IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORGANS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Spackman Barker, of Gloucester Road,
Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, Organ Builder, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORGANS,"
Sealed the 7th July 1868, and dated the 22nd January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Spackman
Barker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with, his
Petition, on the 22nd January 1868.
1, CHARLES SPACKMAN BARKER, of Gloucester Road, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Organ Builder, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ORGANS," to be as follows:-
These improvements refer to a special combination or special com-
binations of electric and pneumatic apparatus to be used as a substitute
for the ordinary mechanism which in the organ connects the keys with
the sound-board pallets and the draw stops with the sliders.
By the use of this Invention the construction of large instruments
is considerably simplified, and the frequent derangement of the key and

page_text: draw-stop actions is avoided. Great facilities are also afforded for
placing the keyboards at any required distance from the instruments
and a light and uniform touch is secured.
To carry out the above objects with respect to the key action I
establish beneath the several wind chests of a large organ an arrange-
ment of pneumatic levers worked by electro-magnetic apparatus, which
arrangement is capable of- easy detachment from the wind chest for
the purpose of repairs. Immediately under each pallet of the several
wind chests and connected therewith is a small-power bellows or
pneumatic lever, which upon being inflated draws and maintains open
the pallet connected therewith, but when in a state of collapse allows
the pallet to close. The inflation of the bellows is obtained by the
introduction of compressed air from an air-trunk communicating
therewith, and its collapse is caused by cutting off the connection
with the air-trunk and allowing the air in the bellows to escape into
the atmosphere. The inflation and exhaustion of the bellows are
determined by the relative position of a suitable valve brought into
play by the action of an electro-magnet. The coiled wire of the electro-
magnet forms part of an interrupted electric circuit which terminates
at the opposite poles of a voltaic battery or other generator of dynamic
electricity. This circuit extends to the keyboards, and is susceptible
of being completed by means of certain metallic appendages (to be
presently described) brought into contact by the depression of the keys.
I will now describe the mode of applying the combined pneumatic
and electro-magnetic force for actuating the pallets of a wind chest,
premising that the arrangement is equally applicable to divided as to
undivided wind chests. Supposing the wind chest to be divided (which
allows of different pressures of wind being supplied to the pipes of
different stops) I form in the division an air-trunk for supplying com-
pressed air to all the pneumatic levers or bellows connected with the
wind chest, a pneumatic lever being provided for each groove or air
channel corresponding to the notes of the keyboard. Immediately
below this air trunk and upon the fixed table of the bellows I mount
a double-action valve composed of two discs attached to a vertical rod
and provided with seats on opposite sides of the fixed table. This valve
is intended to admit air to channels leading through the fixed table
to adjacent pneumatic levers or bellows for the purpose of inflating the
bellows and maintaining them inflated for the required time, and then

page_text: to discharge the air therefrom into the atmosphere. The bellows are
connected by rods and links to the pallets upon which they are
respectively intended to operate, the inflation therefore of the bellows
will cause the organ pallets to be pulled open and the pipes situate
above them to sound. The collapse of the bellows will allow of the
pallet springs forcing the pallets back and stopping the speaking of
the pipes. The rod carrying the double-action valve is connected to
the hinged armature of an electro-magnet made fast to and pendent
from the fixed table of the bellows. When the soft iron of the electro-
magnet is made magnetic (by the passage of a current of electricity
through the coils of copper wire surrounding the soft iron), and the
armature is consequently attracted, the valve rod and valve will be lifted
and the air will be supplied from the air trunk (through the passages
in the fixed table) to the pneumatic lever or levers, the result of which
will be the opening of the pallets coupled therewith and the sounding
of the pipes receiving their wind from the wind chest. When the
current ceases to circulate through the coils of wire of the electro-
magiet the attraction will cease and consequently the disc valve will
fall; and the bellows becoming exhausted the pallets will close. I have
said that the depression of the keys of the keyboards or "manuals".
serves to complete the circuit and consequently to produce the above-
described result. The like remark applies also to the pedal keyboard.
I will now explain the arrangement for completing and breaking
the circuit, confining my remarks in the first instance to the connection
of the battery with a single keyboard and one set of electro-magnets.
Each key is connected in the usual way with a "back fall" or rock
lever, and these levers are fitted at their free end with insulated plates
carrying each two metal points. Immediately below these points are
situated mercury cups formed in a transverse plank and arranged in
two rows. Through one row runs a wire which connects with one
pole of the battery, and projecting through the plauk into the cups of
the other row are metal screws which carry each an electric wire which
is led off to an electro-maguet. The depression of a key causes the
metallic points carried by the back fall to dip into their respective
mercury cups, and thus electric conduction is set up between them.
The current will then flow from the battery through the cups, and by
the wire leading therefrom to the electro-magnet which commands the
pallet or pallets of the pipe or pipes corresponding to the key depressed
and the note desired to be sounded.
As soon however as the pressure

