Combined Pianino and Harmonium.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Combined Pianino and Harmonium.
1, JACOB ERBE of Eisenach i/Th., in the German Empire, Pianoforte
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 an instrument in which a pianino is combined with a
harmonium in such a way that either pianino or harmonium or both together and
also mute keyboard with keys may be played.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the instrument of this invention
through line L-M of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 a cross section through line J-K of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shews in longitudinal section of the pianino, the mechanism of the
decrescendo stop, and the mechanism for opening the cover in front view.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through lines E-F and G-H of Fig. 2, and shews
in plan view the mechanisms of Fig. 3 and expression valve & in wind chest b¹.
Fig. 5 shews in part sectional view throngh line E-F of Fig. 2, the wind valve
board, through line C-D the sound post, and through line A-B the key board
frame with harmonium mechanism ƒ³.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the arrangement for adjusting the decrescendo stop.
Fig. 7, a side view of the arrangement for opening the cover (forte stop for the
harmonium).
Fig. 8 shews in cross section the register stops and the harmonium mechanism ƒ³
in connection with the keys, with valves f.
Fig. 9 is a front view of the register stop with wind chest in section.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the arrangement of the register stop for expression.
Fig. 11 shews the register stop for connecting and disconnecting the harmonium
mechanism.
Fig. 12 the arrangement for closing up the harmonium pedals, in section.
H are main bellows located in the front part of the pianino casing. They are
worked up and down from treadles a through double levers a' and links a² and the
air thereupon received by them driven through vertical passages b into wind
chest 6' and thence past expression valve 62 into the collecting bellows b.
Lare springs placed between bellows hoards 6, H', by the action of which, an
equable pressure is given to the air compressed in the collecting bellows ³, in case
the expression is not drawn. The air passes from wind chest 6' into resonance
boxes E after passing through apertures d which latter may be opened and closed
by valves (Fig. 2) actuated from registers h, these being clarion, bourdon,
cor anglais, flute, clarionette, and flageollet. Resonance boxes E form 6 separate
spaces perfectly shut off from each other and at d bear against the air valves
board through leather cushions or packing. Three sounds are given for each tone
When valves d¹ are
so that in full action the harmonium sounds in 3 octaves.
opened the air only passes into the front resonance boxes, and the front sounds only
are produced, but if valves d', d, are also opened, the harmonium sounds in two or
three octaves. When therefore by drawing out registers the valves d'are
opened, only the front reeds sound, but when by further drawing out registers
valves d also are opened the corresponding octave tones are added and increase
the sound effect. When further the registers are drawn so far out that the

page_text: valves d³ also are opened, the next following octave tones are added and strengthen
the sound still more. Reed valves f₁ are located on the under side of
apertures e, e³, e³. If now in playing, a key or gl is pressed down so that the
back part of the same is lifted up, the valve f in communication with the
harmonium mechanism will be raised by a brass hook z applied to valve f
(Figs. 2, 8) and engaging in the back recess y of key g or g, and the air or wind
which is conducted into one, two, or three resonance boxes E to the reeds cause
the same to sound. Between the back part of keys g, g¹, and the harmonium
mechanism, there is a damper for small board covered with cloth which allows
a soft harmonium tone. With the described arrangement, the keys may be readily
removed one by one without injury to the harmonium valves.
The register movement is shewn on an enlarged scale in Figs. 8 to 11. h is a
register knob having a shank extension ³ provided with a slot in which is carried
a pin serving at h³ to engage a register lever i correspondingly recessed or forked
at its upper end and which is mounted to turn in the projecting rail of balance
beam its bottom end 2 bearing against a brass plate suspended in a small
frame so as to be capable of turning therein.
Whilst lever arm presses from above downwards against plate k, pressure
rod m² by reason of the pressure of spring m¹ and further by means of valve draw
rod m³ and angle lever m, tends to press plate k upwards. If now the register knob
is pulled, the end of register lever i will press down plate k so as to overcome
the resistance of the spring and open the corresponding valve. On the other hand,
pressure rod m³ (Fig. 10) is extended from the expression register and presses
direct upon the pressure lever m of the expression valve . In this way the
object is attained that the registers may be easily drawn and that once in the
desired position they will remain securely there until again displaced by hand.
Also the registers are located above the key-board so that when playing they are
not in the way. For the pianino an arrangement is introduced for drawing back
the mechanism by means of a special decrescendo stop from a register C when the
harmonium only is to be played, the hammers then being caught by rail r
provided with felt wedges . This arrangement is shewn in Figs. 1, 3, and 6.
The pianino mechanism is carried in a frame the side cheeks B of which may
turn on pins A' of frame A (Fig. 3). It is therefore practicable to move side
cheeks B and with these the hammer rest or frame with hammers as far from the
strings as the thickness of the felt wedges sliding in between, the damper on
frame A on the contrary always remaining in its position. On the other hand the
mechanism is pressed into its usual position by a spring B2 which at its bottom
end is attached to frame A. and at its upper end bears against side cheeks B. An
excessive forward pressure of the mechanism is prevented by hammer rail which
comes to a bearing against side cheeks A. For drawing back the mechanism there
is an angle lever o mounted to turn in frame A. and where it by its rod engages
through a slot in side cheeks B, is provided with a stud like extension v¹. Ou
the upper end of lever o there is a rail, provided with felt wedges which rail
serves as hammer catcher and decrescendo stop. The bottom end of angle lever o
has bearing against it a lever C' attached by hinge joints to the wood lid and
capable of turning on C. It is in connection with register C (Fig. 6). Upon the
register knob C being drawn by the player the bottom end of angle lever o will be
turned downwards and the upper end or arm of the same upwards through lever C¹
whereupon felt rail ¹ seated upon said lever will also be turned upwards and
pressed between the strings and hammers but at the same time stud comes to
bear against the front side of slots 2 in side cheeks B and moves the mechanism on
the turning point A¹ as far backwards as the thickness of the felt wedges. Upon
pushing back register C the mechanism is pressed into its usual position by
spring B. The pianino mechanism is of the known kind. It works in the
following manner :- Upon pressing key 9 its rear end is raised and also lever g
resting on the same. Lever g³ is thereby turned on its turning point 9ª and rod 9³

page_text: in connection with the same strikes against hammer 9 and allows this to strike
against a string. The hammer is moved back by a small cord into its original
position. In the manner described, in addition to the harmonium, mute key
board may be played so soon as the player leaves off working the treadles a and
draws out the hereinafter described register stop C.
