Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1396-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
We, GUSTAV BORTMANN and ALFRED KELLER, Manufacturers both of Fichte-
Strasse No. 30° Leipzig, in the Empire of Germany, 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 object of this invention is shown in the annexed drawing in connection with
a musical instrument, with circular music sheet and note comb. By this invention
it is possible to play with one music sheet, musical pieces of double the length
or longer than has been possible hitherto, or to play more than one piece of
music.
In the annexed drowin
Fig. 3, shows a part plan of the music sheet b and the driving disc d.
Fig. 4 a section of the note comb and the axle of the plucking wheel.
Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the mechanism.
In the present musical instrument, are used, music sheets, upon which next to
the note signs over the plucking wheels c are placed one or more note rows to lie
between each two plucking wheels c.
The note sheets are fixed successively upon the axle a carrying the music sheets
and are arranged movable with this carrying axle a, to enable after each revolution
of the music sheet bother note signs to be brought over the plucking wheels c.
order to cause successive revolutions of the music sheet b to repeat the same note
rows, instead of bringing other rows into action, the arrangement for the moving
of the carrying axle a with the music sheet b may be set out of action.
The driving work as well as the device for the moving of the carrying axle a, is
fixed on the plates m' m³ united together by bolts or rods 2.
The carrying axle a revolves in the slide m and in the fixed plate m². The
slide m is guided as shown in Fig. 6, in a slot in the plate m' and fastened therein
by the plate o', screwed on the slide m and projecting under the plate m'. The
spring keeps the slide m with its nose o upon the periphery of the cam disc c
fixed upon the axle gl. The axle gl is therefore adapted to revolve and to swing
within certain limits in the plates m¹ and m².
The cam disc el operates the moving of the carrying axle a, the slide m being
pressed back in the slot against the spring f on the revolution of the disc c', when
the larger radius of the disc c¹ meets the nose c' of the slide m.
The carrying axle a is kept during the moving of the slide m by its ball like bearing
in the plate m, in order that it is only allowed to become inclined and only the
upper part of the carrying axle a is displaced. The disc c is so constructed that
its periphery after each revolution of the music sheet b moves the slide m with the
upper part of the carrying axle a so far that the note rows lying between the
already played note rows of the music sheet b are brought over the plucking
wheels c.
The carrying axle a and the axle 91 are operated from the spring barrel v by
means of the toothed wheels h2, h, and h.
The wheels h, h', and 2, are arranged in one plane as near as possible to the
plate m' and therefore the wheel h upon the carrying axle a is close to its ball like
D01

page_text: bearing a in order that on the moving of the axle a the wheel 4 moves only a little,
therefore remains in gear with the wheels and ².
The carrying axle a with the music sheet & makes two revolutions, while the
axle g with disc c¹ makes one revolution.
The note rows upon the music sheet & can be arranged either centrically or
spirally. In note rows arranged centrically upon the music sheet & the tooth o of
the slide m slides after each revolution of the music sheet & upon a step in the
periphery of the cam disc c¹ from an arc of one radius to an arc of a different
radius so that the music sheet & by means of a slide m and carrying axle a is then
moved and in one revolution of the music sheet & the one group of note rows, and
in the next revolution another group of note rows is played the latter lying between
the first.
Thus after having played one music piece, by a further revolution of the same
music sheet another piece may be played or the same piece repeated as hereinafter
described.
In note rows arranged spirally upon the music sheet, the tooth o of the slidem,
slides upon a spiral periphery of the cam disc e' (Fig. 5) and thus also for the same
purpose during two successive revolutions of the music sheet 6 it is moved evenly in
one direction to bring into action two note rows.
Arrived at the end of the second revolution the music sheet is moved by means
of the spring f again in its previous position.
By giving to the axle g' correspondingly fewer revolutions and to the disc ca
corresponding form; instead of one there can be played successively also more.
note rows arranged between the plucking wheels c.
The driving may also be effected by the periphery of the music sheet b, instead
of the carrying axle a as shown here. "
To set out of action the device for the lateral movement of the carrying axle a,
the wheel A', serving for the operating of the axle g, is placed loosely upon the
Also upon the axle g' is a movable sleeve g fixed by a feather projecting
into a slot thereof.
The socket g is provided with a tooth and adapted to the size of this tooth, and
corresponding with the same, the nave of the wheel has a recess 2. Into the latter
the tooth is pressed by the spring surrounding the axle g' between sleeve 9 and
the plate m'. The sleeve g is provided with a groove in which engages the end of the
lever n tulcrumed in the post u. Over the other end of the lever n is a second
lever fulcrumed upon the angle bracket u' and projecting through a slit in the
plate m'.
The angle brackets u and v are fastened by screws upon the plate m'.
The lever is arranged in such a manner, that if it is turned in the position
shown in Fig. 1, the free end of the lever n is pressed downwards; the sleeve g is
litted by the forked end of the lever n and the tooth i is taken from the
recess.
When the lever is turned into the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines the
lever a is free and the spring presses the sleeve g downwards, and the tooth i
passes into the recess i².
As soon as the tooth enters the recess the wheel ' turns in the same direction
the sleeve g, axle g', and cam disc c and the latter operates the moving of the
carrying axie a with music sheet b. When the tooth is out of the recess the
wheel rotates loosely upon axle g' and the latter with sleeve g and cam disc c
are put out of operation. In this case the lateral movement of the carrying axle a
with music sheet b ceases and the same note rows are repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The construction for moving the axle a carrying the music sheet in mechanical
musical instruments in which the carrying axle a arranged to revolve in a slide

page_text: and in a fixed bearing and the cam disc c' are adapted to be simultaneously revolved,.
so that by the periphery of the disc c, upon which by means of a spring the slide
is kept in touch, a lateral movement is given to the slide with carrying axle a and
music sheet b, according to the form given to the slide, in such a manner that after
each revolution of the music sheet without any stoppage of the working note rows
are played which lie between the already played note rows, and therefore with one
music sheet may be played correspondingly longer or two or more musical
pieces.
2. In the apparatus claimed above for moving the axle a carrying the music
sheet the arrangement for setting out of action the can disc c for the purpose of
repeating the several music rows.
Dated this 8th day of April 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for Applicants.