page_text: of the player's finger is removed from the key the electric contact will
be broken and the pipe or pipes will cease to speak.
From the above explanation it will be understood that for each note
in the compass of the organ there is an electro-magnet provided which
is operated through its corresponding key to produce the sound or
sounds corresponding in name to the key depressed by the performer.
I should here remark that in case of an organ containing two or more
keyboards it is requisite to provide that one of these rows of keys in
addition to playing its own stops shall, when required, simultaneously
play the stops of the other rows. To this end each key of, say, the lower
keyboard is connected with a back fall fitted at its free end with an
insulated metal plate, from which depend three or more metal points.
These points stand over a corresponding number of small mercury cups
formed in a transverse plank of wood by boring rows of holes therein.
A wire from the battery runs through one row of cups and is in constant
electric connection with the battery. The cups of all the other rows
are provided with metal screws or conductors which clamp conducting
wires that lead off to insulated elastic electric conductors fitted to fixed
bars of wood. Opposite each of these bars is mounted a "roller"
similarly provided with insulated elastic electric conductors which stand
opposite those on the fixed bars. The electric conductors of each roller
are severally connected by a wire with an electro-magnet for working
the pallets as above described. Each of these fixed bars and rollers
with their electric conductors represent a distinct organ, and by the
action of a pedal or draw rod coupler (which through crank levers and
rods rocks the rollers on their axles) the electric conductors are brought
together to couple the action of two or more organs as desired, and
allow of their being played by one row of keys.
I will now describe my method of applying electro-magnetic action
to the drawing of the stops of an orgau. With this view I connect
each sound-board slider with a double-action pneumatic lever formed
by two bellows established on the opposite sides of a fixed table, and
so connected together that the inflation of one will necessitate the
collapse of the other. By the inflation of oue of the bellows the slider
is drawn out or opened, and by the inflation of the opposite bellows the
slider is closed. Each of these bellows receives its compressed air
through the medium of a separate disc valve brought into play by
one of a pair of small accessory power bellows, one of these accessory

page_text: bellows being moreover supplied by a special disc valve actuated by
an electro-magnet, the other accessory bellows being simply connected
by an air passage with the interior of the opposite slider bellows. In
consequence of this arrangement the inflation of one or the other of
the slider bellows will be determined by a suitable position of the special
disc valve. The combined pneumatic and electro-magnetic apparatus
for working the sliders or throwing the stops in and out of use as
required differs in so far from that described with respect to the key
action that it produces a momentary in contradistinction to a sustained
action. The position of the slider when moved will be required
sometimes to be unchanged throughout the performance, and at other
times for a whole movement, or during the playing merely of a short
It is desirable therefore to have the motive power always at
passage.
command and yet to avoid its expenditure merely for retaining the
slider in position. To ensure this result I provide two electro-magnets
in connection with each draw stop for the working of its slider. The
armature of one electro-maguet acts as a retaining catch and escapement
to the armature of the other or principal electro-magnet. Connected
to the armature of the principal electro-magnet is a rod which carries
a compound valve for supplying air to and discharging it from the
accessory bellows. These bellows carry and work similar compound
valves for working cach one of a pair of larger bellows or pneumatic
levers which operate the sliders.
In order to complete the circuit for setting one or other of the
electro-magnets in action to draw out or force in the slider as described I
place beneath the draw stops a bar in which are formed mercury cups con-
nected severally by a wire with one pole of the battery, two cups being
provided for each draw stop. On this bar adjacent to each cup is mounted
an insulated crank lever carrying a point for dipping into the mercury and
weighted so as to keep the point out of the cup until it is pressed down
to make contact. A wire leading to the opposite pole of the battery is
connected to the metal bearing of the crank lever, and a finger or short
arm of this lever stands up to meet a metal catch hinged to the draw stop.
As there are two cups provided for each draw stop, and each is provided
with a weighted contact maker and breaker, so each draw stop also
carries two hinged catches for striking the short arm or finger of its
respective insulated contact maker and breaker. When therefore the
draw stop is drawn to open the slider one of these hinged catches will
be caused to depress its insulated crank lever until the point which

