IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1880

page_text: 16
LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Smith, of Canterbury, in the County of Kent,
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR
ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1880.
HERMANN SMITH, of Canterbury, in the County of Kent. IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
My Invention relates to improvements in and connected with reeds for organs
and other musical instruments, and it consists in giving new shapes to the frames
of reeds and also to the tongues in conformity therewith, and in new arrangements
of the tubes, boxes, or channels to which the reeds are affixed, and of the mechanism
for giving passage to the wind acting upon the reeds. These improvements I now
proceed to describe. The reeds as now used, known as free reeds, present at the
under surface of the frame a straight and level line; instead of this I give to the
frame new forins, arched, curved, or bowed in the length, or in a portion of the
length, and also angular forms in various degrees of inclination of one half or other
relation of or to the whole length of the frame below the remaining part, and the
tongues I bend to follow or nearly follow the forms so determined or given. The
arching or bending of the frames may be accomplished by pressure in a vice, or the
frames may be originally cast or moulded to the desired forms whether concave or
convex. Angular forms or shapes are easily obtained by cutting the frames across
so as to give suitable angles and then soldering; the parts or frames may originally
be cast or moulded for any required angle. When the frame is formed so that the
fore end has a downward dip with inclination approaching toward the root in
more or less acute angle, then it is advantageous to form the reed tongue of steel,
such as watch spring, which can be tempered after the process of bending to conform
to this sharp angle, and, in order to modify pitch, I then add a block of brass or
lead of suitable weight near the bend of the tongue, and in such softer metal am
able to readily increase the weight or to reduce it by the file in the ordinary
manner of tuning.
These new dispositions of frames and tongues offer many advantages in treatment
for attaining distinct degrees and qualities of tone, the elastic resistance to the
action of the wind being so varied by mechanical differences, arising from the forms

page_text: of the vibrating tongues, that the voicer is able to determine results more readily
than with plain reeds. Other advantages accrue from reeds so formed in that they
stand better in tune than ordinary reeds; they are not so strained at the root by
excesses of strength of wind force during vibration; they are capable of giving purer
and clearer tone by reason of their lessened amplitude of swing, and the angular
framed reeds are in effect long reeds vibrating as shorter reeds without losing the
elasticity arising from length, since the stress of wind is expended in vigour of
motion rather than in extent of stroke. I further shape the channels, tubes, or
boxes to conform to the shapes of the new frames, whether they be made singly as
for organ work or in series as for harmoniums, and to obviate risk of defective
fitting I mount the frames on leather or felt, and likewise after the manner described
and illustrated in my Specification to former Letters Patent granted to me, dated
the 3rd of December, 1878, No. 4942. I also make the boxes or channels in super-
posed divisions, and where I require the valves or pallets should open to admit or
let in compressed air to each reed in reply to the touch of the key then the first
division encloses the reed, the pallet or valve being placed above the inlet; the next
division confines the air, allowing passage only by a regulated aperture; the third
division contains a valve which is connected to the upper valve, and its office is to
shut off all after-clang of the reed when the key has released the upper valve, it
therefore may be considered to act as a damper, and for some considerations of
character of sound this lower valve may be connected by a thread to the reed
tongue when desired.
to.
According to another modification I dispense with the upper pallet or valve,
making the boxes or channels in two divisions only, and cause the lower valve to
act in resistance to the compressed air and to be opened by connection with the
key, and for this method the chamber has separated registers as hereinafter referred
Where on the other hand I require that pallets should be lifted or opened to
let out the compressed air in order to allow the reed to speak, I make the boxes or
channels with two divisions or with one only, and have one pallet exterior to the
chamber acting in the usual manner, and then I so arrange that these two systems
may be used together in one chamber or register. By "chamber or register" is under-
stood that large box or enclosure which holds or contains a series of consecutive
reeds. In such chamber I place a series of the first and of the second kind together,
the boxes or channels of the first series being set above the second series, but
a step behind, and the mass of compressed air in the chamber is not divided off, but
is common to both as regards each note acted upon, the only difference being in
one the pallet is before the reed, and in the other series is placed after or below the
reed. According to a further modification the two series are parted off, although
one lid covers both as it does in the first arrangement, and this lid I make
chambered and hollow for advantage in respect of tone. In consequence of the
arrangement described one series is always in the condition that its pallets or
valves are closed by the compressed air, and the other series is in the condition
that its pallets require external springs to keep them closed. I therefore devise
that one stem shall perform the double operation; the stem which is centred on an
action rail carries the pallet at its fore-end, and the spring enables it to oppose
exterior resistance to the wind, but the touch end of the stem supports a sticker or
rod which is so placed that when the key is touched simultaneously with the lifting
of the pallet at the fore-end, the sticker acting in a contrary direction of movement
overcomes the resistance of the pallet or valve of interior closure. As regards the
touch at the keys it will be obvious that this combination system has practical
merits. The outward space beneath the upper series of reeds at back of lower
series I utilize as a resonance chamber, giving it a venetian swell or a sliding
shutter. I also arrange a slide or a ribbon so fitted that it may be easily caused to
partially cover the apertures of the valves in any required gradation from bass to
treble, softening either part according to the character desired for the particular
stop. When the sticker has to open a pallet or valve above the reed I make it in
parts, the portion within the chamber being connected with the lower portion by a.

