CERTAIN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PLAYING ON STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BROOKS, Junior, of Saint Albans, in the County of Hertford, Tallow Chandler,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twelfth day of June, in the eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Brooks, Junior, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Robert Brooks, Junior,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Brooks,
Junior, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of
Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE PLAYING ON STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Robert Brooks,
Junior, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her

page_text: Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Brooks, Junior, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
to be as the same is described and represented in and by the following
Statement thereof, reference being had to the illustrative Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon respec-
tively, that is to say :-
My Invention of "Certain Apparatus for Facilitating the Playing on Stringed
Musical Instruments consists in certain new mechanical arrangements and
combinations of parts, and in the application of the same to the class of
stringed instruments known and distinguished as the violin, viola or tenor
violoncello, contrabasso or double bass, and guitar, and all other instruments
of the like character, in the manner herein-after fully described, set forth,
and represented, together with such modifications of the mechanical combina-
tions and modes of arrangement of the several parts, as the nature, character,
and principle upon which this my Invention is based, will fairly admit
of without departing therefiom. And, in order to explain this my said
Invention as completely as possible, I will proceed to describe such modes of
arrangement and combinations of parts as I consider well calculated for
carrying out my said Invention, and which I have found to answer well in
.practise.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At the Drawing No. 1 the Figure 1 exhibits a side clévation of a key board
(herein-after fully described) shewn placed above the strings of an instrument.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the key board, in which is shown the action of
..the keys upon the strings. Figure 3 is a plan view of the upper side of the
key board. Figure 4 is a transverse section thereof, taken through the line
A, B, in Figures 1, 2, 3. Figure 5 is a side and edge view of one of the
keys detached from the key board. Figure 6 is is a plan view of that part
of an instrument commonly known as the finger board; with the strings
: hereafter mentioned detached therefrom.
The Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12*, exhibit several views of anothe
form of construction of the key board. Figure 7 is side elevation of the
key board and keys. Figure 8 is a side elevation of the key board, shewing
the action of the keys upon the strings of the instrument. Figure 9 is

page_text: plan view of the upper side of the key board; Figure 10 is a plan view of
the under side thereof. Figures 11, and 12, 12*, exhibit three views of one
of the keys detached from the key board..
The Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, exhibit several views of another form
of construction and arrangement of the key board and keys. Figure 13 is a
side elevation of the key board.. Figure 14 is a side elevation thereof, shewing
the action of the keys upon the strings of the instrument. Figure 15 is a
plan view of the upper side of the key board, with the keys in their respective
places. Figure 16 is a plan view of the under side of the key board. Similar
letters of reference are placed upon and denote corresponding parts in so far
as such parts can be seen or appear in each of the Figures respectively.
In the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, A, marks a key board attached to that
part of an instrument commonly known as the finger board C, C. In these
Figures B, B, marks keys of ivory or other suitable material, passed through
holes formed in and through the said key board; D, D, marks one of the
strings of an instrument passing over the board C, C. This board has
holes E, E, formed through it, and opposite to the holes E, E, in the said
key board. F, F, F, marks helical springs situate in the holes E*, E*, E*,
(shewn in plan view at Figure 6), upon the upper ends of, which the
keys B, B, rest. The construction of these keys is better shewn at Figures 4.
and 5, where the under part of the keys is represented cut away to admit
the strings D, D, which are acted upon by the shoulders a, a, of the keys,
as shewn at Figures 1 and 2. b, b, b, marks silken or other elastic cords
fixed to each end of the key board, and passed through holes formed through
the keys and beneath the key board, as shewn, for the purpose of connecting
the keys together in the direction of their length, whereby the fingering is
rendered easy, inasmuch as the depressing of one key places the keys on each
side of it in a favorable position for being acted upon by the fingers of the
performer. The elasticity of the helical springs F, F, F, restores the keys to
their original position, as at Figure 1, upon the pressure being removed from
the tops of the said keys.
At the Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12*, the key board is somewhat dif
ferently arranged to the foregoing. The keys B, B, pass through holes formed
in the key board, as in the last-mentioned Figures; but the construction of
the keys differs therefrom, as shewn at the detached Figures 11, 12, 12*,
where c marks an opening, the upper part of which is in contact with the
helical spring F, F. This spring, or series of springs, is placed in the opening
of the key board and key, and is supported at its under side by a pin d fixed
to the key board, as shewn at the detached Figure (12*). The keys are con

