A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUC- TION AND COMBINATION OF A PIANOFORTE AND HARMONIUM OR OTHER REED INSTRUMENT
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Robinson, of 28, Oxford Street, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUC-
TION AND COMBINATION OF A PIANOFORTE AND HARMONIUM OR OTHER REED
INSTRUMENT."
Sealed the 7th November 1876, and dated the 14th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Robinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1876.
JOSEPH ROBINSON, of 28, Oxford Street, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan.
" A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND COMBINATION OF A PIANOFORTE AND
HARMONIUM OR OTHER REED INSTRUMENT."
The object of my Invention is to combine in one instrument the pianoforte and
harmonium or other reed instrument, so as to permit of the playing of either
instrument singly or both simultaneously, and this [which is to be considered more
as an addition to the piano] without in any way interfering with the original
arrangement of the parts of the piano, except in the removal of the part hero-
after named], and is applicable to any ordinary piano, and can be removed with case
& expidition if desired. To accomplish this object. I remove the board from
under the keys of the piano, and put in place thereof the pan of an harmonium or
other reed instrument hinged at the back, and so arranged in front that it may be
raised or lowered.
Under and attached to each of the piano keys I place pegs or screws, which said
pegs or screws rest on the ends of the stems or valve levers of the harmonium
when the pan is in its raised position. Beneath this said pan is the air chamber,
similar to that in an ordinary harmonium, only differing in shape and arrangement
to suit available space. The air reservoir may be placed either immediately below
same or inside the case of the piano, and in front of the wires thereof. This said
reservoir is connected by conveyance pipes to a pair of bellows, which said bellows
for economy of space are placed one under each treadle. The said treadles are
situate one at either side of the ordinary pianoforte pedals.
By means of a simple arrangement communicating with a stop or other con-
trivance outside the case the raising or lowering of the aforesaid pan is accomplished,
and when it is desired to perform on the piano alone the pan is lowered, so that
...מ

page_text: the pegs or screws on the under side of the keys cease to operate on the valve
levers.
I also employ a suitable well known arrangements for lifting the hammers of the
piano and pressing them against the wires, or otherwise preventing, when desired,
the piano from sounding, so that on touching the keys the harmonium alone sounds.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized the
same, I desire to state that I do not bind myself to the precise details herein
mentioned, but what I do claim is the construction and combination of a pianoforte
and harmonium or other reed instrument substantially as herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th December
1876.
JOSEPH ROBINSON, of 28, Oxford Street, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan.
" A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND COMBINATION OF A PIANOFORTE AND
HARMONIUM OR OTHER REED INSTRUMENT."
The object of my Invention is to combine in one instrument the pianoforte and
harmonium or other reed instrument so as to permit of the playing of either
instrument singly or both simultaneously, and this (which is to be considered more
as an addition to the piano) without in any way interfering with the original
arrangement of the parts of the piano, and is applicable to any ordinary piano, and
can be removed with ease and expedition if desired.
And in order that my said Invention of "A New or Improved Construction and
Combination of a Pianoforte and Harmonium or other Reed Instrument" may be
properly understood and carried into practical effect I will now proceed to describe
the same more fully, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
appended and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a section of the combined
pianoforte and harmonium, and arranged with two "stops," one at each end of the
key board of the pianoforte.
b Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the pianoforte action thrown into gear
ay the stop being drawn, and Figure 3 is a corresponding section of the pianoforte
"
nd harmonium with "stops and no "knee pedal."
In the arrangement shewn in vertical section in Figure 1, the combined pianoforte
and harmonium, the instrument is constructed with two stops, one at each end of
the key board, one of which stops is shewn in the Figure as it would appear when
shut. The case A of the instrument is similar to the ordinary kind, excepting only
the modification required to combine the stringed with the reed instrument. The
keys B of the key board are arranged in the ordinary manner to act upon the
strings C of the pianoforte. Below the key board is arranged the harmonium
pan D, which is centred at each end, and so disposed in front that it may be raised
or lowered at pleasure.
Underneath and attached to each of the keys is a peg or screw E which rests
upon the end of each of the stems or valve levers F of the harmonium when the
pan is in its raised position. Beneath the harmonium pan D the air chamber or
reservoir G is arranged; this portion of the instrument may be arranged as shewn
or placed inside the case. The reservoir is connected by air-conveyance pipes H to
a pair of bellows, one of which is shewn at I, and they are arranged by preference
one at each side of the ordinary pedals of the stringed instrument. The harmonium
is attached to the instrument by means of screws or other suitable connections at
each end, so centred that it falls into gear by its own weight when the knee pedal J
is pressed to the left, and is thus brought into contact with the keys of the piano-
forte. On the other hand, by pressing the knee pedal to the right, it draws the

page_text: front part of the harmonium down and out of the reach of the keys of the
pianoforte, so that when played the stringed instrument alone is heard; in this way
the pianoforte may be played alone, or it may be combined in unison with the
harmonium.
An arrangement is also provided to enable the performer to play the harmonium
as a solo instrument; this is done by closing both the stops K, the effect of which
is to lift the hammers and draw out the wire hoppers from beneath the dampers L,
so that there will be no vibration of the pianoforte strings, and the harmonium,
American organ, or other reed instrument alone is heard. The stop to the right
when shut lifts the treble part of the hammers out of the reach of the keys, that is
to say, from the middle C note to the upper D or top note of the harmonium or
other reed instrument; in this way the performer has at his command a solo treble
of the harmonium, which may be combined with the pianoforte bass. When the
left-hand stop is shut the bass part of the hammers is out of the reach of the keys
from the middle B note down to the lowest note of the harmonium or other reed
instrument, and it may be played as a reed instrument only or combined with tho
treble part of the pianoforte; in this way it will be readily understood that the
player has each distinctive part of the instrument completely under his control and
management, and he is enabled to produce the utmost variety of musical effects
from the various combinations.
The other mechanical parts of the combined instrument are so well known that
it is unnecessary to describe them, more particularly as they are shewn in the
Drawing.
In Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawing the pianoforte stop K is shewn as
drawn out or open, and consequently the pianoforte action is in gear.
Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawing represents a section of a pianoforte and
harmonium arranged with stops, but without the knee pedal. In this instrument
the harmonium is not suspended on centre pins, as in the previous modification, but
is screwed firmly to the pianoforte, and therefore will only play when one or both
the stops are drawn. Any number of stops or reeds may be introduced in this form
of instrument. The minor details may be varied in many ways, to suit the
particular class of reed instrument, as well as to adapt the combination to the
special object in view.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is or may be carried into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details of arrangement herein-before described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerable varied
without departing from the essential and distinctive features of the Invention, but
what I do claim and consider to be novel is, the general arrangement, construction,
and combination of a pianoforte and harmonium, or other generally similar reed
instrument, substantially as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawing, or any more modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Robinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hundred and covent
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
JOSEPH ROBINSON. (L.S.)