Improvements in Reed-organs and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Reed-organs and like Musical Instruments.
I CHARLES SUMNER WARREN of the City of Toronto in the County of York and
Province of Ontario Canada Organ Manufacturer 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 reed-organs (or analogous musical instruments) of one or
more manuals and while useful in many parts in all kinds of these instruments is
more especially fitted for application to the superior class of such instruments where
it is desired to secure the fullest developement of reed-tone by pipes mouths or tube
extensions within a given space.
Another important object to be obtained by my improvements is that ready access
to the reeds, and all other adjustable or movable parts may be had by the tuner or
operator whilst standing at the keys.
I have found it essential to dispense with both "slides" and "outside flaps " in
controlling the wind since the first interfere with the solidity of the structure and
constantly get out of order by warping and sticking in their sockets, and the latter
cannot be employed without confining the limit or configuration of the series of pipes
and other parts to lines which are not compatible with the production of an extended
and thoroughly qualified reed-tone so necessary in instruments of this class.
To this end I employ a separate sound board for every stop and supply each with
an independant valve in connection with the general wind-trunk thus greatly
simplifying the stop action.
Certain details of construction and combinations of parts are also included in my
improvements for full comprehension of which reference is made to the accompanying
drawings forming part of this specification in which similar letters of reference indicate
like parts.
Fig. 1 is a diagram representing the cross section of a two manual reed-organ
constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section drawn to a larger scale and Fig. 3 is a
sectional front view of two of the sound-boards and their appliances.
Fig. 4 is a detail plan showing two of my obliquely-set levers.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating my automatic relief valve.

page_text: I
Fig. 6 is à perspective view of the adjustable button used upon the action wires
and Fig. 7 is an end view of the wind trunk showing valves and stop levers.
In the diagram Fig. 1-X X' represent keys of two manuals, Y Y¹ the key levers
and Z Z the action rods or wires of the "swell" and "great" organs respectively all
of any usual or desired construction, the wires however being arranged to work clear
of the several sound boards and in front of same as will be hereinafter more fully
oxplained.
The several sound-boards are arranged one above the other in numbers corre-
sponding to the various stops and manuals and each consists of three definable
portions viz. the wind chest A the reed board B. and the channel-board C.
The wind chest is somewhat similar to that of a pipe organ in respect to its valvo a
valve spring a and pull down wire a. A front board a³ covers the wind chest at the
front and to allow this to be readily removed and at the same time economize space
I retain it in place by spring wire dogs at which have their points screwed into the
edges of the reed board and bottom board of the chest so that their binding ends
may be folded closely over the upper and lower edges of the front board as shown
in Fig. 2.
I provide also a relief valve' a preferably at the back of the wind-chest as shown,
consisting by preference of a small bellows a' the back board of which is fastened
over an orifice a³ made in the back-board of the chest and having an opening
coinciding therewith. Another orifice a (shown in Fig. 5) is also made in the wind
chest a short distance from the first and a stop disc a fastened to an arm extending
from the moving board of the bellows a will close this opening as when wind is let
into the chest (and thence into the bellows) by 'the stop valve and when the wind is
shut off the bellows will again collapse and the relief valve be thus automatically
opened. As in this instrument the wind is disposed of before it reaches the reed, all
danger of derangement arising from leakage is prevented as such leakage. is
compensated for by the bellows and relief valve just described as will bo readily
understood.
The reed-board B has the usual groove and cell but the reed b in this caso is
secured therein in such manner that its free end or tongue point lies towards the
entrance of the cell and the valve a has its seat immediately below such free-end.
The channel board C lies above, the reed board and its throat or channel c is in
communication with the reed-cell-near its front end, and leads from thence directly
towards the space W at the back of the organ which is reserved for the pipes, mouths
or tube extensions required for the developement of the tones. These are not shown
as they form no part of my invention.
By the above arrangement each reed has its own valve immediately below it, and
its own throat or channel immediately above it, thereby, securing an uninterrupted
and permanent passage between the tip or tongue-point of the reed to the extreme
limit of the attachments by which the tone is further qualified.
The reed-cell has an opening at its front end through which the reed is inserted, or
withdrawn for tuning or repairing purposes and this open end is covered by a closure
or flap D hinged at d to the front face of the sound-board and the said closure or
flap is kept in its open or closed position by one or more springs E which will always
be in tension thereupon, the same being arranged as shown in Figure 2 or in any
other approved manner.
It will be understood that the closuro E as well as the front board a³ below it, will
extend right across the front of the organ so as to cover the several chambers in the
series, but for greater convenience these may be divided into sections with separate
springs and fastenings for each.
It will also be remembered. that the main wind-trunk represented at F will be
preferably located at the ends of the instrument and stand vertically within the case
(at right angles to the several wind-chests) which are put into communication there-
with by the usual valves ff. operated by the stops the levers f¹f of which are
contained within the said wind-trunk as shown in Figure 7.
In conformity with the object of my present invention the general action connected

