IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ORGANS, ARMO- NIUMS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR MECHANICALLY PLAYING OR OPERATING THE SAME.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Y. Smith, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United
States of America, now of S. Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer, for
the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ORGANS, ARMO-
NIUMS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR MECHANICALLY PLAYING OR OPERATING THE SAME.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Y. Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1879.
JOHN Y. SMITH, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, now of
8, Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITHI FOR MECHANICALLY PLAYING OR OPERATING
THE SAME."
My Invention relates to musical instruments in which tunes are played auto-
matically by means of music or tune bands of perforated paper or other suitable
material. The said Invention relates chiefly to wind instruments, and comprises
various improvements whereby the action of such musical instruments is greatly
facilitated, great accuracy in time is ensured, and less exertion required in operating
the same than in any instrument of the kind beretofore employed.
The said Invention also relates to improved means for combining such wind
instruments with pianofortes or other musical instruments or sound yielders, and
also devices for operating such instruments so that they may be played separately
or collectively, as hereinafter described.
In instruments heretofore constructed various arrangements have been resorted
to in order to ensure a quick action in playing; but these arrangements have been
more or less imperfect, and in the playing of music having very quick passages the
air cannot be supplied and cut off rapidly enough to ensure a distinct and sharp
sound for each and every note.
!
In order to obviate these defects, according to one arrangement of my Invention.
I arrange below each opening in the bridge or action board or block, over which
the perforated sheet of paper passes, a collapsible sack or bag, whose upper end is

page_text: This rod
attached to the said bridge or action board in any suitable manner, and provided
with a small hole or aperture which is in communication with one of the holes in
the said bridge. The lower or collapsible end of the said sack is free to move
below or in the said bridge, and is provided with a downwardly projecting rod or
bar formed on or attached to the said lower end in any suitable manner.
or bar is provided at its lower end with one or more valves which are arranged
in connection with ports or passages in an extension of each of the reed or pipe
chambers of the instruments, or in a pipe attached to each of the said reed or pipe
chambers, the said ports or passages being so arranged that air may be freely drawn
through the same when the said valves are open by the action of the ordinary
bellows used in such instruments. Leading from each hole or opening in the
aforesaid bridge or action board, and just above the upper end of the collapsible
sack, is another small aperture or opening which is in connection with each reed
chest or pipe chamber, the said opening being preferably made smaller in diameter
than the hole in the bridge for the purposes hereinafter described. The sheet of
perforated paper or tune band is mounted on rollers in the ordinary, manner, and
may be arranged within a pressure chamber or otherwise, and is actuated in any
suitable manner. By the arrangement of the parts above described when an
opening or perforation in the said sheet uncovers the aforesaid aperture or hole
in the bridge the air enters the same, and a portion of it passes through the small
aperture in the upper end or head of the collapsible sack and destroys the vacuum
in the same, this vacuum having been previously produced by the exhausting action
of the bellows, which, when the hole in the bridge is closed by the unperforated
portions of the music sheet or tune band, exhausts the air from the reed chamber
and also from the sack through the small openings in the upper end of the same
and the small opening leading from the said hole in the bridge to the said reed or
chest. This exhausting action of the said bellows in producing the vacuum in the
said sack draws up the collapsible end of the same, and thereby closes the aforesaid
balance valves and shuts off the communication of the outer air with the said reed
chamber. When the vacuum is destroyed however by the entrance of air into the
bridge hole, the said collapsible sack again expands and opens the aforesaid balance
valves, thereby permitting the air to be drawn into the reed or pipe chamber by
the action of the bellows and sound the note, a vacuum being again immediately
formed in the sack and the said valves again closed immediately the bridge hole is
closed by the music sheet. The hole leading from the bridge hole to the reed chest
is of smaller diameter than the said bridge hole, so as to ensure that a portion of
the air entering a perforation in the paper and the said bridge hole shall pass into
the collapsible sack and destroy the vacuum as above described, the air being drawn
through the said hole out of the said sack, thereby collapsing the same when the
bridge hole is closed by the action of the hollows as above described; or instead
of forming the said hole leading to the bridge hole of smaller diameter than the
latter, I in some cases make the said hole larger or of the same diameter
and arrange a valve within the same, so as to ensure the same result.
In some
cases, in order to facilitate the removal of dust which might accumulate in the
hole leading to the bridge hole, I extend the said hole through the bridge and close
its outer end by a screw or plug, which may be removed for the insertion of a
needle or other implement to remove such dust or dirt when required.
By the above described improvements I am enabled to ensure a very rapid action
of the instrument, and can execute very quick passages in music, each note being
produced clearly and sharply; and as the bridge openings and adjacent parts are
very small I can arrange the said openings very close together, and am thereby
enabled to considerably reduce the length of the bridge or action board, and the
width of the music sheet or tune band.
