Improvements in Electric Organs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Organs.
I, PERCY ROSS HARRISON of 87 Moray Road, Finsbury Park, London, N.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in means for adapting to electric organs, the invention
for which I applied for Letters Patent June 8th of the present year, No. 11152,
the object of which is, as is clearly set out and claimed in my Specification, to
obtain, by the depression of one key from a single set of organ pipes, two or more
sounds in intervals of octaves.
This result is obtained by grouping together all the pipes in one set of the same
name, and thus producing twelve groups containing, for the most part, seveu pipes
in each group.
In place of the five pallets used to control each of the groups into which the
sets of pipes in the organ are severally divided, I now dispose, in like manner, five
electric wires, which I will call Y, for every group of pipes with which they are in
connection.
These five wires I connect electrically with the key that is to sound the group
of pipes, and I attach them to the underside of a board, and solder to each, three
short lengths of wire (for each group), which project through the board, and form
contact points.
Fitted to the same board are diagonal wires, which I will call Z, carrying
contact points at one extremity, and some one or two additional points along their
length. The other ends of these wires connect respectively with electromagnets.
These contact points are set adjacent, respectively, to the contact points of the
wires Y. The diagonal wires serve the same purpose as the grooves in my before-
mentioned Specification, and bring, when desired, two or three pipes of one group
under the control of one key.
The electromagnets, when energised, act on the valves which they respectively
control, and cause their corresponding pipes to speak.
In place of the slides which serve to divide one set of pipes into three stops,
I now provide rods which are free to rock in their bearings, and extend across the
organ for the purpose of presenting electrical contact studs to the contact points of
the wires Y and Z, when these rods are rocked to open a stop. This axial motion
of the studded rods closes the gaps between the conducting wires, and thus allows
of the passage of a current to one or more of the electro-magnets of the group, on
the depression of a corresponding key. The rocking rods may be operated by means
of electromagnets in any well-known manner, for the purpose of drawing and shutting
off the stops as desired. It will now be understood that, on the depression of a
key, the electric circuit is completed, and that the current thus admitted, passing
to the electromagnets of one, two, or three of the diagonal wires Z of the group
(according to the number of stops drawn) will, through the electromagnets, sound
the note of the group, either singly or in octaves, precisely in the manner described
in my Specification above referred to.
r A
1004
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I PERCY ROSS HARRISON of 87 Moray Road, Finsbury Park, London, N.,.
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:-
This invention relates to means for adapting to electric organs, the invention for
which I obtained Letters Patent, June 8th 1894, No. 11152, the object of which
is, as is clearly set out and claimed in my Specification, to obtain, by the depression
of one key, from a single set of organ pipes, two or more sounds in intervals of
octaves.
This result was obtained by grouping together all the pipes in one set of the
same name, and thus producing twelve groups containing, for the most part, seven
pipes in each group.
In, place of the five pallets used to control each of the groups into which the sets
of pipes in the organ are severally divided, I now dispose in like manner five
electric wires, which I will call H, for every group of pipes with which they may
be brought in connection.
These five wires I connect electrically with the respective keys which severally
sound a group of pipes, and I attach these wires to electrical contact studs carried
by rods which are free to rock in their bearings, and extend across the organ, for
the purpose of bringing under the action of the manual, like the slidės in my Patent
above referred to, the pipes required to be sounded.
Fixed to a board, which may be termed a switchboard, are diagonal wires
which I will call N.
These wires connect respectively with electro-magnets situate in the wind chest,
and present contact surfaces to the contact studs of the rocking rods.
The diagonal wires serve the same purpose as the grooves in my before mentioned
Specification, and bring, when desired, two or three pipes of one group under the
control of one key.
The electro-magnets, when energised, act on the valves which they respectively
control, and cause their corresponding pipes to speak.
By the axial motion of the studded rods, the gaps between the conducting wires
are closed, to allow of the passage of a current to one or more of the electro-magnets
of the group, on the depression of a corresponding key.
The rocking rods may be operated by means of electro-magnets in any well-
known manner, for the purpose of drawing and shutting off the stops as desired.
I will now explain in more detail my invention, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, which represent those parts of the organ to which mý
invention more especially relates.
