Improvements in Apparatus for Recording and Reproducing Music.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 23rd Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Recording and Reproducing Music.
I, CARL WILHELM NYSTROM, of Karlstad, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Electrical
Engineer, 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 consists in improvements in the apparatus for recording and
reproducing music produced on key-instruments described in the specification of
Letters Patent previously granted to me and numbered 19075 of 1892, and has for
object to render the working of the apparatus thoroughly satisfactory and exact. In
the improved apparatus it is unnecessary to remove the recording portion when the
recorded piece of music is to be reproduced, and no special levers are needed for
depressing the keys, the same vertical spindles being used for recording as are used
for reproducing. In the recording apparatus electromagnets are employed to act
upon the recording tools and these electromagnets are arranged in two horizontal
rows so as to enable the strip of material that receives the signs to be as narrow as
possible.
In the apparatus described in the aforesaid specification a cylinder coated with
suitable material was used for the recording; but as the dimensions of such a cylinder
would be too large to receive a long piece of music, there is substituted for it
according to this invention a strip of paper, cloth, or the like, which, after being
cleaned, has been coated on one side with a thin wax-like material.
Apparatus according to this invention is represented in the accompanying drawings,
wherein Fig. 1 is a transverse section thereof, Fig. 1ª is a similar view to Fig. 1, but
to a larger scale, Fig. 2 a broken front view, and Fig. 3 a transverse section similar to
Fig. 1 and showing the apparatus without the reproducing portion and ready for
recording; Figs. 4 and 5 show portions of the apparatus in plan; Fig. 6 shows one
end of the apparatus, with the means for applying the apparatus to an instrument ;
Figs. 7 and 7 show in detail in elevation and plan respectively, one of the spindles of
the recording apparatus with its contact-device; Fig. 8 represents a device for
enabling a piece of music, that has been played and recorded, to be read; Figs. 9
and 11 represent details of the reproducing apparatus; Fig. 10 represents means for
applying an apparatus to an instrument with a larger key-board than the one for
which the apparatus is constructed; Fig. 12 is a detail view of the device for support-
ing the lever-mechanism; Fig. 13 shows, to a larger scale, a recording-lever with its
cutting-tool; and Fig. 14 represents, to a larger scale, a reproducing-pin with its
contact device.

page_text: The frame of the apparatus comprises a horizontal plate a, supported by end
plates . On the plate a is pivoted at a³ a frame a², which may be raised or lowered
by means of a screw that is adapted to work in a lug f. By means of brackets a¹
the frame 2 supports flanged cylinders b, 61, 62. The paper or cloth strip prepared
as above mentioned and wound to the necessary length upon the cylinder b, which
can be removed from the apparatus and exchanged for similar cylinders, as desired, is
led around the cylinder 2 to the cylinder 6', upon which it is wound when the
apparatus is in action. The cylinder b' receives its motion from a shaft 63, which is
supported by one of the brackets at and is provided with a worm 64, which gears with
a worm-wheel on the shaft of the cylinder b¹. During the recording of a piece of
music that is being performed, the strip passes from 6 to 1.
In order that it may
be led back from the cylinder to the cylinder b, the shaft 63 is provided with a
second worm b, opposite in direction to the worm 6, and gearing into a worm-
wheel a on the shaft of the cylinder b. At one end, the cylinder b is supported by a
shaft c¹, on which the worm-wheel is loosely mounted. Within the shaft c¹ is
another shaft c³ which at its inner end is provided with means for causing it to rotate
with the cylinder b when pressed towards the latter by a spring. The outer end of
the shaft c³ is provided with a disc 2 having a pin c that enters a corresponding hole
in the worm-wheel a, so that the cylinder 6 will be caused to rotate with the worm-
wheel a. By withdrawing the shaft c³ and turning the disc c² so that its pin ct bears
against a collar on the shaft c¹, the cylinder b can be disconnected from the worm-
wheel a".
