Improvements in the Method of and Means Employed for Adjusting and Regulating the Reeds in the Mouthpieces of Musical In- struments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means Employed for Adjusting
and Regulating the Reeds in the Mouthpieces of Musical In-
struments.
I, JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON, of 32, Rugby Place, Legrams, Bradford, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and means employed
for regulating and adjusting the reeds in the mouthpieces of clarionets and like
musical instruments, the object being to provide means whereby the reed can
readily and quickly be adjusted with the greatest nicety and without removing
the reed from the mouthpiece, consequently without the liability of damaging it,
which heretofore existed. The invention is extremely simple and inexpensive
and can be applied, to existing instruments.
"
Above the
According to this invention the reed is made in the ordinary manner.
curved face or lay" of the mouthpiece I form a slight depression, or step, or
recess which may be filled with rubber or other elastic material, or a spring. A
single or double acting ligature is employed for securing the reed on the mouth-
piece, one band of such ligature being over the recess, step, or depression, and
by tightening or loosening the ligature over the non-vibrating portion of the reed
and the recess or depression, the opposite or vibrating end of the reed'is adjusted to
the mouthpiece.
If a double acting clamp is employed, one band will serve to hold the reed in
position, whilst the other band is for adjusting purposes.
Instead of the recess, step, or depression, I in some cases prefer to place between
the non-vibrating portion of the reed and the mouthpiece a pad of rubber or yield-
ing substance, or a spring, and the middle portion of the reed resting on the curved
lay," the vibrating end of the reed can be adjusted by simply tightening or
slackening the holding ligature.
66
Dated this 1st day of June 1897.
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means Employed for Adjusting
and Régulating the Reeds in the Mouthpieces of Musical In-
struments.
"
I, JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON, of 32, Rugby Place, Legrams, Bradford, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and means employed
for regulating and adjusting the reeds in the mouthpieces of clarionets and like
musical instruments, the object being to provide means whereby the reed can
readily and quickly be adjusted with the greatest nicety and without removing.
the reed from the mouthpiece, consequently without the liability of damaging it,
which heretofore existed. The invention is extremely simple and inexpensive
and can be applied to existing instruments.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the mouthpiece of a clarionet having the improve-
ments applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1, shewing the recess formed in the mouthpiece.
Fig. 3 is a like view shewing the recess and a pad.
According to this invention the reed 1 is fixed to the mouthpiece 2 by a band 3
of the ligature 4, a band 5 clamps the reed 1 over the recess or hollow portion 6 and
tightening this clamp 5 forces the body of the reed 1 into the recess of the mouth-
piece, and as the middle of the reed rests upon 'the inner end of the lay, the tip of
the reed is moved outwards as the body is forced inwards. By loosening the
clamp 5 the reverse movement follows, i.e., the body of the reed springs outwards
and its tip is moved nearer the lay of the mouthpiece.
A single band 5 may be used for fixing and adjusting the reed, the pressure of
this being sufficient to fix the reed firmly in its place, as well as giving the required
freedom for adjustment.
Referring now to Fig. 3 which is a section shewing how the adjustment of the
reed may be effected by placing under the butt end of the reed a pad 7 of rubber
or other yielding substance or a spring. Tightening the clamp or clamps causes
the reed to press upon the pad which yielding allows the butt of the reed to move
towards the mouthpiece, and as the middle part of the reed rests upon the inner
end of the lay, the opposite end or tip of the reed is moved from the lay of the
mouthpiece. If the pressure of the clamp be relieved from the reed the reverse
movement follows, i.e., the expansion of the pad will cause it to move from the
mouthpiece and so the tip of the reed will be deflected nearer the lay, thus the reed
can be adjusted with facility and accuracy to the lay of the mouthpiece as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) The combination of a lay piece a reed a clamp and a recess formed in the
mouthpiece for admitting of adjustment by deflection of the reed for purpose of
adjusting the same as described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
(2) The combination of a lay a reed a clamp a recess formed in the mouthpiece
and an elastic pad for purpose of adjustment of the reed as described and illustrated
by the annexed drawings.
(3) The combination of a lay a reed a clamp and an elastic pad for purpose of
adjusting the reed as herein fully described and illustrated by annexed drawings.
Dated thin 28th day of Fabrum 1800
JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON.
By his Agents,
Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.