IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Smith, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS”
Sealed the 9th July 1878, and dated the 17th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1878.
HERMANN SMITH, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey.
CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
My Invention relates to reeds used in harmoniums, organs, and other musical
instruments, and consists of improvements in the arrangements of the auxiliary
spring devices, in respect of which I obtained Letters Patent, dated the 8th
December 1875, No. 4242.
In carrying out my Invention I interpose between the reed and the said auxiliary
spring devices a block or raised piece, and a spring therefrom, which is connected to
the flexible and extensible ring or loop, the block or raised piece being fixed upon
the surface of the reed at or about midway or at any desired point between the tip
and the root of the reed. By these means I secure greater flexibility for the tip of
the reed, and at the same time obtain an elastic or moving fulcrum for the acting
portion of the reed, which exercises a special function in addition to that of the
fixed root. Under this combination of constraining devices the pitch of the reed is
greatly raised, and to compensate for this, when lower pitch is desired I place upon
the interposed spring extending between the block and the ring adjustable weights,
by varying the position of which I am enabled to lower the pitch with facility.
even to the 32 feet tone, whilst retaining the quickness of speech due to the
flexibility of the tip.
When it is desirable to avoid the weight of the block the interposed spring may
be rivetted, soldered, or otherwise secured to the reed direct at the requisite distance
between the tip and the root of the reed.
As a modification of the preceding arrangement, I cause the original reed to take

page_text: the place of the spring by bending it upwards from the frame, so as not to be
actively influenced by the wind; and I attach to the under surface thereof a
subsidiary tongue constituting the reed proper, which, by being affixed at a suitable
intermediate point between the tip and the root, thus forms a shorter reed, and
secures the benefit of the elastic fulcrum.
The Invention may be applied to instruments operating either by pressure or by
suction, and to beating reeds as well as free reeds; and it is not restricted to reeds
of the ordinary form, as reeds of a disc-like or other shapes may advantageously
be used.
The Invention may further be applied to the flue pipes of organs in the following
manner-In lieu of acting upon the pipe by the ordinary mouth-piece I close the
end of such pipe by a membrane, diaphragm, or elastic plate, and I connect thereto
the reed with its auxiliary spring devices, so as by the action of the reed upon the
membrane, diaphragm, or plate to set the air in the pipe in motion. In order to
effect such connection I find it advantageous to add to the frame of the reed a pair
of upright arms, the upper portions of which are bent or coiled into a short loop
and united. Between this loop and the reed, or between the loop and the interposed
spring, the flexible and extensible ring is affixed, the upper point of attachment of
which is thus a movable centre. A connection between this point and the
membrane, diaphragm, or plate is then made by a threaded wire with tapped buttons
or nuts, or in any other suitable manner.
In order to obtain a greater extent of motion I may substitute for the ring or
semi-ring or loop, the upper extremity of which is continued forward of the arms,
thus forming an extended lever from the movable centre or fulcrum; the distance
at which the point of connection is then made upon this lever will determine the
extent of motion given to the membrane, diaphragin, or plate.
The Invention is also applicable to reeds operating under the agency of electricity
or magnetism, either with or without the action of wind.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hermann Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th July
1878.
HERMANN SMITH, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey.
CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
My said Invention relates to reeds used in harmoniums, organs, and other musical
instruments, and consists of improvements in the arrangements of the auxiliary
spring devices, in respect of which I obtained Letters Patent, dated the Eighth of
December, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, No. 4242.
In carrying out my said Invention I interpose between the reed and the said
auxiliary spring devices a block or raised piece, and a spring, spring bar, or link
therefrom, which is or may be connected to the extensible ring or loop or other
attachment; and this block or raised piece is fixed upon the surface of the reed at
or about midway, or at any desired point between the tip and the root of the reed ;
and the spring is attached to the block, or the block may be dispensed with, and
the spring be fixed to the reed. Also the block may be placed above the spring,
and thus by this combination of constraining devices, and by their interchange of
relative position, I secure a very extended range of influence upon the pitch and
quality of the reed. By these additional devices I also secure greater flexibility
for the tip of the reed, which can readily be manipulated in voicing, and at the
same time obtain an elastic or moving fulcrum for the acting portion of the reed,
which exercises a special function in addition to that of the fixed root, for I have
observed that in musical instruments the tone derived from vibrating agents
possessing an elastic fulcrum or moveable node is more stable and less liable to
fluctuation from subsidiary influences.
The Invention also embraces other features, as herein-after described.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
It should be observed that the arrangements shewn in the Drawings are merely
given as examples, as it is not necessary in all cases that these devices should be
applied parallel to the reed; they may be placed transversely or at any angle, and
in reversed position, and may be fixed on the under surface of the reed; and the
relative positions may be altered or combined in different manner to the selected
forms, yet with retention of the same power of exercising constraint and affecting
pitch and quality of tone.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a reed
with its ring or loop of elastic wire, which, in this instance, is a portion of a helical
coil of brass wire. a is the reed frame, b is the reed tongue, and c is the flexible
or extensible ring or loop; W is the interposed block or raised piece fixed upon the
surface of the reed; X is the spring, spring bar, or link which is parallel to the
reed, and is at one end connected with the ring c by a small piece of tubing c¹
soldered or otherwise affixed to the spring, spring bar, or link, and allowing the
ring to be expanded or contracted, whilst at the other end the said spring, spring
bar, or link is affixed by a screw, soldered, or other suitable means to the block or
raised piece W.