Instead of employing balance valves as above described in connection with the
collapsible sack I in some cases effect the supply of air to the reed chamber by
employing a valve fixed upon a rod or lever pivoted to the frame at one end and
attached by its other end to the collapsible end of the said sack. Or in some cases

page_text: 1 dispense with the collapsible sack and effect the necessary closing of a flap or
other valve in connection with each reed chest by a vacuum, the valve being
retained in its open position by a suitable spring, or vice versa; or instead of
employing a sack 1 sometimes employ a flexible diaphragm, which is connected
with the valve or valves and operated in a similar manner to that above described.
According to another arrangement of my Invention, I so arrange the sacks and
balance valves that when one of the apertures in a single sheet of perforated paper
opens the bridge hole in connection with a note in one octave, the same note in one
or more other octaves will be simultaneously sounded. This I effect by connecting
the rods attached to the collapsible sacks and provided with balance valves, and
which are in connection with the reeds, pipes, or other sound producers or yielders
controlled by the perforated paper or tune band, with one or more sets of balance
valves, which regulate the admission of air to a series of reed or pipe chambers or
other sound yielders or producers in the same manner as is effected by the sack or
diaphragm itself. This connection is effected by means of a series of pivoted levers,
or rods connected in any suitable manner with the aforesaid sack rods at one end
and at the other end to rods provided with balance valves for regulating the supply
of air to the reed chests, pipe chambers, or other sound producers, the said balance
valves being similar to those in connection with the sacks. By this arrangement,
when any bridge hole in connection with a sack or diaphragm is uncovered the
vacuum in the said sack is destroyed, as herein before described, and the balance
valve opened, and at the same time the sack rod acting on the aforesaid pivoted
rod or rods also opens the balance valves for admitting air to the corresponding
noto in the other octave or octaves; or the said balance valves may be connected
in any other suitable manner for effecting the same object.
When it is desired to provide my improved instruments with a
"swell" device to
regulate the softening and swelling of the sounds, I arrange in connection with the
balance valve rods a bar or slide, which is provided with as many inclines as there
are reeds or pipe chambers, the said inclines being arranged to act on the said valve
rods so that the extent of opening movement of the said valves may be regulated
as desired by means of a sack or diaphragm which is attached by a bell crank lever
or other suitable device to the said slide, the movements of the said sack or diaphragm
being controlled by perforations in the music sheet or tune band in a similar manuer
to that above described in connection with the other sacks for producing a note or
sound. The sack or diaphragm moreover will open or close any swell or
expression devices such as those at present in use without any attention or action
on the part of the operator.
Or I sometimes so arrange the said "swell" mechanism that the sound of some
of the notes may be increased and others decreased at the same time, or a portion
only of such notes may be subject to the action of the "swell" mechanism in con-
nection with instruments by increasing the number of slides and by a special
arrangement of the inclines upon the same.
Instead of employing bellows to draw the air through the reed chest or pipe
chambers I in some cases arrange the said bellows in such a manner as to force such
air through the openings, which are controlled by the aforesaid balance or other
valves. In this case however the seats of the said valves must be reversed, and the
collapsible sack or diaphragm actuating the said valves will then be expanded by
pressure in place of being collapsed by a vacuum, thereby producing the same
effect.
I also in some cases arrange two or more sacks in connection with each bridge or
action board, opening, or hole, so that I am enabled to strike a series of sound
producers or yielders, such as dulcimers, drums, bells, triangles, or other devices for
combining harmonic sounds with the sounds produced by the said organs,
harmoniums, pianos, and the like. In some cases also I arrange in connection
with the tune band and sacks or magnets a series of rollers or other devices, which
are designed to cause or produce friction on strings, glass tubes, or other similar

page_text: sound producing mediums. I also employ a sack or sacks or magnets actuated by
the tune band for producing the effect of the tremolo of the human voice.
