Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: "Date of Application, 25th May, 1897.
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES MORGAN, President of the Aeolian Company,
of 18 West 23rd Street, New York, in the United States of America.]
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of musical instruments that are adapted to
be played manually by a keyboard or mechanically and automatically by a per-
forated music sheet; and it has for its object to provide improved mechanism
of simple construction and operation adapted to be combined with any ordinary
musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard, for the purpose of
playing such instrument mechanically and automatically.
According to this invention and in applying the same, say, for example, to a
piano, I provide in the lower part of the case of the instrument below the key-
board a system of bellows adapted to exhaust the air from the pneumatics of a
perforated music-sheet attachment that is located within the case above the key-
board. The perforated music sheet attachment comprises a box or chamber
containing a series of pneumatics arranged alternately or staggering in a suitable
number of superposed rows. These pneumatics are of ordinary bellows construc-
tion and consist of a stationary piece and a movable piece and a flexible connection
between them. An opening leads from each pneumatic to the puppet box of a
puppet valve mechanism of ordinary construction arranged in a chamber placed
above that containing the pneumatics. There is a puppet valve for each pneumatic.
Situated within and extending the full length of the puppet mechanism chamber
is a primary box having an opening leading into the puppet box, which latter
also communicates, through another opening, with a chamber having its ends
open to the outer air. The chamber in the primary box is under constant suction
or exhaust from the exhaust bellows. Leading out from this chamber is an
opening communicating with a channel which, at its upper end, leals into
another channel in the tracker-board; and extending over said opening is a
flexible diaphragm to which is attached one end of the puppet valve stem.
Mounted on this stem are two dises adapted, in the usual way, to close alternately
the opening from the primary box to the puppet box, or that from the puppet box
to the chamber that is open to the outer air.
3
The movement of the diaphragm according as a non-perforated or a perforated
portion of the music-sheet comes opposite the opening in the tracker board com-
municating with the before mentioned channel, acts to close either the opening
from the primary box to the puppet box or that from the puppet box to the outer
air. In case of the closing of the latter and the consequent opening of the former,
the pneumatic will collapse and the upward movement of its movable piece will,
D
077

page_text: by means of a pin extending loosely at its upper end through an arm on the
flexible piece and provided with a button, and extending at its lower end (which
is also provided with a button) loosely through an angle-lever or projection on a
vertically moving rod or the like, raise such rod and thereby allow the weighted
key of the keyboard to drop down at its front end. The raising of the rod will
operate the hammer to strike the wire and produce the desired note. The said
rod bears on a button or stop provided at the rear end of the key; and in case
the keyboard is played manually, the depression of the key at its front end will,
through such button, raise the rod and operate the hammer, the angle-lever or
projection on said rod sliding loosely on the pin connected to the pneumatic
without moving the same.
The perforated music sheet extends in front of the tracker board and is adapted
to be wound from one roll onto another roll; said rolls being journalled in suitable
bearings and the upper roll or that roll onto which the music-sheet is wound
being driven by suitable belting and shafting, including an arrangement of cone
pulleys for permitting the speed of the music sheet to be varied, from an electric
or other convenient form of motor, which may be located under the keyboard in
the lower part of the case.
The lower roll is mounted in a pivoted frame and carries a gear wheel which
by means of said pivoted frame may be brought into gear with or disengaged from
a pinion carried by part of the shafting communicating motion to the upper roll.
A stop is provided in front of the instrument which, through a system of levers,
effects the engagement or disengagement of said gear wheel with the pinion and
simultaneously moves a pulley on the shaft carrying such pinion which pulley is
connected to the upper roll by means of an endless belt, and causes such pulley
to run loose or to engage such shaft. By this arrangement the music sheet can
be wound back onto the lower roll. At the same time that the said pulley is
moved into the position for driving the upper roll, i.e., the position for playing
the instrument, a valve is opened at the end of an air box communicating with
the exhaust bellows, to release the air.