page_text: pin or wire passing through a leather disc, or purse, or other pierced work; a plan
adopted also when several stops are combined, as when two or more series of the
first kind are built up by themselves, dispensing with stem and pallet system, and
operated by roller action as in organ work. These arrangements of reed chambers
and actions are not restricted to reeds and reed frames constructed according to my
Invention, but may be used with reeds of ordinary make. Although the foregoing
details of the improvements are described in reference to instruments using wind
under the method of pressure, they are equally applicable for or to instruments
using wind under the method of suction. Two or more reeds formed according to
my Invention may be united together, and all my several improvements herein set
forth may likewise be used in conjunction and combination with the devices
described in the Specifications to former Letters Patent granted to me, dated
respectively the 8th December 1875, No. 4242; the 17th of January 1878, No. 227;
and the 3rd of December 1878, No. 4942.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hermann Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th July
1880.
HERMANN SMITH, of Canterbury, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH REEDS FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in and connected with reeds for organs
and other musical instruments, and it consists in giving new shapes to the frames
of reeds, and also to the tongues in conformity therewith, and in new shapes and
arrangements of the tubes, boxes, or channels to which the reeds are affixed, and of
the mechanism for giving passage to the wind acting upon the reeds. These
improvements I now proceed to describe, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 to 6 are longitudinal sections of reeds and reed frames on their channels
or boxes; Figures 7 and 8 are sections illustrating improved arrangements of the
channels or boxes.
The reeds as now used, known as free reeds, present at the under surface of the
frame a straight and level line. Instead of this I give to the frame itself new forms,
arched, curved, or bowed in the length, or in a portion of the length, and also
angular forms in various degrees of inclination of one half or other relation of or to
the whole length of the frame below the remaining part, and the tongues I bend to
follow, or nearly follow, the forms so determined or given.
In Figures 1 and 2 the frames a are arched concave and convex; in Figures 3 to 6
they are made in angular forms, and in order to modify pitch a block of brass may
be added to the tongue c at or near the bend, as shewn at n, in Figure 4. The
arching or bending of the frames may be accomplished by pressure in a vice, or the
frames may be originally cast, moulded, or stamped to the desired forms, whether
concave, convex. Angular forms or shapes are easily obtained by cutting the
frames across so as to give suitable angles, and then soldering. The parts or frames
may originally be cast, moulded, or stamped for any required angle. When the
frame is formed as in Figure 4, so that the fore end has a downward dip with
inclination approaching toward the root in more or less acute angle, then it is
advantageous to form the reed tongue of steel, such as watch spring, which can be
tempered after the process of bending to conform to this sharp angle; and in order
to modify pitch I then add a block of brass or lead of suitable weight near the bend
of the tongue, and in such softer metal am able to readily increase the weight or to
reduce it by the file in the ordinary manner of tuning.
These new dispositions of frames and tongues offer many advantages in treatment
for attaining distinct degrees and qualities of tone, the elastic resistance to the action
of the wind being so varied by mechanical differences, arising from the forms of the
vibrating tongues, that the voicer is able to determine results more readily than with
plain reeds. Other advantages accrue from reeds so formed, in that they stand
better in tune than ordinary reeds; they are not so strained at the root by excesses
in the strength of the wind force during vibration. They are also capable of giving
purer and clearer tone by reason of their lessened amplitude of swing, and the
angular framed reeds are in effect long reeds vibrating as shorter reeds, without
losing the elasticity arising from length, since the stress of wind is expended in
vigour of motion rather than in extent of stroke. I further shape the channels,
tubes, or boxes p to conform to the shapes of the new frames, whether they be made
singly, as for organ work, or in series, as for harmoniums; and to obviate risk of
defective fitting I mount the frames a on leather, felt, cork, or other suitable sub-
stance, as shewn at o, and likewise after the manner described and illustrated in the
Specification to former Letters Patent granted to me dated the Third of December,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, No. 4942,