In the class of musical instruments above described it has been usual to operate
the bellows and the music sheet or tune band at one and the same time by a series
of cranks or pedals, but when these arrangements are employed it is extremely
difficult to ensure the proper and accurate time that the piece of music should be
played in, thereby causing the proper rendering of the said piece of music depen-
dent upon the ear and manipulations of the operator, and moreover great exertion
is required in operating the pedals or other devices in connection with such instru-
Dients. By my Invention however I obviate these defects by employing devices
similar to those employed in connection with musical boxes and the like, or in
some cases I employ an improved power transmitting apparatus, which I will now
proceed to describe. Upon a motor shaft arranged in close proximity to the music
roll, which winds the tune band when the instrument is operated from the other
roll, I arrange a friction pulley or gear wheel, which is in frictional contact or in
gear with a wheel or roller on the said tune band roll, and imparts the necessary
motion to the same. The said shaft is also provided with two or more friction
clutches of any suitable construction, and each of which have motion imparted to
them by means of a cord or band, one end of which is attached to a weight and
the other to a collapsible sack or diaphragm, or to a piston within a cylinder. Each
of the said collapsible sacks is connected with the ordinary bellows, and is provided
with suitable inlet and outlet valves, one arranged in the upper or movable head of
the same, and the other in the base or in the pipe which communicates with the
bellows of the instrument. Each of the said valves are opened and closed at cach
ascent and descent of the said sack, the said valves being operated when the sack
is descending by the movement of the said sack, and operated in the other direc-
tion when the sack has reached the limit of its upward movement or comes in
contact with the weight attached to the other end of the cord or other suitable
device for ensuring the same result. The sack when actuated by the bellows draws
the weight upwards, and the downward movement of the said weight, which is
regulated by a suitably constructed governor, imparts motion to the power trans-
mitting device or motor shaft. In order moreover to ensure a regular feed or travel
of the tune band I employ in connection with the said power transmitting apparatus
a cone pulley, which regulates the number of the revolutions necessary to be imparted
to the music rolls. The said power transmitting apparatus may also be employed
for re-rolling the music sheet or tune band back onto its proper roller to permit the
removal of the same.
According to another part of my Invention I arrange a series of collapsible sacks
or bags above or below the keys of a piano or other keyed instrument, or connected
directly with the hammers or other parts of the same, and which are operated by a
tune band passing over a bridge or action board in a similar manner to that herein-
before described. Each time the vacuum is completed and destroyed the said sacks
will strike the keys and produce the same results as when the said instruments. is
operated by hand.
Instead of producing a vacuum in the said sacks to produce this effect the same
result may be produced by air under pressure and a vacuum combined, the pressure
causing the sack to strike the blow, and the vacuum causing the same to recede.
In some cases I arrange in connection with an ordinary organ, harmonium, or
piano, or other keyed instrument a suitable recording apparatus, which indicates
the length or duration of the notes produced by the person operating the keys upon
such instruments, and facilitates the after preparation of the tune bands to be
employed in the wind or other musical instruments above described.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements relating to the playing of
organs, harmoniums, pianos, and other musical instruments, by the employment of
a band or sheet of paper provided with wires or metal plates, which cause sounds
or notes to be produced in such instruments.

page_text: In carrying this part of my Invention into practise I arrange below the band or
length of paper, which is wound upon rollers in the ordinary manner, a series of
electro or permanent magnets, one of which is arranged in connection with each
key of a piano or each balance valve for controlling the admission of air into reed
or pipe chambers or other sound producers.
When I employ an electro magnet for the purpose above described I so arrange
the same that the circuit will be broken and closed by wires or plates on the music
sheet on tune band, and when a permanent magnet is employed I so arrange the
magnet that when the said wires or plates pass over the said magnet, which is
below the surface of the bridge or action board when in its normal position, the
said magnet will asceud and will actuate a key or open the valves, and when the
said wires or plates pass beyond the influence of such magnet over the bridge or
action block this magnet will again descend and cause the key or valves to return
to their normal position.
When an electro maguet is employed the contact wires are flattened at their upper
ends, these flattened ends corresponding in width with the shortest note, the said
plates or wires being arranged in close proximity to the said music sheet, tune band,
or roll of paper. The flattened ends of the said plates or wires however are arranged
at a suitable distance apart, so that the current cannot pass through the said magnet
until the circuit is completed, as hereinafter described. The series of wires or plates
are preferably attached to the tune band in a somewhat similar manner to that in
which card teeth are affixed to leather, one of the said wires or plates being used
for a short note, and a series of such wires or plates employed in order to produce a
long note.
When one of the said wires in the music sheet passes over the said flattened
wires or plates of the electro magnet, or the poles of the permanent or horse shoe
maguet, the said wire in the music sheet will complete the circuit, and the poles of
the said magnet when employed in connection with a piano will act upon the key
or hammer corresponding to the note to be produced; or when used in connection
with a reed instrument, organ, harmonium, or other sound producer or yielder will
act upon the balance or other valves or keys for controlling the supply of air to
produce the corresponding notes.
By this arrangement I am enabled to produce on pianos, reed instruments,
harmoniums, pipe organs, or other sound producers or yielders any tunes desired,
that is to say, by the insertion of the desired sheet or band of music I can produce
the desired sounds, whether long or short, to correspond to the series of wires or
plates affixed to the said paper.