To enable the cylinder b to be removed from the apparatus, a small shaft c mounted
in one of the brackets a is withdrawn. At the inner end of the shaft c is provided a
sleeve c for the end of the shaft of the cylinder b. The sleeve is pressed by a spring
against the shaft end.
The shaft of the cylinder b¹ directly supports the worm wheel, and has an
arrangement essentially like that herein before described for stopping or putting in
motion the cylinder b.
The third cylinder 2, the object of which is to lead the strip from 6 to b¹, is
supported by arms d, connected by a bar ď. The cylinder 2 is thus movable, so
that for the recording it can be placed just above the cutting-tools as shown in
Fig. 3, whereas for the reproduction it can be brought into the position shown in full
lines in Fig. I just above the reproducing pins, which are placed in front of the
cutting tools. The cylinder can be fixed in either of these different positions by
means of a screw d².
If the reproducing pins were placed at the other end of their respective levers so
as to be as near as possible to the cutting tools, it would not be necessary that the
cylinder 2 should be movable; the reproducing pins might then be brought into
contact with the strip on the cylinder 62 when the latter were in the same position
as during the recording.
At h¹ the levers h of the recording portion of the apparatus are made tubular
(Figs. 1 and 13) and in their tubular portions they carry the cutting tools h², which
can be adjusted therein by means of screws and fixed in the position to which
they have been adjusted, by screws h³. At the other end of each of the levers h is
fixed an armature, and below the armatures 15 are situated electroinagnets ho,
which are arranged in two rows, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to enable the note-
strip to be as narrow as possible. For this purpose every other lever is provided
with a prolongation 7, at the end of which an armature h is placed.
The vertical spindles i, the lower ends of which are to be placed on the keys of
the instrument so as to transmit the motion of the keys to the cutting-tools when
recording, and to transmit the motion of the reproducing pins to the keys when
reproducing, have bearings provided in guides ¹, which are secured together by
vertical stays 2 (Fig. 7). The upper ends of the spindles are provided with ebonite
cups 3. Above the spindles i are provided other guides k, which are secured together
by stays . In these guides are provided bearings for vertical spindles, which are
vertically in line with the spindles i. The spindles are provided at their lower
-i

page_text: ends with metal discs k which enter the ebonite cups and rest against the bottoms
thereof. The spindles 3 are also provided with insulated metal collars 5, which are
coated with platinum on their undersides in order to produce good electrical contact
with platinum pins arising from the said discs kt. In order to make the distance
between the contacts and constant, however uneven the key-board may be, the
spindles can be fixed when the apparatus has been applied to the key-board and
the spindles and 3 have assumed their correct positions. For this purpose the
upper one of the guides k is provided with a third bar k², through corresponding holes
in which the spindles pass freely. The bar ² is not rigidly connected to the guide /
by the stays, but is adjustable and is provided with oval holes for the ends of the stays.
The adjustment is effected as hereinafter described, the spindles being released or
secured by turning a nut l, which fits on a serew 12 jointed at one end to a bell-crank
lever 13 and passing through a fixed support . The lever 13 actuates a lever 1, which
turns on a stud 15 and communicates motion to the bar k².
The metal collar 5 rests on the upper edge of the cup i3 and is pressed against
by a helical spring which is insulated from the guides and from the spindles k³
but not from the collar 5. One pole of a source of electricity is in direct connexion
with one terminal of each of the electromagnets h, and the other terminal of each of
these electromagnets is connected through the spring ke, to the collar 5. The other pole
of the source of electricity is connected with the spindle ³, either through one of the
bars k or otherwise so that the circuits will be closed and the electromagnets h® energised
whenever the contacts and 5 come in contact with one another. An advantage
of this construction of the contact-pieces and is that the contact-surfaces are
large, and consequently the resistance to the passage of the current inconsiderable;
another advantage is that dust is prevented from entering and covering the contact-
surfaces.