page_text: it carries dips into the mercury. The circuit will be then complete,
and the electro-magnet used for drawing the slider will be set in action
and the proper bellows will be inflated for ensuring the drawing out
of the slider. The armature however of this magnet will be caught
by the means above described, and the position of the slider will be
retained without further expenditure of electric power. In order to
shut off the stop it is only necessary to push back the draw stop and
the second insulated crank lever will come into action, closing the
circuit in which the second electro-magnet is situate, and a current
being thereby sent through that magnet its armature which retained
the armature of the other electro-magnet in position will be attracted
and release the armature of the first electro-magnet; a reversed action
of the bellows to that above described will then take place and the
slider will be caused to cut off the wind from the pipes. As in many
cases it may be desirable to intercept or admit at pleasure the air to
certain sound boards by the action of a pedal a similar arrangement of
electro-magnets to that just described may be employed, but in this
case one simple pneumatic lever will be sufficient. In order to prevent
a waste of the elements composing the electric battery the jars carrying
the solution are mounted on bellows, which being inflated when the
organ is in use will cause the jars to rise and virtually plunge the
electrodes into the solution, the electrodes being secured to a fixed bar.
When the organ ceases to be supplied with wind the bellows will
collapse and leave the electrodes suspended in the air and free of the
destructive action of the solution. The like result may be obtained
by lifting the electrodes by an automatic arrangement from the jars.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Spackman Barker in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 22nd July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Charles
SPACKMAN BARKER, of Gloucester Road, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Organ Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in thé

page_text: thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Spackman Barker, Her
special licence, that I, the said Charles Spackman Barker, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others, as I, the said Charles
Spackman Barker, 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 CONSTRUCTION OF ORGANS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Spackman Barker, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Spackman Barker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):-
:-
These improvements refer, first, to certain improved arrangements of
combined electric and pneumatic apparatus in their application to the
organ with a view of suppressing the mechanism which in the ordinary
method of building connects the keys with the pallets of the sound
boards, by which means the construction of large organs is considerably
simplified, and the frequent derangement of the action avoided; great
facilities are also afforded for placing the keyboards at any required
distance from the instrument, and a light and uniform touch is secured.
Second. To an improved method of effecting by the aid of electric
currents the combination or coupling of two or more keyboards.
Third. To an improved method of applying electro-magnetic agency
as a substitute for mechanical transmission in the draw stop actions.
Fourth. To the application of an electro-pneumatic combination for
the purpose of opening or closing the large valves which admit or
intercept at the pleasure of the player the wind of certain wind chests.