Moreover in some cases I arrange the said series of magnets between the bridge
or action board holes in the musical instruments operated as above described, and
insert the aforesaid wires or plates between the rows of perforations in the music
sheets, so that I can produce the desired sounds on the organ or reed instrument
and a piano or other instrument at one and the same time, or the said perforations
and wires may be so arranged that the piano may play the air and the organ or
reed instrument the accompaniment, or vice versa.
Tune bands as heretofore constructed are susceptible to damp, and other variations
in climate, but according to my Invention I obviate these difficulties by preparing
the paper of which the tune bands are formed with any well known water-proofing
material.
In order to ensure the close fitting of the music sheet or tune band upon the
bridge or action board I sometimes employ one or more flexible hollow india rubber
rollers arranged above the paper and over the said action board, the said roller or
rollers being provided at their ends with holes or apertures which are in communi-
cation with pipes leading to 'the bellows, through which air is forced by the
said bellows, thereby expanding the said india rubber roller or rollers and producing
an elastic pressure upon the tune band or music sheet, thereby obviating the
abrading and tearing of the said tune band, which takes place in musical instru-
ments as heretofore constructed when a pressure device is employed.

page_text: In some cases I also arrange one or more similar flexible rollers, in the action
board or bridge below the tune band or music sheet, and preferably opposite the
roller or rollers for producing pressure on the same, above described.
The said
roller or rollers in the bridge may be connected with my improved power trans-
mitting apparatus, so that a regular feed or movement of the tune band may be
obtained.
1 also employ in some cases a series of collapsible sacks or bags, whose move-
ments are controlled by the tune band to effect the opening and closing of the
stops employed in organs and other similar instruments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Y. Smith, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th April
1880.
JOHN Y. SMITH, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, now of
8, Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, PIANOFORTES, AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR MECHANICALLY PLAYING OR OPERATING
THE SAME."
My Invention relates to musical instruments in which tunes are played auto-
matically by means of music-sheets or tune-bands, of perforated paper or other
suitable material. The said Invention relates chiefly to wind-instruments, and
comprises various improvements whereby the action of such musical instruments is
greatly facilitated, great accuracy in time is ensured, and less exertion is required
in operating the same than in any instrument of the kind heretofore constructed.
The said Invention also relates to improved means for combining such wind
instruments with pianofortes, or other musical instruments or sound yielders, and
also devices for operating such instruments so that they may be played separately
or collectively, as hereinafter described.
In instruments of the class above referred to, as heretofore constructed, various
arrangements have been resorted to in order to ensure a quick action in playing:
but these arrangements have been more or less imperfect, and in the playing of
music having very quick passages the wind cannot be supplied and cut off rapidly
enough to ensure a distinct and sharp sound for each and every note.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a portion of a wind musical instrument showing
one part of my improvements applied to the same, and
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the parts in a different position.
Figure 3 is a transverse section drawn to an enlarged scale of a modified form of
my improvements, and
Figure 4 is a front view of a portion of the same detached.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of a portion of a wind musical instrument shewing
a modified arrangement of the valve, whose movement is controlled by a collapsible
chamber, as hereinafter described, and
Figure 6 is a similar view shewing an improved method of controlling the supply
of air to the reed-chamber without the necessity of employing a collapsible bag or
chamber.
:
Figure 7 is a transverse section shewing the valves controlled by a flexible
diaphragm instead of by a collapsible chamber.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of a portion of a wind instrument in which the
collapsible chamber connected with the valves for controlling the admission of air
to the reed-chamber is arranged in a pressure chamber and expanded by pressure.
and
Figure 9 is a similar view shewing the collapsible chamber in connection with a
pipe organ arranged to be expanded by pressure.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of a portion of an automatic musical instrument
shewing my improved method of connecting the valves for controlling the admission
of air to the pipe or reed chamber in one octave, with the valves for controlling the
admission of air to the pipe or reed chambers of corresponding notes in one or more
other octaves, and
Figure 11 shews a modified arrangement of the same.
Figure 12 is a plan of part of Figure 11 detached,

page_text: Figure 13 is a front elevation of a portion of a wind musical instrument with my
improvements applied to the same for automatically diminishing or increasing the
sound.
Figure 14 is a transverse section shewing a series of collapsible chambers in
connection with the bridge or action-board for striking sound producers, as herein-
after described.
1
Figures 15 and 10 are end views partly in section shewing improved methods of
automatically operating the keys of a pianoforte, as hereinafter described.
Figures 17 and 18 are transverse sections of the action board of a wind musical
instrument shewing improved means for ensuring the close fitting of the music
sheet or tune band upon the said action board.
