IMPROVEMENTS IN ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS.”
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Baillie Hamilton, of Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, AND
LIKE INSTRUMENTS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said James Baillie Hamilton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th February 1882.
JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Greenwich in the County of Kent. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ORGANS HARMONIUMS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS."
My Invention relates to improvements in organs harmoniums and like instru-
ments and has for its principal object to secure the full volume of tone and beauty
of sound obtainable from reeds or pipes without the necessity for using the great
lengths of pipes which are at present necessary for obtaining this result more
especially with sounds of low pitch.
According to my said Invention I provide means for regulating and adjusting a
column or body of air below or preceding each reed or sounding part of the
instrument (which I will hereafter call the "reed") and as a result of this I am
enabled to employ in conjunction therewith and above or following the reed a short
tube or box above the reed in place of the long pipes before referred to.
In carrying my Invention into effect I arrange a row of chambers one beneath
or preceding each reed all the chambers opening to the source of air supply but each
chamber isolating the reed with which it is in conjunction from the other reeds-
In communication with each such chamber is a space which I will call the "nasal
cavity" which spaces are each provided with sliding filling pieces or analogous
means for adjusting the capacity of the said cavity and consequently of the volume
or column of air preceding each reed. Above or following each reed is a short box-
like tube (which I will term "the mouth") open at the top or the side but
preferably both at the top and side the said openings being capable of being
conveyed to a greater or less extent by hinged or sliding covers for modifying the
sound.

page_text: $3
The capacity of the "nasal cavity" will be adjusted in relation to the capacity
" the
of the mouth to secure the best conditions of wind "preceding" the reed
mouth" being of such capacity and proportion as will best reinforce the sound
already partially perfected but in the case even of the lowest notes used in the
instrument the said "mouth' will be of comparatively slight length.
arrangement is especially adapted for use with reeds for example in groups either
unconnected or connected for example as described in the Provisional Specification
lodged with my application for Letters Patent No. 5630 dated the 23rd day of
December A.D. 1881.
This
The reeds are preferably upon one reed-board which can be turned back from the
chambers beneath the reeds to give ready access to the said reeds.
In order to assist the tuning I may attach to the reed or to the connections of
the reeds hereinbefore referred to a wire capable of being easily bent into various
positions to adjust the pitch of the reed or of both or all the reeds where two or
more are combined.
To start the speaking of the reed I employ a spring piece attached to the pallet
or valve so as to project towards the reed (single or combined) and engage with
projections from reed so that when the pallet or valve is opened this spring piece
will start the movement of the reed.
Or to obtain a percussive action upon the reed the projection from the pallet or
valve may be connected to levers or ordinary devices for striking the reed on
opening the pallet or valve. The said projection in this case may be a tapped
wire with adjustable buttons thereon for giving an adjustable means of acting on
the said percussion devices.
According to another part of my Invention instead of allowing the wind to
escape by the action of the pallet into the surrounding atmosphere I allow
it to pass into an enclosed space from which the wind is exhausted by a suction
bellows.
I may utilize the return stroke of the feeders of the pressure bellows to create
this suction.
Relief valves can be applied either to the enclosed cavity preceding or following
the reed under these conditions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Baillie Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1882.
JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Greenwich in the County of Kent.
MENTS IN ORGANS, HARMONIUMS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS."
" IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to improvements in organs, harmoniums and like instruments
and has for its principal object to secure the full volume of tone and beauty of
sound obtainable from reeds or pipes without the necessity for using the great
lengths of pipes which are at presont necessary for obtaining this result more
especially with sounds of low pitch.
According to my said Invention I provide means for regulating and adjusting a
column or body of air below or preceding each reed or sounding part of the
instrument (which I will hereafter call the " reed") and as a result of this I am
enabled to employ in conjunction therewith and above or following the reed a short
tube or box above the reed in place of the long pipes before referred to.
In carrying my Invention into effect I arrange a row of chambers one beneath
or preceding each reed all the chambers opening to the source of air supply but
each chamber isolating the reed, with which it is in conjunction, from the other reeds.
In communication with each such chamber is a space which I will call the "nasal
cavity" which spaces are each provided with sliding filling pieces or analogous
means for adjusting the capacity of the said cavity and consequently of the volume
or column of air preceding each reed. Above or following each reed is a short
box like tube (which I will term the mouth") open at the top or the side but
preferably both at the top and side the said openings being capable of being
covered to a greater or less extent by hinged or sliding covers for modifying the
sound.