page_text: Fifth. To certain dispositions having for their object to suspend
automatically the action of the electrical battery when the organ is
not in use, and thereby to diminish the expenditure of metals and
chemical substances therein employed.
I will now describe the nature of my Invention, commencing with
my improvements as applicable to key movements. Beneath the wind
chest of the organ immediately under each pallet, and connected with
the "pull down" thereof, I establish a small-action bellows or pneumatic
lever, which when inflated draws and maintains open the pallet, but
when collapsed allows the pallet to close by the action of its spring.
In order to effect at pleasure the inflation or collapse of this action
bellows, I provide the same with a compound valve, consisting of a
vertical rod or stem carrying two small circular and horizontal discs
centred on the stem and fixed thereto in such manner as to close or
open alternately openings leading into or from opposite sides of a passage
communicating with the action bellows already described. The upper
opening communicates moreover with a chamber constantly supplied
with compressed air, and the lower and opposite opening with the
external atmosphere. This part of my Invention is shewn in sectional
elevation at Fig. 1 in Sheet I. of the Drawings as applied to an organ
provided with a double or divided wind chest.
A, A¹, are the divisions of the wind chest fitted with pallets.B, B¹, in
the usual way. To these pallets are connected pull down rods a, a¹.
Fitted to the under side of the wind chest by means of clamping
pins c, c, and capable of ready detachment therefrom, are the bellows
table C fitted with bellows or pneumatic levers D, D¹, one for each
pallet, and connected therewith respectively by means of the pull down
rods a, a¹. The tables of the bellows are grooved or channelled, as
shewn at Fig. 1, and brought into communication with the compressed
air channel E by a vertical passage which is made across each groove,
thus forming at once a vent for the wind to the bellows and a vent
directly from the groove to the atmosphere. It is this passage that
the disc valve before mentioned and marked F in the Drawing is
intended to govern for each pneumatic lever or bellows D, D¹. The
guide for the stem of the valve F forms a transverse division in the
groove of the bellows table, leaving a vent for the wind on either side
thereof.
These
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page_text: the valve F is in a state of repose, as shewn in the Drawing, the upper
disc of the valve F covering the opening by which the vertical passage
communicates with the air chamber E, and that the lower disc separated
from its seat and leaving uncovered the opening by which the passage
and consequently the action bellows communicate with the external
atmosphere, the bellows will remain collapsed. Let now the stem of
the valve be pushed slightly upwards so as to bring the lower disc in
contact with its seat the communication with the external atmosphere
will be interrupted, and at the same time the upper disc will be raised
from its seat, the compressed air will rush into the action bellows,
which will expand and draw open the organ pallets B, B1, and the
sound of the pipes will be produced and maintained as long as the
action bellows remain inflated. If now the valve F be allowed to
resume its primitive position the supply of compressed air to the
bellows will be cut off, and the exhaust opening becoming uncovered
the portion of condensed air which remains in the bellows will
escape, the bellows will then collapse by the action of the springs b
of the organ pallets, the latter will also close and the sound of the
pipes will cease.
I may here observe that to simplify explanation I have supposed
the movements of the valve F to have been produced by the direct
action of the finger, I will now explain how by means of electrical
agency the same effect will be obtained through the depression of
I need
a key placed at any required distance from the orgau.
scarcely observe to those conversant with the construction of the
organ that the description of the apparatus in connection with one of
the notes of the keyboard is equally applicable to all, it will however
be necessary for me to state that the explanations I am about to give
have reference in the first place to an organ having but one row of
keys, as I shall shew afterwards, the modifications by which I meet
the more complicated case of organs with several keyboards, and the
introduction of couplers. For inflating the bellows D, D¹, employ
electro-maguets of the curved or horse-shoe formn, and of comparatively
small dimensions, say with branches of about four inches in length made
of cylindrical soft iron rod not exceeding half an inch in diameter.
Referring to Fig. 1, G is a horse-shoe electro-magnet firmly secured
to the under side of the table C. On one of the branches of each magnet
and as near the end as the bobbins will permit I adjust a brass collar g
B

page_text: which serves as a hinge to a small plate of soft iron forming the
armature h of the magnet, such plate being sufficiently prolonged to
allow a rod or wire f forming the continuation of the spindle f of the
valve F to pass freely on the outside of the coiled wire (without
touching) and be attached to the armature. The electro-magnet being
suspended vertically from a block attached to the table C the hinged
armature h will have a tendency to fall by its own weight when not
attracted by the magnet. I now lead up to one end of the coiled wire
of the magnet a wire 1 communicating with one of the poles of a voltaic
battery or other source of dynamic electricity, and from the other end
of the same coiled wire a conducting wire 2 extending to the keyboard
and terminating at a suitable point underneath this latter in a cup of
mercury which is brought within the electric circuit in the manner
which I will now proceed to explain.
In Sheet II. of the Drawings Fig. 1 shews in sectional elevation so
much of an organ with two manuals or key boards and a pedal keyboard
as will serve to explain the mode of transmitting motion from the keys
and pedals to the bellows commanding the pallets of the pipes required
to be sounded. A, A¹, are the keys of the first and second keyboards,
each of which is connected by wires and screws a with their respective
back falls B, B₁; these back falls are each fitted at their free ends
with insulated metal plates 6 carrying pendent metal points c which dip
into mercury cups d, d. These cups are formed into groups composed
of two or more parallel rows, and the cups for each key are placed in
line so that the points c of their respective back falls may dip
simultaneously into the cups d. The cups are formed by piercing
holes of about half an inch diameter, and three-quarters of an inch
in depth in a board of hard and dry wood C. The distance between
the rows will be about half an inch, and that between the cups will
be regulated by the disposition of the back falls. Through the first
row of cups of each group lay a wire 2 connected with the battery,
the wire before mentioned being connected with the opposite pole.
The second and following rows of mercury cups I connect by clamping
screws with the wires 2 leading from the electro-maguets which when
set in action command the bellows or pneumatic levers connected with
them, as already explained, with respect to the divided wind chest,
Fig. 1, Sheet I., and I now proceed to shew how the depression of the
key by establishing a metallic comnunication between the first and
second row of cups completes the circuit, and determines thereby at

