IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS AND IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING OR PERFORMING UPON THE SAME OR OTHER MUSICAL INSTRU- MENTS
Year: 1880

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS AND IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
OPERATING OR PERFORMING UPON THE SAME OR OTHER MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS." A communication from abroad by Georgo Walter Turner, of Boston,
and Charles Hanson Spaulding, of Medford, both in Massachusetts, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1880.
«
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS
AND IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING OR PERFORMING UPON THE
SAME OR OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS." [A communication from abroad by George
Walter Turner, of Boston, and Charles Hanson Spaulding, of Medford, both in
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments adapted
for the automatic playing of a musical tune or composition by and from the
passage of a perforated strip of paper in certain relations to the sound producing
devices.
Heretofore in this class of instruments the length of perforations of the strip
determined the length of time which the notes represented by such perforations
was sounded, and thus with varying lengths of such perforations corresponding
varying lengths of tones were produced.
According to this Invention however the length of time which a note is sounded
is determined by the closed parts or portions of the paper strip, and the opening
and closing of the note is secured in each instance by and through a separate
perforation in the paper strip, which several separate perforations of the paper
for each note are the perforations for opening the note in the one line, and the
perforations for closing the note in another line, the two lines being parallel.
This said Invention comprises,―
First. A strip of paper or other suitable material having perforations arranged in
parallel rows or lines.
Secondly. The combination with a valve of an organ reed or the like of two
levers which are arranged in such relation to said valve and connected therewith,

page_text: and also arranged in such relation to two rows of perforations in a perforated strip
disposed in the relation above described, that under the travel of such perforated
strip I secure through the one lever and one row of such perforations an opening of
the valve, and through the other lever and the other row of such perforations a
closing of the valve.
Thirdly. Parts for the feed and passage of the perforated paper strip from
one roll to another roll, and the arrangement of the perforated strip and carrying
rollers in a frame which is capable of being readily removed from or replaced
on the top of the instrument; and, further, a novel construction and combination
of parts for confining the perforated strip as it passes through the race way
and maintaining it in the proper relation to the sound-producing mechanism.
Fourthly. The combination of a perforated strip of paper with a sliding valve
operated by and through the perforations in said strip.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a horizontal bed-race
or guide way, along and through which, under a perforated block, travels a
perforated strip of paper.
The block lies across the guide-way, and is fixed
between two parallel arms.
These arms extend to the front and to the rear of
the block, and at their rear extension they hook over horizontal pins fixed to
the sides of the guide way. There is a frame hung to the front extension of
the arms, and this frame carries an india rubber roll which, with another
similar roll in the bed of the guide or race way for the perforated strip, lies
across such way and make the feed rolls for the perforated strip of paper.
These feed rolls, when the block is in position, are one above the other, the
lower one serving with a proper crank handle for the driving shaft of the
instrument. There are two hooks pivotted to the upper side of this block and
projecting to the front thereof. These hooks enter holes in the sides of the race-
way, and when so entered lie over the upper edge of the front extension of the
arms to the block. These holes are situated at a suitable height from the upper
surface of the guide way for the hooks when entered in them to hold the block
firmly and rigidly in position between such points of entering of the hooks and the
pins, over which the rear extension of the arms are hooked, as hereinbefore
described. This fastening of the hooks causes through the front extension of
the arms pressure upon spring rods, which, at one end, enter the front side of the
block, and at the other end are fastened to side arms of the feed roll frame, and
between such ends lie under a cross rod of said front extension. The upper feed
roll is thus made to press with a yielding pressure upon an under feed roll. There
is a frame resting upon the side rails of the race or guide way, and held thereon
by dowel pins and sockets. This frame carries two rolls, one at the rear of the
block and the other at the front of the feed rolls. These rolls turn in suitable
bearings of their carrying frame, and one is the music roll, that is to say, the roll
having the perforated sheet which is to be passed through the race or guide way
and under the block rolled upon it, and the other roll is the take up roll, upon
which the perforated sheet of the music roll is to be wound as fast as it passes
under the block and between the feed rolls, and which feed rolls are the means
by which the perforated paper sheet is drawn under the block from the music roll.
The music and take up rolls bave each a groove from end to end, which is round,
in cross section, and opens to the outer periphery of the roll by an opening of
narrower width. I provide a round rod lying within the round portion of the
groove. This rod with its groove fastens the ends of the perforated strip of paper
to the music and take up rolls, and this is done by simply laying and looping the
end of the perforated sheet within the groove, and then forcing the rod therein'
from one end of the roll to the other. The groove can be of other shapes in cross
section if desired.
