Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1889
Specification Accepted. 8th June, 1889
1, THEODOR LÄSSIG, of Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, Musician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention consists in the combination of an A-clarinet with a B-clarinet or of
an E flat-clarinet with a D-clarinet to one instrument and has for its purpose to allow
the player to change the key with facility, for instance, from Bb major to A major,
from major to B major etc., without requiring therefor a second instrument as
heretofore. Moreover the fingers retain the same position on the improved instru-
ment, whether it is played respectively in A or Bb, or in E flat or D, which, owing to
the uniform temperature of the instrument thereby maintained, is conducive to great
purity of tone.
Referring to the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a general view and partial vertical section of a combined A- and
B-clarinet.
Fig. 2 a partial vertical section of the upper part consisting of the mouth-piece, the
so-called "pear" and a fraction of the middle piece.
Fig. 3 a horizontal section along line A B, Fig. 2.
Fig. a horizontal section of the middle piece, Fig. 2, and
Fig. 5 the top view of a fraction of the middle pieco with two sound holes, the
position of the stop when covering the latter being indicated in dotted lines.
The middle piece M is provided throughout its length with two parallel cylindric
bores or pipes B B', B indicating the pipe for the A clarinet and B' that for the
B clarinet. The pipe for the A clarinet is given the supplementary length required
therefor by the addition of the sigmoid metal tube terminating in the common bell S.
Corresponding to the two keys of the instrument and with regard to the fingering
with different keys, the usual number of sound holes with their stops are so provided
on the outer surface of the instrument, that the sound holes of the pipe B correspond
in number to those of the pipe B₁ as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5. The other sound holes
have partly separate stops, each pair of which is actuated by a common lever as is
shewn for instance at a.

page_text: To allow of a rapid change of the key, the improved clarinet is provided with the
following contrivance :
The mouthpiece m terminates inside the pear-shaped top piece in a short cylindrical
tube k, introduced at the bottom into the slightly curved S shaped tube which
establishes the communication with either of the pipes B and B¹. The necessary
packing is effected by means of a narrow flange f with an indiarubber ring d provided
at the bottom thereof in combination with the spiral spring c situated between the
mouthpiece m and the ring i, the latter being rigidly connected with the tube l.
The ring has in the middle of its circumference uniform recesses, into which
catches the bifurcated lover b by means of short pivots, said lever having its
fulcrum outside the top piece at e. A short grip or knob g secured to the tube is
guided in the horizontal slot t provided in the top piece.
The improved clarinet operates as follows:
In Figs. 1 and 2, the tube is shewn as occupying the position required for blowing
the A-clarinet; the extremity of the lever b is depressed in order to use the B clarinet,
as indicated by arrow 1. Thereby the tube is lifted out of the pipe B, and the
spring is compressed. Subsequently the raised tube I is turned by means of the
knob g for 180°, that is to say into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.
On releasing the lever 1, the tube / returns with its lower extremity into the pipo B
by the action of the spring, allowing the B-clarinet to be sounded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1) The combination of two clarinets of different key to one instrument, consisting
of the common mouthpiece m, the top piece n containing a reversing device, the
middle piece M provided with two parallel bores or pipes and the usual number of
sound holes required for two keys, the supplemental tube and the common bell,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2) The reversing device referred to in claim 1) consisting of the tube having a
flange and ring i, in combination with the tube k, the bifurcated lever b, the spring c
and the knob g secured to the tube and guided in the slot t, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
3) In the instrument referred to in claim 1), the arrangement of the stops and sound
holes, each pair of part of the latter having different tune and a common stop, while each
of the other covered sound holes has a separate stop pertaining thereto, each pair of
these stops being actuated by a common lever, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.