When a piece of music is to be recorded by the recording apparatus herein before
described, the nut is first loosened, in order to release the spindles 3. Then the
apparatus is applied to the instrument so that the lower ends of the spindles i rest on
the keys. According to the unevenness of the key-board the spindles and also the
spindles occupy different positions as to height. Then the nut is secured so as to
fix the spindles as herein before described. When the keys are pressed down during
the performance of a piece of music, the corresponding spindles follow them in con-
sequence of their own weight. Thus in the case of each key, the respective contact
pieces and are brought into contact and the circuit is closed of the corresponding
electro-magnet ho, which attracts its arinature h on the lever of the cutting tool h,
thus making an impression on the advancing note-strip, the length of the
impression depending on how long the key has been depressed. When the key
is released, the corresponding spindle i resumes its original position, whereby the
contact-pieces and are brought out of contact and the cutting-tool is caused io
withdraw.
The reproducing apparatus comprises reproducing pius e3 with their contact-
springs, electromagnets with their levers, and lever-mechanism o. All these
parts are mounted in a frame n which is supported in the apparatus by fillets q
(Fig. 3) by means of side pieces in and stays n¹ connecting the side pieces m to the
frame n.
Fig. 14 is a detail view relating to the reproducing pins e3 and their contact
arrangements. On a metal frame e² are fixed for each pin e³ parallel springs e, e¹, of
which e is in metallic contact with the frame e², whilst el is insulated therefrom.
On the springs e are fixed the reproducing pins 3 and also platinum pins et. Each
spring e¹ is bent back and provided with round or oval holes, which the pins e³ enter freely.
With the U-shaped part (thus formed) of each spring e¹ is fixed a smaller spring e,
the free end of which is coated with platinum. When the apparatus is not employed
for reproducing, this spring device occupies the position shown in Fig. 14, the curved
spring el bearing against a guide e; but during the reproduction, the metal frame e²
s turned up, by means of a screw e', towards the cylinder b², so that the ends of the
prings el press against the cylinder, whereby the springs are removed from the

page_text: guide eº.
At the same time the contact between the pin e and the spring e ceases
in consequence of the pressing of the pin e³ towards the cylinder 62 by means of the
screw e7.
The proper distance between the pin e and the spring e is obtained by
adjusting the screw e on the spring. el. At one end each spring e¹ is angularly curved
and projects somewhat from the frame e²; against such ends bear springs S for the
purpose to be hereinafter described.
The metal frame e² is supported by the frame a² by means of brackets f, f (Fig. 1)
mounted on the underside of the said frame a The frame 2 is movable on
shafts f3, f³ (Fig. 5), and, by means of the screw 2 which carries a collar which is
engaged between two collars fixed on one of the shafts 3 there can be obtained the
side displacement necessary for its adjustment in relation to the cutting tools. To
avoid touching the screw e', when the contact apparatiis has obtained its right
position relatively to the note-strip, the said contact apparatus can be adjusted by
means of a wedge f* (Figs. 1 and 5) on which the screw e rests. For each spring
device of the kind hereinbefore described there is provided an electromagret r, the
armature of which is adjustable and connected with an arm 73 pivoted to a bracket 72
(Figs. 1, 2, and 9). The armature is adjustable by means of screws 74. At about a
third of the length of the arm 73, measured from the end pivoted to [the bracket,2,
there is pivoted to the lever 13 an arm 15, supporting at its free end an arc-shaped
piece. To the arm is pivoted an arın 7 connected by a wire or the like with a
corresponding lever o. The wire is properly fixed to the arm by pulling its end
through a hole in the lower part of the said arm and knotting it. The wire is
fixed to the lever o by introducing it into a hole in a sleeve 08 (Fig. 11) which is
provided on the end of the lever o and supports a wedge by means of which
the wire is clamped to the lever.