Figure 19 is a plan, and
Figure 20 is an end elevation, partly in section on the line a. a, Figure 19, of my
improved power-transmitting apparatus for imparting motion to the music sheet or
tune band.
Figure 21 is an underside view of a portion of a music sheet or tune band pro-
vided with projecting plates, and constructed according to my Invention, and
Figure 22 is an edge view of the same.
Figure 23 shews a portion of my improved music sheet or tune band provided
with a series of wires on its under surface.
Figure 24 is a transverse section shewing one of the said music sheets arranged
in combination with electro-magnets for operating the valves for controlling the
supply of air to a pipe organ, and
2'
Figure 25 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the same.
Figures 26 and 27 are transverse and longitudinal sections of the action board
and music sheet, shewing permanent magnets arranged in connection with the said
action board.
:
Figure 28 is a transverse section of the action board, illustrating a modified form
of permanent magnet to be employed in connection therewith, and
Figure 29 is a plan of the said magnet.
Figure 30 shews a portion of a music-sheet or tune-band provided with a series
of rows of perforations, and with rows of wires or metal plates arranged between
such rows; and
Figure 31 shews a portion of an action-board provided with apertures commu-
nicating with collapsible chambers whose movement is controlled by the perfor
ations in the music-sheet and with wires or plates in connection with electro-
magnets, the circuit between the said wires or plates being closed by the wires or
plates on the said music-sheet to sound the keys of a pianoforte, as hereinafter
described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
.
In order to obviate the defects above referred to, and to ensure a quick action in
playing, according to one arrangement of my Invention. illustrated in Figures 1.
and 2, I provide an automatic musical instrument with the following devices, that
is to say: I arrange below each hole or opening al in the bridge-block or action-
board a over which the perforated sheet of paper 7 passes a collapsible sack, evlinder,
chamber, or bag e, whose upper end is attached to the said bridge or action board a
in any suitable manner, and provided with a small hole or aperture which is in
communication with the said holes a¹. The lower or collapsible end of the chamber
c is free to move below or in the said bridge, and is provided with a downwardly
projecting rod or bar & formed on or attached to the said lower end in any suitable
manner. This rod or bar is provided at its lower end with one or more! valves e
which are arranged in connection with ports or passages in an extension of each of
the reed or pipe chambers d of the instrument, or in a pipe attached to each of
the said reed or pipe chambers, the said ports or passages being so arranged that
air may be freely drawn through the same when the valves are open by the
action of the ordinary bellows used in such instruments. Leading from each hole
or opening a¹ in the bridge or action board a, and just above the upper end of the

page_text: .
collapsible chamber c, is another small aperture or opening a which is in connection
with each reed-chest or pipe-chamber d, the said opening being preferably made.
smaller in diameter than the hole a', for the purposes hereinafter described. The
sheet of perforated paper 6 or tune-band is mounted on rollers 1, 2, in the ordinary
manuer and is actuated in any suitable manner, but preferably by the means
hereinafter described. By the arrangement of the parts above described, when an
opening or perforation in the music-sheet or tune-band uncovers one of the aper-
tures or holes a¹ in the bridge a the air enters the same, and a portion of it passes
through the aperture c¹ in the upper end or head of the collapsible chamber c and
destroys the vacuum in the same, this vacuum having been previously produced by,
the exhausting action of the bellows, which, when the hole is closed by the
unperforated portions of the music-sheet or tune-band b, exhausts the air from the
reed-chamber d and also from the chamber a through the small opening c* in the
upper end of the same and the opening a leading to the said reed-chest or chamber.
This exhausting action of the bellows in producing the vacuum in the chamber c
draws up the collapsible end of the same, and thereby closes the balanced valves c³
and shuts off the communication of the outer air with the reed-chamber d. When
the vacuum is destroyed, however, by the entrance of air into one of the bridge-
holes the collapsible chamber e expands and opens the valves ³, thereby per-
mitting the air to be drawn into the reed or pipe chamber by the action of the
bellows, and sound the note, a vacuum being again immediately formed in the
chamber and the valves being again closed when the bridge-hole a¹ is closed by
the music-sheet . The hole a is of smaller diameter than the bridge hole a¹ so as
to ensure that a portion of the air entering a perforation in the paper and the said
bridge-hole shall pass into the collapsible chamber and destroy the vacuum, as
above described, the air being drawn through the said hole out of the said
chamber, thereby causing the same to collapse, and closing the valves when the
bridge hole a is closed by the action of the bellows, as above described.
cases, however, instead of forming the hole a² of smaller diameter than the bridge
hole I make the said hole larger or of the same diameter, and arrange a valve
within the same, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This valve preferably consists of
a rod or bar a³ which is flattened out or of greater breadth at its upper end, and is
provided with a small aperture in such widened part, as shewn in Figure 4, so that
when the air enters one of the holes in the music-sheet or tube-band to destroy
the vacuum in the chamber c and sound the reed, very little of such air will escape
through the aperture into the reed or pipe chamber; but immediately the
opening is closed the flattened part of the said valve rises with the collapsible
end of the chamber c, and causes the vacuum produced by the bellows to rapidly
effect the collapse of the said chamber and close the valves . In order to facilitate
the removal of dust which might accumulate in the hole I extend the said hole
through the bridge, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and close its outer end by a screw
or plug a, which may be removed for the insertion of a needle, or other implement
to remove such dust or dirt when required.