"
The capacity of the "nasal cavity" will be adjusted in relation to the capacity
of the "mouth" to secure the best conditions of wind "preceding" the reed
"the mouth" being of such capacity and proportion as will best re-inforce the
sound already partially perfected but in the case even of the lowest notes used in
the instrument the said "mouth" will be of comparatively slight length. This
arrangement is especially adapted for use with reeds in groups either unconnected
or connected for example as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 5630 granted to me and dated the twenty third day of December One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
The reeds are preferably upon one reed-board which can be turned back from
the chambers beneath the reeds to give ready access to the said reeds.
In order to assist the tuning I may attach to the reed or to the connections of
the reeds hereinbefore referred to a wire capable of being bent easily into various
positions to adjust the pitch of the reed or of both or all the reeds where two or
more are combined.
To start the speaking of the reed I employ a spring piece attached to the
pallet or valve so as to project towards the reed (single or combined) and engage
with a projection from the reed so that when the pallet or valve is opened this
spring piece will start the movement of the reed.
Or to obtain a percussive action upon the reed the projection from the pallet or
valve may be connected to levers or ordinary devices for striking the reed on
opening the pallet or valve. The said projection in this case may be a tapped
wire with adjustable buttons thereon for giving an adjustable means of acting on
the said percussive devices.

page_text: According to another part of my Invention instead of allowing the wind to
escape by the action of the pallet into the surrounding atmosphere I allow
it to pass into an enclosed space from which the wind is exhausted by a suction
bellows.
I may utilize the return stroke of the feeders of the pressure bellows to create
this suction.
Relief valves can be applied either to the enclosed cavity preceding or following
the reed under these conditions.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the means by which I obtain a circulation of
the wind as hereinbefore last stated. The reed board a is or may be of the
ordinary kind and carry reeds b and pallets c in the ordinary manner. On both
sides of the reed board are air tight chambers the one marked A being for
compressed wind forced past the reed and the other B for exhaust wind drawn
past the reed. The diagram shows the two chambers as each being supplied with
independent feeders the one for the pressure side (namely that for supplying the
chamber A with wind) being marked.d the other on the exhaust side (namely
that for drawing off the wind from the chamber B) being marked e. e¹, e³, e³, are
respectively the well reservoir and trunk between the feeder e and the chamber B
and d¹, d, d³, are respectively the well reservoir and trunk between the feedor d
and the chamber A. The feeders de may be acted upon by any suitable means
for causing the wind to be passed into the chamber A and drawn from the
chamber B. There may be but one feeder if desired which by its up stroke will
drive the wind into the pressure reservoir for supply to the chamber A. and which
on its down stroke will exhaust the wind froin the exhaust reservoir in communi-
cation with the chamber B. Either or both of the chambers A and B may bo
provided with adjustable relief valves.
Figures 2 and 3 represent in vertical sections at right angles to one another a
portion of an organ illustrating the arrangement for preventing in pipe organs the
necessity for pipes of great length at the same time obtaining in pipe or other
organs, harmoniums, and like instruments the full volume of tone and beauty of
sound obtainable from reeds and pipes. Figure 2 shows only a portion of an
instrument, and Figure 3 being a transverse section shows but one reed but it is
to be understood that the following description with respect to one note applies
to all the notes of the instrument or to those notes which would otherwise require
inconveniently long pipes to give the full "wave length" of air necessary to
reinforce it. The same arrangement may be applied to the higher notes with short
pipes or they and their pipes and passages may be arranged as usual.
Each reed bat its side next the incoming wind has a chamber f the chamber
for each note being separated from the others as shown in Figure 2 each chamber
communicating by openings g² closed by pallets g with the wind chest h in the
usual manner. In communication with each chamber is a cavity or chamber ƒ³
which may be called a "nasal cavity" there being a separate cavity for and coin-
municating with each chamber f. These cavities or chambers are adjusted in
capacity by sliding pieces f³ one for each cavity. These "nasal cavities" may be
adjusted in capacity and then the sliding and filling pieces or equivalent means of
closure be permanently fixed in position. On the side of the reed to which the
wind passes that is to say on the side opposite to that presented to the chamber f
each reed has a separate chamber or short tube i which may be called a "mouth
having a capacity which will best reinforce the sound already partially perfected
by reason of the "nasal cavity." Each "mouth" i may be provided with an
opening at the top which I call the "nostril" and one at the front which I
call a "lip." By regulating the degree of passage through these openings by
means of dampers or covers marked and respectively I am enabled to control

page_text: the quality of tone. In order to readily gain access to the reeds I prefer to attach
the reed board to the bottom of the "mouths" i and to hinge the upper part
(consisting of the said "mouths" and reed board and the cavities f2) at f to the
lower part so that the said upper part being turned brck upon its hinges the reeds
are exposed and in a convenient position for handling fastenings as at v are
provided for securing the parts together.
