Improvements in or relating to Recording and Reproducing Mechanism for Keyed Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Recording and Reproducing
Mechanism for Keyed Instruments.
I, JOHN EMERY HARRIMAN, Jr., Civil Engineer, of 196 Summer Street,
Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
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:-
It is the purpose of my invention, to provide a mechanical attachment for pianos
and organs, whereby any musical composition executed upon the instrument shall
be automatically recorded upon a travelling strip, or band, or if preferred, upon the
cylindrical surface of a revolving drum, the difference in value of, the respective
notes being represented by the length of the impression or of the mark, or other
symbol used to distinguish said note, whereby musical compositions may be recorded
as they are executed upon the instrument.
It is a further purpose of my invention to provide simple means whereby a strip
of flexible material, upon which a musical composition has been recorded, may be
converted by being combined with said devices, into an instrumentality for actuating
certain parts of the recording mechanism in such manner as to automatically
reproduce the said composition upon the instrument by means of which it was first
rendered.
It is a further object of my invention, also, to provide a simple apparatus for
recording the notes, and combination of notes by which harmony is produced,
exactly as they are sounded by a composer or player, by the manual of a piano, or
organ; to combine therewith means whereby the clefs may be denoted, the time
indicated, and the key in which the composition is written to provide means
whereby the occurrence of accidental sharps and flats shall be recorded, and to
provide also, simple means for attaching the connections intermediate of the manual
and recording devices, to the keys, of the former, and for adapting the length of
each connection to the keys of different instruments.
It is my, purpose broadly speaking, to provide automatic recording mechanism,
which may be attached to and detached from a piano, or organ, for the purpose of
recording upon the staff the relative position of each note or the notes of each chord,
struck upon the manual, the value of each of said notes, and the time.
The invention also has for its purpose the provision of novel means for connecting,
adjusting, and operating the several parts of the mechanism and for adjustably and
detachably securing the same into position, without marring or otherwise injuring
the woodwork, keys, or other part, or parts, of the instrument.
To these ends my invention consists in the several novel features of construction
and new combination of parts, hereinafter fully described.
To.enable others skilled in the art to which said invention appertains or to which
it is most nearly related, to make, construct, and use the same, I will proceed to
describe the invention in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the manual of a piano, or organ, showing my inven-
tion connected therewith, part of the manual being broken away.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of an upright or cottage piano, or organ, illustrating
the device by which the recorder is attached and supported, the means by which
..the required adjustments are made, and showing the recording mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a detail view in four parts, showing devices by which the connecting
rods or wires may be lengthened or shortened.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a detail view of a form of device whereby the rous or wires may
detachably connected with the keys of the manual.
Fig. 6 is a further detail view more fully showing the construction of the device
illustrated in Figure 5.
Fig. 7 is a detail view in two parts, showing the construction of the device
adjustably connecting the supporting frames or end brackets to the face of the
musical instrument.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of the collar shown in Fig. 7 illustrating the manner of
fastening the same.
Fig. 9 is a detail section in two parts, showing one construction of the detachable
points or tappets by which the belt, or drum, on which the recording devices act, is
converted into a device by which the points or tappets covering the indications
recorded thereon may be rendered active elements in automatically reproducing the
sounds or combinations of sounds.
Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation showing a modified construction of the devices
illustrated in Fig. 9.
Fig. 11, is a detail perspective view of the ball and socket attachment, which
may be substituted for the detachable rubber vacuum fastenings, and
Figs. 12 and 13 are views showing modified forms of devices for supporting and
operating, the wires, or rods, connected to the keys whereby a vertical action is
secured throughout the series.
In the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the frame of a musical
instrument having a manual, or bank of keys, by the depression of which by the
fingers of the player, hammers are thrown against the strings to produce vibrations
of the latter and the emission of a sound corresponding to the number of vibrations
in a given period. The class or type of instruments referred to is represented by
the piano and the organ.
The reference numeral 2 denotes the manual, or range of keys, which may be
of any extent usually employed, and of any known, or preferred construction, that
illustrated being the form now in general use, consisting of the bank of white keys
and the series of black keys, corresponding to the sharps and flats of the natural
tones.