'
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the console (detached from
the organ), which may contain as many rows of keys as may be desired, say, three
rows of manual keys A A A, and a set of pedal keys B. The manual keyboards
are enclosed in a case C, to exclude dust, and this case rests upon a suitable frame D,
which may stand in any convenient place, and at any distance from the other parts
of the organ. The whole key action required in the console consists simply of a
set of contacts, one for each key. These contacts may be formed in any con-
venient manner. E is the key spring, so placed as to make contact on the
depression of its key with a light spring F. To each of the key springs E is
attached an insulated wire H, which communicates with the switchboard to be
hereafter described. The springs F are all connected with each other by a wire
or strip of metal running beneath the keys the whole length of the keyboard, and

page_text: which strip of metal is connected, through an insulated wire K, with the battery,
as hereinafter more particularly explained.
I will next describe the arrangements of wind-chests used in my electric organ.
These chests may be of any size and number, may be placed in any position where
they can be reached by a wind trunk from the bellows and a series of wires from
the console, and they may either be all placed together, or be distributed in various
parts of the building in which the instrument is to be heard, according to taste or
convenience. These wind-chests are of unusually simple construction, containing
Deither slides nor stop action of any kind. For the smaller pipes I use the wind-
chest shown in transverse section at Fig. 2. This represents an air-tight chamber
which is to be charged with compressed air from the bellows in the usual way.
In the upper board c are the holes e, in which the pipe feet d stand. Beneath
this board is a block a, extending the length of the chest, and glued to the upper
board. In the block are bored from above, two rows of holes b, one hole under
each pipe channel or wind-way e.
These holes do not extend to the underside of
the block, but horizontal passages f in the front and back of the block open
communication between the several holes b and the interior of the wind-chest.
Each passage f is normally covered by a pallet g attached to the longer arm of
a lever h. This lever may be straight or bent, and to the shorter arm of it is
attached an armature k. Each armature is in close proximity to the poles of an
electro-magnet l, which may be energized through wires which connect it with an
electric battery or other source of electric energy. These wires are controlled by
the keys of the console.
It will be understood that so long as the keys direct the current to any of these
electro-magnets, the armatures / will be attracted to the poles of their respective
magnets, and the pallet g will open, admitting the compressed air from the chest
through the channel f, b, e, to the pipe under the control of the actuated pallet.
A pin m passing through a slot n in the lever, or two pins, one on either side of
the lever, prevent lateral motion of the pallet.
It will be understood from this description, that there is one electro-magnet
within the wind chest for each pipe. The precise position of the magnets may
conveniently be adjusted by means of regulating screws (as in Fig. 7).
The pallet above described is one I use for small pipes only. For pipes of
medium and large size, I use a multiple pallet, consisting of several small pallets,
each covering a separate aperture, and all in rigid connection with each other.
Illustrations of these pallets will be found in Figs. 3. Fig. 4 shows the multiple
pallet in its position in the wind chest G. The object of the multiple pallet is to
facilitate the access of the compressed air to the channels when the pallet
opens but a very short distance, thus reducing the amount of the electrical energy
required.
For the larger pipes, it may be necessary to employ pneumatic power, to supple-
ment the action of the electro-magnet, for the purpose of ensuring a sufficient
supply of wind. Two methods of employing this agent are exhibited, one in
Figs. 5 and 6, and one in Figs. 7 and 8.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a duplex wind-chest with the parts arranged for
supplementing the action of the electro-magnets by pneumatic power, and
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of a portion of the wind-chest taken on the line 1, 2,
Fig. 5.
This
The multiple pallet g, as before, covers the apertures in the block a.
block contains a row of large cylindrical cavities b, and its upper side is covered
by a board u glued to it, while to the underside is glued a strip of unstrained
sheepskin or oiled silk, or similar substance, indicated by the letter r, and closing
the bottom of the cavities b. Thus the unstrained strip forms a series of circular
diaphragms exposed to the atmosphere. A pull-down wire 8, tapped at its
lower end, is held to the centre of each diaphragm by means of a leather
button t, and its upper end passes through a small hole in the board u to an upper
wind-chest G', where it opens the pallet v, and so admits the compressed air from

page_text: the upper chest through the channel e to the pipe foot d. A cardboard disc w is
secured below the diaphragm r, in order to prevent unequal inflation. An aperture,
covered by the valvez, furnishes an escape to the atmosphere for the air in b,
whenever the pallet g is closed; on the other hand, as soon as the pallet is opened,
the valve z closes the vent x, by reason of its connection with the pallet y through
the wire y.
2
If the diaphragm r be large in comparison with the wind-way e the upper and lower
chests may be furnished with wind of equal pressure, but if not, the air of the
lower chest should be more highly compressed than that in the upper, which,
in fact, is the preferable arrangement in any case, in order to secure perfect
promptness of speech. Two different pressures of wind are easily obtainable
from the same bellows by means of the simple and well-known device employed by
organ builders.