The arrangement of the bellows for exhausting the air and producing the suction
to operate the pneumatics is as follows:
Arranged under the keyboard frame is a closed chamber or air box, on the
bottom of which is secured the stationary leaf of each one of, say, four bellows
and an opening leads into each of said bellows from said chamber. The movable
leaf of each of the bellows is provided with a valve and is connected by a link
with a crank shaft mounted in bearings in the lower part of the case.
shaft has a
The crank
grooved pulley at one end which is belted to a grooved pulley on the
shaft of the before mentioned motor. At one end of the closed chamber or air
box is a box on the lower surface of which is secured a stationary leaf of an
equalizing bellows. A spring tends to constantly expand this bellows against
the action of the exhausting bellows. From the same end of the closed chamber
or air box a pipe leads into the wind chest, which is connected by an opening
with the primary box of the puppet valve mechanism, the size of this opening
being governed by a valve operated by a suitable system of levers from a stop, 4
so that the notes may be played soft or loud, as desired.
The advantages of these improvements will be readily appreciated by those
skilled in the art.
The improved attachment may be combined with any ordinary piano or other
musical instrument without interfering with the ordinary manual operation of the 5
keys.
The pneumatic action is located entirely over the keyboard, so that all the
channels and passages leading to the perforated music sheet are above the key-
board, and there is no necessity of employing rubber tubes extending below the
keyboard, as the pneumatics act on the keys from above instead of below, as is
customary.
It will be understood that the details of construction of these improvements

page_text: may be varied if desired. For example, the angle lever or projection described as
attached to the rod may be attached to the rear end of the key.
Dated this 25th day of May 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 that class of musical instruments that are adapted to
be played manually by a keyboard or mechanically and automatically by a per-
forated music sheet; and it has for its object to provide improved mechanism
of simple construction and operation adapted to be combined with any ordinary
musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard, for the purpose of
playing such instrument automatically.
And in order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the same fully with reference to the accom-
panying drawings which illustrate the invention, as applied, by way of example,
to a pianoforte, and in which:-
Figure is a front view the lower front part of the case and a portion of the
upper part thereof being removed to expose the parts which would be concealed
thereby.
Figure 2 is a section through the upper part of the instrument shown in
Figure 1, taken on the line 2, 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow a.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3, 3, Figure 2, looking in the
direction of arrow b, same figure; and
Figure 4 is a sectional detail view through the air-box at the left of Figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of one end of the roll-frame and receiving
roller, and the mechanism for rocking said frame.
Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, are shown on an enlarged scale.
1 is the case of the instrument, and 2 the key-board, the keys of which are
connected with the sound-producing devices, and may be operated manually in
the ordinary way.
Combined with the key-board, to play the keys mechanically and automatically,
is a perforated music-sheet attachment, which is located within the case above
the keyboard. The system of bellows for exhausting the air from the pneumatics
of the perforated music-sheet attachment is located in the lower part of the case
below the keyboard, as shown in Figure 1.
In the perforated music-sheet attachment a box or chamber 3, of suitable size
and construction, is arranged in the case above the keyboard and contains a series
of pneumatics, in this instance arranged in four rows, one over the other, as
shown in Figure 2.
The pneumatics 4 in the different rows are arranged alternately or staggering,
and each pneumatic is of ordinary bellows construction and consists of a stationary
piece and a movable piece and a flexible connection between them. An opening,
as 5, leads out from each pneumatic 4 to a puppet-valve mechanism of ordinary
construction and operation, and located in a box or chamber above the chamber 3,
containing the pneumatics. There is a puppet valve for each pneumatic.

page_text: Situated within, and extending the full length of the puppet mechanism box
or chamber is a primary box 7, having an opening 8, leading into the puppet box
or chamber 9, which latter also communicates through another opening 10 with
a chamber 11 having its ends open to the outer air. The chamber in the primary
box 7 is under constant suction or exhaust from the exhaust bellows located under
the key-board, and to lie hereinafter described.
Leading out from the chamber in the primary box 7 is an opening 12, leading
into an opening or channel 13, which at its upper end leads into a channel 14
in the tracker-board 15, (see Figure 2).