page_text: The frames may also be cast, moulded, or stamped with additional depth,
equivalent to and taking the place of channels or boxes.
It is obvious that two reeds of different forms may be united together and used
upon one box or channel, in order to produce a compound quality of tone.
This part of the Invention is applicable to instruments operating either by
pressure or by suction, also to reeds operating under the agency of electricity or
magnetism in conjunction with the action of wind.
The improvements hereinbefore described, or some of them, may be adapted to
reeds known as "beating" or "striking reeds," and also may be used in conjunction
with tubes of the length, or approximate to the length, usual in the pipe work of
organs.
My improvements in the combination and arrangement of the channels or boxes
are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This part of my Invention forms a convenient
mode of arranging the reeds for instruments in which the width of the scale of the
channels and boxes exceeds the width of scale of the keys and keyboard, the
mechanism required being of the kind known as back-falls, squares, and roller
action.
A, Figure 7, is a box or enclosure divided into two registers or chambers B, C, by
a partition D, and closed by a hinged lid E. This lid is divided by a flexible parti-
tion F extending throughout its entire length into two compartments G, H, one of
which (videlicet, G) communicates with the external atmosphere by an opening I,
whilst the other compartment H, which is subdivided by a partition K, is in com-
munication by means of openings L, M, at opposite sides of the said partition with
compressed air contained in the registers or chambers B, C. By chamber or register
is understood the large box or enclosure which holds or contains a series of consecutive
reeds.
The register or chamber B contains a series of tubes, boxes, or channels con-
sisting of two superposed divisions N, O, which communicate with each other by
an aperture P, the size of which may be regulated by a slider or by an adjustable
slip of leather with aperture interposed between N and O; a similar slide may also
be interposed between O and D when desirable. The upper division N has affixed
thereto the reed-frame Q, whilst in the lower division O there is a valve R which
covers an aperture S in the partition D, and is maintained closed by the compressed
air within the tubes, boxes, or channels. The register or chamber C contains a
series of tubes, boxes, or channels T having affixed thereto reed frames U. The
opening V in each tube, box, or channel is covered by a pallet W which is carried
by a stem or lever X having its centre at Y, and is held closed by a spring Z acting
upon the said stem or lever. Near the opposite end of each stem or lever Y to that
at which the pallet W is situate is attached one end of the sticker or rod a, the
upper end of which meets the valve R. In consequence of this arrangement when
the rod b attached to the mechanism (of "roller action," "back falls", or otherwise)
connected with the keys is operated (pushing upwards) there is a simultaneous
action affecting the reed in each series, the valve R of the upper series being pushed
up against the resistance of the compressed air, whilst the pallet W of the lower
series opens against the resistance of the spring Z, in both cases affording passage to
the compressed air and allowing the reeds to sound. By this system of combination
and by choosing particular forms of reeds and reed-boxes, very marked differences
in the qualities of tones are obtained.
It will be observed that closed spaces are formed at c, d, useful for resonance,
and capable of being modified by venetian shutters, or by slides, or by an adjustable
ribbon, so arranged that it may be easily caused to partially cover the aperture S
in any required gradation from treble to bass, softening either part according to the
character required for the particular stop.
The modification, Figure 8, differs from that hereinbefore described by the
addition in the register or chamber B of a third box e having a pallet f in advance
of the reed. The stem or lever g of this pallet is centred at h, and is attached at
one end to a tapped wire i regulated with buttons, and which acts upon the

page_text: pivotted valve R. The office of this valve is to shut off all after clang of the reed
when the key bas released the upper valve, and it therefore may be considered to
act as a damper; also for some considerations of character of sound this lower
valve may be connected by a thread or by other suitable means to the reed-tongue
when desired.
The opposite end of the stem or lever g is operated upon by the rod or "sticker"
a, which in this modification passes from chamber to chamber, and may be extended
to other registers tier above tier; the rod may be in sections connected by pins
passing through purses or leather discs or other pierced material. Under this
arrangement there is no necessity that the two registers or chambers B, C, should
be separated. The compressed air passes freely from one to the other, and the
partition K (Figure 7) in the lid E is dispensed with, and the lower series of reeds
may be shut off from the upper when necessary by an ordinary device (not shewn)
of a felted bar arranged to be let down upon the tongues of the reeds by means of
stop-rod action. The arrangements described of reeds and reed chambers are not
restricted to reeds and reed frames constructed according to my Invention, but
may be used with reeds of ordinary make. Nor are these superposed boxes limited
to the number shown.
The several improvements herein before described may be used in conjunction
and combination with the devices described in the Specifications to former Letters
Patent granted to me dated respectively the Eighth of December, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy five, No. 4242; the Seventeenth of January, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, No. 227; and the Third of December,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, No. 4942.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Reed frames for the reeds of musical instruments bent, bowed, or formed
to a curved or angular shape, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
or boxes
Second. The arrangements and combinations of the channels
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermann Smith, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal; this Fifth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
HERMANN SMITH. (LS.)