Figs. 7 and 8 show in vertical section two modifications of the arrangement just
described.
g
In these, the multiple pallet acts as before, but the skin is upon the upper side
of the cavity b. In the upper board c, in the underside of the channels e, are
placed a set of short tubes R, made of wood or metal or other material. These
are so placed that when the diaphragm is inflated from below, it presses against
the foot of the tube R, and so excludes the wind from the channel e. In this
case, two pressures of wind are indispensable, a low pressure in the upper chest,
to supply the pipes, and a high pressure in the lower chest, to actuate the
diaphragm.
It must be observed that in this method the pallet g is normally open, but as
soon as the electric current is admitted to the electro-magnet l, the pallet closes; the
surplus air in the cavity b escapes through the vent, and the diaphragm ris
forced downward to the position of the dotted line S by the action of the com-
pressed air in the upper chest, which air thus makes its way through the tube R
to the pipe. As soon as the current is withdrawn from the magnet, the pallet g
opens, the vent a closes, compressed air rushes into the cavity b, and being more
highly compressed than the low pressure wind in the upper chest, it forces the
diaphragm back to the position r, so closing the mouth of the tube R, and shutting
off the wind from the pipe.
1 will next proceed to describe the switchboard, which is an important feature
in my invention, but before doing so, I must explain that, with a view to reducing
the cost of the orgau, 1 derive, as in my above mentioned Patent, several registers
from each set of pipes. Thus, I may derive registers of 8, 4, and 2 feet pitch
from one set, and registers of 16, 8, and 4 feet pitch from another set; or, in one case,
registers of 8 ft. and 4 ft., and in another, registers of 16 ft., 8 ft., 4 ft., and 2 ft.
This result I attained by pneumatic means, but I now achieve the same result by
means of my electric switchboard, a portion of which is shown in perspective
at Fig. 9. The switchboards may be placed in any convenient position; whether
they are near the wind chests, or not, is not material, provided that they can be
reached by a wind trunk from the bellows. Here the different registers are
represented by rods M of wood or other non-conducting material extending the
length of the switchboard. To each rod is affixed an arm Q, by means of which
a rocking axial motion is imparted to the rods M by the stop action, in a manner
hereafter to be explained.
It will be observed that these rods M are arranged in groups of three, repre-
senting the three registers that are to be derived from the same set of pipes.
Thus, for example, there are three rods labelled "open diapason," representing
registers of 8 ft., 4 ft., and 2 ft. pitch of that name respectively. In these register
rods are a number of metal pins L, placed at uniform distances, in groups of (for
the most part) five pins to each rod. These five pins represent the five notes of
the same name which the keyboard contains; thus the first five represent the
five C's. Wires H from the key contacts are in electric connection with the
corresponding pins in each rod; thus the CC wire is connected with the first pin

page_text: in every rod, the tenor C wire with the second pin in every rod, and so on.
Further, these pins are so arranged that when a stop is in action, each pin comes
into contact with a certain diagonal wire N, which controls the pipe corresponding
to the key and stop in question. These wires are of resilient material, and are held
taut by means of staples between wooden bearers P, which run parallel to the
rods.: These wires N lie obliquely to the switchboard, so as to form contacts with
their appropriate pins L on the three rods M. There are as many wires N As
there are pipes in the organ. The first group of open diapason wires convey the
current, to the magnets which control the wind of all the open diapason C pipes,
viz., those of 8', 4', 2', 1', 6º, 3º, and 14" pitch.
The above description of switchboard applies equally to all the manual key-
boards of the organ, but a switchboard of smaller compass will serve for the
pedals.
Instead of the ordinary arrangement of making each keyboard represent a
distinct department of the organ (as swell organ, great organ, choir organ, or pedal
organ), I prefer to use what has been called a unified organ," i.e., an organ in
which every register is available separately, or in any desired combinations, on
every keyboard. This I accomplish by having a switchboard (such as shown
in Fig. 9) for every keyboard, and joining up the corresponding wires N as they
pass from the switchboard to the wind chests. Thus, the open diapason S' wire of
the 1st manual will be united with the open diapason S¹ wire of the 2nd manual ;
also with that of the 3rd manual, and of the pedal organ.
I will next describe the stop action whereby the register rods M are controlled
from the console.
The stops themselves may consist of the ordinary knobs and rods, or any other
means of establishing electric contacts, the only condition being that one contact
should be formed when. the stop drawn "
on," and another contact when it is
drawn "off." In Fig. 11, which is a sectional side elevation of a stop action,
U and V are two buttons, one "on" and the other "off," and bear against the
opposite ends of a short lever T, in such manner, that when one button is pressed
inwards, the other is thrown outward, the latter motion being limited by the
contact with the case C of the check pin Z.
