Improvements relating to Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Mechanical Musical Instruments.
I, LUDWIG ADOLF HERMANN HUPFELD, of Leipzig-Eutritzsch, Germany,
Theresienstrasse, No. 2, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Hitherto spring mechanism have been applied as motive power for mechanical
musical instruments with tune combs and interchangeable discs. There are
many imperfections in connection with movement by spring power, as for
instance the requisite frequent winding up of them, and, also the inevitable
breaking of spring in time.
The present invention consists in a replacement of spring movement, by elec-
tric motor power or other motive power which prevents the interruption of the
movement caused by spring breakage as also the troublesome winding up of
the spring.
Mechanical musical instruments with electric movement of above description
afford therefore the best guarantee as to reliable action, and are ready for play-
ing at any time which is of the greatest importance for all automatic machines
with money drop.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Mechanical Musical Instruments.
I, LUDWIG ADOLF HERMANN HUPFELD, of Leipzig-Eutritzsch (Frachtgut
Station), late of No. 2, Theresienstrasse, Leipzig-Eutritzsch, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawing, that is
to say:-
My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments in which sets or
"combs" of vibrating properly tuned musical tongues are used, set into vibra-
tion in the proper way to produce a desired tune by means of a changeable
revolving disc having concentric rows of projections upon its surface, each row
corresponding with one of the musical tongues which are set in vibration directly
or indirectly by means of the projections upon the revolving disc.
Such discs have heretofore been set in revolution at the required speed by

page_text: means of coiled springs acting through suitable mechanism, upon the axis upon
which the revolving disc is carried, or upon the disc itself, so as to set the latter
in revolution at the proper speed, when required.
Such method of driving the revolving disc in instruments of the kind described,
is in many ways objectionable, much time being occupied in the necessary fre-
quent winding-up of the spring, the latter being very liable to breakage, and its
action being irregular as the effective strength becomes less as the spring becomes
uncoiled; and my invention has for its object novel methods of setting the
revolving discs of such instruments in revolution, so that these objections are
overcome.
For this purpose, I use, instead of the usual coiled spring above described,
an electromotor of sufficient power, and of any suitable kind, which I connect
to the gear by which the tune dise is set in revolution in such manner that when
the motor is started by connecting it with a convenient supply or generator
of electricity, the movement of the disc continues uniformly, continuously, and
with equal force, as long as may be desired, or until the supply of electricity is
switched off, or fails.
The arrangement of the electro-motor, and the method of connecting it to
the gear by which the tune dise is made to revolve, may be varied more or less
to suit the size and character of the musical instrument to which the invention
is to be applied, and the circumstances in which it is to be used.
The invention is more especially applicable to large stationary more or less
ornamental instruments, such as that illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings, which is in illustration of the invention, Figure 2 being a side view
and Figure 3 a front view of the mechanism.
a is the interchangeable music disc of the usual kind, turning upon a centre b,
and acting upon the musical vibrating tongues of the combs c, either directly or
indirectly, by means of concentric rings of suitably arranged projections upon
its surface (not shown in the drawings), and supported at the back (at the part
where the projections come into action) by freely revolving rollers A
spindle e, turning in bearings f, carries at its upper end a toothed driving wheel g
the teeth of which gear in corresponding holes round the disc a, near its edge.
The lower end of the spindle e is fitted with a tangent toothed wheel i, driven
by a corresponding endless screw upon the spindle which forms an extension
of the axle of the armature k of an electromotor which is driven by a current
of electricity supplied from any suitable source through the insulated conducting
wires m, n.
Parts of the case of the instrument are shown at o.
A switch of the usual kind (not shown in the drawings) is provided in a con-
venient position by which the current of electricity can be turned on or off,
as desired.
I do not confine myself to the use of an electro-motor for the purpose of pro-
ducing the uniform revolution of the spindle by means of which the note disc a
is set in revolution. For instance, a suitable motive power engine, actuated by
compressed air, or by gas, or a turbine or engine driven by water pressure, may
be used; or the required power may be obtained from any constantly revolving
shaft by means of a driving cord or belt where such a shaft is available, my
invention consisting substantially in the methods of using, for actuating musical
instruments having vibrating tongue combs operated by suitable revolving
changeable discs, any available, constant, uniform, and reliable power, instead
of the coiled springs requiring frequent winding up, and constantly liable to
breakage, which have heretofore been used for the purpose.
In the improved apparatus, suitable arrangements may be used for stopping
and starting the revolution of the changeable disc when desired. Or, in some
cases, a device of any of the ordinary well-known kinds may be used, by which
the disc is set in revolution after the insertion of a determined coin, and ceases
to revolve after having made a certain number of revolutions.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
For actuating musical instruments in which vibrating musical tongues are
used acted upon by projections upon changeable revolving discs, the combination
with such discs of an electrical or other motive power engine of any suitable
kind giving a constant and uniform power, and of gear by which the power of
such engine is transmitted to the revolving disc, substantially as described and
illustrated.
UITIS OU
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.