IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL' INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and C° Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL' INSTRUMENTS"
Communicated to him from abroad by Andrew Hill Hammond of Worcester
Massachusetts United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS [A communication' to him from abroad by Andrew Hill
Hammond of Worcester Massachusetts United States of America]
»
This Invention relates to automatic or mechanical musical instruments, and
comprises the following improvements, that is to say :-The combination, in a
mechanical musical instrument wherein a travelling music-sheet is employed, of a
take-up roller on which the music-sheet is wound during the playing of the
instrument, a driving-shaft, and a cover or top-section, which, on being adjusted into
place, will put the said roller in condition to derive motion from the driving-shaft,
and on being removed, will relieve the said roller from the driving shaft. The
combination in a mechanical musical instrument, wherein a travelling music sheet
is employed, of a music-roller on which the music-sheet is re-wound after playing,
a driving shaft, means (preferably consisting of a belt) whereby motion may be
transmitted from the driving shaft to the said roller, and a cover or top section,
which, on being adjusted into its place, will render inoperative the said means for
transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the said roller, and which, on being
removed, will render these means operative for the said purpose. The combination,"
in a mechanical musical instrument, of a travelling music-sheet, a take-up roller on
which the music-sheet is wound during the playing of the instrument, a music-
roller on which the music-sheet is re-wound after playing, a driving shaft, means

page_text: whereby motion may be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the rollers, and a
cover or top-section, which, on being adjusted into place will cause motion to be
transmitted from the driving-shaft to the take-up roller only, and on being removed
will cause motion to be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the music-roller only.
The combination, in a mechanical musical instrument of a valve whereby the
"speaking" of the sound-producing devices may be precluded, and a cover or top-
section provided with a push-piece whereby, when the cover or top section is in
place, the sound-producing devices are adapted to "speak" and when the cover or
top-section is removed they will be precluded from "speaking". The combination,
in a mechanical musical instrument wherein a travelling music sheet is employed,
of music and take-up rollers to which the music-sheet is attached, a valve whereby
the reeds may be precluded from speaking, a driving shaft and a cover or top-
section, which, when in place, will cause the take-up roller to be driven by the
driving shaft and the aforesaid valve to be closed and when removed will cause
the music-roller to be driven by the driving shaft and the said valve to open. The
combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a reed-board, a music-roller a
take-up roller, a music sheet attached to the rollers, and means for winding the
music-sheet on the rollers so that it will pass from the reed-board to their under-
sides. The combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a wind-chest, and
a reed-board attached to the same and occupying a position at right angles thereto.
The combination, in a mechanical musical instrument wherein a travelling music-
sheet is employed, of a take-up roller on which the music-sheet is wound during the
playing, a music-roller on which the music-sheet is rewound after playing, a driving
shaft, a belt transmitting motion from the driving-shaft to the music-roller, a top
section or cover and means whereby the belt will be tightened or put under tension
when the top section or cover is removed and slackened when the top section or
cover is put on or adjusted into place. The combination, in a mechanical musical
instrument wherein a travelling music-sheet is employed, of a take-up roller on
which the music sheet is wound during playing, a music-roller on which the music-
sheet is re-wound after playing, a driving shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from
the driving-shaft to the music-roller, a top section or cover, a device adapted to
move and put the belt under tension upon the removal of the top section or cover
and to be moved so as to slacken the belt when the top section or cover is put on or
adjusted into place. The combination, in a mechanical musical instrument wherein
a travelling music-sheet is employed, of a take-up roller on which the music-sheet is
wound during playing, a music-roller on which the music-sheet is re-wound after
playing, a driving shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from the driving-shaft to
the music-roller, a top section or cover, a device capable of movement independently
of the music-roller and preferably consisting of a lever adapted to rise against the
belt so as to tighten it or put it under tension when the top section or cover is
removed, and a push-piece on the top section or cover serving to depress the said device
when the top-section or cover is put on or adjusted into place. The combination,
in a mechanical musical instrument wherein a travelling music-sheet is employed,
of a rest for the travelling music sheet, and take-up and music rollers, on which
the music sheet is wound and rewound provided with flanges extending close to
the said rest so as to guide the music-sheet during its passage over the same; and
the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument wherein a travelling music-
sheet is employed of a music-roller on which the music-sheet is to be normally kept
wound, a take-up roller on which the music sheet is to be wound during playing, a
driving shaft capable of a rotary but not a swinging movement and connections
whereby the driving shaft while rotated in but one direction may drive the rollers
in both directions.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," A communication to me from abroad by Andrew Hill
Hammond of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
This invention relates to automatic or mechanical musical instruments and more
particularly to that class in which a travelling music sheet is employed.