page_text: pleasure the action of the electro-magnet on the valve of the corre-
sponding bellows or pneumatic apparatus. The key being connected
with the "back fall" fitted with copper points, which stand respectively
over the mercury cups already mentioned, the depression of the key
will cause the back fall to plunge its points into the mercury of the
cups, and establish a conducting communication for the electric current,
which will now pass uninterruptedly between the opposite poles of the
battery actuating in its course the electro-magnet, which will then
bring the pneumatic apparatus into play, causing the bellows to act
on the organ pallets and almit wind to the pipes, which will continue
to sound so long as the key remains depressed; but on this latter being
allowed to return to its primitive position the metallic points will be
withdrawn from the mercury cups, and the electric communication
The
being thereby broken the action of the electro-magnet will cease.
collapse of the action bellows now takes place, and consequently thereon
the closing of the organ pallets and the supply of wind being stopped
the pipes will cease to sound.
It will be understood that the preceding description refers to one
key only and its corresponding sound board and pallet or pallets, and
that a similar electro pneumatic combination must exist between each
note of the keyboard and its corresponding pallet or pallets in the
organ. It should however be stated that the electric currents which
actuate the electro-magnets of a complete series equal in number to the
notes of the keyboard are all derived from one common source or
battery, and in such case a single wire proceeding from one of the
poles of the battery is made to communicate with one of the ranks of
mercury cups of each keyboard, and another similar wire attached to
the opposite pole is made to communicate by ramifications with each
of the electro-magnets corresponding therewith, care being taken that
such battery is composed of a sufficient number of cells to allow of
the division of the principal current into as many secondary currents
as the simultaneous action of a number of electro-magnets represented
by a full chord held down on the keyboard or keyboards may require.
In an organ containing several keyboards it is evident that a similar
electro-pneumatic apparatus to that which has been described must be
provided for each keyboard. My application of the electro-pneumatic
combination to one row of keys being understood it will be evident
that in the case of organs containing several keyboards each must be

page_text: furnished with a similar apparatus to that already described, but as in
this case one at least of such keyboards must command at pleasure
in addition to its own stops those of the other keyboards separately or
collectively a means of attaining this object, usually termed "coupling,"
must be provided.
I will now describe my manner of effecting this object:-It has been
shown that I furnish each keyboard with a row of mercury cups, all of
which are in common and permanent communication with one of the
poles of a battery, and that I provide a second row of similar cups (but
insulated) connecting each with its respective electro-magnet. I will
now suppose the organ to have a second keyboard, and that the first
or lower keyboard is required to act both on its own stops and on
those of the second keyboard; in this case besides providing the second
keyboard with mercury cup and electric connections with the pallets
which it commands,, as above explained, I add to the two rows of cups
of the first keyboard already described a third row, as shown at Fig. 1,
Sheet II. This row I make to communicate with the wires leading from
the cups of the second keyboard. In the same way by adding successive
rows of cups couplers can be formed with as many keyboards as may
exist in the largest organs, either note for note or in octaves.
I must now direct attention to my method of bringing the couplers
under the control of the performer, so that he may be able to introduce
or suppress them at pleasure. With this view I establish in connection
with each row of coupling cups an interruptor formed. by a double
series of insulated metallic springs, one of these being fixed and the
other being attached to a moveable bar or roller which can be brought
in contact at pleasure with the fixed series by the depression of a pedal.
This arrangement for interrupting and making the circuit is shewn in
Fig. 1, Sheet II., but on a larger scale at Figures 2 and 3, Figure 2
being an end section and Fig. 3 a plan view shewing the back falls
overlying the mercury cups, and the interruptors B, B,. are the back
falls fitted with copper points c for dipping into the mercury cups d of
the board C. Running along the bottom of all the cups of the first
row is the wire 2* connected with the battery, and connected to their
respective cups forming the other rows are the wires 2 disposed as
shown in Fig. 3. The wires from one row of cups, it will be seen,
pass directly to their respective magnets or without the intervention of
interruptors, and the wires leading from the other rows of cups stop