page_text: with the key-board must pass by the front of the succession of sound-boards, and in
order to leave free spaces opposite the ends of the several reed-cells, it is necessary
that the action rods or wires Z Z should extend vertically between said cells (clear of
the case as already mentioned) and not in the same line as the "pull-downs" d³ which
are attached centrally to the several valves a in the wind-chests. I therefore avoid
interference with the withdrawal of the reeds by arranging the several valve-lovers G G
of which there is one for each note obliquely or diagonally from front to rear as
indicated in Figures 3 and 4 their rear ends being pivotted at g g to longitudinal
bars H H attached to the undersides of the several wind-chests, this construction
allowing of proper connection with the "pull downs" a² whilst the front ends of said
diagonal levers G may engage with the action wires Z Z' in the correct line to avoid
the reeds and the whole be operated without friction or lateral strain.
And furthermore to allow the separate sound boards and their immediate adjuncts
to be withdrawn for repair from the rear of the instrument without deranging any of
the others or disturbing the general action, I bifurcate or slit the ends of all the
lovers G as at g' and while permitting their proper engagement with the action wires,
this will not effect a permanent connection but permit of the ready withdrawal
mentioned.
Upon the action-wire a short distance above the points where it engages each of
the above named levers, I solder or otherwise fasten a screw threaded button K and
surround this with a sleeve L (preferably about double the length of the button) the
lower end of which bears upon the upper side of the lever G so that by screwing the
said sleeve up or down the required adjustment between the lever and the action-wire
may be effected.
As the button K will usually be of metal and the sleeve L of soft wood 1 do not
need to thread the interior of the latter but by making a slit down one side from top
to bottom (as seen in detail in Figure 6) I avail myself of the natural spring of the
wood to form a tight junction with the threaded button and at the same time permit
the sleeve to be readily placed upon the action wire.
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:
1. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with the key and
stop actions and main wind trunk, of a series of independent sound-boards placed one
above the other each having reed-cells and reeds induction and eduction passages and
separate valves below the several reeds substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
series of
2. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with
sound-boards arranged one above the other and having openings at the front for the
admission of the reeds of action rods or wires in connection with the keys and valves
in the wind chest, the said action-rods or wires being situated outside of the sound
boards and passing vertically between the several reed cells substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. In a reed organ or like musical instrument the combination with a sound-board
and with its valves and pull-down wire, of a pivotted lever extending diagonally
beneath such sound board and an action wire passing outside of same the said lever
being in connection with the pull-down and action wire substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the sound board its pull down and the general action wire
of the diagonal lever G connected with the pull-down and having a bifurcated end
embracing the action wire substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the action wire having an adjustable stop thercon and with
the sound-board and pull down a² of the pivotted diagonal lever G having a bifurcated
end g for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the lever G and with the action-wire having fixed thereon

page_text: the screwed button K of the split sleeve L surrounding the said button and adjustable
thereon for the purpose specified.
7. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with the wind-chest
of an automatic relief valve to compensate for leakage substantially as hereinbefore
described.
8. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with the wind-
chest A having orifices a and a of the relief valve consisting of bellows a in
permanent connection with one orifice and a stop disc a' operated by the said bellows
and adapted to close the other orifice substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
9. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with a series of
wind-chests located one above the other and with a general wind-trunk having
openings communicating with the ends of the said wind chests of valves covering
tho said openings and stop lovers acluating the same tho said valves and levers being
situated within the wind trunk substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
10. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with the sound-
board having a recd-cell open at its front end of a hinged closure or flap adapted to
cover the said open end and a spring for holding the same in its open and closed
position substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
11. In a reed-organ or like musical instrument the combination with the wind-
chest of the sound board of the removable front flap a³ and folding dogs a substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1888.