IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lionel Varicas, of 2, Montague Placo, Russell Square,
London, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WIND INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad by the Autophope
Company, of Ithaca, in the County of Tompkins, in the State of New York,
one of the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Lionel Varicas at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1882.
LIONEL VARICAS, of 2, Montague Place, Russell Square, London, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND INSTRUMENTS." A communication
from abroad by the Autophone Company, of Ithaca, in the County of Tompkins,
in the State of New York, one of the United States of America.
This Invention relates to wind instruments of the accordion class, for producing
a succession of musical sounds automatically through the instrumentality of i
music sheet (which throughout the ensuing Specification I will designate the
valve-sheet) of peculiar construction, adapted particularly to this class of
instruments.
My Invention is specially applicable to wind instruments having pipes or reeds,
such as are usually operated by keys and supplied with air by a bellows, and its
object is to enable tunes to be played by persons unacquainted with music, and to
assist learners in acquiring a knowledge of musical notes, and my Invention
consists in the construction hereinafter described.
These improvements may be adapted to instruments varying in size and form,
though involving the same general principles of construction and operation. I
have represented in the accompanying Drawings and will describe in this
Specification two sizes or forms of instrument, which for the sake of perspicuity
I will term the hand instrument and the power instrument.

page_text: The hand instrument is illustrated on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, wherein Fig. 1
is a perspective view.
Fig. 2 is a plan view.
Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section on line x, x, Fig. 2.
Figs. 4, 5, & 6 are details of the feed mechanism.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the music sheet adapted to be used with the hand instrument,
and the power instrument is represented on Sheet 2, wherein
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the feeding hooks arranged to operate at
one edge of the reed board.
Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the feed hooks arranged to operate in an
aperture cut in the reed board in line with the reed apertures.
Fig. 9 represents a similar view looking from the other side, part of the upper
casing being removed.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the mechanism for feeding the valve-sheet.
Fig. 11 is an elevation of the equalizing bellows and its attachments.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the valve-sheet adapted to be used with the power
instrument.
In the Drawings A represents the wind sheet or bellows; A³, the wind receiver
or equalizing bellows; B, the reed board containing cells band reeds b' of different
pitch for producing the various musical notes. I prefer to construct my reeds on
a continuous plate similar to harmonicas or mouth organs, but the receiving ducts
or pipos which convey the air to and from the roeds are what I consider new.
The manner of forming the pipe-box is as follows:-Sheets of thin metal, such as
tin or some similar metal or material, of proper width are folded or bent to form
the partitions between the reeds, as each fold or doubling of the metal is made to
form the pipes side by side the length of the reed plate. The edge is soldered to
-the-reed-plate-between the reads on the back or outlet escape side. The reed front
'or inlet side has a similar pipe-box, but is not rigidly fastened in order to allow
for tuning the reeds. After the escape pipes are secured to the reed plates the top
and bottom plates are secured in place by soldering to the reed plate. The music
box is then ready to be hung or suspended for use by the reed board B, leaving
the reeds free to sound. To the part A' standards D, D¹, are attached, having
bearings which receive the ends of shaft C. This shaft can be rotated at a greater
or less speed in the manner hereinafter described.
Several reed boards B of varying compass may be provided for the instrument,
giving it a more extensive range.
Fixed on the shaft of the hand instrument are two spur wheels E, E, which
engage the valve-sheet K and move it forward, and a ratchet wheel F, which causes
the shaft to rotate; also, the plain disks G, G, G, which press the valve sheet down
and hold it in close contact with the top of the reed board; H is a bent arm
connected with or attached to the bellows A and carrying pawls h, h', which engage
with the wheel F to cause the rotation of the shaft C. A spring actuated lever I
is pivoted to the standard D' at the rear side of the reed board B, and is normally
pressed upward by its spring and serves to keep the pawl h¹ in contact with the
teeth of the ratchet F. This lever is provided at its free end with a laterally
projecting arm i, the upturned end of which, though normally projecting above
the reed board, is adapted to be held below the reed-board by the valve-sheet in
order to throw the pawl h¹ out of contact with the ratchet wheel when said valve
sheet is perforated to produce an air requiring the notes to be played in slow
succession. When the lever I is so depressed the rotation of the shaft C depends
wholly upon the engagement of the pawl h with the ratchet wheel. Valve sheets
representing an air requiring a more rapid succession of notes are provided at one
edge with perforations h³ of suitable size and properly spaced, through which
perforations the upturned arm i will project, thus permitting the rise of the lever I
and the engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The
ratchet wheel will then be rotated by both pawls h and h¹, which, acting in

page_text: alternation, will cause a more rapid movement of said ratchet wheel and the
shaft C, and consequently a more rapid movement of the valve sheet.
