AN IMPROVED METHOD OF COMBINING A PIANO-FORTE AND HARMONIUM OR A PIANO-FORTE AND AMERICAN ORGAN INTO ONE INSTRUMENT
Year: 1885

page_text: "
or a Piano-forte and American Organ into one Instrument.
I, RODERICK ECCLES of Sowerby Bridge Yorkshire, Professor of Music, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF COMBINING A
PIANO-FORTE AND HARMONIUM OR A PIANO-FORTE AND AMERICAN ORGAN INTO
ONE INSTRUMENT," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to a combined musical instrument comprising a
piano-forte and harmonium or piano-forte and American Organ, and my improve-
ments therein consist in the means to be employed in so connecting them that when
the keys of the piano are touched the sound of both instruments will be produced.
To carry out my Invention I employ an ordinary piano with the lid removed
and onto the top of the said piano I place the works or the inside of an ordinary
harmonium or organ covered by suitable woodwork.
The "
"
"
pan or cavity board containing the reeds is placed so as to be near the
top of the piano in such manner that the " " pallets are on the underside of the
"
pan or cavity board. The stems or levers which open the "pallets" are in a
horizontal position, and are hinged on a fulcrum in the usual. manner. Each of
these stems are then connected by a "sticker" or vertical rod to. each key of the
piano, so that when the piano keys are actuated, the valves in connection with the
reeds are opened, by which means the sound of both instruments is obtained at
the same time. The bellows to provide the necessary wind to the reeds are operated
by the foot of the instrumentalist which may be connected with the treadles by.
cords, or the bellows may be under the treadle, and the wind conveyed therefrom
to the ordinary wind reservoir by a suitable connecting pipe.
When combining an American Organ with a piano the necessary wind for the
reeds is supplied by suction.

page_text: An Improved Method of Combining a Piano-forte and Harmonium
or a Piano-forte and American Organ into one Instrument.
I, RODERICK ECCLES of Sowerby Bridge Yorkshire, Professor of Music, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF COMBINING
A PIANO-FORTE AND HARMONIUM OR A PIANO-FORTE AND AMERICAN ORGAN INTO
ONE INSTRUMENT," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to a combined musical instrument comprising a
piano-forte and harmonium or piano-forte and American organ, and my improve-
ments therein consist in the means to be employed in so connecting them that
when the keys of the piano are touched, the sound of both instruments will be
produced.
To carry out my invention I employ an ordinary piano with the lid removed
and onto the top of the said piano I place the works, or the inside of an ordinary
harmonium or organ covered by suitable woodwork.
The pan or cavity board containing the reeds is placed so as to be near the top
of the piano in such manner that the "pallets" are on the underside of the pan or
cavity board.
The stems or levers which open the "pallets" are in a horizontal position and
are hinged on a fulcrum in the usual manner. Each of these stems are then
connected by a plunger or vertical rod to each key of the piano, so that when the
piano keys are actuated the valves in connection with the reeds are opened by
which means the sound of both.instruments is obtained at the same time.
The bellows to provide the necessary wind to the reeds are operated by the foot
of the instrumentalist and may be connected with the treadles by cords, or the
bellows may be under the treadle and the wind conveyed therefrom to the ordinary
wind reservoir by a suitable connecting pipe.
In order that my invention may be better understood I herein give reference to
the accompanying Sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is cross section of so much of a piano and harmonium as is necessary
to shew my improved method of connecting and operating the two different
mechanisms at one and the same time.
.
A is the pan or. sound board of a harmonium provided with pallets a on the
underside thereof. B is a valve for opening and closing the said pallets a such
valve being attached to and operated by the stem or lever C hinged upon the
fulcrum 6 the said stem or lever in turn being operated by the plunger D arranged
vertically inside the piano and provided top and bottom with buttons C, c¹.
E represents one of the keys of the piano hinged in the usual manner at d. Right
and left pedal boards F are arranged at the foot of the piano, and to a stud e
I attach one end of a cord which passes partially around the pulleys G and H, the
opposite end of the said cord being secured to the stud f attached to the bellows I,
which bellows may be arranged in any convenient manner, but in order to diminish
the height of the combined instruments arrange upon one level two feeders on
each side with a reserve chest in the centre,

page_text: The method of sounding the two instruments at one and the same time is as
follows:
When the performer is desirous of sounding the piano and harmonium together
he supplys the necessary wind to the bellows of the harmonium by means of the
pedal boards in the same manner as if he was. performing upon an harmonium
separately, the keys of the piano are then pressed down the opposite end being
caused to rise thereby and force the plunger D in an upward direction which action
rocks the stem or lever C upon its fulcrum thereby opening the valve pallets a,
consequently such notes are sounded in connection with and at the same time as
the notes of the piano.
When the keys are released, the springs h force the valve back and close the
pallets. By this means the piano-forte and harmonium can be sounded at one and
the same time or they may be played separately by disconnecting the parts.
A plunger D is in connection with each key of the piano and are contained in
and supported by the frame i which can be secured to the harmonium in any
suitable manner.
When the harmonium is made portable for fixing to any size of piano I arrange
the plungers D somewhat as shewn in details Figs 2 and 3 front and side view
respectively; such plungers consisting of two thin plates, one of which is provided
with a slot whereby the height of the plunger from the key of the piano can be
altered or varied as required.
The stops and other mechanism of the harmonium can be arranged as found
most convenient and desirable.
When combining an American Organ with a piano, the necessary wind for the
reeds is supplied by suction, and the "pallets" a are opened by the action of the
plunger D (see Fig. 4) which lifts up the lever j hinged at whereby the valves
are removed from the "pallets" somewhat in the same manner as the valves of
the piano.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly. The combining of a piano with a harmonium or a piano with an
American organ and operating the two instruments simultaneously by the connecting
plunger D arranged above the keys of the piano, the lower end of such plunger
being in connection with the piano keys, whilst its upper end is in connection with
the lever C, or lever j for opening the pallets in manner substantially as described.
Secondly. In a combination instrument such as is herein described of the
spring for closing the pallets when pressure is removed off the piano keys.
Thirdly. In a combination instrument such as is herein described the method of
operating the bellows of Harmonium or Organ.