the movement of the pedal as fast as the spring
is expended.
When the pedal is worked without giving motion to the cylinder, the
barrel A carries on with it the barrel B if run out, and winds it up in the
continued rotation until the tension becomes uniform in both. This done,
the barrel A, being prevented by the equilibrium of the springs from being
discharged, and from carrying on the barrel B, the lever L is left free to slide
on the rod U, Figs. 1, 2, which transmits to the mechanism the movement of
the pedal. The effect is produced as often as the charge of the springs over-
balances the discharge.
The regular motion of the mechanism is obtained by means of the fly,
represented in Figures 1, 2, 4. The two wings of this fly turn on the rods
M, M, fixed at the centre by a flattened stud, and are kept open by the two
springs m, m. The axis of this stud is so pierced as to give free passage to
the stalk of the endless screw, on the collar O of which the fly revolves with
necessary amount of friction when checked by the lever P. At the upper
extremity of the screw stalk is fitted a tube n, provided with a washer, which
presses on two small tail pieces fixed in the wings of the fly; these tail pieces
acting as levers close the wings, or allow them to open according to the rise

page_text: or fall of the tube n. This rise and fall movement is produced by the small
needle stud X, Figs. 2, 4, which on being turned acts on the lever V, pressing
on the snail piece R. The extremity of the tube n is provided with a steel
point in order to reduce the friction as far as possible.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement above laid down,
as these are necessarily subject to modification according to the nature of
the instrument to which the improved mechanism is applied; but what I
claim is,
1stly, the application to cabinet organs and similar musical instruments of
a mechanical arrangement, actuated by the pedal, in substitution of the handle
and corresponding mechanism at present employed to produce the rotation of
the cylinder, substantially as above described and represented in Figures 1,
2, 4, 5, of the annexed Drawing.
2ndly, the application to the driving spring barrels of such instruments of
a smooth metallic disc, combined with a system of catches, producing a
noiseless motion in substitution of the rackwork at present in general use,
substantially as above described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 of the
accompanying Drawing.
3dly, the peculiar arrangement above described and represented in Figures
1, 2, 4, 5 of the Drawing, by means of which the motion of the fly is regu-
lated and governed at will.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)