AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thom Wright, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ARRANGEMENT
OR CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thom Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1876.
JOHN THOM WRIGHT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS."
This Invention, which relates to an improvement in the arrangement or con-
struction of musical instruments, consists in the combining together in one and the
same instrument of an harmonium and pianoforte, so that these two instruments can
be played as one from one key-board, or either as an harmonium or pianoforte at
the will of the performer.
In carrying out the Invention the harmonium is placed below the pianoforte,
and connecting rods or their equivalent couple the striking mechanism of the piano-
forte with the reed opening mechanism of the harmonium, so that at all times
when a note or notes of the pianoforte is (or are) struck the corresponding reed or
reeds of the harmonium is (or are) simultaneously opened. By this arrangement
the tone of the harmonium becomes endowed with the promptness of the piano-
forte, and the tone of the pianoforte is sustained by means of the harmonium,
Any of the well-known arrangements for playing the two parts of the instrument
separately, such as are at present used in organs, may be adopted for playing the
combined instrument separately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Thom Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June
1877.
JOHN THOM WRIGHT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRU-
MEXITY"

page_text: My said Invention, which relates to an improvement in the arrangement or con-
struction of musical instruments, consists in combining together in one and the
same instrument a harmonium or organ and a pianoforte, so that the two instru-
ments can be played as one instrument, and from one key-board, or as separate
instruments at the will of the performer.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say,
Figure 1 illustrates in section, with some parts shown in clevation, and Figure 2
in front elevation a portion of the musical instrument constituting my said
Invention.
.
In carrying out the Invention the harmonium or organ A is placed below the
keys of the pianoforte B, and connecting rods x, or their equivalents, couple the
striking mechanism of the pianoforte with the reed opening mechanism of the
harmonium or organ, so that when a note or notes of the pianoforte is or are struck
the corresponding reed or reeds of the harmonium or organ is or are opened. The
connecting rods x may be permanently attached to the keys or striking mechanism
of the pianoforte or to the keys or reed opening mechanisin of the harmonium or
organ, and are carried through the key bottom or frames placed between the keys
of the pianoforte and of the harmonium or organ respectively, and through which
key bottom or frames the said connecting rods are individually free to move down-
wards and upwards, according as the keys of the pianoforte are struck or released
by the performer. The connecting rods x are, preferably, provided with cushions
of leather or other similarly suitable material at their ends. By combining together
a pianoforte and a harmonium or organ, as herein-before set forth, the tone is endowed
with the promptness of the pianoforte, and also with the sustaining character of the
harmonium or organ.
When it is desired to play the pianoforte separately or without also playing upon
the harmonium or organ, this may be effected by ceasing to operate with the feet
the treadles connected to the bellows or blower of the latter instrument; or it may
be effected by lowering or raising the latter instrument or its key-board.
To enable the pianoforte and the harmonium or organ to be secured together
with their key boards in the proper position for having like notes struck or sounded
simultaneously a hinge joint connecting the instruments together is provided at E;
and when it is desired to separate the instrument so as to play them individually
the pin or rod passing through the joint is withdrawn through one or both ends of
the pianoforte, thereby leaving the harmonium free to be drawn out from under the
other instrument.
For the purpose of playing upon the harmonium or organ without also playing
upon the pianoforte (when the instruments are combined) the keys of the latter
instrument may be pressed gently, which gives the effect of a harmonium with a
percussion action; or any other of the well-known arrangements at present used
in organs for connecting or disconnecting different sets of key-boards may be used.
In the combined instrument the various stops of the harmonium or organ are or
may be placed below the key-board or on the key-blocks of the harmonium, and
pedals are or may be placed on the right and left of the harmonium or organ treadles,
which operate by means of levers, cranks, or other suitable mechanism upon the
loud and soft pedals of the pianoforte respectively.
In place of combining the pianoforte with a harmonium or organ, as herein-before
described, it may be combined in a similar manner with the instrument known as
the "harmoniphon," or with other tongued or reed or pipe instruments for the
purpose of producing a like effect.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invent
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
psed or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
ne by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, combining together in one
and the same instrument a pianoforte and a harmonium or organ, harmoniphon, or
other tongued, reed, or pipe instrument, so that the two instruments can be played
as one, from one key-board by means of the connection x, or separately as a piano-
forte, and as a harmonium or organ, harmoniphon, or other instrument at the will
of the performer, substantially as herein-before described with reference to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
JOHN THOM WRIGHT. (L.S.)