The recording mechanism to be described is supported by uprights formed in two
parts 3 and 4, the upper member 3 being adjustable vertically in a socket in the
lower member 4 of the upright, which has a broadened base to permit it to rest
firmly upon the horizontal portion of the frame of the instrument. The part 3 of
the upright, is held at any point of adjustment by a set screw 5, tapped through the
socket of the lower piece and resting against the movable part 3.
From the upper portion of the part 3, a bar 6 extends horizontally toward the
rear, its end entering a socket formed in the end of a bar 7, in which it is fastened
at a suitable point by a set screw 8. The bar 7 extends rearward, in the same line
with the bar 6 until it passes some distance behind the visible portion of the manual
where it is bent at right angles, its end 9 entering a socket 10 of suitable length,
forming part of the horizontal bar 12, which is extended toward the middle portion
of the manual, and at a suitable distance from the centre thereof, bent upward
forming a substantially vertical arm 13 extended upward to any suitable point,
where it is bent somewhat toward the front, and then again bent vertically, the
upper extremity of said bar being forked, to provide arms 14 and 15, the former
inclining slightly toward the front while the latter inclines towards the upper
portion of the instrument. From the inclining portion of the bar 13 springs a
vertical arm 16, having at its extremity an open slot forming a bearing for the
purpose presently to be described. At the opposite end of the manual, is placed a
similarly constructed frame, having its parts in duplicate with those already
described. The vertical arms 13 of each frame are steadied, and in some degree
supported, by an arm 17 adjustable as to length by means of a socket formed in an
attaching portion which will be described hereafter. The arm 17 is connected in
any suitable manner with the upright 13, and is held in a socketted portion by a

page_text: set screw.
At the upper end of the bar 16 is attached an arm 19 also adjustable
inward and outward and held by a set screw its connections with the instrument
being effected by a device similar to that employed with the arm 17 which will now
be described.
The removal of the recorder being desirable, in almost all cases, and it being,
also, necessary to avoid the danger of marring the high polish and varnish of the
case, I provide a rubber vacuum fastening consisting of a bell-shaped cup 20,
formed of rubber having sufficient thickness, and having a low degree of vulcaniza-
tion, to give it a large degree of elastic strength. The edge of the bell-shaped
cup 20 is trimmed off inside and cut as accurately as possible to prevent danger of
leakage.
Within the contracted end of the cup, which has an opening is inserted an
enlarged circular head 21 having a groove or channel, which lies when the head is
inserted, within the opening in the contracted end of the cup. When inserted
thereon a metallic ring 22 is slipped over the rubber surrounding the head, and so
placed as to lie in the same plane with the groove. The ring is then drawn' tight
forcing the rubber closely into the groove, and the ends of the ring are then
fastened. This forms a practically air-tight joint.
The ring 22, although not claimed broadly in this application, consists of a
metallic annulus formed of any suitable spring metal, the ends thereof overlapping
as shown in the details figures. On the outer member of the overlapped parts is
formed a lug 23, projecting from the outer face, a catch piece 24 projects from its
inner face, said catch having an inclined face and a square or hooking shoulder
adapted to engage any one of a series of openings 25, formed at such an angle that
the tension upon the ring will tend to draw the catch piece 24 more fully into said
openings 25. Forming part of, or attached to, the head 21 is a straight bar 21",
having a socket and a set screw, tapped through the wall of the socket. The parts
thus described form the attachment for supporting the arms 17 and 19, and are
applied in the manner following:
the
Taking the arm or bar 21 in one hand, the operator places the open mouth of
cup 20 against the vertical face of the instrument and presses thereon until the
air is wholly expelled from the cup or as nearly so as possible. This is acccom-
plished by bringing the flat end of the head 20 which has a facing of rubber, or
other suitable, material 21b against the point of attachment on the face of the
instrument thereby spreading the rubber of the flaring cup and give a comparatively
large area for atmospheric pressure, which firmly holds the bars 21" and the arms 17
and 19 in position.
The standards 4 may be also provided with these rubber vacuum fastenings at
their lower ends, to provide means of attachment to the casing. I propose, how-
ever, to use any fastening suitable for the purpose and I may also, substitute any
suitable attachment in place of the vacuum fastenings for the bar 21ª and arms 17
and 19.