The ends of the lever T have a metallic surface W, to which are attached the
two insulated wires V connected with the switchboard, and control the rods M in
a manner to be described. The contacts are completed by means of springs X,
which connect with a common return wire, thus establishing a circuit.
In the case of the "unified organ," the stops of the different keyboards should be
disposed in parallel columns or rows, identical stops being in a line with each other..
A convenient arrangement is shown by the diagram Fig. 10, which explains itself.
The stops of the first and second manuals are supposed to be placed at the right.
hand side of the manual keyboards, and the stops of the third manual and pedals at
the left hand side.
Fig. 12 shews the mechanism whereby the stops are caused to act upon the
rods M of the switchboard. In this figure, 1 and 29 indicate the on and off wires
respectively; 2 and 3 are springs (attached to the wires 1 and 4), arranged so as to
be in contact with each other, except when 3 is deflected from its position by means
of the lever 24, which is pivotted at 25, and is held in position by a guide pin 26.
27 and 28 are similar springs attached to two similar wires. 5 and 22 are electro-
magnets capable of attracting respectively the armatures 6 and 23 fixed to opposite
sides of the lever 7, the latter oscillating in a vertical plane about a point near its
lower extremity. 8 is a valve rod which, when put in motion by the lever 7, opens
the valves 9 and 17 which it carries, and closes the valves 10 and 18, which it also
carries, or vice versa; 9, 10, 17, and 18, being circular valves or discs so placed as to
adinit compressed air from the wind-chest 11 to one or other compartment of the
double bellows 14, 21, by one of the small chambers or holes 12, 19, while permitting
the air to escape from the other compartment. The opening 12 communicates, by
means of channel 13, with the compartment 14 of the bellows, and the opening 19,

page_text: through the channel 20, with the compartment 21 of the bellows. These bellows
are so constructed that, while the two outer boards are fixed, the middle one 15
moves from side to side, according as the chamber 19 or 12 is charged with air
from the wind chest 11. To the middle board, 15, is attached a wire or sticker 16,
which, acting upon the arm Q projecting from the rod M, imparts to the latter the
necessary rocking motion.
It will be understood from the above description, that according as one or other
of the magnets is energised, the compartments 14 or 21 are inflated, thus causing
the oscillating movement of the register rod M. The upper end of the lever 7,
which is notched, catches the tail of the lever 24, the upper arm of which, being
longer than the lower, describes a considerable arc at its extremity, and, in its
extreme position, it bears upon one of the light springs 3, 27, thereby breaking the
corresponding current. This prevents waste of the electric power, the force of
gravity sufficing to retain the lever 24 in its position until acted upon by a contrary
magnetic force.
It is of course understood that return wires connect the magnets 5 and 22 with
the battery.
The electric circuit (so far as regards the key action) is illustrated in diagram
Fig. 13, where I is the battery for providing the electric current.
Starting from the battery I, a common wire K runs to the console D, where it is
connected with every spring F. Such of these springs as are brought (by the
depression of the keys) into contact with the springs E, carry on the current
through E along the wire H to the corresponding pins L carried by the rods M of
the switchboard. Where these pins L are in contact with the wire N, the current
follows this wire to the wind chest, which it enters by means of a screw, to which
the wire is attached; the other end of the same screw meets a wire which
conveys the current to the magnet l. It then passes off by a common return
wire K through the end of the windchest, and, by the wire K'; to the
battery I.
It is to be understood that all the electric wires should be insulated, except near
those points where contacts are to be made.
The electric circuit in connection with the stop action is illustrated at Figs. 11
and 12, and is formed as follows :—
Starting from the battery 11, a common wire communicates with the springs
marked X. Wherever X is in contact with W, the current passes along Y to one
of the magnets 5, 22 (unless cut off by 24, as explained). A common return wire
from all the magnets returns the current to the other pole of the battery.
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 :-
1. The means above described whereby I am enabled, through the agency of
electro-magnetism, to produce, from a single set of pipes, two or more sounds in
intervals of octaves, by the depression of one key.
2. The construction of switchboard as above described, by means of which
currents of electricity may be conveyed to energize electro-magnets situate in the
wind chest, for the purpose of simultaneously sounding two or more pipes of
one set.
3. The means above described for throwing, through the aid of the electric
current, the stops in and out of action.
Ddhi 07th Jn of M... 1005
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.