An Improved Device for Changing the Key of Flutes, Flageolets, and other like Wind Instruments.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar.. 1890
An Improved Device for Changing the Key of Flutes, Flageolets,
and other like Wind Instruments.
I RICHARD WALSINGHAM WESTERN, of Perry-mead, Bath, in the county of
Somerset Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: :-
In order to make a flute flageolet or similar wind instrument, according to this
invention; I make a longitudinal slot down one side of the instrument, parallel to the
axis of the tube. This slot I cover with india rubber or some material of similar
elastic properties, in which holes are pierced which are made to come over the slot.
These holes are made of such a size, and placed at such a distance apart, as to produce,
with ordinary fingering, the scale of highest pitch desired for the instrument, when
the material in which they are pierced suffers no longitudinal strain. Scales of con-
tinuously deepening pitch, can then be produced at will, when the india rubber or
similar material is stretched.
Dated this fourth day of November 1eva
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Changing the Key of Flutes, Flageolets,
and other like Wind Instruments.
I, RICHARD WALSINGHAM WESTERN, of Perry-mead, Bath, in the County of
Somerset, "Civil 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved device for changing the key of flutes, flageolets
and other like wind instruments, where a pipe with holes is required and played by
blowing with the mouth and by stopping and opening the holes with the fingers.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and
figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a metallic tube C with a mouth piece A, and a
collar B fixed to the said tube. On this tube I cut a slot F and pass a sliding collar I
from the bottom of the tube C.
On the collar II fix a small projecting collar J for the purpose of gripping an india
rubber tube when placed in position. The sliding collar may be placed in any position
and held secure by a thumb or set screw H.
Figure 2 is an elevation of figure 1 with the addition of an india rubber tube E
with perforated holes G, the top of the tube E is fixed above the collar B, by any
suitable material, and the bottom of the tube E is fixed to the sliding collar I by wire,
silk, D or any other suitable material.
Figure 3 is an elevation of figure 2 with the india rubber tube E extended and held
in the position by the set screw H to alter the key of the instrument from figure 2,
or the slide 1 may be passed upwards in any desirable position. .
In order to make a flute flageolet or similar wind instrument, according to this
invention, I make a longitudinal slot F down one side of the instrument parallel to
the axis of the tube C. This slot F I cover with india rubber E or some other suitable
material of similar elastic properties, in which holes G are pierced which are made to
come over the slot F.

page_text: These holes G are made of such a size, and placed at such a distance apart as to
produce with ordinary fingering, the scale of the highest pitch desired for the instru-
ment, when the material in which they are pierced suffers no longitudinal strain.
Scales of continuously deepening pitch, can then be produced at will when the india
rubber E or similar material is stretched.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First: The combination of the perforated india rubber E and the tube C with the
slot F and the sliding collar I regulated by the thumb or set screw H and the india
rubber tube fixed to the collar I and at the top of the instrument, for changing the
key of flutes, flageolets, or any other wind instrument where a pipe with holes is
required and played by blowing with the mouth and by stopping and opening the
holes with the fingers, substantially as herein described and according to the accom-
panying drawings.
Secondly: The sliding collar I with the collar J to grip the india rubber when fixed
below at D and the set screw H for extending or receding the india rubber substan-
tially as herein described and according to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of Jan
1400
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.