Extending over the opening 12, leading out of the primary box 7, is a flexible
diaphragm 16, to which is attached one end of the puppet-valve stem 17. Two
discs 18 and 18 are secured on the stem 17 and are adapted to close alternatively
the opening 8 or the opening 10; 'in the usual way.
The movement of the diaphragm 16, according as a non-perforated or a per-
forated portion of the music sheet comes opposite the opening 14 in the tracker-
board 15, acts to close the opening 8 or the opening 10. In case of the closing
of the opening 10 and the consequent raising of the disc 16 from the opening 8,
the pneumatic will collapse, and the upward movement of the movable piece of
the pneumatic will, through a pin 19 extending loosely at its upper end through
an arm 20 on said flexible piece and at its lower end through an angle-bracket 22
fast on a vertical moving rod 23, said pin being provided with a button 21 at
its upper end, and with a button 24 at its lower end, raise said rod 23 and allow
the weighted key 2 to drop down at its front end. The raising of the rod 23 will
operate the hammer 25 to strike the wire 25¹ and produce the desired note.
In case the keyboard is played manually, the depression of the keys 2 at their
front ends will, through the buttons 26 on their rear ends, fraise the rod 23 to
operate the hammer 25, and the angle-bracket 22 will slide loosely on the pin 19
without moving the same.
The perforated music-sheet 27 extends in front of the tracker-board 15 and is
adapted to be wound from one roll, as 29, on to another roll, as 28. Said rolls
are journaled in bearings, and the upper roll is belted to a shaft 30 by an endless
belt 31, passing around grooved pulleys 32 and 33. The shaft 30 is provided
with a pinion 45 which is adapted to engage with a gear wheel 46 on the end of
the lower roll 28. On the opposite end of the shaft 30 from the pinion 45 is
cone-pulley 34, which is belted by a belt 35 to a cone-pulley 36.
Said cone pulley 36 is belted by a belt 37 to a pulley 38 on
the shaft of a motor 39, in this instance an electric motor, which may be of any
ordinary construction and located under the keyboard in the lower part of the
a
case.
By means of the reverse cones 34 and 36, and the shifting of the belt 35 by
a slide 40, rod 41, angle-lever 42, and link 43 (see Figure 3) operated by the
stop 44 pivoted at its lower end and adapted to move out or in at its upper end,
the speed of the shaft 30 and consequently of the roll 28, may be varied according
as it is desired to have the perforated music-sheet 27 move fast or slow in front
of the tracker-board.
as
The lower roll 28 is mounted in a frame 28', which is pivotally supported
shewn in Figure 2 and adapted to be thrown out at its lower part to disengage
the gear wheel 46 from the pinion 45 by the bevel end 47' of a rod 47, secured in
a block 48. The end 47 of said rod 47 engages a projection 28 on the frame 28'
below its pivotal support, whereby when said rod is moved forward in contact
with the projection on the frame the latter will be thrown outward at its lower
end, disengaging the gear wheel 46 from the pinion 45.
A stop 49, through link 50, angle-lever 51, and rod 52, operates the rod 47 to
move the lower end of the frame, and with it the gear wheel 46, out of engagement
with the pinion 45, and at the same time moves the loose pulley 33 on the shaft 30),
through the arm 53, to the left in Figure 3 and cause the pin 30 on said shaft to
engage a pin 33, on the pulley 33 and cause, the pulley to revolve with the shaft

page_text: to operate, through the belt 31, the pulley 32 and the roll 29 to rewind the music-
sheet 27 thereon in the usual way. At the same time that the pulley 33 is moved
on the shaft 30, as above described, a valve 54 on the end of the air-box 57 is
opened to release the air, through connections 58, 59, and 60, to the arm 53,
(See Figures 1 and 3).
I will now describe the arrangement of the bellows for exhausting the air and
producing the suction to operate the pneumatics.
Arranged under the keyboard frame is the enclosed chamber 57. On the
bottom thereof is secured the stationary leaf of each
one of the four
bellows, 61, 62, 63 and 64, and an opening leads into each of said bellows from
said chamber.
