IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY OF CHIMES, ORGANS." APPLICABLE ALBO
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Imhof, of No. 547, Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Musical Instrument Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY OF CHIMES,
ORGANS."
APPLICABLE ALBO то
Sealed the 26th March 1867, and dated the 29th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Imhof at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th September 1866.
I, DANIEL IMHOF, of No. 547, Oxford Street, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Musical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY OF CHIMES, APPLICABLE
ALSO TO ORGANS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to render the playing of chimes by church
and turret clocks more equable. The Invention also is applicable to playing
drums and other instruments of percussion by organs. Instead of the usual
mode of raising the hammers and letting them fall by the direct action of the

page_text: pins on the chime barrel I keep the hammers raised into the striking position
and the pins of the chime barrel merely liberate them and cause them to fall
on the bells. The moment the hammers have fallen they are raised again
into the striking position and remain there until again liberated by the action
of the pin on the chime barrel.
One mode of performing my Invention, and which is more particularly
adapted to the machinery of chimes, is shewn by the following description
and the Drawings therein referred to:-In Figure A, 1 is a star
wheel which is kept constantly revolving in the direction shewn by
the arrow; 2 is a lever working on a pin 3, and having a small wheel 4
revolving on a pin fixed to the side of the lever and against which
the star wheel works; the motion of the star wheel keeps constantly
raising the lever 2 and allowing it to fall; 5 is another lever working on a
pin 6; the end 7 is connected with the hammer so that when the other end
of the lever 5 is raised the hammer is raised, and when it falls the hammer
falls and strikes the bell; 8 is a lever working on a pin 9. The last-
mentioned lever has a slot in it through which the lever 5 passes; it has also
a catch or projection on it, 10, and there is a pin 11 on the lever 5 which
works into the catch on the lever 8 when the former is raised. The lever 5
has its end farthest from the bell turned down, as shewn in the Drawing, and
the pins on which the levers 2 and 5 work are so placed that the end of the
lever 2 just clears the turned down end or nose of the lever 5. There is a
piece of metal 12 attached to the nose of the lever 5, which
call the nose
piece; it has two sides or cheeks, one on either side of the nose of the
lever 5, and it is attached thereto by the pin 13, on which it works loosely.
Near the lower end of the lever 8 there is a projection 14, which is so formed
that when the lever 5 has descended to the bottom of the slot in the lever 8 it
forces the nose piece forward, so that the end of the lever 2 catches it in rising,
and raises the lever 5 until the pin 11 comes above the catch 10, a counter-
weight 15 then brings the lever 8 into such a position as the pin 11 rests
upon the catch 10, and the lever 5 is prevented from descending. 16 is a
tracker connected with the upper end of the lever 8 and with the lever which
is raised by the pin on the chime barrel. To avoid confusion the framework
of the machine is not shewn in the Drawing. The action of the machine is
as follows:-The lever 2 being raised by the star wheel 1 raises the lever 5
by catching against the nose piece 12, which has been forced forward by the
projection 14. The pressure of the end of the lever 2 on the lower part of
the nose piece prevents the latter from falling back. As soon as the pin 11
rises above the catch 10 the counterweight 15 brings the lever 8 into such a

page_text: position that the pin 11 rests upon the catch 10; the hammer is then raised
into the striking position; the lever 2 keeps continually rising and falling
by the action of the star wheel. When it is proper for the hammer to strike,
the pin on the chime barrel raises the lever, which acts on the tracker 16 and
moves the lever 8 just sufficiently to liberate the pin 11, and the lever 5 falls,
and the hammer thus set free falls on and strikes the bell. It is of no con-
sequence in what position the lever 2 may be as the nose piece 12 will by its
own weight hang clear of the end of the lever 2, and will not be forced
forward into such a position as to be raised by the end of the lever 2 until the
lever 5 has descended to its lowest point and the nose piece has been forced
forward by the projection 14. The moment this takes place the lever 2
acting on the nose piece brings the hammer into the striking position again.
Figures B and C are enlarged Drawings of the nose and nose piece. The
same numbers are used to designate the several parts as are used in Figure A.
In Figure B the nose piece is represented as hanging by its own weight clear
of the lever 2, and in Figure C it is shewn in the position it assumes after it
has been pushed forward by the projection 14 and as acted on by the end of
the lever 2.
It is obvious how this Invention may be applied to the drum action of
organs. The drumsticks are like the hammers of the bells kept constantly in
the striking position, and when liberated by the action of the pin on the barrel
strike one blow on the drum and are immediately raised into and retained in
the striking position until required to strike again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Imhof in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
IMHOF, of No. 547, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Musical
Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Daniel Imhof, Her special licence, that I, the said Daniel Imhof,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said

page_text: Daniel Imhof, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MACHINERY OF CHIMES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO SELF-ACTING ORGANS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Daniel Imhof, 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 Daniel Imhof, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the several Drawings therein referred to
and hereunto annexed:-
1. The object of my Invention is to render the playing of chimes by
church and turret clocks more equable. The Invention also is applicable to
playing drums and other instruments of percussion by self-acting organs.
2. In this Specificationthe terms "musical action" is employed to denote
that action in chimes and similar machinery which determines the precise
time at which the bells or other sounding instruments are to be re-
spectively struck. The term "striking action" is employed to denote the
action which effects the blow or percussion upon the bell or sounding
instrument.
3. Chimes and similar self-acting instruments of percussion have usually
been worked by a cylinder or chime barrel, upon the surface of which are
placed pins or pegs.
4. As the chime barrel revolves the pins act on levers, which cause the
hammers or other instruments of percussion to strike the bells, drums, or other
sounding instruments; thus the chime barrel bitherto employed combines the
striking action with the musical action.
5. The hammers or other instruments of percussion must in all cases vary
in size and weight according to the size of the bells or other sounding
instruments upon which they strike, heavier hammers and therefore stronger
gear and greater striking force being required in proportion as the bells
or other sounding instruments are larger; hence in order to work chimes with

page_text: large bells or other large sounding instruments it is necessary according to the
usual system to employ a large and strong chime barrel fitted with large and
strong pins; even then the force required to set a larger hammer in motion
exceeds that required to move a smaller hammer, and consequently when a
larger bell or other sounding instrument is struck the chime barrel is apt
to revolve too slowly or to drag, while when smaller bells or sounding
instruments only are struck the chime barrel is apt to revolve too quickly
or to run off, and thus the chimes are apt to play inequably or "out, of
time."
6. In my Invention I separate the "musical action" as far as required
from "the striking action." The "musical action" is thus rendered delicate
and equable.
7. Instead of the usual mode of raising the hammers and letting them fall
(or causing the instruments of percussion to strike) by the direct action of the
pins on the chime barrel I keep the hammers or other instruments of percussion
as constantly as may be raised into or placed in the striking position, in other
words, I constantly set such hammers or instruments of percussion ready to
strike, whether by their own weight, by springs, or other contrivances. I
employ for the musical action a small chime barrel with pins, but such pins
merely liberate the hammers or other instruments of percussion, and thus
allow them to fall on or strike the bells or other sounding instruments;
and as soon as the hammers or other instruments of percussion have fallen
or struck they are again raised or brought into striking position and
remain there until again liberated by the action of the pins on the chime
barrel.
8. One mode of performing my Invention, and which is more particularly
adapted to the machinery of chimes is shown by the following description and
the Drawings therein referred to:-In Figure A, 1 is a star wheel, which is
kept constantly revolving in the direction shewn by the arrow; 2, 2, is a lever
working on a pin 3 and having a small wheel or roller 4 revolving on a pin
fixed to the side of the lever, and against which roller the star wheel works;
the motion of the star wheel keeps constantly raising the lever 2, 2, and
allowing it to fall. 5, 5, is another lever working on a pin 6; the end 7 is
connected with the hammer, so that when the other end of the lever 5, 5,
is raised the hammer is raised, and when it falls the hammer falls and strikes
the bell; 8, 8, is a lever working on a pin 9; the last-mentioned lever has a
slot in it, through which the lever 5, 5, passes; it has also a catch or pro-
jection on it, 10, and there is a pin 11 on the lever 5, 5, which works into
the catch on the lever 8, 8, when such pin is raised. The lever 5, 5, has its

page_text: end farthest from the bell turned down, as shewn in the Figure, and the pins
on which the levers 2, 2, and 5, 5, work are so placed that the end of the
lever 2, 2, clears the turned down end or nose of the lever 5, 5; there is a
piece of metal 12 attached to the nose of the lever 5, 5, which I call the
nose piece; it has two sides or cheeks, one on either side of the nose of the
lever 5, 5, and it is attached thereto by the pin 13, on which it works loosely.
Near the lower end of the lever 8, 8, there is a projection 14, which is so
formed that when the lever 5 has descended to the bottom of the slot in the
lever 8, 8, it forces the nose piece forward so that the end of the lever 2, 2,
catches it in rising and raises the lever 5, 5, until the pin 11 comes above the
catch 10, a counterweight 15 then brings the lever 8, 8, into such a position
that the pin 11 rests upon the catch 10, and the lever 5, 5, is prevented from
descending; 16 is a tracker or wire connected with the upper end of the
lever 8, 8, and with the lever which is raised by the pin on the chime barrel.
To avoid confusion the framework of the machine is not shown in the
Drawing.
9. The action of the machine is as follows:-The lever 2, 2, being raised
by the star wheel 1, raises the lever 5, 5, by catching against the nose
piece 12 which has been forced forward by the projection 14. The pressure
of the end of the lever 2, 2, on the lower part of the nose piece prevents the
latter from falling back. As soon as the pin 11 rises above the catch 10 the
counterweight 15 brings the lever 8, 8, into such a position that the pin 11
rests upon the catch 10; the hammer has then been raised into and is in the
striking position. The lever 2, 2, keeps continually rising and falling by the
action of the star wheel. When it is proper for the hammer to strike the pin
on the chime barrel raises a lever, which acts on the tracker or wire 16, and
moves the lever 8, 8, just sufficiently to liberate the pin 11, and the lever 5
falls, and the hammer thus set free falls on and strikes the bell. The position
in which the lever 2, 2, may be is not material, as the nose piece 12 will by
its own weight hang clear of the end of the lever 2, 2, and will not be forced
forward into such a position as to be raised by the end of the lever 2, 2, until
the lever 5, 5, has descended to its lowest point and the nose piece has been
forced forward by the projection 14; the moment this takes place the
lever 2, 2, acting upon the nose piece brings the hammer into the striking
position again.
Figures B and C are enlarged Drawings of the nose and nose piece; the
same numbers are used to designate the several parts as are used in Figure A.
In Figure B the nose piece is represented as hanging by its own weight clear
of the lever 2, 2, and in Figure C it is shown in the position it assumes after

page_text: it has been pushed forward by the projection 14, and as acted on by the end
of the lever 2, 2.
10. Another, and as I think preferable, mode of performing the said
Invention as regards chimes is shewn by the Figure D. o, o, is a frame;
1 is a star wheel working on a shaft, which when the chimes are playing is
kept rapidly revolving in the direction shown by the arrow; 2, 2, is a lever
working on a pin 3, and carrying a small wheel or roller 4 revolving on a pin
fixed to the side of the lever, and against which roller the star wheel works,
and also carrying a pin 5. 6, 6, is an arm working on a pin 7 fixed in
another lever 8, 8. The arm 6, 6, has a catch towards the upper end, as
shewn in the Figure, and such catch is so made and placed as to allow it to
lock the pin 5 when required, as herein-after described. The upper part of
the arm 6, 6, slants from the catch to its extremity in a direction away from
the pin 5. The lower end of the arm 6, 6, slants, as shewn in the Figure,
and 9 is a pin so placed in the lever 8, 8, as to prevent the arm 6, 6, from
falling too far back from the pin 5. Immediately below the arm 6, 6, is a
spring 10 attached to the frame o, o. The lever 8, 8, works on a pin 11
fixed in the frame, and is connected with the hammer, which strikes the bell.
Near the extremity of the lever 8, 8, is a pin 12. The arm 13 works on a
pin 14 in the frame, so as to be capable of taking the position shown by the
dotted line 13'; attached to this arm at the upper end is a tracker or wire 15
which is connected with the musical action, and which when requisite is
slightly pulled by such action in the direction shewn by the arrow. On
the same side of the arm 13 is a spring 16 pressing the arm in the direction
opposite to that of the arrow; on the opposite side of the arm is a catch fitted
to take the pin 12 when requisite. The continuous lines in Figure D represent
the apparatus when the striking action is in its normal state (i. e., is ready to
strike), the pin 12 in the lever 8, 8, then rests on the catch in the arm 13;
the arm 6, 6, is also then in the position marked by continuous lines in the
Figure. Whilst the chimes are playing the star wheel 1 continues revolving
rapidly, and as it revolves it continually raises the roller 4, and thus causes the
lever 2, 2, continually to rise and fall, whilst, however, the arm 6, 6, is in the
position shewn by continuous lines in the Figure the pin 5 clears the catch in
the same arm.
11. There is a similar apparatus for every hammer, such apparatus being
placed side by side in parallel vertical planes, but all the star wheels are fixed
upon the same shaft in a position at right angles to such planes. Adjacent
star wheels, however, are so placed as to raise the adjacent levers con-

page_text: secutively so as to balance, as far as may be, the stress on the shaft. (This
paragraph also applies to the apparatus described in paragraphs 8 and 9.)
12. Taking the apparatus described in paragraph 10, and belonging to any
individual hammer, when such hammer is to strike, the musical action is
communicated by a chime barrel carrying pins which by levers act in the
usual method on the tracker or wire 15, a slight pull is thus given in the
direction shewn by the arrow to the tracker or wire attached to the arm 13,
and such arm being brought into the position shown by the dotted lines 13',
the pin 12 is liberated from the catch, the lever 8, 8, instantly falls to the
position shewn by the dotted lines 8, 8', and the hammer connected therewith
(and which by the raising of the lever had been before made ready for striking)
at once strikes the bell. When, however, such lever falls to the position, 8, 8¹,
the lower end of the arm 6, 6, is brought into contact with the spring 10,
which forces the upper end of such arm with its catch towards the pin 5, and
as such pin is continually rising and falling through the action of the star
wheel on the roller 4, and the lever 2, 2, such pin when rising immediately
locks in the catch, raises the arm 6, 6, and thereby raises the end of the
lever 8, 8, which carries the pin 12. If when the catch in the arm 6, 6, is
forced towards the pin 5, the lever 2, 2, happens to be in such a position that
the pin 5 is above the catch, then as the lever 2, 2, falls the pin 5 slides down
the slanting end of the arm 6 until it (the pin 5) locks in the catch. As the
end of the lever 8, 8, is raised the pin 12 moves up the side of the arm 13
until it reaches the catch, then as the spring 16 is constantly pressing the arm
towards the pin the pin locks in the catch. By the raising of the lever 8, 8,
the hammer on which the lever acts is again brought into its normal or striking
position, and is again made ready for striking; when the end of the lever 8, 8,
which carries the pin 12 is raised the arm 6, 6, falls away from the pin 5 so
as again to clear such pin. A similar operation is repeated whenever the
hammer strikes.
13. As but slight tension is required to pull the trackers or wires the
musical action may be worked by a small barrel with small pins. The shaft
on which the star wheels are fixed revolves rapidly, and is connected with a fly
wheel or fan which so regulates the movement that the shaft revolves equably,
although the star wheels may at times by the levers be consecutively or almost
simultaneously raising several hammers, and at other times only one or two of
such hammers.
14. When a stroke or percussion has been made the striking apparatus is
so quickly restored to its normal or striking position that a single striking

page_text: apparatus is sufficient for each bell or sounding instrument, except in cases
when it is required that the strokes or percussions on the same bell or
sounding instrument should succeed each other with unusual rapidity. In
such cases the striking apparatus to any such bell or sounding instrument can
be doubled.
15. One and the same moving power may be used to set in motion the
musical action and the striking action; or a separate moving power may be
employed for each action. If it be desired that the chimes should be played
by a musician, such musician may exert the musical action by playing on keys
and pedals with his hands and feet, a separate force being provided by weights
or any other contrivance to drive the striking action. This and the two pre-
ceding paragraphs are applicable to the apparatus described in paragraphs
8 and 9, as well as to that described in paragraph 10.
16. It is obvious how the Invention may be applied to the drum action of
self-acting organs. The drumsticks are like the hammers of a bell kept as
constantly as may be in the striking position, and when liberated by the
action of the pin on the barrel strike one blow on the drum and are imme-
diately raised into and retained in the striking position until required to
strike again.
17. Figure E represents a method (which I find convenient) of performing
the said Invention when applied to a self-acting organ for the purpose of
beating any large drum or other sounding instrument attached to such
organ.
18. The parts of the apparatus numbered 1 to 16, both inclusive, are so
similar to the parts of the apparatus numbered 1 to 16 in Figure D, and the
action is so similar, that a reference to the Figure E will afford sufficient
explanation without the addition of a detailed description.
19. The description of the parts of the apparatus in Figure E, numbered
17 and upwards, is as follows:-17, 17, is an arm moving on a pin 18 in the
arm 8, 8; 19 is a strong spiral spring drawing the arm 8, 8, towards the
framework o, o. The arm 17, 17, slants from its upper end to the notch
20, as shewn in the Figure; 21 is a projection; 22 is a spring drawing the
arm 17, 17, lightly towards the arm 8, 8, as shewn in the Figure; 24, 24, is
a drumstick working on a pin 25, and rigidly connected with the small arm
28; 26 is the projection from the drumstick, which strikes on the drum 27;
28, 28, is a support to prevent the drumstick from falling back too far; 29 is
a fixed projection, slanting as shewn in the Figure.
20. Whilst the organ is playing the star wheel revolves rapidly in the
direction shewn by the arrow. The continuous lines in the Figure represent

page_text: the apparatus when the striking action is in its normal position, i.e., ready to
strike. The musical action when requisite pulls the tracker or wire 15, and
brings the arm 13, 13, into the position 13'; the pin 12 is thus liberated
from the catch, and the arm 8, 8, being jerked downwards by the spring 18
pulls the arm 17, 17, also downwards; this last arm by the notch 19
simultaneously pulls the small arm 23 (which is rigidly connected with the
drumstick as aforesaid), and so causes the drumstick to strike the drum.
The projection 21 is so contrived that as the arm 17, 17, descends it comes
into contact with the fixed slanting surface 29, and is forced backward, and
thus allows the small arm 23 to clear itself from the notch 20 the instant
that the drum has been struck. In the meantime as the arm 8, 8, falls the
lower end of the arm, 6, 6, is brought into contact with the spring 10, which
forces the upper end of such arm with its catch towards the pin 5, and as
such pin is continually rising and falling, it when rising immediately locks in
the catch, and raising the arm 6, 6, thereby raises the arm 8, 8, and then
the arm 17, 17. As the end of the arm 8, 8, is also raised the pin 12 moves
up the side of the arm 13 until it reaches the catch there. When as the
spring 14 is continually pressing the arm 13 towards the pin the pin locks in
the catch; as also the arm 17, 17, is raised the arm 23 comes in contact
with the slanting end of the arm 17, 17. The spring 22 has sufficient
elasticity to allow the arm 17, 17, to recede just far enough to permit the
small arm 23 to fall into the notch 20, when the spring 22 at once causes
the notch 20 to catch the small arm 23. A similar operation is repeated
whenever the drum or other sounding instrument is struck.
21. Paragraphs 13, 14, and 15 herein-before contained would apply
mutatis mutandis to the Invention when used in a self-acting organ as
aforesaid. The rebound of the head of the drumstick from the parchment of
the drum after it has struck is sufficient to throw the drumstick back against
the support; and to prevent it bounding back again towards the drum I fix
two springs projecting from the end of the support, one of which is indicated
by 30.
A plan of the end of the support is shewn in Figure F, where 1 is
the end of the support; 2, a section of the drumstick resting upon it;
3, 3, the springs. In falling on to the support the drumstick becomes
slightly wedged between the springs 3, 3, which clip it and prevent it from
bounding back.
22. It is obvious that variations may be made in mechanical details so as
to apply the Invention to chimes and self-acting organs of various sizes, and
so as to make the best use of such space and position as circumstances may
afford.

page_text: 23. I claim for my Invention the separation in chimes and self-acting
organs, and so far as requisite of the musical action from the striking action
by such mechanical combination as aforesaid, but I do not claim the exclusive
use of any of the separate parts of the machinery employed as aforesaid
except in combination and for the purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Imhof, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 29th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1867.