Improvements in Mechanical Musical Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Mechanical Musical Stringed Instruments.
We THEODOR BRUNO PÜTTMANN and MAX OTTO CLAUS of Leipzig-
Gohlis and PAUL ROBERT PÜTTNER of 1 Hospitalstrasse Leipzig in the
Empire of Germany, Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described aud
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a mechanical musical instrument in which the strings
are set in vibration by the action of pressers hung upon springs and adapted to fly
back more quickly than the strings which they have deflected, these pressers being
operated by tappet wheels which also govern and operate the dampers by bringing
the latter laterally against the respective strings.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through such musical
instrument parallel with the strings and showing one of the strings with its presser,
tappet wheel and damper and a section of the music sheet, the parts being in the
position in which the damper is in action and the presser in its resting position.
Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the position of the parts in which the presser,
here shown in a modified construction, is pressed down and deflects the string,
while the damper is free and assumes its position of rest away from the string.
Fig. 3 shows the damper separate from the other parts and Fig. 4 is an end eleva-
tion of the same as seen from the right in Fig. 3. S is the string, N the music
sheet, R the rotary tappet wheel, A the presser, and D the damper. The tappet
wheel is adapted to revolve on the shaft R' which affords also a bearing for the
damper D which has a hole D¹ for the passage of the shaft R' and lugs D² D² to
embrace the frame bar F to prevent the damper from revolving. A is the presser
which may be made in one piece with its spring shank A' as in Fig. 1 and in full
lines in Fig. 2 or may be a separate part for instance pivoted at X as in in dotted
lines in Fig. 2 and held from the string by a spring A' equivalent to the said shanks.
The damper D is slit at e to increase the resiliency and elasticity of that part which
comes against the string. Such part is bent at a (Fig. 4) to pass over the string
and down alongside the latter and it is provided with the boss b projecting from its
side in the path of the teeth or tappets of wheel R so that as each tooth passes in
front of and presses aside this boss the damper is brought against the string.
When a projection on the music sheet N strikes the uppermost tooth of wheel R
it causes the wheel to be partially revolved: this action first brings the damper
into action as just described and shown in Fig. 1. As the movement continues,
another tooth 22 of the wheel presses down the presser A into the string deflecting
the latter as shown in Fig. 2 while the damper is released by the tooth Z¹ passing
over the boss bout of contact therewith.
When the tooth Z2 has passed over the end of the presser A the latter springs up,
and, its spring A¹ being shorter then the string has a quicker movement than the
latter so that the presser A. leaves the string which is free to vibrate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inver-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) A mechanical musical instrument in which the strings S are adapted to be
brought into vibration by springs A acting as pressers or by pressers A operated
by springs so that they return from the strings more quickly than the latter

page_text: vibrate, and in which the dampers are so arranged laterally of the tappet wheels R
that the passage of the teeth of the latter deflects a boss bor the like on the
damper by which action the latter is adapted to be brought against the string.
(2.) The construction of presser A and of damper D to co-operate with the
wheel R and string S substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicants.