CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
CHANDLER HEWITT, of Store Street. Bedford Square, in the County of Middle-
sex, Professor of Music, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixth day of December, in the second year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Daniel Chandler Hewitt, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Daniel Chandler Hewitt, my exors, adiiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Daniel Chandler Hewitt, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Daniel Chandler Hewitt, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Daniel Chandler Hewitt, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to that description of musical instruments wherein the
vibration of springs or elastic tongues are employed as the means of obtaining
notes, such springs being opposed to openings or passages through which
currents of air are caused to pass; and my Invention applies to that description
of such musical instruments as are played by means of finger keys acting on
valves or stops; and I propose to call my Invention "The Ochestron." And
in order to give the best information in my power I will proceed to describe
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an instrument constructed
according to my Invention. Figure 2 is a transverse section of the instrument.
Figure 3 is a front view in section. Figure 4 is a transverse section taken
through the end part of the wind chest of the instrument. In each of these
Figures the same letters indicate similar parts, and such is the case in respect
to the other Figures, to which attention will be hereafter called. The first
part of my Invention relates to arranging the finger keys radiating from a s
common centre, in place of arranging them as heretofore. This arrangement
is shown at Figure 1, and the curve indicated by the Drawing is produced
by a six feet radius from a point in front of the instrument. The advantage
of so placing and arranging the finger keys is that the player can reach them
with greater facility than when placed in one continuous line, and although
six feet radius produces a very convenient and elegant curve, yet I do not
confine myself thereto.
Another part of my Invention relates to the application of two pairs of
bellows, in order to supply air to the wind chest, and this part of my Invention
is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, a and b being the two pairs of bellows,
which are so connected together that on the rising of one the other is depressed
by certain arrangements of levers shewn in the Drawing, c, c, being two
connecting rods, which are affixed at their lower ends to the top surfaces of
the bellows a and b, their upper ends being attached to the lever or scale
beam d by pin joints, the lever d moving on an axis or fulcrum d, as is
clearly shewn in the Drawing. It will consequently be evident that the
person performing on the instrument, in depressing one of the bellows with
his foot will raise the other, and thus keep a constant supply of air to the

page_text: e, e, áre
wind chest, as it will be seen that one bellows will be filling with air during
the depressing of the other; and there is great advantage in this arrangement,
as the person performing on the instrument can regulate the force and
speed of the depression of the bellows, and conséquently of the speed at which
the air will be caused to pass through any opening or openings, to operate on
any particular spring or springs to produce the notes required and of the
intensity wished. And I would remark that this again is modified by certain
apparatus employed on the inside of the wind chest ; and further, there is
other apparatus to regulate the degree of condensation or pressure of the air
in the wind chest, all which arrangements and adaptations of apparatus
are to obtain a greater command of the instrument and of its tones
than any of the like description of instrument heretofore made.
the induction valves for the passage of air into the bellows, and f, f, are
the eduction valves from the bellows into the wind chest, all which will bé
well understood on examining the various Figures of the Drawing now
under description. The bellows are made similarly to the bellows heretofore
employed for similar instruments, and their nature is clearly shewn in the
Drawing. 9 is the wind chest, consisting of the two ends and back of the
instrument, enclosed in all directions sufficiently air-tight, as is well under-
stood, and h is a small regulator, similar in construction to a pair of bellows,
which have a tendency at all times to be expanded, being open to the outer
atmosphere by a valve or opening at h³; and in case of the air being too
forceable in the air or wind chest, the apparatus h will have a tendency
to regulate the same, particularly at the time of changing the working of the
bellows a and b. i represents another regulator, but on a larger scale than
that shown at h, and the interior of this regulator also has a valve or opening
to the outer atmosphere, and has a covering by which the performer can
allow the force within the apparatus i to be greater or less, according as the
opening is more or less closed; for it will be evident if the opening ¹ should
be wholly closed the air contained therein would require considerable force
in contracting its dimensions, and would, consequently, react with great force
and quickness should the supply of air be suddenly diminished in the air or
wind chest; and the effect of this apparatus will therefore evidently depend on
the extent to which the opening is uncovered, and whether the valve ² is
opened or closed. By this means the speed can be regulated at which the
air in the wind chest can be driven out at the openings covered by springs o,
to produce the notes desired, the apparatus i being compressed by the force
of the air in the wind chest, all which will readily be understood on examining
the Drawing.
is the cover of the opening'", having a connecting rod³, by

page_text: which the cover to the valve is connected to the lever i, and the lower end
of the lever it is in such a position as readily to be acted on by the performer
by the foot in order to control the effect produced. Figure 5 shews a
tranverse section of another instrument, differing from that shewn in the pre-
vious Figures, inasmuch as the arrangement of the apparatus in connection with
the springs or elastic tongues o, Figure 6, shows another means of combining
two pairs of bellows in such manner that on depressing one the other will
ascend and fill. At the back and front are arrangements of levers by which
the pressure of the feet of the performer on either of the bellows may be
communicated from one to the other of the bellows. j is a lever moving on
an axis at j', and has openings or slots through which the studs affixed to the
upper parts of the bellows work, and j³ are levers moving on axes ³ carried
by the lever j. The levers ³ are connected by pin joints at their upper parts
to the bellows, and at the lower ends of the levers there are slots or openings
through which studs pass, which are affixed to the lower parts of the bellows.
By this means any pressure or force of the bellows will be reversed to the
other bellows, as will readily be understood on examining the Drawing.
Figures 7 and 8 show a front view and part of an end view of another arrange-
ment of bellows, so arranged that the pressure may be varied by the person
performing on the instrument. In this case only one bellows is employed, the
lower part being worked up and down by the treadle r, as is shown by dotted
lines. s is an axis turning on suitable bearings, as is shown. t is a treadle or
lever affixed on the axis t', and on the same axis the arm are affixed, con-
sequently, when the lever t is moved the arm t2 will also be moved. To the
arm the connecting link v is attached by a pin joint, such connecting link
being attached to the bar w by a pin joint. The bar w is affixed to the upper
part of the bellows as is shown, and there is a connection of links x to cause
all parts of the bellows to go together. By this arrangement it will be evident
that according as the person performing on the instrument causes the right or
left-hand end of the levert to be pressed on by one of his feet, so will be the
degree of pressure in the wind chest, and thus vary the intensity of the tones.
Figure 9 shows the section of so much of the apparatus as relates to another
arrangement of stops or valves n. The object of this arrangement is, that
where very large instruments are made, and the stops or valves necessarily of
a large size, and consequently require much power to move the same in order
to call forth the notes to which they are stops,-this arrangement has for its
object to have what may be called balance valves or stops, so that the pressure
of the air shall at all times have a tendency to close one valve and open the
other. And thus in order to open both only the difference of pressure will

