Improvements in Reed Organs or like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Applic tion, 29th Sept., 1801
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reed Organs or like Musical Instruments.
I JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Argyll Lodge Kensington in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby any required arrange-
ments of tubes or cavities can be used in connection with their respective reeds
and reed chambers. (whether the reeds be acted upon by pressure or by suction) in
such manner that whilst an air-tight connection is secured between such tubes or
cavities and the reed chambers the reeds are readily accessible for tuning or other
purpose. The openings by which the rows of reeds are inserted are covered by
means of a flap extending along the rows and resembling what is technically known
as a "mute" in American organs but it is so enlarged and modified that it is
adapted to carry, or constitute the tubes or cavities which I wish to place in com-
munication with the reed chambers whether the reeds therein be acted upon by
pressure or suction the reeds being disposed accordingly. I hinge or equivalently
attach the flap, "mute," structure or frame aforesaid so that it can be turned of
closed to put the reed chambers and the tubes or cavities which it carries into com-
munication or be turned up or removed so as to give access to the reeds. If tubes
be used in connection with the reed chambers they may be adjustable in length or
opening by means of telescopic construction or by adjustable caps and they may
be straight or of other desired form.
The structure aforesaid may be a box or chamber containing cavities or
establishing communication by passages which are air-tight with another large
common chamber and hinged so as to give access to the reeds. The foregoing
arrangements are applicable for suction as well as pressure and therefore are suitable
for application to automatic musical instruments operated by a perforated strip,
band or disc.
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reed Organs or like Musical Instruments.
I JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON of Argyll Lodge Kensington in the County of
London Gentleman 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 :—
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby any required arrange-
ments of tubes or cavities can be used in connection with their respective reeds and
reed chambers (whether the reeds be acted upon by pressure or by suction) in
such manner that whilst an air tight connection is secured between such tubes or
cavities and the reed chambers the reeds are readily accessible for tuning or other
purpose.
The openings by which the rows of reeds are inserted are covered by means of
a flap extending along the rows and resembling what is technically known as a
in American organs but the flap is so enlarged and modified that it is
adapted to carry or constitute the tubes or cavities which I wish to place in
66
mute

page_text: •
communication with the reed chambers whether the reels therein he acted upon
by pressure or suction the reeds being disposed accordingly. I hinge or
equivalently attach the flap "mute" structure or frame aforesaid so that it can be
turned or closed to put the reed chambers and the tubes or cavities which it carries
into communication, or be turned up or removed so as to give access to the reeds.
If tubes be used in connection with the reed chambers they may be adjustable in
length or opening by means of telescopic construction or by adjustable caps, and
they may be straight or of other desired form.
The structure aforesaid may be a prolonged or continuous box or chamber
containing cavities or establishing communication by passages which are air-tight
with another large common chamber and hinged so as to give access to the reeds.
The foregoing arrangements are applicable for suction as well as pressure and
therefore are suitable for application to automatic musical instruments operated by
a perforated strip, band, or disc.
This being the general nature of my invention I now proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings constructions according thereto.
66
Figure 1. represents a stop" with the action and appliances that I usually
employ.
66
The reed cells A in this instance are closed by a flap or mute" B which
performs its usual function of keeping the reed-cell air tight. The reed-ports or
tubes C are represented as being fitted with small pipes c which are short enough
to afford the operator access to the reeds.
In Figure 2. The tubes c are shewn as being prolonged to an extent that would
render it difficult or impossible for the tuner to have access to the reeds. To
obviate this the said tubes are inserted in the flap or mute B2 which is so enlarged
and modified as not only to perform its original function of closing the reed cells A
but also of carrying the reed tubes e in such a way that when the said flap or mute
is closed an air tight connection is established between each reed and its tube c.
Figure 2ª represents the front of the "stop" when the flap or mute is removed,
the reeds remaining in their cells and being then accessible to the tuner.
The flap or mute is represented as being hinged on the upper edge 6 but it may
be hinged on its side like a door, or at any other convenient part.
"
I term this form of "mute a tubular mute.
Figures 3. 34 and 3B represent various forms which the tubular mute may
assume. Figure 3 represents the tubes c as being furnished with a sliding open
cap c. Figure 3ª shows them with a closed cap adjustable to open or close more
or less a slit c. Figure 3B shews the tubes as being in the form of a coil and
furnished with a sliding joint c somewhat like a trombone.
Figure 4 represents what I term a "cellular mute" or flap, the mute itself con-
stituting the cavities D which I wish to place in air-tight communication with the
reed chambers.
In this figure the reeds are shewn in the position which they occupy when suction
is employed, but the cellular mute would have the same position if the reed were
operated by pressure.
Figure 5 represents what I term a "conductor mute" (E) i.e. one whose office is
to conduct the tone from the reed ports into a large resonance box or cavity common
to several notes.
This conductor mute" E is represented as hinged at the part e, so that when
the mute is raised, the reed cells are exposed and when it is closed air-tight com-
munication is established by means of the "conductor mute with the large
resonance cavity.
This method is applicable to either pressure or suction wind.
"
Figure 6 shews a modification of a "conductor mute" (F) having a second or
internal mute F' or cover furnished with a screen f, of leather or other flexible
material, by which the tone issuing from the reed ports can be controlled.
Figure 7 represents my enlarged mute performing the functions of a rack or
stand for organ pipes G an air-tight connection with the reeds and hinged at h. It

page_text: will be seen that however long the pipes may be they can at once be turned into a
position which will render the reeds accessible in their cells.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In reed organs or like musical instruments a mute or flap for the reed cells so
arranged or constructed as to carry or constitute the tubes or cavities which are
to be placed in air tight communication with the reed chambers, whether the reeds
therein be acted upon by pressure or by suction the said mute or flap being of a
tubular or cellular form or performing the functions of a conductor or of a rack
for organ pipes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of November 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.