Improvements in Musical Instruments or Tone Producing Devices.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments or Tone Producing Devices.
I, THEODORE FRANCIS SMITH, of Pall Mall American and Colonial Exchange,
Carlton Street, Regent Street, London, W., Professional Musical Artist, 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 improvements in musical instruments or tone pro-
ducing devices, and refers more particularly to certain improvements in the
construction and arrangement of that class of instrument which consists of a
series of vibrating plates mounted upon a frame or frames and usually set in
vibration for the purpose of causing a musical tone to be emitted, by striking
with a hammer or its equivalent.
Now the object of this present invention consists in arranging the frame or
frames upon which the vibrating plates are mounted, upon a suitable stand in
such a manner that while they normally lie in a horizontal position and are
set in vibration by striking with a hammer or its equivalent, they may, when
required, be turned readily into a vertical position so as to allow of their being
set in vibration by a bow or its equivalent being drawn across the ends of the
said vibrating plates, and in this manner two entirely distinct qualities of tone
are produced. By this improvement in the arrangement or construction of
the instrument, I practically combine within one device the tone qualities and
effects of two entirely distinct and separate instruments, either of which, by a
simple manipulation of the device, may be produced at will.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the instrument with the frames carrying the vibrat-
ing plates in the horizontal position and designed to be caused to emit musical
tones by being struck with a hammer, hammers, or their equivalent.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the instrument with the frames carrying the vibrating
plates in an approximately vertical position, where they are designed to be set
in vibration for causing musical tones to be emitted. by a bow being drawn
across the ends of the vibrating plates.
Fig. 3 shows a third possible position of the instrument.
Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the instrument, with the vibrating plates
in the horizontal position.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of the instrument with the frames and vibrating
plates in the vertical position.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
According to this invention, the vibrating plates a, corresponding to the notes
of the instrument, are preferably arranged on two frames 6 pivotted at each
end within slots formed in the end pieces d of the stand or support e. The
vibrating plates corresponding to the natural notes of the instrument are

page_text: arranged on the frame 6 and those corresponding to the sharps and flats are
arranged upon the frame b¹, while the frames are pivoted within slots formed
in the end pieces d of the stand e and which are of such a shape and form as
to bring the frame carrying the vibrating plates corresponding to the sharps
and flats closely against the frame b carrying the vibrating plates corresponding
to the natural notes of the instrument, and in such a manner that the said
vibrating plates of the one frame sufficiently overlap those of the other for
convenience in manipulating the instrument. The frame b is pivoted within
a plain transverse slot f as shown, while the slot within which the frame 6¹ is
pivoted consists of a corresponding transverse portion f, a vertical upper por-
tion f and a returned part f³, the bolts upon which these frames are pivoted
passing through these slots where they are. secured. in position by the fly-
nuts g¹.
In the first position of the instrument,, as shown. in Fig. 1, the frame b rests
within the upper part of the slot f while the frame b¹ is secured within the
upper returned extremity f³ of the slot f" in such a manner that the vibrating
plates corresponding to the sharps and, flats of the instrument are sufficiently
above and overlapping the vibrating plates corresponding to the natural notes
of the instrument, for convenience in manipulation, while the inner sides of
the frames bb' are brought into close contact. with each other, so as to prevent
them from turning until the locking nuts g¹ have been sufficiently loosened. to
allow of the frames being drawn slightly apart.
In this position of the instrument the plates a are. intended to be set in
vibration for producing musical tones by being struck with. a. hammer, ham-
mers, or their equivalent, and in order to convert it into an. instrument
designed to be played with a bow or bows,. as shown at. Fig. 2;. it is necessary
to first loosen the fly-nuts g₁ and draw back the frame: 61 along the returned
extremity of the slot. The frames 6 61 may then be turned into. an approxi-
mately vertical position and lowered to the extremities of the slots f f where
they are again secured in position by tightening the fly-nuts g¹ (not shown
Fig. 2). The plates a are here set in vibration, for causing them to emit musical
tones, by having a bow drawn across their upper ends a which are sufficiently
curved for this purpose as shown Figs. 4 and 5, while the two sets of vibrating
plates are preferably set at a slight angle for convenience in manipulation,
and for the purpose of preventing the bow, while being applied to the plates
carried upon the frame 6', from coming into contact with the vibrating plates
carried by the frame b, and vice versa.
Fig. 3 shows another possible position of the instrument, that is with the
frames 6 6 turned into the vertical position but retained in the upper extremi-
ties of the slots. This position, however, is not practicable as in addition to
the distance which the two frames are separated rendering it extremely difficult
for the notes of the further frame to be reached, there is also the liability of
the bow coming into contact with the notes carried by the frame b while it is
being employed for setting the notes carried by the frame 6 in vibration.
Atr (Figs. 1 and 2) a resonator consisting of a hollow cylinder closed at its-
outer extremity is indicated, one of such resonators being arranged with its
open end in close proximity to each of the vibrating plates a; but as these
resonators form no part of the present invention no claim is made for them,
and they are not illustrated in the rest of the figures neither is the invention
restricted to the arrangement of the vibrating plates upon frames in the precise
manned described and shown, the essential being that whatever frames the said
vibrating plates may be supported upon, they are carried upon pins arranged
within slots substantially in the manner described, so as to allow of them being
readily turned from a horizontal to an approximately vertical position for the
purpose in view. One end only of the stand or support has been shown in the
drawings, but the slots formed in the other end of the stand are of substan-
tially the same shape and form, differing only in size as is required by the lesser

page_text: width of the frames at that end consequent upon the decreasing length of the
vibrating plates necessary for the production of a scale or range of tones.
Between the ends of the frames 6 b₁ and the end pieces d of the support e,
suitable washers such as h may be arranged to facilitate the securing of the
frames in the required position.
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:
1. The new or improved musical instrument or tone producing device con-
sisting essentially in the arrangement of vibrating plates such as a upon frames
such as band supported upon pins or bolts g within slots formed in the end
pieces d, either in the horizontal position to be manipulated by striking with
a hammer. or its equivalent, or in an approximately vertical position to be
operated by a bow, or its equivalent, and secured or locked in the required
position by fly-nuts or the like such as g¹, substantially as herein described and
shown with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes
specified.
2/. In a musical instrument or tone producing device consisting of a series
of vibrating plates such as a mounted upon frames such as 6 6¹, the mounting
of the frame 6 within a transverse slot such as f and the mounting of the
frame within a slot comprising a transverse portion f' an upper vertical
part and a returned extremity f³ for the purpose of supporting the frames
in a horizontal position with the vibrating plates carried by the frame b¹
slightly above and overlapping the vibrating plates carried by the frame b for
convenience in manipulating the instrument in this form with a hammer or
its equivalent, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
3/. The combination with vibrating plates such as a carried upon frames
such as; of a transverse slot such as f and a slot comprising a transverse
portion fan upper vertical part 2 and a returned extremity f³, formed in the
ends d of the stand or support e, substantially as herein described and shown with
reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
4/. The general combination and arrangement of the parts of a musical
instrument capable of producing two entirely separate and distinct qualities of
tone, constructed and operated substantially as herein described and shown
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1
1
A 1900
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.