In the open slots or bearings, at the upper ends of the arms 16 are placed the
ends of a shaft 26 upon which is mounted a roll or pulley 27, of suitable diameter
and length. This roll is, in this instance, rotated in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 3 by means of a spring inclosed within a housing 28 said spring
being spirally wound up to the required tension by means of a key or crank 28.
Other means, may, however, be employed, such as a weight a cord and pulley, or a
train of gearing operating by means of any suitable motor.
Over the roll or pulley 27, which is usually not less than two octaves in length
and may be as much larger as thought desirable, passes an endless band 29 having
any suitable width and carried also by a smaller roll 30, the shaft bearings thereof
being formed in the vertical arms 13. These bearings consist of seats 31 arranged
in a series at short intervals. Access to these seats is given by means of a corre-
sponding series of slots 32 cut at an angle with the vertical whereby the band which
may be of any length, may be stretched and operated.
The band 29 may be formed of any suitable material, such as leather, rubber, or

page_text: other substance, and if preferred, it may be made of paper. Moreover it may be
possible to use a strip, instead of joining the ends to form an endless belt. When
material other than paper is used for the belt, the paper may if desired be laid
upon the outside of the belt. This paper is ruled with a full score the intermediate
lines also may be dotted between the upper and lower staff.
In the extremity of the arm or branch 14 of the forked end of the bar 13, is
mounted the end of a rod, or strong wire 33, which is supported at its other end in
the corresponding arm 14 of the other frame. Upon this rod are arranged a series
of strikers each consisting of a lever 34 having the fulcrum rod 33 passing through
it not far from its central point. At its upper end the striker is curved so that
its end is presented squarely to the cylindrical face of the roll. The other end of
the striker is straight, or nearly so, and normally hangs with a slight inclination as
shown in Figure 3.
The strikers numbering in all the same or about the same as the whole number
of keys of the manual are separated from each other upon the rod 33, by means of'
washers. At or near the angle between the arm 13 and the vertical arm carrying
the strikers is inserted the end of a rod 35 its other end being similarly supported
by the corresponding portion of the opposite frame. On this rod and separated by
washers like the strikers are arranged a series of bell-crank levers one arm 36 of
each one thereof being connected to a strong wire 37 which is carried downward in
a nearly vertical direction and attached to the key of the manual corresponding in
position with the place occupied by the bell-crank. The other arm 38 of the latter
lies against the inner face of the lower end of the striker. It will be seen that by
pulling upon the wire 37 the arm 38 will be thrown outward and the curved
extremity of the striker will be thrown toward the surface of the roll or cylinder.
In or upon the curved ends of the strikers are formed or mounted impression
blocks 39. These blocks may have removable shanks socketed in the strikers and
the form of the impression imprinted by them may vary in order to indicate the
different notes or other signs presented by the impression.
In
The wires 37 are detachably connected to the keys of the manual by means of a
rubber block 40 into which the end of the wire is moulded. The block is provided
with a hollow or concave bottom and the block may be pressed upon the key and
held there by suction or it may be applied in any other way preferred. If however
the attachment is to be permanent the wires may be fastened by other means.
order to provide for their easy adjustment as to length I may provide each wire*
with a turn buckle 41, or I may employ a simple sleeve or tube in one end of which
a part of the wire is secured permanently while the other portion of the wire is
inserted in the open end of the tube and held at any point by a set screw 42.
Upon the arms 15 of the fork on the end of the vertical bar 13 are mounted
spindles 43 upon which are placed spools 44 between which is stretched an ink'
ribbon 45 against which the striking blocks impinge thus forming the impressions.
If a note is of more value than another it will be held a relatively longer time"
and the prolonged impression thus made upon the paper or upon the drum as the
case may be will mark the value of the note. The time may be indicated by
transverse spaces ruled across the staff. The greater force also with which the key
is struck the darker will be the impression upon the recording strip and in this
manner both the value and force of the note will be substantially represented.