In order when playing, to shut off completely the harmonium mechanism from
the pianino, use is made of a register stop shewn in Fig. 11 consisting of register
knob F with the wire extension F¹ bent at F' and of lever ³ turning at and in
connection with the brass hook z.
If now the player pushes back register knob F with wire extension F¹ the hook :
will by lever part of lever be released from the recess y formed in the back
portion of key g or g', the object thereby attained being that the key moves freely
without contacting with the harmonium mechanism.
'
The forte stop of the harmonium is operated by raising the cover of the
instrument. The arrangement is shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. Underneath frame W,
there is mounted so as to turn on hinges on part Q', a knee presser, to
the front part of which is attached a cord w which is carried thence over
pullies w³, w, w, and by its other end attached to counter weight a which at a¹ is
connected to the movable pianino cover, the weight of being such that upon
slackening of the cord the cover shuts of itself and upon the line being pulled the
same is easily raised to different positions.
Should it be desired to play forte, the player presses the knee presser Q to the
left with the left knee whereby the cord w is drawn so as to pull the counterweight.
downwards and raise up cover e in connection therewith. If the instrument is
then solely to play as a harmonium all that is necessary is to draw out registers C
and F and work bellows H from treadles a. If, on the contrary, only pianino is
to be played, registers C and F are pushed back and the pedals allowed to stand
still.
If then the register F is left in the pushed back position and register C
drawn out there will, with the piano mechanism set back, be playing with a nearly
mute keyboard which is very advantageous for practisers.
To play forte the player presses the knee presser Q to the left and the tones
sound fuller, with open cover. If the register C is pushed back and register F
drawn out both instruments will sound harmoniously together so soon as the player
works the pedals a simultaneously. To augment accessibility to the several parts
there are hinge joints D¹ between frame W and board D which latter is in firm
connection with the back wood work forming the resonance boxes.
When the hooks c and the levers n which connect the wind chest with the
resonance boxes are released and the frame raised up the harmonium reeds may,
after removal of the pianino mechanism be laid bare.
To protect the interior of the pianino-harmonium against the entrance of vermin
or insects and thereby render the instrument suitable for export the treadles or
pedals a are made to close as hereinafter described.
Pedals a which hitherto have only been movable in point of oscillation 1 fixed
to the pianino floor are in this case, in addition to such point of oscillation, each
in connection with a small floor board or flap 2 attached to the pianino bottom and
turning on joint 3. Further on the under side of each of the pedals a is fitted a
hinge joint 4 which allow of the pedals being folded together upwards (Figs. 12, 13).
Upon pressing small board 2 upwards with the hand the upper end a* of pedal
will be correspondingly raised on hinge 4 and the bottom end laid with the raised
board 2 behind the front panel of the instrument. On the inner side of the panel
there are fitted wood slides 7 which being each turned by means of a projecting
brass handle 8 in the direction 9 to 10 (Fig. 13) effectually close the treadle
apertures. When harmonium is to be played, slides 7 are slid in the direction 10
to 9, the treadle parts a, a, which had been laid back in the described manner,
then easily drawn out with board 2, and the treadles set in motion by the feet of
the player.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A combined pianino and harmonium in the playing of which, the key pressure
is always equal by reason of the valves for the harmonium tones being arranged
underneath the back key lever without spring pressure, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. In a combined pianino and harmonium of the kind referred to, the register
stops arranged for regulating the passage of air to the resonance boxes E consisting
of knob h, lever i and oscillating plate k, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In a combined pianino and harmonium of the kind referred to, the arrange-
ment of a decrescendo stop in the manner that a register stop C in connection
with lever C¹ turning at C is arranged to operate angle lever v, substantially as
described and shewn.
4. In a combined pianino and harmonium, the arrangement of a forte stop,
consisting of a knee presser Q movable on hinges which presser is in connection
with counterweight X³ through cord running over pullies w¹, w³, w³ for opening
and closing the pianino cover, substantially as described and shewu.
5. In a combined pianino and harmonium of the kind referred to, the arrange-
ment of a register stop for putting the harmonium valves or reeds in or out of
action, consisting of a register knob Fin connection through a bent wire extension F
with lever turning on 23 and operating hook in such a way that upon sliding
back the register stop F, said hook is released from recess y at the back end of
key g or g¹, substantially as described and shewn.
6. In a combined pianino and harmonium the arrangement of the harmonium
treadles or pedals a in the manner that by turning up small boards or flaps 2
provided with hinges 3 and in connection through hinge joints 1 with said treadles,
the lower treadle parts a are with said boards or flaps 2 laid behind the front panel
of the instrument, the upper treadle parts a* being correspondingly raised up on
their hinge joints 4, and by turning slides 7 on points 6 the treadle apertures closed
for the purpose of completely closing the instrument casing, substantially as
described and shewn.
Dot no T
1009
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.