The said invention partly consists in the combination of a take-up roller on
which the music-sheet is wound during the playing of the instrument, a driving-
shaft and a cover or top section, which on being adjusted into place will put the
said roller in condition to derive motion from the driving-shaft, and on being
removed will relieve the said roller from the driving shaft.
It also partly consists in the combination of a music roller on which the music-
sheet is rewound after playing, a driving-shaft, means preferably consisting of a
belt whereby motion may be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the said roller,
and a cover or top-section which on being adjusted into its place, will render
inoperative the said means for transmitting motion from the driving-shaft to the
said roller, and which on being removed will render these means operative for the
said purpose.
'
It also partly consists in the combination of a travelling music-sheet, a take-up
roller on which.the music-sheet is wound during the playing of the instrument, a
music-roller on which the music-sheet is rewound after playing, a driving-shaft,
means whereby motion may be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the rollers,
and a cover or top-section which, on being adjusted into place, will cause motion to
be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the take-up roller only, and, on being
removed will cause motion to be transmitted from the driving-shaft to the music-
roller only.
It also partly consists in the combination of a valve whereby the speaking of
the sound-producing devices may be precluded, and a cover or top-section provided
with a push-piece, whereby, when the cover or top-section is in place, the sound-
producing devices are adapted to speak, and when the cover or top-section is
removed they will be precluded from speaking.
It also partly consists in the combination of music and take-up rollers to which
the music-sheet is attached, a valve whereby the reeds may be precluded from
speaking, a driving-shaft and a cover or top-section which, when in place, will
cause the take-up roller to be driven by the driving shaft and the valve aforesaid to
be closed, and when removed will cause the music-roller to be driven by the
driving-shaft, and the valve aforesaid to open.
It also partly consists in the combination of a reed-board, a music-roller, a take-
up roller, a music sheet attached to the rollers, and means for winding the said
music sheet on the rollers, so that it will pass from the reed-board to, their
under sides.
It also partly. consists in the combination of a wind chest, and a reed-board
ttached to the same and occupying a position at right angles thereto.
It also partly consists in the combination of a take-up roller on which the music
heet is wound during playing, a music roller on which the music-sheet is rewound
fter playing, a driving-shaft, a belt transmitting motion from the driving-shaft to
he..music-roller, a top-section or cover, and means whereby the belt will be

page_text: i
tightened or put under tension when the top-section or cover is removed and
slackened when the top section or cover is put on or adjusted into place.
.
:
It also partly consists of a take-up roller on which the music-sheet is wound
during playing, a music roller on which the music-sheet is rewound after playing, a
driving shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the music-
roller, a top section or cover, a device adapted to move and put the belt under
tension upon the removal of the top section or cover and to be moved so as to
slacken the belt when the top-section or cover is put on or adjusted into place.
It also partly consists in the combination of a take up roller on which the music
sheet is wound during playing, a music-roller on which the music-sheet is rewound
after playing, a driving shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from the driving shaft,
to the music roller, a top section or cover, a device capable of movement inde-
pendently of the music roller and preferably consisting of a lever adapted to rise
against the belt so as to tighten it or put it under tension when the top-section or
cover is removed, and a push-piece on the top-section or cover serving to depress
the said device when the top-section or cover is put on or adjusted into place.
It also partly consists in the combination of a rest, for the travelling music-
sheet and take up and music rollers on which the music sheet is wound and
rewound, provided with flanges extending close to the said rest so as to guide the
music-sheet during its passage over the rest.
It also partly consists in the combination of a music roller on which the music
sheet is to be normally kept wound, a take-up roller on which the music sheet is to
be wound during playing, a driving shaft capable of a rotary but not a swinging
movement, and connections whereby the driving shaft while rotated in but one
direction may drive the rollers in both directions.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a side view of a mechanical musical instrument constructed according
to this invention one end of the case being removed, with the exception of certain
small portions, to exhibit the interior.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same the middle portion being omitted.
Figure 3 is a transverse section illustrating a modification of the said invention
and
Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate.corresponding parts in all the figures.
The case A of the instrument may be of any suitable material and construction,
and provided with a cover or upper section which may be removed at pleasure.
As here shown .it has a cover B which is connected to it at one edge by
hinges a.
I will first describe the instrument shown in Figures 1 and 2. Reeds C are
employed as the sound producing devices and they are arranged in cells or
chambers b' in a board D. The board D is shown as arranged and as supported by
a wind chest E. This wind-chest extends horizontally from a block F which is
mounted on the stationary board of an equalizer or receiver G.
Bellows H are mounted on the stationary board of the equalizer G side by sido
and in this example of the said invention three of them are employed. As the
instrument shown is adapted to be operated by suction I have employed exhaust
bellows. The movable board of the equalizer tends to move outwards under the
influence of a spring or springs in a well known manner. I provide the movable
board of the equalizer with an ordinary valve c which when the equalizer is
unduly collapsed will open and admit air to it.