After a complete record has been made of a new composition or after a known
composition has been rendered and recorded the record strip may be converted into
a device for reproducing a melody automatically by attaching to the belt or
recording strip a series of metallic rubber wooden or other points of various length
according to the represented value of the notes. For example for an eighth or a
sixteenth note a point 45ª, would be enough, while for a quarter or perhaps a half
note the prolonged block 46 of proper relative length would be necessary. When
cach recorded impression has been covered by a point or tappet, provided with
staple points 47 which pass through and are bent down upon the band or strip the
band is replaced and its movement is produced by the spring as before. As the

page_text: points reach the bell-crank levers they strike points or lugs 48 on said levers
thereby throwing their arms 36 downward and depressing the corresponding keys of
the manual. In this manner any recorded composition may be automatically
reproduced upon the instrument by which it was rendered by a player, or composer.
When this automatic reproduction is practiced the series of strikers 34 must be
moved by lifting the rod 33 out of its bearings. To vary the force with which
the notes are struck' the points or tappets may be provided with elastic or spring
tips 49 (Figure 10). Upon the frame 13 is arranged a support provided with a
row or projections 50 arranged in the lines of travel of the points 45° and 46 and
just beneath the lug 48 on the bell-cranks. As the spring points engage the
projections 50 they are bent and when the point 45 is brought just beneath the
lug 48 the spring point passes off the projection 50 and springing up strikes the said
lug 48 with a force sufficient to express the note struck. These spring points are
made of various strength and may be changed to suit different musical compositions.
In reproducing melodies in this manner, the strikers are removed to give free play
to the bell crank levers.
In forming the rubber air cushions 40 I prefer to make them in the form shown
in Figures 5 and 6, the sloping and extended front end 51 being adapted to receive
a plate or strip of paper containing a symbol or character.
may substitute for the rubber cushions already described, the ball and socket
screws shown in Figure 11 as means for securing the wires 37 to the keys of the
manual. This device consists of a small screw 52 having a round head 52ª, with a
slot therein for the screw driver. These screws are set in the keys at a suitable
point for which purpose small holes may be drilled through the ivory or celluloid.
of said keys. To the rounded head 52ª of each screw is attached a cleft or
divided socket composed of two arms 53 which unite or are joined to form part of
a solid shank 54. These arms are elastic so that they will normally spring open or
separate from each other and at their free ends are formed or mounted heads
having hemi-spherical sockets 55 adapted to enclose or engage the rounded head of
the screw.
A sliding ring 56 encircling the divided arms 53 is pushed down
thereon to the socket heads and holds them close upon the screw head. The
wires 37 are attached to the shank 54 by any suitable means such as the turn buckle,
or clamp already mentioned.
I may make connection also with the pedals and stops of an organ or with the
pedals of a piano. Moreover where an organ is provided with a pedal base similar
connections may be made with each of the foot keys of such base.
I have shown the series of wires 37 diverging from the support upon which the
bell-crank levers are fulcrummed in order to reach both ends of the manual.
Should the leverage be insufficient because of this arrangement a support 35 for
the bell crank levers may be extended to such a length that the wires will drop
vertically or nearly so throughout the series. Or if preferred, a horizontal
extension may be made from which the wire will drop vertically or substantially
so upon all the keys of the manual thus giving substantially the same force of
action to each key and being operated by an equal force to depress or strike the
keys.
In order that all the wires connected with the keys of the manual may stand and
exert their action vertically or nearly so, without extending the base of support I
may adopt the construction shown in Figures 12 and 13.
Upon each of the uprights 13 of the supporting frame, is mounted an auxiliary
bracket 57 having two parallel arms 58, provided with a series of openings 59
which form bearings for horizontal rock shafts 60 having arms 61 at their ends,
said arms extending horizontally or substantially so. One of these arms upon each
rock shaft is connected by a link 62, to the arm of one of the bell-crank levers 36
while the other arm is flexibly connected to one end of one of the wires 37. Each
rock shaft 60 is of increased length, their ends extending one beyond the other to
connect with the bell-crank levers, and having a similar but greater extension at
the other ends for connection with the wires 37:

page_text: The auxiliary brackets may be mounted partly upon the uprights 13, and
supported in part by the end standards 3...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a recording
attachment attachable to and detachable from said instrument said attachment con-
sisting of a frame a removable and replaceable rod or shaft set in open bearings in
said frame and having a series of strikers loosely mounted thereon a series of bell-
crank levers pivotted upon a separate supporting shaft and having their arms on
one side of the shaft bearing against the ends of the strikers and a series of wires
detachably connected at one end to the keys of the manual and the other ends to
the bell-crank levers substantially as described.
2. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a frame
detachably connected thereto a rod or shaft supported in open bearings in said
frame a series of strikers loosely mounted on said rod or shaft a corresponding series
of bell-crank levers pivotted on a separate parallel rod or shaft and having one arm
on each bearing against the end of one of the strikers said bell-crank levers having
each a lug or point projecting from its angular portion the roll adapted to support
a music sheet and having its periphery in proximity to said lugs and a series of
wires or rods connecting the keys to the bell-crank levers substantially as
described.
3. The combination with the musical instrument having a manual of bars
detachably and rigidly connected to said instrument arms having sockets to receive
said bars and provided with set screws to fasten the said bars at any point to which
they are adjusted paper supporting rolls having their journals supported in bearings
in the frame a series of strikers pivotted upon a rod or shaft mounted on the frame a
series of bell-crank levers bearing upon the ends of the strikers and a series of rods
or wires connecting the other ends of the bell-crank levers to the keys of the
manual substantially as described.
4. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a detachable
frame rolls journalled in said frame to support an endless band or sheet a series of
bell-crank levers having arms adapted to act upon a series of strikers and provided
with lugs extending from the angular parts of said levers toward the periphery
of one of the rolls a series of rigid rods or wires connecting the said levers with
the keys and a sheet or band mounted on the rolls and provided with tappets
moving the vertical plane in which said lugs lie substantially as described.
5. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a detachable
frame paper supporting rolls journalled therein a series of strikers pivotted upon a
rod or shaft removably supported in the frame a series of bell-crank levers pivotted
upon a rod or shaft attached to the frame said lever having lugs or points upon
their angular portions extending toward the periphery of one of the rolls and a
series of rods or rigid connections between the ends of the bell-crank levers and
the keys whereby the notes of a musical composition may be recorded upon the
paper passing over the roll and a series of tappets mounted on said sheet over said
recorded notes and used after removing the series of strikers to operate the keys
and reproduce the melody recorded substantially as described.
6. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a detachable
frame rolls journalled therein to support a band or sheet a series of strikers
pivotted upon a rod detachable from said frame a series of levers operating the
strikers said levers having points or lugs extending towards the periphery of one of
the rolls a series of rigid connections between said levers and the keys of the
instrument and a sheet or band adapted to receive the impressions made by the
strikers and to carry projecting tappets mounted on said sheet and covering the notes
recorded whereby the instrument may be caused to produce the recorded melody
automatically substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual of a frame
detachably connected therewith rolls journalled in said frame and to support an
endless sheet or band a series of strikers pivotted on a removable rod or shaft a
series of bell-crank levers actuating said strikers and having lugs which project
from their angular parts toward one of the rolls a series of rigid connections
between the power arms of said bell-crank levers and the keys and a sheet having
tappets mounted thereon and provided with elastic points which nove with the
sheet in line with projections arranged a little in front of the lugs on the bell-crank
levers, by which the elastic points are bent before reaching said lugs and release at
such points as to strike said lugs with a force graduated by the resilient force of the
points substantially as described.
8. In a musical instrument having a manual or range of keys the combination
with one or more rolls or pulleys carrying a sheet strip or band of material capable
of receiving impressions and a series of strikers a series of levers operating said
strikers said levers being connected to the keys by wires buried at their ends in
rubber suction blocks and means for fitting the strip or band substantially as
specified.
9. In a musical instrument the combination with a sheet band or other surface
capable of receiving impressions and having recorded thereon the relative position
and value of the notes of a musical composition of a series of points or tappets
attachable to and detachable from said sheet or surface each having a length
equal to that of the recorded impression it covers and each provided with an elastic
point a series of levers arranged in the lines of travel of the said points or tappets
and a frame having a series of projections arranged just below the point where the
tappets engage said levers substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of May 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.