An Improved Game or Apparatus for Teaching the Denominations of the Notes and Keys of Pianos or other Musical Instruments of the like kind.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1892-Accepted, 17th Doc., 1892 ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game or Apparatus for Teaching the Denominations
of the Notes and Keys of Pianos or other Musical Instruments
of the like kind.
:
A communication to me from CARL GOTTLIEB FERDINAND HANKE, of Ratibor,
Silesia, in the Empire of Germany, Merchant and Lithographer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved game or apparatus for testing the denomi-
nations of the notes and keys of pianos or other musical instruments of the like
kind, and the object of the invention is to interest the mind and fancy of a child in
music and to exert an instructing influence so that the said child by playing with the
apparatus over and over again, not only learns easily and in a short time
the denominations of the notes and keys, but also has its eye and ear practised
in music.
The improved game or apparatus consists essentially of an example sheet repre-
senting the key-board of a musical instrument, the keys upon which are marked with
their respective staves and notes; of a supporting plate or base provided with rims,
and of separate key-plates or moulds, which as regards their outer forms are equal
for each octave, but are distinguished from each other by the notes marked upon
them.
The key plates or moulds may be made of any suitable material, and their form
and thickness may be varied as occasion may require.
The rules for using the improved game or apparatus are as follows :—
The child playing with or using it has to put the key-plates or moulds according
to the example sheet into the supporting plate or base, or to place the said key-
plates directly upon the keys of the key-board of a musical instrument, the notes
marked upon the example sheet and on the different key-plateş giving the requisite
guidance or assistance.
The key thus properly covered is then to be sounded in order to educate the ear
for music.
For covering the upper or black keys of a piano the key moulds may have
a hollow or box form in cross-section in order to prevent them from falling off.
Dated this 20th day of April 1892.
EDWARDS & CO.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game or Apparatus for Teaching the Denominations
of the Notes and Keys of Pianos or other Musical Instruments
of the like kind.
A communication to me from CARL GOTTLIEB FERDINAND HANKE, of Ratibor,
Silesia, in the Empire of Germany, Merchant and Lithographer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Pat:nt Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
0.1.....מ

page_text: •
Middlesex, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention relates to an improved game or apparatus for teaching the denomi-
nations of the notes and keys of pianos or other musical instruments of the like kind,
and the object of the invention is to interest the mind and fancy of a child to music
and to exert an instructing influence so that the said child by playing with the
apparatus over and over again, not only learns easily and in a short time the
denominations of th enotes and keys, but also has its eye and ear practised in music.
The improved game or apparatus consists essentially of an example sheet repre-
senting the key-board of a musical instrument, for instance a piano, the keys upon
which are marked with their respective staves and notes, of a supporting plate or
base provided with rims, and of separate key-plates or moulds, which as regards
their outer forms are equal for each octave, but are distinguished from each other
by the notes marked upon them.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of the invention,
Figure 1 shows part of a rule paper or pattern card,
Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 2ª a cross section of the board or supporting
plate, in which the key moulds are to be inserted,
Figure 3 illustrates the form of the key-moulds or key-plates of the fourth
octave of a piano,
Figure 4 shows the key-plates of the black or upper keys of this octave with their
denominations thereon on an enlarged scale,
Figure 5 shows a modified form of the key-moulds for the upper keys.
The rule paper or pattern card A represents the keys or the finger board of a
piano; each key is marked with its proper respective note (Figure 1). The plate
or board B is composed of several hinged parts provided with rims or cornices b
(Figures 2 and 24) between which rims the key-plates or key-moulds a and a¹
(Figures 3 and 4) can be inserted. The key plates a for the white or lower-keys
and the key-plates a' for the black or upper keys are, as far as the form is concerned,
equal for each octave, but they differ from each other by the different notes marked
thereon.
The key-plates or key-moulds a, a¹, may be sabricated of any auitable material,
and the form and the thickness of the key-plates may also be varied as occasion
may arise.
The rules for using the improved piano are as follows:-
The child playing with the game has to put the key-plates a or a¹ according to
the pattern card A into the board B between the rims b (Figure 2^) the respective
notes marked on the pattern card and on the different .key-plates giving the right
direction or assistance.
After the child has attained a certain skill in arranging the key-plates in the
board B, it may try to place the key-plates a and a' upon elastic supports, or upon
the keys of a soundless instrument used for teaching, or directly upon the corre-
sponding keys of the finger board of a piano or other musical instrument. The key
thus covered in good order is then to be sounded for drilling the fingers and the ear
for music. The sounding of the struck string moreover gives a new inducement to
the child and augments the delight in playing.
After this the further explanations of the denominations of the notes must be
given to the child, and also the difference between the white and black keys
corresponding to the rising or falling of the notes. For this purpose especial and
correspondingly marked key-plates may be provided (Figure 4). The arrows
indicate the white or under keys from which the upper keys are derived.
For covering the black or upper keys of a piano there may be used key-plates or
key-moulds a (Figure 5) having a box form in cross section in order to prevent the
key-plates from falling down or slipping off from the upper keys.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A musical game or apparatus for the purpose hereinbefore stated, consisting
of a set of independent key-plates provided with staves and notes, a pattern card
representing a key-board with the notes marked thereon, and a base plate,
substantially as specified with reference to the drawing.
2. A musical game composed of a series of independent key-plates, provided with
staves and notes and adapted to be placed upon the keys of a musical instrument,
and of a pattern card representing a key-board with the notes marked thereon,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1892.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.