Connected to the bracket 2 and the arm ³ is a helical spring for withdrawing the
arm 73 when the electromagnet has ceased to be energized. In order to limit the
backward movement caused by the spring the bracket 2 is provided with an
adjusting screw adapted to act as a stop for the arm 3. In the frame n, close behind
the arc-shaped pieces 20, is mounted a cylinder 18 that rotates with a certain rapidity
and communicates the motion of the reproducing pins to the corresponding keys as
hereinafter described.
The levers o are supported by two metal frames o¹¹ (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) and are
movable on pivots p (Fig. 11,) in lugs pl (Fig. 1) on the frames o¹. By means of
forks o the levers o are made to act upon the spindles i. In order to enable the
lever arrangement to be adjusted, the upper frame o¹ is. provided with two shafts of
furnished with bearings 65 (Figs. 1 and 12), which are pivotally mounted on side-
pieces screwed on the frame n. Around the shafts of are placed helical springs
which press against the bottoms of the bearings and against flanges on the shafts.
The pressure of the helical springs exceeds the weight of the levers, which are
consequently raised by the springs. The adjustment is effected by screws o', which
press against the shafts 04.
Although the shorter arms of the levers o and their forks are arranged in the
same order as the spindles and the keys, in consequence of the overlapping of the
oblique frames o¹ and of the levers o (Fig. 4) the longer arms of the levers on the upper
and lower frames are alternately arranged; for example, in apparatus the compass of
which is four octaves or 49 notes, (numbered consecutively 1-49 in an ascending
scale) the longer arms of the corresponding levers are arranged in the order
25, 1, 26, 2.
23, 48, 24, 49.
•
Now the reproducing devices and the arms are arranged in the order of the notes,
to correspond with the record by which they are actuated; the arms must conse-
quently be connected to the long arms of the levers o in such manner that each
arm actuates the fork 02 corresponding to it in natural order. Hence in the
example referred to, the first lever arin, from the left, which is in the upper frame o¹
and which actuates the spindle resting on the 25th key, must be connected to the
25th arm, while the second lever arm, which is in the lower frame o¹, and which

page_text: actuates the spindle of the first key must be connected to the first arm 7, the over-
lapping of the levers o being thus compensated.
The frames o¹¹ which are secured together by stays ³, are provided at their outer
ends with studs p² that enter brackets projecting from the side pieces m and are
fastened by screws.
When the reproducing apparatus is placed upon the fillets qq, the forks o² are
made to clutch the spindles i and to rest against bosses which are movable on the
spindles and provided with fixing screws. A loose bar (not shown in the drawings)
is first inserted between the bosses *, the screws of which are loosened, and the lower
guide i¹.
Helical springs, provided under the bosses, press them against this loose_
bar, whereby the bosses are brought into the same horizontal line, independently of
the unevenness of the key-board. Then the bosses are secured in their positions
by the screws. It is obviously necessary to repeat this adjustment only when
the apparatus is removed from one instrument to another.
One of the poles of the source of electricity is connected with the metal frame e²,
which is insulated from the frame a², and from there the current passes through the
springs e and the contact-pieces et, e to the springs e¹. From the springs e¹ the
current passes through the springs S supported by the frame n, and from them to
the coils of the electromagnet r. The other ends of these coils are connected with
cominon conducting rail, connected with the other pole of the source of
electricity.
રી
The reproducing apparatus acts in the following manner. When one of the pins e³
enters one of the impressions made in the note-strip the contact between the pin et
and the spring e is closed, and as a result of this the corresponding electro-
magnet attracts its armature 1, which, by means of the arm, presses the
corresponding arc-shaped piece against the rotating cylinder 8. On account of
the friction the arc-shaped piece follows the rotation of the cylinder, and is brought
into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9; the corresponding lever o is
consequently actuated by the wire connected with the arm, and transmits the
motion to the corresponding spindle i, which depresses the key on which it
rests.