On the upper side of the wind chest is a valve E¹ which when not otherwise
actuated is impelled upwards by a spring 8. Air can then enter the wind-chest
without passing through the reed-board; and the speaking of the reeds is
prevented.
The bellows H are connected by links I with cranks & extending from a shaft. J.
This shaft serves as a driving shaft and is provided outside the case with a crank e
whereby motion may be imparted to it. One end of this shaft is supported in. a

page_text: bearing block f affixed to the interior of the case of the instrument and the other
end which is provided with the hand crank e is supported in the opposite end of
the case.
K indicates a perforated music sheet which is caused to pass over a rest
consisting of the top of the reed-board D and to thereby control the speaking of
the reeds. It is guided by means of guide pieces g arranged at the ends of the
reed-board.
The music-sheet is secured at one end to a roller L around which it is intended
to be kept wound while out of use. This roller is detachable from the instrument
and is termed the music-roller. The cover B of the case must be raised to remove
this roller. When in the instrument the other end is detachably fastened to a
roller M which may be permanently secured in the instrument and is termed the
take up roller. The music sheet may be fastened to the take up roller by means of
an eye upon its end and a hook in a recess in the roller or in any other desirable
manner.
The music roller is supported in bearings L' which consist of standards pivotted
to the sides of the wind chest E and receiving the journals of the roller in the
upper ends. These bearings are shown as severally made of two pieces h, i which
may be made of wood. The pieces h form the bottom and one side of the bearings,
and the pieces i are made thin and springy and form the other side of the bearings.
These pieces are fastened to the sides of the pieces h near the bottom by screws j
and hence act as springs. The sides of the. bearings which are formed in the
pieces are adapted to overhang the journals of the roller so as to prevent its
accidental removal from the bearings. The distance between the sides of the
bearings is slightly less than the diameter of the journals of the roller, hence when
the journals are inserted the pieces i are sprung off from the pieces h and after the
insertion of the journals bear against them with a spring pressure, exerting
sufficient friction to produce a slight tension on the music sheet, and thereby causing
the music sheet to bear against the rest or top of the reed-board closely.
On one of the journals of the music roller is a pulley L2 which receives a belt L®
which also passes around a pulley LA on the driving shaft J. Springs L' affixed to
the end of the reed-board D, or to the guide pieces g and bearing against the
standards or bearings L' near the upper ends tend to swing the music-roller away
from the driving shaft, and thereby they produce a tension on the belt L³.
One of the journals of the take-up roller M is supported in a fixed bearing
which, as shown, consists of a bearing block / which is permanently secured to one
side of the case. The other journal is supported in a swinging bearing-block k
which is pivotted to the opposite side of the case, near this journal the roller is
provided with a wheel M¹ which is adapted to make contact with and derive motion
from a wheel J¹ on the driving shaft. Either or both of the wheels J'. M' may be
faced with india-rubber or analagous material.
It will be observed that the music sheet passes between the reed-board and the
music and take-up rollers to the underside of the said rollers. It is thus
caused to fit the reed-board closely and the chance of leakage between the said
reed-board and music-sheet is materially lessened if not entirely avoided.
On the cover B of the case are blocks B' having inclined ends and adapted on
the closing of the cover to press the standards or bearings L' towards the reed-
board D against the resistance of the springs L5, thereby slackening the belt L³ so
that it will not transmit motion from the driving shaft J to the said roller.
The cover has pivotted to the interior of one side a block B2 which when the
cover is closed, will bear against the swinging block in which the adjacent
journal of the take-up roller M is supported and swing it so that the wheel M' will
press forcibly against the wheel J₁ on the driving-shaft. This block B2 is not
rigidly affixed to the cover but is pivotted at the upper end to the same and
actuated by a spring p, so that it will force over the swinging block k' of the take-
up roller with a yielding pressure. The corners of the swinging block k¹ and of
the block B² which come into contact are preferably rounded or chamfered off as
:

page_text: shown, so that the block B2 may with facility pass behind the said swinging block
to impel it forward. I also provide the cover with a push-piece B³ which, when the
cover is closed will press on the valve E¹ and close it."
1
When the cover B is closed, the blocks B¹ by forcing the standards or bearings L
toward the driving shaft and slackening the belt L³ prevent the driving shaft J
from imparting any motion to the music roller; and the block B2 by forcing
forward the swining bearing block and pressing the wheel M¹ of the take-up
roller against the wheel J¹ of the driving shaft causes the latter; when turned, to
impart motion to the take-up roller. The music sheet is thus fed forward in the
proper direction for producing a tune. The raising of the cover by permitting the
springs L to force the standards or bearings L' away from the driving shaft so as
to tighten the belt L³ and relieving the swinging bearing block k₁ of the take-up
roller of pressure, prevents the driving shaft from imparting motion to the take-up
roller, and enables it to impart motion to the music roller so as to rewind the
music-sheet after playing a tune.