page_text: and are connected each with a metallic spring d* attached to a fixed
transverse bar D. Mounted opposite to these springs are metal plates e
fitted to a roller E; the rocking of which upon its axis brings the metal
surfaces in contact. A continuation of the wires 2 is made rast to
the plates e respectively, and thus when the roller E is rocked by
the depression of a pedal of the foot of the performer, the parts of the
divided wires will be coupled or brought into electric connection with
each other. These continuations of the wires 2 are each connected by
solder to corresponding wires 2 leading direct from the cups of the second
manual (see Fig. 1) to their respective magnets. Consequently when
by rocking a roller or rollers E (the number of which will depend
on the number of couplers required) the metallic surfaces d, e, are
brought together, the depression of a key of the first manual will cause
not only its own note or notes to sound but those also commanded
by the corresponding key of the second manual. The "rollers" E are
rocked by means of "squares" F actuated by pedals G (Fig. 1) and
rods in the usual way of working couplers. The above description
applies also to the pedal organ which is shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet II., as
provided with two sets of couplers or interruptors. It will now be
understood that the passage of the currents can only take place when
the moveable and fixed metallic surfaces d and are respectively
brought into contact.
I will now describe my method of applying electro-magnetic action
to the drawing of the stops of an organ.
With this view I adopt the
arrangement shewn in Sheet III. of the Drawings, where Fig. 1 is a
sectional elevation of the apparatus for drawing and shutting off the
stops, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.
The apparatus here shewn, it will be understood, serves only for
operating one stop rod, and consequently it must be multiplied by the
number of stops contained in the organ. A, A, is a sound-board slider
connected by a square or crank arm with a double-action pneumatic
lever formed by two bellows B, B, established on the opposite sides
of a fixed' table C: These bellows are connected together by a metal
strap piece, so that the inflation of one will' necessitate the collapse of
the other. By the inflation of one of the bellows the slider is drawn
or opened, and by the inflation of the opposite bellows the slider is
closed. Each of these bellows receives its compressed air through
the medium of a separate disc valve D, D¹, fitted to a wind chest E, which
is in communication. by means. of grooves. or channels in. the. table. C with

page_text: the bellows. The valves D, D¹, are brought into play by one of a pair
of small accessory power bellows F, F¹, which are so weighted as to
close, when disinflated, their respective disc valves. The assessory
bellows Facts upon the disc valve D¹ of the bellows B¹, and the
accessory bellows F acts upon the disc valve D of the bellows B.
The bellows F¹ is supplied with compressed air from the wind chest E
by a special disc valve F2 actuated by an electro-magnet G. The other
accessory bellows F receives air from being simply connected by an air
passage F3 with a passage leading from the wind chest E, as shewn by
dots in Figures 2 and 3, and commanded by the disc valve D. The
accessory bellows are also connected together by a rock lever F* and
pendent wires, the exhaustion of one must therefore necessarily follow
the inflation of the other. It will now be understood that the inflation
of one or other of the slider bellows will be determined by the action
of the special disc valve F2 which indirectly controls the supply of wind
to all the bellows.
I should here state that the combined pneumatic and electro-magnetic
apparatus for working the sliders or throwing the stops in and out of
use as required differs in so far from that described with respect to
the key action that it produces a momentary in contradistinction to a
sustained action. As the position of the slider when moved will be
required sometimes to be unchanged throughout the performance, and
at other times for a whole movement, or during the playing merely of
a short passage, it is desirable therefore to have the motive power
always at command, and yet to avoid its expenditure merely for retaining
the slider in position. To ensure this result I provide a second electro-
magnet H in connection with the electro-magnet G for the working of
each draw stop slider A. The armature of the electro-magnet H acts
as a retaining catch and escapement to the armature g of the other or
principal electro-magnet G. Connected to the armature g is a rod which
carries the valve F2 for supplying air to and discharging it from the
accessory bellows F¹. The bellows F and F¹ carry and work the com-
pound disc valves D, D', which serve to admit air from the wind chest E
respectively to the bellows B, B, and exhaust the air therefrom. It will
now be understood that according as the air is admitted to one or other
of the bellows or pneumatic levers B, B', the slider will be operated and
caused to open or cut off the stop.
"In order to complete the circuit for setting the electro-magnets in

page_text: action to draw out or force in the slider as described I adopt the
arrangement shewn in vertical section at Fig. 4, and in plan view at
Fig. 5, Sheet III. In these Figures it will be seen that beneath the
draw stop rods A' a bar K is placed transversely thereto; in this bar
are formed mercury cups connected severally by a wire 1 with one
pole of the battery, two cups being provided for each draw stop. On this
bar K, adjacent to each pair of cups, is mounted a pair of insulated
crank levers L, L', carrying each a point 2 for dipping into the mercury
of their respective cups. These levers are weighted so as to keep their
points out of the cups until pressed down to make contact. Wires 2
leading to the opposite pole of the battery are connected to the metal
bearings of the crank levers, and a finger or short arm of each crank
lever stands up to meet a metal catch M or M' hinged to the draw stop
rod. When the draw stop rod is drawn to open the slider A one of
the insulated hinged catches M will be caused to depress its insulated
crank lever L until the point which it carries dips into the mercury.
The circuit will be then complete, and the electro-magnet G used for
drawing the slider will be set in action, and the bellows B will be
inflated for ensuring the opening of the slider. The armature g
however of this magnet will be caught by the weighted armature of
the electro-magnet H, and the position of the slider will be retained
without further expenditure of electric power. In order to shut off the
stop it is only necessary to push back the draw stop rod, and the second
insulated crank lever L being tipped forward by the catch M¹ will
come into action and close the circuit in which the second electro-
magnet H is situate, a current being thereby sent through that
maguet, its armature which retains the armature g of the other
electro-magnet in position will be attracted and will release the
armature of the electro-magnet G. The armature 9 will then fall and
carry with it the valve F2, thereby cutting off the supply of wind to
the accessory bellows F1 and opening a vent for its escape. The
collapse of this bellows will change the position of the valve D¹, and
open a passage for the wind to the bellows B1, at the same time the
other accessory bellows F will collapse and in so doing operate the
valve D of the bellows B cutting off the supply of wind, and opening a
vent for the escape of the wind therefrom into the atmosphere. Thus
the slider A will be moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, and the
wind will be cut off from the rank of pipes composing the stop. The
above combination for drawing the stop slides by the momentary

page_text: passage of an electrical current may also be applied to a valve for
intercepting at pleasure the wind of any particular wind chest. This
araangement is shewn in the vertical section, Fig. 6, Sheet III., where
Fig. 7 is also a transverse section of the passage in which the
valve is mounted. N represents a compensating disc valve connected
to and operated by a simple pneumatic lever O fitted with its usual
valve P. The electro-magnets are shewn at Q and R, the armature of
the former being connected to the valve P, and the armature of the
latter acting as
a retaining catch to the armature of the electro-
magnet Q. As the electro-magnet Q acts on the valve of the pneumatic
lever in the way already described by the momentary passage of an
electric current (the action of a draw stop or pedal completing the
circuit through the one or the other of the magnets as may be required)
the compensating disc valve N will be opened or closed at pleasure,
and air will be admitted to or cut off from the sound board.
In order to prevent a waste of the elements composing the electric
battery the jars carrying the solution I mount on bellows, which being
inflated when the organ is in use will cause the jars to rise, and
virtually plunge the electrodes into the solution. This arrangement is
shown in elevation at Figs. 2 & 3, Sheet I., Fig. 2 shewing the plates
immersed in the exciting liquor, and Fig. 3 shewing the cells withdrawn
from the plates or electrodes.
Having now set set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Organs," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would remark that I am aware that
heretofore it has been proposed to combine the action of electro-
magnetic and pneumatic apparatus for the purpose of operating the
pallets, the draw stops, and other acting parts of organs, I do not
therefore claim as of my Invention the exclusive use of such combination
of elements for transmitting mechanical motion in organs; but what I
claim under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement of detachable electro-magnetic and pneumatic
apparatus for operating the pallets or valves of organs, as described with
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet I. of the Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement described with reference to Fig. 1,
Sheet II. of the Drawings, for closing the electric circuit on the
depression of a key of the manual or pedal organ.

page_text: Third. The arrangements described with reference to and shewn in the
several Figures of Sheet II. for establishing electric conduction between
the battery and the electro-magnets of two or more organs by the action
of the keys of the first manual.
Fourth. The arrangement of apparatus described with reference to
Sheet III. of the Drawing for effecting the draw stop movement.
Fifth. The application of the electro-magnetic apparatus for operating
the intercepting valves of wind chests, as described with reference to
Fig. 6 Sheet III.
Lastly. The means above described for effecting an economy in the
elements of the battery used for energizing electro-magnets applied to the
working of organs.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Charles Spackman Barker, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-second of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
0
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
CHARLES SPACKMAN BARKER. (L.S.)
66, Chancery Lane.