The valve sheet K is made of card-board or other suitable thin material. It has
on each side a row of equidistant perforations k, k, to receive the teeth of the
wheels E, E, when it is applied to the instrument, the two working after the
manner of a rack and pinion.
Other perforations k³, k³, of equal width with the mouths of the pipes are made
at suitable intervals and in proper places longitudinally of the valve sheet and in
line with the pipes for the purpose of allowing the air expelled by the bellows to
issue from each pipe at proper times and cause it to produce its appropriate note.
These openings may be made of various lengths, so as to govern the duration of the
note, making a semibreve, crotchet, quaver, &c., as may be required. That portion
of the valve sheet not thus cut away, being pressed firmly down by the
disks G, G, G, closes the mouths of all the pipes except the one which may be
immediately under one of the openings and prevents air from escaping from them,
consequently they emit no sound. A separate valve-shect is provided for each
tune. The number, length, and position of the openings k³, 1, &c., in each
correspond to those of the notes in the tunc, which are sounded successively as
each opening comes over the proper reed-cell. The sheet in pieces demanding a
quick movement may be made narrower throughout its length, so that the click h'
may constantly engage the wheel F. I construct the sound apertures of different
sizes for the following reasons:-All key-board instruments, or those having the
chromatic scale, as the piano or organ, cannot be tuned with perfect harmony in
all keys, the present system being to tune in equal temperament, producing a sharp
major third in every key. I therefore, to remedy this defect, make the appropriate
aperture smaller to depress the tone, making the major third perfect with the first
or key note.
When it is desired to perform a tune the appropriate valve-sheet is placed over
the reed board B, so that the perforations k, k, at the edges of the sheet may be
engaged by the teeth of the wheels E, E. Working the bellows A reciprocates
the arm H, causing the pawl h to successively engage the teeth of the wheel F,
rotating the shaft C, and advancing the valve-sheet K. Each of the openings
,, &c., is thus brought in its due order over the corresponding reed-cell,
permitting the escape of air therefrom, and the note is sounded.
When the valve sheet K is of full width and the perforations ³ omitted from
its edge, said valve-sheet pressing down the upturned end of arm i of the lever I,
presses that lever down, and pawl h' does not engage the wheel F; but where the
edge of the sheet is perforated, the upturned end of the arm of the lever rises and
the upper edge of the lever is brought into contact with the under side of the
pawl, throwing it up so that it engages with the wheel F, imparting more rapid
rotation to the shaft C, and by accelerating the motion of the valve-sheet quickens
the movement of the piece.
In the Drawing Sheet 2, which represents the power instrument, J is a shaft
having a steady rotary motion, preferably in the direction indicated by the arrows,
but may revolve in either direction. J is worked by a pitman and treadle, and is
connected with the bellows and carries fly wheel. L, L, &c., are rock levers pivoted
at their lower ends. These are four or more in number, and engage at their upper
ends with an equal number of corresponding clicks or pawls M, M³, &c., which are
actuated by the levers L, L¹, giving these clicks or pawls an intermittent recipro-
cating motion, as hereafter shown. Springs m are attached to the clicks, which
both retract them and give thom a gentle upward pressrue against the under side
of the valve sheet K.