The music roll has a grooved pulley, and the take up roll a similar grooved
pulley, which pulleys are connected by an endless belt.
The paper, as it is drawn by the feed rolls under the block from the music roll,
is, by this belt connection at the same time rewound on the take up roll. The

page_text: pulley to the music roll is loose upon a shaft. There is a spring band which lies
across the end of the shaft, and at each end is fastened to the pulley. This spring
band confines the pulley to the shaft with a yielding contact.
The pulley and belt connection above described drives the take up roll from the
music roll, and as the pulley of the take up roll is smaller than the pulley of the
music roll the slack of the perforated strip is always taken up, and the strip is
always kept at a suitable tension, and from the arrangement of the larger pulley
wheel on its shaft it obviously can yield or slip as may be necessary.
The carrier frame for the music and the take up rolls can be readily removed
from the instrument, and by an obvious construction of their bearings in the frame
the rolls can be readily attached and detached therefrom.
The block and the feed roll, carried by the front extension of its arms by simply
unfastening the hooks, can be detached when desired, and again replaced and
fastened as before.
If the perforated strip extends between the music and take up rolls, and is under
the block, the block and its connections must be removed before the frame, and such
rolls can be detached as aforesaid.
The spring band on the music roll can be applied to the take up roll instead if
desired.
The strip of perforated paper has two parallel rows of perforations, all of which
perforations are of a uniform length; one of these rows of perforations is for the
opening of the valve to an organ reed, and the other is for the closing of the same
valve. Two similar levers are arranged horizontally alongside of each other and
below the line of travel of the perforated strip. These levers, at one end, are
hung on a fulcrum of a common rail to swing in a vertical plane, and at their
other ends they rest upon a common rail which is suitably slotted to guide such
ends of the lever in their said swing. Each lever on its upper edge has a
wedge shape projection, and both projections are in line with a hole in the bed
or raceway for the perforated paper strip and the one projection, as also its lever is
in line with one row of the perforations of the paper strip and the other projection,
as also its lever is in line with the other row of such perforations. Each lever has
a bent spring pressing at one end against its under edge, intermediate of its length,
and at the other end it is fixed to the common rail before referred to. Below these
two levers and between them and the valve is a common lever, which is hung
between its two ends upon a fulcrum of a horizontal rail, so as to tilt and swing
in a vertical plane. This lever, by a vertical rod, connects with the valve, and
according as it is tilted in the one or the other direction slides the said valve in a
direction either to open or to close the same as the case may be. This intermediate
and tilting lever is tilted in the one direction by the one lever and in the other
direction by the other lever of the pair of levers provided for the two rows of
perforations described, and in each instance this is secured by means of a hook-
shaped arm fixed to the under edge of each lever, and each and both arranged in
relation thereto and to the said tilting lever to tilt the same as aforesaid and
without interference otherwise between them and the tilting lever.
Obviously mechanism other than the tilting lever and its attachment, and the
hook attachments of the levers, may be used to secure from the depression of the
levers an opening and closing of the valve, and the valve may be arranged for
being opened and closed in various manners other than that herein particularly
described, and therefore it is not intended to limit this Invention to any manner
in that regard, as so far as the Invention consists in a strip of paper, having two
parallel rows of perforations for a single note, and also in so far as it consists in
the combination of two levers, arranged substantially as described, to be operated
through a perforated strip of the character specified.
The arrangement of perforations in perforated strip levers in pairs, and tilting
lever to each pair, obviously are to be repeated for each note in the scale of the
musical instrument. When either one of the levers, through the perforation in
the paper, operates to open or close the valve, each lever is by the closed portion of

page_text: the paper immediately returned to its normal position, so that its hook will not
interfere with the movements of the tilting lever, the perforations being short
enough for this purpose.
Another mode of feeding the perforated strip and operating the take-up roll is as
follows:-
The music roll lies across the end of the race-way, and it is suspended and turns
in bearings at one end of the upper end of vertical arms, which arms at their lower
end are hung to turn upon centre pins at each side of the casing or support of the
race way; a roller is placed across the race way for the perforated paper strip, so as
to be flush with the upper surface of the race way and to turn at each end in fixed
bearings of the race way. The take up roll lies along and against the roller and
at the outside thereof, and in such position when it is clear of the perforated strip
it is flush with the upper surface of the race way and the said roller; but springs
are fastened to each side of a boxing in suitable positions to bear against the edge
of arms, and through them hold the take up roll to its frictional contact with the
roller. There is a gear wheel at one end of this roller, and a pinion which meshes
into the same and turns upon a suitable centre pin of the casing. I provide a
crank handle for turning the pinion and thus through it the gear wheel and its
roller.