The weight and height of the block W are determined according to the pitch
designed, and the addition of weight in this position is greatly preferable to the
ordinary way of weighting reeds at the tip in order to gain depth of pitch; by my
method, the great disadvantage of extreme dip of the tongue below the surface of
the frame and the consequent coarseness of tone from the reed will be avoided.
The tip of the deepest toned reed can thus be reduced to whatever thinness may
be desired in order to render the reed prompt in response and readily influenced by
changing pressures of wind.

page_text: The influence of the block W varies in accordance with the distance at which
the block is placed from the root, and this distance again influences the length of
leverage allowed to the spring, spring bar, or link X.
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the same reed and constraining devices with
an additional weight Z which may be made adjustable in any convenient manner,
as, for example, by a screw clip, as shewn, or be fixed at any required point, as,
for example, immediately above the block W on any part of the spring, spring bar,
or link X, and the result in pitch and tone will differ, according as the position is
changed, thus compensating at will for any raising of the original reed pitch through
the constraint of the ring, and enabling the voicer to lower pitch with facility even
to the thirty-two feet tone, whilst retaining the quickness of speech due to the
flexibility of the tip.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating a mode of using the spring, spring
bar, or link and block without the ring. In this plan the fore end of the spring
bar or link X has attached to it a piece of spring wire u passing into a tube v
which is carried by a support vl, the tube being capable of being pushed forwards
or backwards over or along the wire, thereby altering the relations of elasticity;
other similar means of exercising variable pressure or constraint may be substituted
for those shewn in Figure 3. For some varieties of tones it is expedient to use
double reeds, which are made either originally in one frame or two reeds of the
same pitch, or differing in size and pitch, may be taken, placed side by side, and the
frames united by solder; then instead of using a parallel link bar to each, it is
preferable to place one spring, spring bar, or link transversely from block to block,
thus forming a yoke to the two reeds, as shewn at X' in the plan, Figure 4, and at
the middle of this, the other spring, spring bar, or link X is fixed, pointing forwards
and resting on a support v¹, on which the height is capable of being varied by the
interposition of washers, the whole being secured in position by the screw and fly
nut or other suitable means. In lieu of this arrangement the spring X may be
attached to the ring or loop c, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
The two springs, spring bars, or links may, if preferred, be formed in one as a T
piece, or when a lessened degree of elasticity is desired, the two blocks may be so
shaped as to be united in a rigid manner, or may be cast in one piece so as to form
a solid arch or span, and then only one spring, spring bar, or link will be used.
A further modification consists in making the spring, spring bar, or link either on
the single or double system, sufficiently long to rest on supports at each end of the
reed frame. When thus arranged, another change may be made effecting the com-
plete suspension of the reed or reeds by severing the tongue at its root, making
each end free to vibrate.
Figure 5 illustrates in sectional elevation a mode of using the spring, spring bar,
or link X, without the block W; the interposing spring, spring bar, or link is
rivetted, soldered, or otherwise secured to the reed b direct at the requisite distance
from the root.
As a modification of the preceding construction I cause the original reed to take
the place and office of the spring, spring bar, or link, by bending it upwards from
the frame so as not to be actively influenced by the wind; and I attach to the
under surface thereof a subsidiary tongue then constituting the reed proper, which
by being affixed at a suitable intermediate point between the tip and the root, thus
forms a shorter reed and secures the benefit of the elastic fulcrum.
In these modes when using the double reeds or reeds in pairs (a spring, spring bar,
or link being used to each reed), the tips of the said springs, spring bar, or links
may be united by another spring, spring bar, or link placed transversely, at the
centre of which latter the constraining ring common to both may be connected.
For very light or small reeds the effect of the combined springs, spring bars, or
links may be gained by bending a piece of elastic wire into a spreading V shaped
form, as shewn at X in the plan, Figure b, and connecting the same at the bend
to the constraining ring, or loop, or other support.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation illustrating a mode of using the block or

page_text: raised piece W without the spring, spring bar, or link X, the constraining
ring or loop being attached (preferably at the side to the said block or raised
piece.
The effect of the spring, spring bar, or link, in varying the quality of tone
produced under these combinations of constraining devices is greatly determined by
the particular shape of the spring, spring bar, or link used; thus if perfectly uniform
throughout its length it tends to one kind of tone chiefly, that known as string tone,
if tapered in form from the block forwards, a ringing tone is favored, if inverted
taper, that is to say, thinnest towards the junction with the block dull tone is more
readily obtained, provided of course that the channels are suitably proportioned for
such tones.