In some
By the above described improvements I am enabled to insure a very rapid action
of the instrument, and can execute very quick passages in music, each note being
produced clearly and sharply, and as the bridge-openings and adjacent parts are
very small I can arrange the said openings very close together, and am thereby
enabled to considerably reduce the length of the bridge or action board and the
width of the music-sheet or tune-band.
Instead of employing balance valves, as above described, in connection with the
collapsible chamber c, I, in some cases. effect the supply of air to the reed-chamber d
by employing a valve c, as shewn in Figure 5, fixed upon the rod or lever
pivoted to the frame at one end and attached by its other end to the collapsible
end of the said chamber. Or in some cases I dispense with the collapsible
chamber c, as shewn in Figure 6, and effect the necessary closing of a flap or other
valve in connection with the reed-chest d by a vacuum, which holds the same
closed as long as the opening a is covered by the music-sheet or tune-band b, but

page_text: when an opening in the music-sheet uncovers the opening and destroys the
vacuum in the chamber d the said valve is opened by the force of a suitable
spring, and is held open by the same till the opening is again covered, or vice-
Or instead of employing. the collapsible chamber I sometimes employ a
flexible diaphragm **, as shewn in Figure 7, connected with the valve or valves e³;
and operating in a similar manner to the collapsible chamber above described.
versa.
Instead of employing bellows to draw the air through the reed-chest or pipe-
chambers I in some cases arrange the said bellows in sucli a manner as to force such
air through the openings which are controlled by the aforesaid balanced or other
valves. Figure 8 shows a collapsible chamber arranged in a wind-chest or
pressure-chamber e, into which air is forced in the direction indicated by the arrows
to sound the reed when an opening in the music-sheet or tune-band passes over
one of the openings a¹ in the bridge or action board a. The collapsible chamber is
thus expanded and opens the valves ³, the said chamber being again caused to
collapse immediately the hole a is closed by the tune-band by the pressure of air
in the pressure-chamber c, the air passing out of the chamber when thus collapsed
into a passage in the bridge. The closing of the chambere may be further
facilitated in some instances by exhausting the air from the said passage
C
Figure 9 shews a collapsible chamber connected with the valves for con-
trolling the admission of air to the pipe or pipes f of a pipe-organ, the said
chamber being arranged in a pressure chamber e, as shewn. represents another
pressure chamber which encloses the valves 3, and into which air is forced in the
direction indicated by the arrow, so that when an opening in the tune-band
uncovers an aperture a in the bridge a, and the chamber is expanded by pressure,
the valves will open and the air will then be forced into the pipe or pipes f and
sound the note. In this Figure 1 have shewn the seats of the valves reversed and
the rod connected with the same by a pivoted lever, but I wish it understood
that the valves in connection with the pipe or pipes may be arranged as shewn in
Figure 8, that is to say, they may be attached directly to the rod if desired.
According to another arrangement of my Invention, which is illustrated in
Figures 10, 11, and 12, I so arrange the collapsible chambers and balanced
valves that when one of the apertures in the music-sheet or tune-band opens
the bridge hole in connection with a note in one octave the same note in one or
more other octaves will be simultaneously sounded. This object I effect by
connecting the rods attached to the collapsible chambers e, and provided with
balanced valves 3, and which are in connection with the reeds, pipes, or other
sound producers or yielders controlled by the perforated paper or tune-band, with
one or more sets of balanced valves, which regulate the admission of air to a series
of reed or pipe chambers or other sound yielders or producers in the same manner
as is effected by the collapsible chamber or diaphragm itself.
This connection is effected in the arrangement shewn in Figure 10 by means of
a series of pivoted levers or rods el connected at one end in any suitable manner
to the rods 2 in one octave, and at the other end to the other rods provided with
balanced valve 3 for regulating the supply of air to the reed-chests, pipe-chambers,
or other sound-producers in one or more other octaves, the said balanced valves
being similar to those in connection with the chambers c.
