Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 18th May. 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
We, GEORGE WHIGHT, of 143, Holborn Bars, Merchant, and CHARLES
WARREN, of 53, Farringdon Road, Engineer, both in the County of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to musical instruments of the kind in which a series of
vibrating reeds are employed.
According to this invention each reed is rivetted or otherwise secured to a tube,
the length and diameter of which vary according to the note to be produced.
These reed tubes are inserted into and supported in a board and in conjunction
with each tube is a chamber or air passage controlled by a valve or pallet which
may be operated by depressing a key or mechanically.
Dated the 18th day of August 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
We GEORGE WHIGHT of 143, Holborn Bars, Merchant, and CHARLES
WARREN, of 53, Farringdon Road, Engineer, both in the County of London, 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:-
This invention relates to musical instruments of the kind in which a series of
vibrating reeds is employed.
According to this invention each reed is rivetted or otherwise secured to a tube
the length and diameter of which correspond with the note to be produced.
These reed tubes are inserted into and supported in a rack or board and in con-
junction with each tube is a chamber or air passage controlled by a valve or pallet
which may be operated by depressing a key or mechanically.
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other of a reed-tube con-
structed in accordance with our invention; and
Figures 3 and 4 are caps or stoppers which we sometimes use in conjunction with
our reed-tubes for varying or modifying the sounds produced.
Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the reed-tubes in the
rack which supports the same.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of the said rack detached.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating a modification of our
invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a, a indicate the reeds and b, b the tubes to which the said reeds are rivetted the
portion of each tube carrying the reed being preferably flattened as indicated in
the drawings.
As hereinbefore stated the lengths and diameters of the reed-tubes correspond
with the notes to be produced but we may provide in conjunction with the tubes
caps c, c, such as shewn in Figure 3, each of which caps is provided with a slot d

page_text: through which the wind passing through the reed will escape, the opening
through the said slot being varied by raising or lowering the cap upon the
tube. Or instead of using a cap such as c we may use a hollow cone such
as e, Figure 4, having an opening at the top and adapted to be fitted onto
the tube.
f is the rack in which our reed tubes are carried, the said rack having rows of
holes g, g formed therein of such a size that the tubes will fit into the same, the
said holes being recessed at one side, as shewn most clearly at h, Figure 5, in order
to afford space for the reeds to vibrate in. These holes g, g are preferably so placed
that the holes of one row are opposite to the solid portions between the holes of the
adjacent row or rows whereby the reed tubes can be placed much closer together
than would otherwise be possible.
i indicates the sound board having formed in it holes through which the air
drawn or forced through the reeds passes, the said holes being normally closed by
the pallets, a part of one of which is indicated by the letter k in. Figure 5, the
said pallets being operated by any suitable means. indicates a sliding plate or
board having in it holes m, m corresponding with the holes in the sound
board the said plate or board being designed to be operated by a stop to
close the holes in the soundboard to prevent the passage of air through the
reed tubes.
Instead of using the slide we may use
a hinged board
n as shewn in
Figure 7 the said board being adapted to lie closely upon the top of the
rack when it is desired to silence the reeds. When, however, the reeds are to
sound the said hinged board is moved by a stop, say, to the position indicated by
the dotted lines in Figure 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) A reed musical instrument the reeds of which are attached to tubes, sub-
stantially as described.
(2.) In a musical instrument having a series of reed-tubes constructed substan-
tially as hereinbefore described, the employment of a rack having in it a series of
holes into which the reed-tubes are fitted, substantially as set forth.
(3.) The improvements in musical instruments herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 18th day of May 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.