It should be observed that the nasal cavity f2 is of especial use in enabling
the combined volume of air contained by itself and the reed chamber together to
be altered in its dimensions without disturbing the structure of the mouth. But
in cases where this combined volume has by these means been ascertained and
established by practice I am able to dispense with the use of the said nasal
cavity and to allow the nasal cavity to coalesce with the reed chamber which is
then constructed permanently of the dimensions thus established.
form of reeds can be used with the before described arrangements. In Figures 2
and 3 the reeds shown are compound reeds consisting each of three tongues the
outer ones being connected together by a cross piece and the middle tongue being
affixed to the cross piece by a connecting wire as shewn.
Any suitable
In Figures 2 and 3 I have also shewn an attachment which may be applied to
the pallets of reeds. This attachment consists of a spring hook t preferably a
double spring hook which is fastened to and projects from the pallet g through the
wind hole covered thereby and is in such a position that when the pallet is
closed a wire (which may be the connecting wire or strip of the compound reed
or a special wire provided for the purpose) passes beneath or between this attachment
as shewn in the Drawing. When the pallet is opened to sound the note this
attachment in releasing itself from the said wire or strip gives an impulse to the
reed equivalent to "percussion"; the upper and under parts of the spring are
bevelled to enable the said spring to pass over the wire of the reed the bevelling
of the underside being but slight so as not to prevent the necessary pull upon the
said wire. Where the reeds are not of the combined character described they may
be provided with special projections to be acted upon by this attachment. In the
said Figure 2 I have also shown an arrangement which may be employed for
operating ordinary percussion mechanism. A projecting tapped wire u is attached
to the pallet g and extends through the wind hole gas shewn its screwed end
carrying adjustable studs or buttons u² u² between which the lever for operating
the percussion mechanism is situated. This percussion mechanism is or may be of
the ordinary kind.
By fixing these attachments to the pallets so that they pass through the wind
holes covered by the said pallets the necessity for a closely packed wind tight
hole for the passage of the operating rod or wire to the reed box is obviated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is.-
First. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination of the
chamber A on one side of the reed with the chamber B on the other side of the
reed air being passed into one of the said chambers and withdrawn from the other
essentially as and for the purpose described with reference to Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination of a
chamber or "nasal cavity "f" on one side of each reed and another chamber or
"mouth i on the other side of each reed essentially as and for the purpose
described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
"
Third. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination with the
chambers A and B, into one of which air is passed and from the other of which air
is withdrawn, of the compouud reeds with tongues acting in unison essentially as
herein before described.

page_text: Fourth. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination with the
chamber or "nasal cavity" f at one side of each reed and the other chamber or
"mouth" at the other side of the reed of the compound reeds acting in unison
essentially as herein before described.
Fifth. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination with the
chamber or "nasal cavity "f2 on one side of the reed and the other chamber or
"mouth "i on the other side of the reed of the adjusting or capacity regulating
plugs or sliding pieces f³ as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination with the
chamber or "nasal cavity" f on the one side of the reed and the other chamber
or "mouth "i on the other side of the said reed of the openings i¹³ and regulating
valves flaps or covers as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination of a
spring hook (t) attached to the pallet and passing through the wind hole covered
by the said pallet and acting upon a projection from the reed or reeds essentially
as and for the purpose described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Eighth. In organs harmoniums and like instruments the combination with the
pallet connected to the said pallet and passing through the wind hole covered by
the said pallet of the projection or device u u² u² for acting upon the percussion
mechanisin essentially as described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Ninth. In organs and harmoniums the hinging of the upper part consisting of
the reed board and of the cavities f³ and i or the cavity i alone to the lower
portion as and for the purposes described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James Baillie Hamilton have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this 16th day of August One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON. (LS.)