page_text: nected together in the direction of their length in a similar manner to the
foregoing arrangement.
The Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, exhibit several views of another
form of construction and arrangement of the keys in the key board, as herein-
before mentioned.
Figure 18 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 14 is a side elevation, in
which is shewn the action of the keys in the key board upon the strings of the
instrument. Figure 15 is a plan view of the upper side of the key board.
Figure 16 is a plan view of the under side thereof. Figure 17 is a transverse
section taken through the line C, D, at Figures 13, 14, 15, 16.
The Figures 18 and 19 exhibit two views of one of the keys detached from
the key board, Figure 18 being an edge view of the key, and Figure 19 a side
view thereof. This last-mentioned arrangement differs from the foregoing
ones in the following respects:-Firstly, in the form of construction of the
keys, as shewn at Figures 18 and 19; and secondly, in the means employed
for restoring the keys to their original position when the pressure is removed
therefrom. This is effected in the following manner :-To the key board A, A,
and at the under side thereof, strands or filaments of india-rubber G, G, are
secured at their ends, and are previously passed over the cords b, b, as shewn
at Figure 16. The means employed for connecting the keys together in the
direction of their length are precisely similar to those shewn at the foregoing
arrangements.
At the Drawing No. 2 the Figures 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, exhibit
several views of another form of construction and arrangement of the key
board and keys. Figure 20 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 21 is a side
elevation, in which is shewn the action of the keys in the key board upon the
strings of the instrument. Figure 22 is a plan view of the upper side of the
key board, with the keys in their respective places. Figure 28 is a plan view
of the under side of the key board and keys. Figure 24 is a plan view of the
upper side of the key board, with the keys removed. Figure 25 is a transverse
section of the key board, and board C, C, taken through the line E, F, at
Figures 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Figure 26 is a side view, and Figure 27 an edge view of one of the keys
detached from the key board. This arrangement differs from the foregoing
ones in the following respects:-Firstly, in the form of construction of the
keys, as shown at Figures 26 and 27; secondly, in the arrangements for
restoring the keys to their original position, after the pressure is removed
therefrom; and thirdly, in the application of such constructions and arrange-
ments to a finger board formed with frets or steps. Similar letters of reference

page_text: are placed upon and denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts can be
seen or appear in each of the Figures respectively. A, A, marks the key
board divided into compartments A*, A*, as shewn at Figures 22, 24, for the
reception of the keys B, B. The lower ends of these keys pass through holes
or openings E, E, formed in the key board, and the keys are connected
together in the direction of their length by a silken or other elastic cord, as in
the before-mentioned arrangements. Within each of the compartments A*, A*,
and around the stem of each key is placed a helical spring F, F, which rests
upon the bottom of the compartment A*, as shewn at Figure (25). The upper
part of the key is constructed with a shoulder, which being in contact with the
spring F, causes it to collapse upon. pressure being applied to the key, and
restores the key to its original position upon the pressure being removed
therefrom. The projections 1, 2, mark stops formed upon two sides of each
key to prevent the springs F, F, from being broken.
The Figures 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, exhibit several views of another
form of construction and arrangement of the keys in the key board. Figure 28.
is a side elevation thereof. Figure 29 is a side elevation, in which is shewn
the action of the keys in the key board upon the strings of the instrument.
Figure 30 is a plan view of the upper side of the key board. Figure 31 is a
plan view of the under side of the key board. Figure 32 is a transverse
section taken through the line A, B, at Figures 28, 29, 30, 31.
The Figures 83 and 34 exhibit two views of one of the keys detached from
the key board. This last-mentioned arrangement differs from the foregoing
ones in the following respects:-Firstly, instead of employing the helical
metal springs marked (F) for restoring the keys to their original position
after the pressure is removed therefrom, I employ strands or filaments of india-
rubber G, the ends of which are fixed to the upper side of the key board, and
crosswise thereof in any convenient manner, such said strands or filaments of
india-rubber being arranged and disposed in the following manner:-Having
› fixed one end thereof to the key board, the other end is passed down one side
of the openings (E, E,) through a hole formed in the key, as shewn, and up
the other side of the said opening, and this I repeat according to the number
of keys contained in the width and length of the said key board; and having
passed the strands or filaments of india-rubber through all of one set or row
3 of keys I connect the end thereof to the key board in a similar manner to the
other end. Thus it will appear evident, that as one or other of the keys are
depressed it will carry with it the strand or filament of india-rubber attached
thereto, the elasticity of which will restore the key to its original position
upon the pressure being removed therefrom. The keys are connected together

page_text: in the direction of their length in a similar manner to the before-mentioned
arrangements.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect, I wish it
to be distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the
separate parts above mentioned and referred to, except in so far as the same
may be employed in combination and for the purposes of my said Invention,
which I hereby declare to consist in, and I claim as of, my Invention of
"Certain Apparatus for Facilitating the Playing on Stringed Musical Instru-
ments,"―
Firstly, the application of pieces or keys to the strings of instruments of the
class above mentioned, when acted upon by pressure of the fingers of the
performer, in a similar manner to that in which the strings of instruments of
the ordinary construction have hitherto been acted upon, such said pieces or
keys being arranged or disposed in a key board marked ( ), and actuated in
the manner herein-before particularly described, set forth, and represented by
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and for the purposes of my said Invention.
Secondly, I claim the general mechanical combinations, modes of arrange-
ment and principle of construction of the several parts above mentioned and
referred to, as constituting my Invention of "Certain Apparatus for Facilitating
the Playing on Stringed Musical Instruments," as herein-before particularly
described, set forth, and represented by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her said
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands
of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, I do hereby declare this to be
my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said Speci-
fication doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with
the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained;
wherefore I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Brooks, Junior, have hereunto set
my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.
ROBERT (L.s.) BROOKS, Junior

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twelfth day of December, in the
year of our Lord 1845, the aforesaid Robert Brooks, Junior, came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twelfth day of December, in the
year of our Lord 1845, the aforesaid Robert Brooks, Junior, came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

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