As the take up roller is in frictional contact with the roller placed across the
raceway, it is turned with the rotation of the roller, and thus if the roller be turned
in the proper direction the take up roll is made to turn in the proper direction to
wind the perforated strip upon it, as also to feed it through the instrument, thus
dispensing with separate and independent feed rolls ordinarily used.
The suspension of the take up roll as just described enables the take up roll to
move away from the other roller as it increases in size and at the same time
maintains it in frictional contact with the roller, and by swinging the carrying
arms for the take up roll upon centres the take up roll is always flush with the
upper surface of the race way for the perforated strip, however large it may become
by the continued winding of the perforated strip upon it, which obviously is an
important advantage. The roller placed across the race way is surfaced with
india-rubber or other material to increase its frictional contact or surface. The
carrying frame for the take up roll may be arranged for the take up roll to move
in a straight line, and thus directly away from the roller, in lieu of moving in
circular line, but it is preferable to swing the take up roll as described, as it keeps
the perforated strip always drawing in a plane coincident with the plane of the
race way; the carrying frame, however, can be arranged to move in grooves that
incline downwardly at the proper angle to keep the paper strip in the said
coincident plane, which angle is about forty five degrees.
I arrange a sliding valve to a reed arranged to be operated by a single lever
through a single row of perforations in the paper strip, the length of the perforation
determining the length of time the note represented by the perforation is
sounded.
There is a lever having a wedge shaped projection upon its upperside. This
lever swings vertically on a pivot on the rail and by its arm it is connected to the
valve.
In this arrangement in the travel of the perforated paper in the operation of the
instrument, as such perforation comes over the opening in the race way and over
the projection of the lever, the perforation allows the lever to be moved upward by
its spring acting upon its under side, in which movement the arm opens the valve,
which remains open according to the length of the perforation, and as the paper
continues its travel the unperforated portion of the paper strip depresses the lever
through its wedge shaped projection and closes the valve.
The necessary bellows and other parts and connections with the driving shaft for
the operation of the instrument can be arranged as desired and in any of the well
known ways.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th November 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN REED-ORGANS
AND IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING OR PERFORMING UPON THE
SAME OR OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad by George
Walter Turner, of Boston, and Charles Hanson Spaulding, of Medford, both in
Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments which are
adapted for the automatic playing of a musical tune or composition, by the passage
of a perforated strip of paper, or the like, in relation to the sound producing
devices.
Heretofore in this class of instruments the length of the perforations of the strip
determined the length of time during which the notes represented by such
perforations were sounded, and thus with varying lengths of such perforations
corresponding varying lengths of tones were produced.
With this Invention however the length of time during which a note is sounded
is determined by the closed parts or portions of the paper strip, and the opening
and closing of the note is. secured in each instance by and through a separate
perforation in the paper strip, and the several separate perforations of the paper for
cach note are the perforations for opening the note in the one line, and the
perforations for closing the note in another line, which two lines are parallel.
This Invention comprises a strip of paper or other suitable material having
perforations arranged in parallel rows or lines, substantially as, and for the purpose
above stated. Also, the combination with a valve of two levers, which are arranged
in such relation to the said valve and so connected therewith, and also arranged in
such relation to two rows of perforations in a perforated strip disposed in the
relation above described, that during the travel of such perforated strip I secure
through the one lever and one row of such perforations an opening of the valve, and
through the other lever and the other row of such perforations a closing of the said
valve. It also comprises the arrangement of parts for the feed and passage of the
perforated paper-strip from one roll to another roll, and of the perforated strip and
carrying rollers in a frame which is capable of being readily removed from or
replaced on the top of the instrument; and further, a novel construction and
combination of parts for confining the perforated strip as it passes through the race-
way and maintaining it in the proper relation to the sound producing mechanism.
Also, the combination of a perforated strip of paper or the like with a sliding valve
operated by and through the perforations in said strip, all as hereinafter described
and for the purpose specified.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section on a line in front of the two levers for
one set of rows of perforations of the perforated strip.