The shaft J carries four cams, which are arranged side by side in different
planes and work respectively against the levers L, L, &c. opposite them. The
cam 0, 0, has four leaves P, P, and Q, R, one leaf each arranged opposite to each
other. Consequently each of levers L, &c., makes as many motions at one revolu-
tion of the shaft J as there are leaves on the cam opposite to said lover.

page_text: Suitable holes are cut at the centre of the music sheet K to receive the teeth
on the ends of the clicks M, M'; and in instruments provided with this feeding
mechanism an aperture is cut (preferably) at the centre of the reed board B,
through which these pawls M, M', may protude to engage the valve-sheet, as shown
in Fig. 84, though an aperture may be provided at one edge of said board, as shown
in Fig. 8. When there is no hole above any one click it is held down by the
paper and works to and fro without moving the sheet, but whenever a hole comes
abovo one of the clicks, the tooth springs upward through it, and the click draws
the paper along the proper distance for one movement.
If a row of holes are cut opposite to one of the single leaved cams Q and R, the
paper will only be moved once at each revolution of shaft J, making "a whole
note." By cutting holes in proper positions in the sheet it is evident that
1½ ½, or ¹ notes may be made by movement of the paper in a measuro.
"
I will now proceed to describe my tremolo. In Fig. 9 the balance wheel shaft J
has attached at one end a corrugated disk. A light bar S' running the width of
the instrument has attached to it a series of pads S³ which come in contact with
the valve-sheet apertures. This light bar Si is pivoted at one end, leaving it
free to vibrate, the other end resting on another light bar Tat right angles with it,
which is also pivoted at one end. The ends of the bars where they come in
contact are loose, and the bar T rests upon the corrugated disk P¹ on the balance wheel
shaft J. Bar T comes in contact with an upright stud W, Fig. 9, that rests against
the valve sheet K, and when the sheet is laterally cut away, as at K', K', the stud
W falling into such cuts allows the bar T to come in contact with the corrugated
disk P, which causes the pads over the apertures of the valve sheet to vibrate
rapidly. Fig. 11 represents my manner of softening the power or sound of the
instrument. The receiver or equalizing bellows A' has a block a resting in its
centre with a rod. received into it, said rod extending through another thick
block a to support it, and through the front of the case with a knob-u³-attached
to it. Between the two blocks a and al are two springs fastened for giving force
and power to the music. By drawing the knob a² out, the connection of the block a
is severed from the equalizing bellows A³, taking the springs with it. At the
bottom or under side of bed plate which supports the reeds is an elastic sounding-
board. The reeds in this instrument being placed in a rigid air tight chamber,
they must have some flexibles means to allow them to vibrate freely. To accomplish
this I provide an elastic sounding board, on the under side or near the reeds, for
the purpose above described. Said sounding board being thin is ribbed each way
on one side to strengthen and improve the tone.
The valve-sheet may be provided at one edge with notches K' for the purpose
of allowing the swell, which may be made in any known form, to close when
desired.
What is claimed in this Invention is,--
1st. In combination with a music sheet a differential feeding mechanism for
mechanical musical instruments, the same consisting of a series of feeding hooks or
arms arranged in different planes and constructed to operate directly upon said
music sheet, substantially as before set forth.
2nd. A differential feeding mechanism for mechanical musical instruments
mounted at the transverse centre of such instrument, substantially as before set
forth.
3rd. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the cams mounted
side by side on a single shaft, the rock levers, one opposite each cam and operated
thereby, the pawls secured one to each rock-lever, and the springs.
4th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the feeding pawls
provided with springs, the cams (one for each pawl) for moving the pawls one at a
time in one direction, and the music sheet, provided at its centre with feed holes.
5th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the feeding pawls
provided with springs, the cams (one for each pawl) for moving the pawls, one at a

page_text: time, in one direction, and the music sheet, provided at its centre with two or more
rows of feed holes.
6th. A perforated music sheet having a series of longitudinal rows of feed holes
along the centre of the sheet arranged as described, and having note-holes on each
side thereof, substantially as before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lionel Varicas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fourth (24th) day of January, in the year of Our
Lord One thousand eigh' undred and eighty two (1882).
LIONEL VARICAS. (LS.)