Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
ALFRED MAXFIELD 326 Liverpool Road, London, N. Mechanical Engineer 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:
My invention relates to that class of musical instruments, or appliances for
automatically playing musical instruments, whose sound producing devices are
controlled by a perforated sheet of paper, the said sheet of paper being wound on a
spool, and is adapted to travel in the instrument, or appliance on to a take-up spool
by suitable mechanism. These spools of perforated music have been found very
compact and convenient for Quadrilles, or long tunes, but they are inconvenient when
it is required to render short tunes, such as, Songs, Hymns, Jigs &c. which have to
be repeated a number of times, for, it is necessary either to have the tune repeated on
the music sheet the required number of times, or, when the tune has been played
through, to rewind the sheet from the take-up spool, back to the music spool, which
causes delay and necessitates a cessation in the music.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1, is a front view of the instrument known
as the Orchestrone with the front bearings and the lids removed, showing the
arrangement of the band, A, according to my invention. Figure, 2, represents the
take-up spool, B, showing the rubber, E, E. Figure, 3, represents the weight D. for
weighting the music band A. Figure, 4, shows the band, A. where seperated, and
Figure 5, shows the same when joined to-gether.
With my invention, for repeat tunes, the sheet is formed into an endless band,
either by a joint as shown in figs. 4 & 5. or any other suitable method, or the ends
are gummed to-gether, similar to those used for many years in the instrument
known as the Orguinette. In using my invention the ordinary arrangements of
the present instruments would be the same, with the exception of the take-up
spool, B, the barrel of which is covered with strips of india rubber, E. E, fig. 2, or
other suitable material that will excite friction.
To insert the music ready for playing I place one of the music spools, C, which
is not quite filled, into its ordinary bearings provided in the instrument, the
music sheet, A, is threaded under the said music spool, C. which serves as a guide
for the paper, the sheet is carried forward over the music rest F. and round the
E

page_text: barrel of the take-up spool B. the ends of the music sheet, A, are then joined
to-gether as in fig. 5. and the loose part of the band, A, is drawn out of the instru-
ment and bangs down the front, side, or back, according to the arrangements of
the instruments, between the loose part of the band, A. a weight D. fig. 3. preferably
a roller, is inserted this weight draws the band, A, tight, so that when the take-up
spool B. is actuated, the friction caused by the weight D. tightening the music
sheet, A. on the india rubber E, E, causes the band to travel round.
The foregoing description only deals with the band, A. when joined as in fig. 5.
when the music band A. is gummed to-gether the take-up spool B. is adapted to be
removed from the instrument at will, when out of the instrument the band A. is
placed round the barrel of take-up spool B, which is then replaced in the instrument,
the music spool C. is placed between the band A. and is dropped into its bearings,
the weight D. is then inserted as before.
In the modification of my invention instead of the india rubber being placed on the
barrel of take-up spool B, I construct at the back of the take-up spool, B, an
oscillating bearing G, on which is journalled a friction roller H. this bearing is
adapted to be drawn forward so that the friction roller H. presses by spring I, or
otherwise, against the band, A. on the take-up spool B. and I use the same arrange-
ments with regard to the insertion of band A, as above described.
In this modification of my invention the weight, D. is not used necessarily to cause
friction, but to draw out of the instrument that part of the band, A. that has passed
round the take-up spool B, or through the instrument, otherwise in some cases the
band A. would not return from the instrument, and consequently become entangled
with the working parts of the instrument.
When it is not required to use the band A. the oscillating bearing G, can be
thrown back out of the way as shown in drawing fig. 1. There is however a
great objection to the use of friction rollers, for, if the said rollers are not
adjusted to a very great nicety they are liable to cause the music paper to travel
from side to side, and destroy the edges of the paper which renders it useless.
In some of the instruments the band, A. when returning from the instrument
would fall on the rest F. which would interfere with the rendering of the music, to
obviate this, I erect a bridge of wire on the rest F. over which the band A.
passes.
Having described and ascertained the nature of my invention, and shown
how the same can be conveniently carried into practice, I claim.
1. In combination with a mechanical musical instrument, or appliance for auto-
matically playing musical instruments, whose sound producing devices are controlled
by perforated paper, or other material, the take-up spool B. the barrel of which is
covered with strips of india rubber, or other material that will excite friction, the
weight, D. (which can be made of various shapes other than that shown in fig. 3.)
for tightening the music band A. and for the purpose specified.
2. In combination with a mechanical musical instrument, or appliance, the weight D
for the purpose specified.
3. In combination with a mechanical musical instrument, the use of take-up
spool B, without other friction rollers pressing against it, for imparting motion to
the music band, A. as described.
4. In combination with a mechanical musical instrument the oscillating bearing G
provided with friction roller H. and spring I. as described and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 6th day of December 1887