Figure 2 is a similar section between the two levers of the perforated strip and
parts below it, except that the valve is opened and one lever raised.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section along and through the perforated
strip and its bed and race-way on a line in front of the two levers, for one set of
rows of perforations of the perforated strip with the valve closed and one of the
levers raised.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 2, z, Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a cross section on the line x, x, Figure 1, through the race-way and

page_text: A represents a horizontal bed race or guide way, along and through which under
a perforated block B travels the perforated strip C. The block B lies across the
guide way A and is fixed between two parallel arms. D, D, are arms which
extend to the front and rear of the block B; at their rear extension a they hook
over horizontal pins a¹ fixed to the sides or side rails E of the guide way A. F is
a frame hung to the front extension a³ of the arms D, D. This frame F carries an
india-rubber roll G, which with a similar roll G2 in the bed of the guide or race-
way A for the perforated strip, are arranged to lie across such way, and constitute
the feed rolls for the perforated strip of paper.
These feed rolls when the block B is in position are one above the other, the
lower one G serving with a proper crank handle as the driving shaft of the
instrument; b, b, are two hooks pivotted to the upper side of the block B, and
projecting to the front thereof. These hooks enter holes c in the sides E, E, of the
race way,
and when in this position lie over the upper edge of the front extension a³
of the arms D, D, on the block B.
The holes are situated at a suitable height from the upper surface d of the
guide way for the hooks inserted in them to hold the block B firmly and rigidly
in position between the points of the hooks b, b, and the pins over which the rear
extension of the arms D, D, are hooked, as herein before described. This fastening
of the hooks b, b, causes, through the front extension of the arms D, D, pressure
upon spring rods H, H, which at one end e enter the front side of the block B, and
at the other end e² are fastened to side arms f of the feed roll frame F, and between
such ends lie under a cross rod f2 of said front extension a³. The feed roll G is
thus made to exert a yielding pressure upon the under feed roll G'.
J is a frame resting upon the side rails E of the race or guide way A, and held
thereon by dowel pins g and sockets h.
This frame J carries two rolls K, L, one at the rear of the block B, and the other
at the front of the feed rolls G, G².
These rolls turn in suitable bearings in their carrying frame J, and the roll K is
the music roll, that is to say, the roll having the perforated sheet (which is to be
passed through the race or guide way and under the block B) rolled upon it, and the
roll L is the take up roll upon which the perforated sheet from the music roll K is
to be wound as fast as it passes under the block B, and between the feed rolls G, G²,
which feed rolls are the means by which the perforated paper sheet is drawn under
the block B from the music roll K.
The music and take up rolls have each a groove 1 from end to end; this groove
is round, or nearly so, in cross section, and opens to the outer periphery of the
roll; 2 is a round rod lying within the round portion of the groove l.
The rods 1, 1, with the said grooves l, l, fasten or secure the ends of the perfo-
rated strip of paper to the rods K, L; this fastening is effected by simply laying
and looping the end of the perforated sheet within the groove, and then forcing the
rod therein from one end of the roll to the other. The groove may be otherwise
shaped in cross section if desired.
Z
The music roll K has a grooved pulley K2, and the take up roll a similar
grooved pulley L²; these pulleys are connected by an endless belt M.
The paper as it is drawn by the feed rolls G, G2, under the block B from the
music roll K is by this belt connection at the same time rewound on the take up
roll L. The pulley K on the music roll K is loose upon the shaft m; n is a spring
band which lies across the end of the shaft m, and at each end is fastened to the
pulley.
This spring band confines the pulley to the shaft with a yielding contact.
The pulley and belt connection above described affords the means for driving the
take up roll from the music roll, and as the pulley of the take up roll is smaller
than the pulley of the music roll, the slack of the perforated strip is always taken
up, and the strip is always kept at a suitable tension, and the arrangement of the
larger pulley wheel on its shaft allows it to yield or slip as may be necessary.
The carrier frame J for the music and the take up rolls can be readily removed

page_text: from the instrument, and by an obvious construction of their bearings in the frame
the rolls can be readily attached and detached therefrom. The block B and the
feed roll G (carried by the front extension of its arms D), by simply unfastening
the hooks, can be detached when desired, and again replaced and fastened as before.
If the perforated strip extends between the music and take up rolls, and is under
the block B, the block and its connections must be removed before the frame and
such rolls can be detached as aforesaid. The spring band on the music roll can
be applied to the take up roll L instead of to the roll K², if desired.
The strip of perforated paper C has two parallel rows of perforations 0, 0², all of
which perforations are of a uniform length; one o of these rows of perforations is
for the opening of the valve N to an organ reed, and the other o² is for the closing
of the same valve.