Fig. 6 illustrates an arrangement for obtaining a horizontal position of the apparatus
when it is to be applied to an instrument. Each rear support u of the end plates a¹
is vertically adjustable and is provided with a toothed rack u¹, in which gear the
teeth of a bell-crank lever u², capable of being rocked by means of a lever u* and a
connecting rod 3: By depressing the lever *, the teeth of u² are removed from the
rack u¹ so that the support u can adjust itself to the height required. When after-
wards the lever u¹ is released, the support is retained in the determined position by
the teeth on the arm u².
In order to enable the apparatus to be applied to an instrument with a larger
keyboard than that for which it is constructed, an arrangement is employed such as
shown in Fig. 10. The angle brackets tare secured to the front bar of the instrument
by means of screws t¹. The horizontal arm projects over the keys as far as their
rear ends, and carries, by means of adjustable nuts t2, the rear supports of the
apparatus.
In the case of so-called "hard" instruments, where the keys present considerable
resistance on being struck, and in order to obviate the necessity of too powerful a
source of electricity, the width of the front bars may be supplemented by pieces t³
as shown in Fig. 10. With its supports bearing on these additional pieces, the
apparatus is pushed forward so that the spindles i rest upon the front ends of the
keys. For recording, the apparatus is pushed back so that the spindles rest on
the rear ends of the keys.
Fig. 8 represents an arrangement for use in translating the recorded piece of
music into the ordinary musical signs. It consists of a rule, on which the scale of
notes is so written that the distance between the staffs of adjacent notes, corres-
ponds to the distance between adjacent signs. on the strip v¹, over which

page_text: the rule is placed. After some practice it is easy to translate the recorded
music-piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An apparatus for automatically recording and reproducing performed pieces of
music, in which the levers that are intended to be operated by means of the keys of
a musical instrument and to effect the recording, are provided at one end with
adjustable cutting-tools (h2, Figs. 13), whereas their other ends carry arinatures
which are actuated by electromagnets (h), which are coupled in an electric circuit
when contact is effected between vertical spindles (i) resting on the keys and
fixed spindles (3), situated above the aforesaid spindles (i).
2. The special arrangement for producing the contact between the spindles (i and k³)
mentioned in Claim 1, comprising ebonite cups (3) which are fixed on the
spindles (i) and are covered by metal collars (5), which are pressed against the cups
by springs (6) and through which pass the spindles (3), which are provided on their
ends that enter the cups (3), with discs (kt) carrying platinum pins.
3. The provision for the spindles (i and k³) mentioned in Claim 1, of bearings in
horizontal guides (i¹ and k respectively) connected by stays (2 and k¹ respectively),
another bar (2) movable on one of the guides (4) being provided for fastening the
upper spindles (½³).
4. In an apparatus of the kind mentioned in Claim 1, the arrangement, for
reproducing a piece of music, of a pin (e³) fixed on a spring (e) parallel to which is
arranged another spring (el), between which and the aforesaid spring (e) contact is
made when the pin (e³) enters a depression in the material on which the recording
has taken place, so as to energize the corresponding one of the known electromagnets,
the movement of the armature (r¹) of which effects the depression of the correspond-
ing key.
5. In an apparatus of the kind mentioned in Claim 1, instead of the usual suitably
coated cylinder for receiving the recording impressions, the arrangement of a strip
of paper, cloth, or similar material, which, during the operation of the apparatus,
runs directly above the cutting-tools (2) mentioned in Claim 1 or above the pins (e³)
mentioned. in Claim 4.
6. In an apparatus of the kind mentioned in Claim 1, the arrangement, on the
arm (3), which carries the armature (1), mentioned in Claim 4, of a rotatable arm (15),
provided with an arc-shaped piece (8), in an arm (77) of which is fastened a wire, the
other end of which is connected with a lever arrangement (0), which acts upon
the spindles that bear on the keys, the said arc-shaped piece on the attraction of the
arinature () turning with a rotary cylinder (78) placed behind the armature, for
effecting the depression of the corresponding key.
7. Apparatus for recording and reproducing music, constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1899
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.