The quality is also influenced by the length of the spring, spring bar, or link, in
relation to the reed, and according as its length is less than the distance from the
block to the tip of the reed, or is equal thereto, or more or less projects beyond the
tip of the reed, so that by the many combinations and permutations possible under
this system of devices, the variations which may be produced in the shades and
qualities of tone are practically unlimited.
The Invention may be applied to instruments operating either by pressure or by.
suction, and to beating reeds as well as free reeds; and it is not restricted to reeds
of the ordinary form, as reeds of a disc shape may be used, as shewn in sectional'
elevation and plan in Figures 8 and 9 respectively.
In this particular example it is desirable to use a small tube w, and the dise
reed b is supported by two spring devices X2, thus better balancing the constraint.
The disc carries a block W, to which is affixed the spring, spring bar, or link X,"
which in its turn is connected to the ring or loop c. The disc may either, be
perfectly free or beating, or be concave, or scallop shell-shaped, and provided with a
hinge.
By using a tube form the apparatus is rendered self-contained, and the tubes may
be fitted into the sound board in holes provided for the purpose.
The other arrangements of apparatus previously described may also when advan-
tageous be used in a self-contained form both in harmoniums and organs.
The applications illustrated in the several Figures are not limited to one reed
or to two; they may be adapted to several reeds placed in any suitable positions
relatively to each other, parallel, radiating, or otherwise, and be united by a system
of springs, spring bars, or links, so as to be in connection with one constraining ring
or loop, or under the influence of any governing system of such devices.
The Invention, besides being used in combination with the flue pipes of organs
acting as resonators, may further be applied to the flue pipes of organs in the
following manner:-In lieu of acting upon the pipe by the ordinary mouth-piece
and the passage of a stream of wind, I close the end of such pipe by a membrane,
diaphragm, or elastic or other plate, to which the reed with its auxiliary spring
devices is connected, and by the action of the reed upon the membrane, diaphragm,
or plate, the mass of air contained in the pipe is set in motion.
A suitable arrange-
ment of these devices is illustrated in longitudinal section in Figure 10. To the
frame a of the reed there is fixed a pair of upright arms e, the upper portions of
which are united, and bent or coiled in a short flexible twist or hinge f; the spring
loop 9 at its upper part is connected therewith, passing through a small piece of
tube soldered on f, and projecting beyond, as shewn at g', whilst at its lower part
it is similarly connected to the spring bar or link ✗ or to the block; the upper
projecting wire g', having a motion given to it coincident with the motion of the
reed, may be considered as a lever having its moveable centro or fulcrum f, and at
any desired distance from which a threaded wire i with tapped buttons i¹ is fitted ;
the end of this wire is then connected with the membrane, diaphragm, or
upper
plate by similar buttons or in other suitable manner, and by this means com-
municating thereto the motion derived from the activity of the reed.
It will be obvious that the extent of the motion thus communicated can be
determined for each reed in a series, according to the distance from the fulcrum
1

page_text: ƒ at which the threaded wire is attached. The point g¹ moves downwards or dips
when the point h of the spring, spring bar, or link X, rises as indicated by dotted
lines, and vice versa.
The threaded wire or other suitable means of connection with the membrane k may
also be attached to other portions of these auxiliary devices directly to any part of the
ring, or semi-ring, or loop, or to the block, or the spring, spring bar, or link; other
parts of the arrangements in this illustration are, the frame & for the membrane, and
the collar m by which the membrane is stretched above this the pipe N, fitting
round or resting upon the collar m, or upon the membrane k.
When a plate is used, as of thin iron, mica, or other material, then, instead of using
a collar, a clipping frame may be substituted, either wholly or partially holding the
plate, unless it is preferred to balance the plate freely from some central support.
The wind enters the reed box at the opening o, filling the chamber p, passes through
the reed frame a, filling the reed, pipe, tube, or channel p², and keeping tight the
valve q, the organ key action operating on the back fall, opens the valve by the
brass wire arm 8, which is made adjustable on the back fall, so that the length
of leverage can be regulated, and thereby the extent of lift given to the valve,
which is important in respect of the strength of tone designed in the stop. On the
lifting of the valve which is set on a moveable plate q', the compressed air in the
channel finds exit, and the continuing of the current sets the reed in motion, causing
primarily the vibration of air in the channel, and in synchronism therewith the
column of air in the pipe, and consequently the effect is gained of two pipes of
wholly different qualities of tone from two distinct sources of sound originated by
a single agent.
The arrangement shewn can be greatly simplified if required, and can be readily
varied to suit beating reeds or to accord with conditions when the valve is placed
in advance of the reed, and only intended for admitting wind when opened, the
exit always being free.
My said Invention is also applicable to reeds operating under the agency of
electricity or magnetism, either with or without the action of wind.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment in combination with the reed and the auxiliary spring
devices herein-before referred to, of a block or raised piece, and a spring or springs
or their equivalents used in conjunction, or of a block or raised piece, or a spring
or springs or their equivalents used separately, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described.
Second. The combination of a membrane, diaphragm, or elastic or other plate of a
reed or reeds, and of spring and other devices, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermann Smith, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
HERMANN SMITH. (L.S.)