Year: 1888

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an improved mechanism for striking the strings of
stringed musical instruments. The arrangement is such that the hammer does not
strike the string only once but several times in quick succession and the sound emitted
by this continuous vibrating of the string is a continuously strong one and not one
which begins strong and gradually lessens.
This mechanism differs from the other known mechanisms for the same purpose in
so far as :-
1. The haminers are spring actuated.
2. The spring actuated hanımers are liberated or stopped by a suitable stopping
mechanism.
3. The movement of the hammers is more or less limited.
4. Two or more hammers are striking the same string alternately.
5. Two strings of the same note may be arranged so as to increase the number of
blows.
Friction pulleys mounted on a suitably journalled shaft are moved by a friction
drum. The said shaft is cranked between the friction pulleys and on this crank
bears the end of a pivotted lever and under the crank a spring arm which is fixed
to the pivotted lever on the pivotted end of which latter is fastened the spring
hammer.
One end of a pivotted double armed lever engages with a nose or projection on the
hammer while the other is suitably connected with the key of the instrument or other
actuating mechanism, so that when this end of the lever is depressed the other end
will liberate the nose of the hammer and permit the latter to vibrate for the purpose
of striking the string.

page_text: When the above mentioned friction drum which is of much greater diameter than
the friction pulleys, is turnod, the latter will rapidly revolve with the crank shaft and
the hammers will oscillate and strike the string unless they are stopped by the above
named levor engaging with the nose of the hammer, in which case the spring arms
are only bent and released by the reciprocating movement of the pivotted lever to
which the hammer arms are attached.
This mechanism may be modified by attaching all the hammer arms, which consist
of springs in this caso, to a suitably journalled rod which is rocked by means of the
connection with a crank pin of a pulley driven in a suitable mannor from a pulley or
equivalent of larger diameter.
The stopping arrangement for the hammer may be a rough inclined surface
ongaging against a corresponding inclined surface of the hammer and the stop against
which the back of the hammer strikes may be made adjustable so as to regulate the
stroke of the hammer and the strength of the sound.
Another modifiention is the arrangement of two rocking rods and two sets of
hammers opposite each other and oscillating between two sets of strings for the purpose
of increasing the number of strikings. In this case the spring arms of the hammers
move between two stopping pins of the pivotted stopping lovers and according to
whether the lever is mised or lowered these stopping pins will permit tho hammer to
reach the strings or not.
It will thus be seen that this invention can be carried out in many ways and
permits of many modifications.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.

page_text: Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex M.I.M.E.
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 present invention relates to an improved mechanisin for striking the strings
of stringed inusical instruments. The arrangement is such that the hammer does not
strike the string only once but several times in quick succession and the sound
emitted by this continuous vibrating of the string is a continuously strong one
and not one which begins strong and at once gradually lossens.
This mechanism differs from the other known mechanisms for the same purpose in
so far as
1, the hammers are spring actuated.
2, the spring actuated hammers are liberated or stopped by a suitable stopping
mechanism.
3, the movement of the hammers is more or less limited.
4, two or more hammers are striking the same string alternately.
5, two strings of the same noto may be arranged so as to increase the number of
blows.
Friction pulleys B mounted on a suitably journalled shaft C C' are moved by a
friction drum A.
The said shaft is cranked between the friction pulleys and on this crank bears the
end of a pivotted lever E and under the crank a spring arm F which is fixed to the
pivotted lever on the pivotted end of which latter is fastened the hammer G G¹.
One end of a pivotted double armed lever H H engages with a nose or pro-
jection on the hammer while the other is suitably connected with the key of the
instrument or other actuating mechanism so that when this end of the lever is
depressed the other end will liberate the nose of the hammer and permit the latter to
vibrate for the purpose of striking the string.
If the music is to be produced mechanically by a perforated strip of cardboard or
other material the lever HH' can as represented in Fig. 4 be replaced by a bent
lever U which acts directly on the friction pulley B and brings this into or out of
contact with the friction roller A according to the perforations of the strip.
When the above mentioned friction drum A which is of much greater diameter
than the friction pulleys B is turned the latter will rapidly revolve turning the crank
shaft C (and the hammers will oscillate and strike the string unless they are stopped
in position II by the above named lever engaging with the nose of the hammer in
which case the spring arms are only bent and released by the reciprocating movement
of the pivotted lever to which the hammer arms are attached.

page_text: This mechanism may be modified as represented in figure 2 by attaching all the
hammer arms, which consist of springs in this case, to a suitably journalled rod or
bar which is rocked by means of its connection with a crank pin of a pulley Co
driven in a suitable manner from a pulley or equivalent A of larger diameter.
The stopping arrangement for the hammer may be a rough inclined surface
engaging against a corresponding inclined surface of the hammer and the stop J
against which the back of the hammer strikes may be mado adjustable so as to
regulate the stroke of the hammer and the strength of the sound.
Another modification is the arrangement represented in figure 3 of two rocking
rods and two sets of laminers opposite each other and oscillating between two
sets of strings S (Figure 3) for the purpose of increasing the number of blows. In
this case the spring arms G of the haminers G¹ move between two stopping pins h of
the pivotied stopping levers and according to whether the lover is raised or lowered
these stopping pins will permit the hammer to reach the strings or not.
It will thus be seen that this invention can be carried out in many ways and permits
of many modifications.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a stringed musical instrument the combination of the crank shaft () (" with
the pivotted lover E the spring arm F, the hammer & G and the lover H H' sub-
stantially as specified and represented in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a stringed musical instrument the combination of the rod or bar E¹ with the
hammers their spring arms G and the lever H H substantially as specified and
illustrated in figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a stringed musical instrument the adjustable stop J substantiully as describod
and represented in figuro 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a stringed musical instrument the combination of the two rocking levers HH'
with the hammers substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a stringed musical instrument the combination with one or more vibrating
hammers of the two strings S substantially as described and represented in figure 3
and for the purpose specified.
6. In a stringed inusical instrument the stopping device Ehh for the hammers
which permits a constant movement of the hammers substantially as described and
illustrated in figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.