In Figures 11 and 12 I have shewn a rod or bar for connecting the said
rods in one or more octaves, arranged to rock instead of being pivoted to the
end of the said rod 10, being provided with forked portions which embrace the
rods and are fixed below or between suitable collars or projections on the same, so
that when the chamber in one octave is expanded the said rod will rock and
depress the rod controlling the movement of the valves in one or more other
octaves. In this case the valve-seats are arranged in a similar manner throughout
and need not be reversed, as in Figure 10. By this arrangement, when any bridge-
hole in connection with a collapsible chamber or diaphragm is uncovered the
vacuum in the said chamber is destroyed, as hereinbefore described, and the balanced
valves opened, and at the same time the rod acting on the aforesaid rod or

page_text: rods also opens the balanced valves for admitting air to the corresponding
note in the other octave or octaves. Or the said balanced valves may be connected
in any other suitable manner for effecting the same object.
In Figure 13 I have shewn my improved wind-instrument provided with a
"swell"device to regulate the softening and swelling of the sounds, as in
diminuendo and crescendo passages. For this purpose I arrange in connection
with the balanced valve-rods a bar or slide g, which is provided with as many
inclines gas there are reed or pipe chambers, the said inclines being arranged to
act on the said valve-rods so that the extent of opening movement of the said
valves may he regulated as desired by means of one or more collapsible chambers c¹³,
or diaphragms attached by a weighted bell-crank-lever g² or other suitable device
to the slide g, the movements of the said collapsible chamber or chambers or
diaphragm being controlled by perforations in the music sheet or tune band in a
similar manner to that above described in connection with the other chambers for
producing a note. or sound. I also employ the said collapsible chambers or
diaphragms to open or close any swell or expression devices, such as those at
present in
without the necessity of any attention or action on the part of the
operator.
use,
Or I sometimes so arrange the said "swell" mechanism that the sound of some
of the notes may be increased and others decreased at the same time; or a portion
only of such notes may be subject to the action of the "swell" mechanism in con-
nection with musical instruments by increasing the number of the slides and by a
special arrangement of the inclines upon the same.
According to another part of my Invention, which is illustrated in Figure 14, I
arrange two or more collapsible chambers e in connection with each or any of the
bridge or action board apertures or holes al of reed or pipe organs or harmoniums.
the collapsible end of the said chambers being provided with strikers c¹³ to sound
bells or with hammers, such as that shewn at 15, or other devices to strike
sound producers or yielders, such as dulcimers, drums, triangles, or other devices for
combining harmonic sounds with the sounds produced by the said organs,
harmoniums, and the like. In some cases also I arrange in connection with the
tune-band and collapsible chambers or magnets a series of rollers or other devices,
which are designed to cause or produce friction on strings, glass-tubes, or other
similar sound producing mediums. I also employ a collapsible chamber or
chambers actuated by the tune-band for producing the effect of the tremolo of the
human voice.
According to another part of my Invention I arrange a series of collapsible
chambers or bags below the keys of a piano or other keyed instrument, as shewn
in Figure 15, or above the same, as illustrated in Figure 16, or connected directly
with the hammers or other parts of the same, and which are operated by the tune-
band passing over the bridge or action board in a similar manner to that
hereinbefore described. Each time the vacuum is completed and destroyed the said
chambers will actuate the keys or hammers and produce the same results as when
the said instrument is operated by hand, and in order to permit the said instru-
ment to be played by hand as well as automatically I prefer to connect the
collapsible chambers and keys by a link connection, as in Figure 15, so that when
the keys are depressed by hand they will not have any effect on or produce any
motion of the collapsible chamber c.
Instead of producing a vacuum in the said collapsible chambers to produce this
effect, the same result may be produced by air under pressure and a vacuum
combined, the pressure causing the collapsible chamber to strike the blow and the
vacuum causing the same to recede.
In some cases I arrange in connection with an ordinary organ, harmonium, or
piano, or other keyed instrument, a suitable recording apparatus, which indicates
the length or duration of the notes produced by the person operating the keys upon
such instruments, and facilitates the after preparation of the tune-bands to he
employed in the wind or other musical instruments above described.

page_text: In order to ensure the close fitting of the music-sheet or tune-band b upon the
bridge or action board «, I sometimes employ one or more flexible hollow india-
rubber rollers i, as shewn in Figure 17, arranged above the said music-sheet or
tube-band and over the said action-board, the said roller or rollers being provided
at their ends with holes or apertures which are in communication with pipes leading
to the bellows, and into which air is forced by the said bellows, thereby expanding
the said india-rubber roller or rollers i, and producing an elastic pressure upon the
tune-band or music-sheet b, and obviating the abrading and tearing of the said tune-
band which takes place in musical instruments as heretofore constructed when a
pressure-device is employed.
a
I also in some cases arrange one or more similar flexible rollers, i, in the action
board or bridge
below the tune-band or music-sheet b. as shewn in Figure 18,
and preferably opposite the roller or rollers, for producing pressure on the same
from above: The said roller or rollers may be connected with my improved power-
transmitting apparatus, hereinafter described, so that a regular feed or movement
of the tune band may be obtained.