page_text: have to be overcome by the performer, and by this means any number of
springs may be used for the same note. In using this part of the Invention,
opposite the openings from the wind chest where the springs are placed is to
be affixed a chamber y, y, and to this chamber there are two springs, 2', one
larger than the other, covered by two stops or valves, one opening inward and
the other outwards; hence the larger stop will be constantly pressed to close
it, and the smaller stop will be constantly pressed to open it outwards.
I would remark, that the position of the springs o in respect to these stops is
not material; I have not therefore thought it necessary to show them. It
will, however, be evident that their note will not be called into action till the
stops are opened, as the air in the wind chest and the air in the chamber y
will be the same and quiescent. The valves, it will be seen, are connected
together by a lever, by which they are both actuated at the same time when
the connecting rod is moved; and although I prefer the using of the two
stops, one larger than the other, it is evident that the same effect may be
obtained by having different lengths of leverage of ² to stops of equal size.
I will now describe the nature of the springs or elastic tongues, and also the
keys and apparatus for opening and closing the passages. Figure 10 shows
the section of part of the back of the instrument; and it will be seen that
according to my Invention that the springs or elastic tongues are placed at the
back of the instrument, which offers great convenience, and admits of being
tuned with greater facility than when arranged according to the practice
heretofore pursued, for it will be seen that the arrangement of the springs can
readily be got at, and so readily that the performer, on finding any spring or
tongue out of tune, may readily tune it. k is the finger key, which is of the
ordinary description used for pianofortes and other such keyed instruments.
is a connecting rod attached to the key by means of a pin and adjusting
screw, as is shown. m is the lever to which the stop n is applied, and it will
be seen that the stop has a plug or projection which enters the opening or
passage to the spring or elastic tongue o. The stop n is affixed to the lever m
in such manner as to have some elasticity between it and the lever, by which
the stopping will be more certain than when the stop is affixed directly to the
lever, m' being a layer of wash-leather or cloth, or other suitable materials
offering sufficient elasticity between the lever and the stop. By this arrange-
ment the stop will not only be more certain in its action, but will, owing to
the plug or projection affixed thereto, produce more capability of modulating
the tones of the elastic tongues or springs. m³ is a spring which keeps the
lever constantly tending to close the opening by means of the stop. 0, 0, are
the elastic tongues or springs by which the notes are produced, as is well

page_text: understood, and the parts which receive them are shewn separately in various
Figures; their nature will therefore readily be understood. At the same
time it should be remarked that there is an important difference in the placing
of these springs o at the back of the instrument, as has been above stated.
And further, in order with greater readiness to tune springs or tongues of
such description of musical instruments, I have applied projecting studs or
wires o', as is shown. These wires can readily be bent in any direction, which
bending will vary the nature of the vibrations of the tongues or springs o, and
thus the nature or pitch will be varied and accuracy of tone obtained.
And I would remark, that I have found that the note of a spring or elastic
tongue will be modified in its nature by coating the same with Brunswick
black, or other paint, or with silk or other fabric or leather. p is a steel
spring which is affixed at the back of the elastic tongue o. The object of this
spring is to obtain greater brilliancy of tone from the springs o than can be
obtained therefrom when that application of the springs p is not resorted to.
Figure 11 shows another arrangement of stops and springs, or elastic tongues,
according to my Invention. The object of this arrangement is to get all the
parts on the external of the wind chest, and at the back thereof, so that in the
event of any derangement of parts the same may be more readily got at and
set correct. The various parts being shown separately, their nature and
mode of application will readily be understood, and the various parts are
marked with the same letters of reference before employed. And it will be
seen that the openings are so stopped or covered in this instrument as each to
have two stops, one being capable of opening without the other; but by
depressing the finger key completely down both portions of the stops will be
opened. By this arrangement the person performing on the instrument has
the advantage of being able to vary the extent of opening of each passage,
according to the extent to which the finger keys are depressed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would remark that
some of the parts may be varied, and one portion of the improvements used
without other parts thereof, and the general figure or external appearance of
the instrument may be varied according to the taste of the maker. And I do
not confine myself to any particular. construction. of wind chest; but what I
claim as my Invention, is,―
First, the mode of applying. two bellows to such like musical instruments.
Secondly, I claim the modes of applying regulating, expanding, and contract-
ing apparatus. and valves to the air or wind chest, as above described.
Thirdly,. I claim the placing the springs or elastic: tongues o at the back of
the: instrument.

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the placing the finger keys of such like wind musical
instruments in radial lines, or in a curve, as above explained.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of constructing the stops and applying the plugs
thereto, as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the application of the tuning wire o' to the springs or elastic
tongues o.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of applying the springs p to the springs or
tongues o.
Eighthly, I claim the mode of regulating the pressure of air in the wind
chest, as described in respect to Figures 7 and 8.
Ninthly, I claim the mode of constructing stops n, as described in respect to
Figure 9. And,
Tenthly, I claim the modes of arranging the apparatus and parts in
connection with the finger keys and the spring o, as is shown at Figures 10
and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Chandler Hewitt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.