The movable leaf of each of the bellows is provided with a valve (not shewn)
and is connected by a link 65 with a crank-shaft 66, mounted in bearings 67
in the lower part of the case. The crank-shaft 66 has a grooved pulley 68 on
one end thereof which is belted to a grooved pulley 69 on the shaft 70 of the
motor 39 by a belt 681 (see Figure 1). The crank-shaft 66 is therefore driven by
the motor 39 and operates the bellows.
At one end of the chamber 57 is a box 71, on the lower surface of which is
secured a stationary leaf of an equalizing bellows 72. A spring 73, attached at
one end to the stationary leaf and at its other end to a movable leaf of the bellows 72
tends to expand said bellows against the action of the bellows 61, 62, 63 and 64.
Leading out from the end of the chamber 57 is a pipe 74, which opens into
the lower end of the wind chest or box 75, which is connected with the primary
box 7 of the puppet valve mechanism by an opening 76 (see Figure 4). The
size of the opening 76 is governed by a valve 77 on the end of a rod 78, attached
at its upper end to the angle-lever 79, pivoted at 80 and connected by a rod 81
with an angle-lever 82, which is connected by a link 83 with the stop 84. By
means of the stop 84 through the intermediate mechanism, the exhaust of air
from the primary box of the puppet-valve mechanism is controlled, so that the
notes may be played soft or loud, as desired.
The advantages of these improvements will be readily appreciated by those
skilled in the art.
The improved attachment may be combined with any ordinary piano, or other
musical instrument, without interfering with the ordinary manual operation of
the keys.
The pneumatic action is located entirely over the keyboard, so that all the
channels and passages leading to the perforated music-sheet are above the key-
board, and there is no necessity of employing rubber tubes extending below the
keyboard, as the pneumaties act on the keys from above instead of below, as is
customary.
It will be understood that the details of construction of these improvements
may be varied, if desired. For example, the angle-bracket 22 may be attached
to the keys 2 (as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 4), instead of the rod 23. Any
kind of a motor, as an electric motor, a water-motor, or a gas-motor may be used
for operating the mechanical mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention 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. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual key-board, of
apparatus for mechanically operating the same, consisting of a motor; a series
of bellows operated thereby and located under the keyboard, said bellows com-
municating by a pipe with a wind chest situated above and to one side of the
keyboard and containing puppet valve mechanism; a series of pneumatics each
of which has a connection with the sound producing devices; a vertically arranged
music sheet; and independent connections between the motor and series of bellows,

page_text: and music sheet operating mechanism, substantially as described and illustrated
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a musical instrument having a manual keyboard, of a
vertically disposed pneumatic action located above the rear ends of the keys,
and consisting of a plurality of pneumatics each provided with a movable member
having a rearwardly extending arm that is connected, by means of a rod having
a stop or button at each end, with a vertically moving rod arranged above the
rear end of the manual key; a vertical air channel board leading upward from
the pneumatic action to a forwardly projecting horizontal tracker-board; a
vertically arranged music sheet moving over the face of the tracker board; means
for operating the music sheet, a series of bellows located below the keyboard and
adapted to operate the pneumatics; and a motor having an independent con-
nection with the bellows and music sheet operating means, whereby both are
operated simultaneously, substantially as described and illustrated, with reference
more especially to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the aforesaid tracker-board of a music-sheet roll
journaled in bearings above the tracker-board and carrying a pulley at one end,
a rocking frame mounted below the projecting tracker-board, a music-roll
journaled in said rocking frame and provided with a gear wheel at one end, a
power shaft having a pinion lying in a line with said gear wheel a loose pulley
on the power shaft adapted when moved laterally to clutch said shaft, a belt
connecting the music-roll pulley and loose pulley, and means for simultaneously
rocking the roll-frame, and moving the loose pulley into and out of its clutching
position, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the aforesaid music sheet, of the rolls onto which said
sheet is wound and unwound, a rocking frame one of said rolls being mounted in
said rocking-frame and provided with a gear wheel at one end, a power shaft
having a pinion lying in a line with the said gear-wheel, and means for rocking
the said roll-frame whereby its gear-wheel will be brought into and out of gear
with the pinion, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.