Two similar levers O, O³, are arranged horizontally alongside of each other and
below the line of travel of the perforated strip C. These levers at one end are
hung on a fulcrum P¹ of a common rail P to swing in a vertical plane, and at
their other ends they rest upon a common rail P which is suitably slotted, as at q,
to guide such ends of the levers in their oscillations. The levers 0, 0², have on
their upper edge wedge shaped projections Q, Q³, and both these projections are in
line with a hole R in the bed or raceway A for the perforated paper strip; and the
one projection Q, as also its lever, is in line with one row of the perforations of the
paper strip, and the other projection Q, as also its lever, is in line with the other
row of such perforations.
Each lever has a bent spring r, ², pressing at one end against its under edge,
intermediate of its length, and at the other end it is fixed to the rail P2 before
referred to. Below these two levers 0, 0%, and between them and the valve N, is
a common lever S, which is hung between its two ends upon a fulcrum of a hori-
zontol rail & so as to tilt and swing in a vertical plane. This lever, by a vertical
rod S³, connects with the valve N, and according as it is tilted in the one or the
other direction slides the said valve in a direction either to open or to close the
same, as the case may be.
This intermediate and tilting lever S is tilted in the one direction by the lever O
and in the other direction by the lever O2 of the pair of levers provided for the
aforesaid two rows of perforations, and in each instance this is secured by means of
a hook shaped arm T or T2 fixed to the under edge of each lever, and each and
both arranged in relation thereto and to the said tilting lever to tilt the same,
as aforesaid, and without interference otherwise between them and the tilting
lever.
From the above description it is obvious that in the travel of the perforated
strip, each and every one of the perforations as they pass over the location of the
wedge projection of the lever, necessarily frees such lever to the action of its bent
spring, and that therefore such lever swinging upwardly moves its hooked arm, and
through it tilts the tilting lever correspondingly, and thereby moves or slides the
valve.
Thus the valve is opened or closed as the case may be. Then again it is obvious
that the length of time in which the valve is opened or closed depends upon the
arrangement of blank parts or portions of the perforated paper strip in relation to
the perforations. From the above description it is obvious that the notes can be
sounded from time to time, and the sound thereof be made of shorter or longer
duration, the sounding and non sounding of the reed being determined from the
movements of the levers 0, 0, and the duration of sounding or of non sounding
from the blank parts or portions and their relation to the perforations of the paper
strip.
Obviously mechanism other than the tilting lever and its attachment and the
hook attachments of the levers 0, 0³, may be used to secure from the depression of
the levers an opening and closing of the valve, and the valve may be arranged for
being opened and closed in various ways other than that herein particularly
described.

page_text: The arrangement of perforations in the perforated strip C, the levers in
pairs 0, 0, and the tilting lever S to each pair, obviously are to be repeated for
each note in the scale of the musical instrument. When either one of the
levers O, O, through the perforation in the paper operates to open or close the
valve N, each lever is by the closed portion of the paper immediately returned to
its normal position, so that its hook T or T will not interfere with the movements
of the tilting lever, the perforations being short enough for this purpose.
In Figure 1 the levers are shown, both held down by the unperforated portion of
the paper strip, and the valve is closed. In Figure 2 the valve is shown as opened
by the raising of one lever 02, and in Figure 3 as closed again by the raising of
the other lever O, as the perforated strip moves along the race way in the operation
of the instrument,
In Figures 7, 8, and 9, is shown another mode of feeding the perforated strip and
operating the take up roll; Figure 7 is a side clevation; Figure 8, a longitudinal
section on the line y, y, of Figure 9, which is a plan view of Figure 7.
In these Figures A is the race or guide way, B the perforated block, and C the
perforated paper strip wound upon the music roll K³, from which it passes to the
take up roll L³.
This roll L³ lies across the end 63 of the raceway, and is suspended and turns in
bearings at one extremity of the upper end of the upwardly inclined arms E², E³,
which arms at their lower end are hung to turn upon centre pins c² at each side of
the casing or support A² of the race way A. U is a roller placed across the race
way A for the perforated paper strip, and so as to be flush with the upper surfaco
of the said race way and to turn at each end in fixed bearings.
The take-up roll L³ lies along and against the roller U at the outside thereof,
and in such a position that when it is clear of the perforated strip it is flush with
the upper surface of the race way and the roller U. Bent springs d² are fastened
to each side of the casing A in suitable positions to bear against the edge of the
arms E2, E3, and through them hold the take up roll to its frictional contact with
the roller U.
