Improvements in Devices for Sounding the Various Tones of the Chromatic Scale, applicable for use in the Tuning of Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
Improvements in Devices for Sounding the Various Tones of the
Chromatic Scale, applicable for use in the Tuning of Musical
Instruments.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES HARRIS CONGDON, of Saint Paul, in the
County of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, United States of America, Instructor
of Music.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.L.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, & 6, Bank Street, Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in pitch pipes or devices for sounding the
various tones of the chromatic scale, whereby any desired musical key may be
sounded, and thus furnish a very convenient and necessary instrument for use in
the tuning of various musical instruments, especially stringed instruments, and in the
instruction of classes in vocal music.
The invention consists in a grooved bed-plate or base, preferably of wood, a
metallic plate secured upon the same, and having secured to it series of reeds
arranged preferably in pairs, one member of each pair being on one side of the
plate and the other on the other side, the plate being so secured that each pair of
reeds is above one of the grooves of the base. A suitable cover is then fitted over
the plate and its base, having openings on the sides leading respectively to the
grooves in the base, so that, by applying the mouth to one of the openings of
the cover, one member of the pair of reeds in the connected groove is sounded
by the expiring and the other by the inspiring of the breath, through the one
opening.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification
Figure 1 is a plan view of the grooved bed-plate or base.
Figure 2 is a cross-section of the saine on line X-x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the reed-carrying plate.
Figure 4 is a cross-section of the same on line Y-Y of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the underside of the top or lid.
:-
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the instrument on the line represented by Z-Z of
Figure 3, and
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the top or lid.
In the drawings :-
--
2 represents the wooden bed-plate or base, preferably rectangular in form, having
a series of transverse grooves 3 and short grooves or notches 4 opening into the
groove adjacent to either end of the block, 5 represents a rectangular metallic sheet
of the same size as the base 2, adapted to be secured upon the base by screws passed
through the openings 6 in the corners.
Secured transversely upon this plate are two series of reeds 7 and 8, one series
being arranged upon the top and the other upon the underside of the plate in such
position that each reed of a series is supported over one of the grooves of the base,
ihere thus being a pair of reeds for each groove, one of one series and the
other of the other. The reeds are secured to the plate by means of rivets 9 in the
ordinary manner, and openings or vents 10 are arranged in the plate underneath
the tongues of the reed. The reeds are formed or attuned to sound severally the
musical notes of the chromatic scale. A complete instrument for the purpose, thus
consisting of twelve reeds, but for practical purposes, an instrument fitted with ten
Price 6a1

page_text: reeds is all that is necessary, the two notes of the scale less frequently used not being
represented.
Arranged over the plate and the base is a top or cover 11 formed with depending
edges 12 to fit closely upon the sides of the base, and thus close the openings formied
by the grooves. In the depending edges of the cover are cut notches 13, so placed as
to open respectively into one of the grooves 3 and 4. These notches are preferably
arranged on the four sides of the top, so that only one or two notches are upon any
one side. A common opening or vent 14 is arranged centrally through the top of
the cover.
It will thus be seen that, in use, any desired note or key may be sounded
by placing the opening 13, communicating with the groove in which is arranged the
reed of that key, to the mouth, and either expiring or inspiring the breath through
the same, according to the location of the reed to be sounded, whether upon the upper
or under side of the plate, the air passing through the groove and the opening 10
in the plate, causing the tongue of the reed to vibrate, the vent 14 serving as
an inlet or an outlet, as the case may be, and thus preventing the sounding of any
other reed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. A device of the kind described comprising, in combination, a grooved base, a
plate secured upon said base and having reed openings therethrough, series of reeds
arranged upon said plate, and above said grooves respectively, an inclosing cover
having notches or openings on the several sides thereof connecting respectively with
the grooves of the base, and a vent through the top of said cover, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In a device of the class described, the combination of the base 2, having
grooves 3 and 4, the plate 5 secured thereon and having the reed openings 10
arranged in pairs respectively, over said grooves 3, the series of reeds 7 arranged
upon one side of said plate and the series of reeds 8 upon the other side of the
plate and over said reed openings, and the cover 11 fitted over and enclosing
the said plate and base and provided with the common vent 14 and with the notches 13
opening respectively into the grooves 3 and 4, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.