Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
I THOMAS MACHELL, 39 Great Western road, Glasgow, North Britain, Pianoforte
and Music Seller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention, which I call The "Dulcitone," has been designed to meet tho want
now generally felt of a portable keyboard percussion instrument, and is an
improvement on the musical instrument patented by me on 30th September 1882
No. 4650.
In the "Dulcitone," the sound producers (hereinafter referred to as forks) are bars
of steel bent into a U form, the forks being of graduated lengths for the various
musical notes, and they are arranged in horizontal position instead of vertical, as in
my former invention. A soundboard is placed near the bottom of the case, having a
bridge glued thereon, extending horizontally from end to end.
Each fork is connected to the bridge on the soundboard, by a piece of thin spring
steel, such piece of steel being bent in the form of a semicircle, and having one end
clamped to the fork by means of a pair of small plates, secured by screws, whilst the
other end is held by a small plate screwed to the bridge.
The forks are additionally supported and kept in position at their nodes, by resting
in notches on a suitably cushioned rail.
The hammers rest on the central rail of the key frame, which is cushioned on its
underside. The butts to which the hammers are connected, are pivoted in the
usual way, and fastened to the drop rail of the key frame. They are pressed down by
spiral springs, which are also fastened to the drop rail.
Hinged to and depending from regulating levers placed at the back end of each
key, are adjustable hoppers, which, acting on the under side of the butts, cause the
hammers to strike down on the forks when the keys are pressed.
The dampers act on one or both ends of each fork, and are connected by bent wires
to hinged levers, which latter, are supported in a position underneath the front of the
keys, by a wooden rail. This wooden rail also carries a guiding rail, through which a
wire passes, connecting the dampers and keys. On the top of each wire is placed a
cushioned regulating button.

page_text: A hinged rail placed underneath the damper levers, is actuated by another lever
having its fulcrum on the inner front of the case, which brings the dampers under,
control of the foot, by means of a cord passing through the front part of the case.
The mechanism is actuated by keys of the ordinary kind, and size, used in
Pianofortes.
Dated this 15th day of March 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Musical Instrument.
I, THOMAS MACHELL of 35 & 39 Great Western road, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Pianoforte and Music seller, 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, in order that the following statement may be clearly understood, I append a
drawing which clearly shows in section, the shape and position of a fork, its connection
with sound board, and its relation to key and other details of mechanism.
My invention which I call "The Dulcitone," has been designed to meet the want
now generally felt, of a portable key-board percussion instrument, and is an
improvement on the musical instrument patented by me on 30th September 1882
No. 4650. In the "Dulcitone" the sound produced (hereinafter referred to as forks)
are bars of steel bent into a ■ form, the forks (A) being of graduated lengths for the
various musical notes, and they are arranged in horizontal position instead of vertical
as in my former invention.
A sound board (B) is placed near to the bottom of the case having a bridgo C
glued thereon, extending horizontally from end to end.
Each fork (A) is connected to the bridge (C) on the soundboard (B) by a piece of
thin spring steel (D) bent in the form of a semicircle, and having one end clamped to
the fork by means of a pair of small plates (E. E.) secured by screws, whilst the other
end is held by a small plate (F) screwed to the bridge (C).
The forks (A) are additionally supported and kept in position at their nodes (G) by
resting in notches (H) on a suitably shaped rail (1). These notches (H) may with
advantage be lined with leather or other soft material, but in addition I encircle cach
fork at G with a piece of. tube rubber or other soft substance, and prevent its shifting
within the notch by the application of a little solution.
The hammers (J) rest on the central rail (K) of the key frame, which is cushioned
on its under side (L).

page_text: The butts (M) to which the hammers (J) are connected are pivoted (N) in the usual
way, and fastened to the drop rail (0) of the key frame. They are pressed down by
spiral springs (P) which are also fastened to the drop rail (O).
Hinged to and depending from regulating levers placed at the back end of each
key, are adjustable hoppers (Q) which, acting on the underside of the butts (M) cause
the hammers (J) to strike down on the forks (A) when the keys (R) are pressed.
The dampers (S) act on one or both ends of each fork (A) and are connected by
bent wires to hinged levers (t) which latter, are supported in a position underneath
the keys (R) by a wooden rail (U). This wooden rail (U) also carries a guiding
rail (V) through which a wire passes connecting the dampers and keys. On the top
of each wire is placed a cushioned regulating button (W).
A hinged rail (X) placed underneath the damper levers (t) is actuated by another
lever (Y) having its fulcrum on the inner front of the case which brings the dampers
under control of the foot by means of a cord (Z) passing through the front part
of the case. The mechanism is actuated by keys of the ordinary size and kind used in
Pianofortes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1st. The improved construction of Musical instrument having as sound-producers
U shaped or shankless forks of metal, arranged and carried in a horizontal position,
substantially as herein before described.
2nd. The attaching of the forks to the bridge on the soundboard by curved pieces
of thin spring metal, combined with the encircling of the forks at their nodes, with
rubber or other soft material and supporting them in notches on a suitably shaped
rail, in the improved manner hereinbefore described.
3rd. The arranging and combining together of the parts of the action substantially
in the improved manner hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of December 1888.