V is a gear wheel at one end of the roller U, and V2 is a pinion which meshes
into the same and turns upon a suitablo centre pin f³ in the casing A³. W is a
crank handle for turning the pinion V2, and through it the gear wheel V and its
roller U.
As the take up roller L³ is in frictional contact with the roller U it is turned by
the rotation of the roller, and thus if the roller U be turned in the proper direction,
as, for instance, in that represented by the arrow in Figures 7 and 8, the take up
roll is made to turn in the proper direction to wind the perforated strip upon it,
and to draw it through the instrument, thus dispensing with separate and
independent feed rolls as ordinarily used.
The suspension of the take up roll as just described enables the roll L³ to move
away from the roller U as it increases in size, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 7,
and at the same time maintains it in frictional contact with the roller, and by
swinging the carrying arms for the take up roll upon centres the take up roll is
always flush with the upper surface of the race way for the perforated strip,
however large the roll may become by the continued winding of the perforated
strip upon it; this obviously is an important advantage. The roller U is coated
with india rubber or other material to increase the friction of its surface. The
carrying frame for the take up roll L³ may be arranged for the take up roll to
move in a straight line, and thus directly away from the roller, in lieu of moving in
a circular line; but it is preferable to swing the take up roll as described, as it
keeps the perforated strip always drawing in a plane coincident with the plane of
the raceway; the carrying frame however can be arranged to move in grooves that
incline downwardly at the proper angle to keep the paper strip in the said
coincident plane, which angle is about forty five degrees.
Figures 10 and 11 show a sliding valve for a reed arranged to be operated by
a single lever through a single row of perforations in the paper strip, the length of

page_text: the perforation determining the length of time the note represented by the
perforation is sounded.
These Figures represent in vertical section the race way, the paper strip, and
the valve and its seat, with the lever in side elevation; Figure 10 shewing the valve
closed; and Figure 11, the valve open.
A is the race or guide way; B, the block; C, the paper strip; N³, the sliding
valve;
and 0³, the lever having the wedge shaped projection O* upon its upper
side.
This lever Os swings vertically on a pivot g² on the rail g³, and by its arm 05 it is
connected to the valve Nº.
By this arrangement, as the perforated paper travels in the operation of the
instrument, the openings in the said paper pass over the opening m² in the race
way and over the projection 0* of the lever 03, and the perforation allows the lever
to be moved upward by its spring t acting upon its under side; in this movement the
arm 05 opens the valve N2, which remains open according to the length of the perfo-
ration, and as the paper continues its travel the unperforated portion of the paper
strip depresses the lever through its wedge shaped projection 0 and closes the valve.
Figure 12 shews a portion of the paper sheet hereinbefore referred to.
The necessary bellows and connections with the driving shaft for the operation
of the instrument can be arranged as desired in any suitable or well known
manner.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,—
First. In a mechanical musical instrument, a music sheet or strip of paper or
similar material provided with two parallel rows or lines of perforations
successively alternating with each other, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Second. A pair of levers arranged in relation to a valve or equivalent device,
and a strip of paper or the like having a row of perforations for each lever, which
rows of perforations are in parallel lines and otherwise arranged as set forth,
whereby one of said levers will operate to open the said valve, and the other to
close the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with the pair of levers 0, 0%, of the tilting lever S, and
the valve N arranged to operate substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The combination with a pair of levers 0, 0², of a sliding valve arranged
and connected for operation, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a perforated
strip of paper or the like, of a sliding valve arranged to be operated by mechanism
through the perforations of the said strip for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the guide way A having vertical
side rails in combination with a frame detachably secured upon the said side rails,
and provided with the rollers which carry the music sheet as herein shown and
described, the said roller carrying frame being capable of removal and replacement
at will, as above set forth.
Seventh. A block B having arms extending to the front and rear of the same,
the frame F and its feed roll G hung to the said arms in combination with devices
for fastening the said block and feed rolls in position within the guide way A for
the perforated strip and for producing a yielding pressure upon the feed roll G², all
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The roller U in combination with a take up roll arranged together for
the latter to bear upon the former, and to move in relation thereto, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The roller U arranged to be turned in combination with a take up roll
which is suspended in arms swinging upon centres, and against which the said roller
bears, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Tenth. The lever 03 having an arm 05 in combination with a perforated strip
and a sliding valve, all arranged for operation substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)