As the valve E¹ is closed when the cover is shut, and opened when the cover is
raised, the bellows will be rendered operative merely by the act of closing the cover
and inoperative by the opening of the cover. The speaking of the reeds will thus
be prevented during the rewinding of the music sheet.
In the modified form of instrument shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bearings
supporting the music roller L are stationary, and a tightener S is used to tighten
the belt when the cover B is opened. This belt tightener is pivotted to the case A
at one end, and at the other end it carries a roller which acts on the belt. A
spring Simpels the free end and roller upwards. A block or arm B* on the cover
will depress the belt tightener when the cover is closed and thereby slacken the
belt; the music-roller will at the same time be shifted into engagement with the
driving shaft as before described in connection with the other form of instrument.
The valve E¹ is, in this form of instrument, cut longitudinally to form an upper
resilient arms a rigid push-piece B³ can consequently be used on the cover B for
operating it.
1. 3
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim, in an automatic or mechanical musical instrument:
First The combination of a take-up roller on which the.music sheet is wound
during the playing of the instrument, a driving-shaft, means whereby motion is
transmitted from the said driving-shaft to the said roller so as to cause the latter
to rotate in a reverse direction to the driving-shaft and a cover or top section
which, on being adjusted into place, will put the said roller in condition to derive
motion from the driving-shaft, and on being removed will relieve the said roller
from the driving-shaft, substantially as specified.
Second-The combination of the roller M on which the music sheet is wound,
the wheel M, the bearing block k¹, the driving-shaft J, the wheel J and a cover
or top section provided with a block which, on the adjustment of the cover or top
section into its place, will act on the said bearing block and force the wheel M¹
into contact with the wheel J', substantially as specified.
Third. The combination of the roller M. on which the music sheet is wound, the
wheel M, the bearing block ; the driving shaft J, the wheel J and a cover
or top section provided with the block B2 and the spring p, substantially as
specified.
Fourth. The combination of a music roller on which the music sheet is rewound
after playing, a driving-shaft, means whereby motion may be transmitted from the
driving-shaft to the said roller, and a cover or top section which must be removed
to permit the removal of the music roller and which on being adjusted into its
place will render. inoperative the said means for transmitting motion. from the
driving-shäft' to the said roller, and which on being removed will render these
means operative for the said purpose, substantially as specified.
Fifth.The combination of a music roler on which the music sheet is rewound

page_text: after playing, a driving-shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from the driving-shaft
to the said roller, and a cover or top section which on being adjusted into its place
will effect the movement of the bearings of the said roller to slacken the belt, and
on being removed will cause the tightening of the belt, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The combination of a roller on which the music-sheet is rewound after
playing, a driving-shaft, a belt for transmitting motion from the driving shaft to
the said roller, the movable bearings L' in which the said roller is supported, the
springs L³, and the blocks B¹ on a cover or top section, substantially as specified.
Seventh. The combination of the roller M on which the music sheet is wound,
the wheel M', the bearing block k¹, the driving-shaft J, the wheel J¹, the wind-
chest E, the valve El and a cover or top-section provided with the block B³, the
push-piece B³ and the spring p, substantially as specified.
Eighth. The combination of a valve E³, a spring for opening the same and a
cover or top section provided with a push-piece for closing the said valve,
substantially as specified.
Ninth. The combination of a music-sheet, music and take up rollers to which the
ends of the music-sheet are attached, a driving-shaft, a wheel on the driving-shaft, a
wheel on the take-up roller, a pulley on the driving-shaft, a pulley on the music roller,
a belt passing around these pulleys, and means whereby the wheel on the take-up
roller may be forced against the wheel on the driving-shaft, and the belt may be
slackened, and whereby the wheel on the take-up roller may be relieved from the
wheel on the driving-shaft, and the belt may be tightened, substantially as specified.
Tenth. The combination of a reed-board, a music-roller, a take-up roller, &
music sheet attached to the rollers, and means for winding the music-sheet on the
rollers so that it will pass from the reed board to their under sides before passing
to their upper sides, substantially as specified.
Eleventh. The combination of bellows, a wind-chest communicating therewith
and extending over the same, and a reed-board attached to the wind-chest and
occupying a position at right angles to the wind-chest, substantially as specified.
Twelfth. The combination of bellows, a wind chest communicating therewith
and extending over the same, a reed-board attached to the wind-chest and
occupying a position at right angles to the wind-chest, a music sheet, and music
and take-up rollers to which the ends of the said sheet are attached, one of the
said rollers being arranged over the wind-chest substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
IM DORT TATT