In the class of musical instruments above described it has been usual to operate
the bellows and the music-sheet or tune-band at one and the same time by a series
of cranks or pedals. But when these arrangements are employed it is extremely
difficult to ensure the proper and accurate time that the piece of music should be
played in, thereby causing the proper rendering of the said piece of music dependent
upon the ear and manipulations of the operator; and moreover great exertion is
required in operating the pedals or other devices in connection with such instruments.
By my Invention, however, I obviate these defects by employing devices similar to
those employed in connection with musical boxes and the like, or I employ my
improved power-transmitting apparatus, illustrated in Figures 19 and 20 of the
Drawings, which I will now proceed to describe. Upon a motor-shaft m arranged
in close proximity to the music rollers and 2 I fix a friction wheel m' or gear
wheel, and the said shaft also carries two friction clutches m², m², which are arranged
to turn freely upon the same. These friction-clutches may be of any suitable
construction, but I prefer to provide the same with inclined recesses into which
india-rubber or other balls are placed, so that when the said pulleys are turned in
one direction the balls will travel up the inclined recesses and firmly grip the
wheel m, but when the said pulleys are turned in the other direction the said balls
will drop into the deeper ends of the inclined recesses and have no effect upon the
said wheel m. Over each of the said pulleys a cord or band m³ is placed, one end
of the said band being attached to or provided with a weight 'm, and the other end
attached to or acted upon by a collapsible chamber m³, or a collapsible diaphragm,
or it may be attached to a piston within a cylinder. Each of the said collapsible
chambers is connected with the ordinary bellows, and is provided with suitable
inlet and outlet valves, one arranged in the upper or moveable head of the same, and
the other in the base or in the pipe m* which communicates with the bellows of
the instrument. Each of the said valves is opened and closed at each ascent and
descent of the chamber m³. the said valves being operated when the collapsible
chamber is descending, preferably by the movement of the same, and operated in
the other direction when the said chamber has reached the limit of its upward
movement by any suitable device. The air in the collapsible chambers m is first
drawn out of one of the said chambers by the action of the bellows, and then out
of the other chamber, so that the weights are alternately lifted, and the downward
movement of the said weights, which is regulated by a suitably constructed governor,
imparts a regular motion to the wheel m¹ of the power-transmitting device or the
motor-shaft. In order however to insure a regular feed or travel of the music-
sheet or tune-band, I employ in connection with the said power-transmitting
apparatus the following devices, that is to say: Upon a shaft nadjacent to the
wheel I arrange a cone-wheel n' which is caused to revolve with the said shaft.
.but is capable of endwise movement upon the same. The shaft is also provided
with a friction wheel 3 which is arranged to gear with a wheel.74 on the receiving

page_text: roller 62, and the said shaft is hung in bearings * which may be adjusted vertically,
as hereinafter described. On the side of the wheel m¹ opposite to the cone-wheel »
I support in vertically adjustable bearings o* a friction-wheel o, which is arranged
when depressed to gear with the wheel m' and with a wheel on the delivery
roll b¹. The bearings *, *, are attached to the ends of a pivotted bar or lever p
which may be adjusted by a handle 1, so that when the wheel n' is in gear, with
the wheel the wheel will be out of gear with the same, as shewn in Figure 20.
and when it is desired to re-wind the music sheet the wheel o can be depressed, and
the wheel n' will then be lifted out of contact with the wheel m¹.
In order to ensure the regular or uniform motion of the music-sheet b, that is to
say, to impart to the music-roller a varying, speed according to the length of the
music-sheet wound upon the same. I provide the cone-wheel n' with a boss or
sleeve which is screw-threaded on its circumference and fits into a half nut at n+,
whereby as the said wheel n¹ revolves it also receives an endwise movement, so
that as the length of the music-sheet on the roller increases the said roller will
have a corresponding. slower motion imparted to it through the wheels n¹, n², and 64;
n represents a spring which tends to keep the cone-wheel n in contact with its
driving wheel m', notwithstanding the lateral movement of the former.
I also employ in some cases a series of collapsible chambers or bags, whose move-
ments are controlled by the tune-band, to effect the opening and closing of the stops
employed in organs and similar instruments.
The tune-bands for such instruments as heretofore constructed are susceptible to
dampness and variations of climate or temperature, but I obviate these difficulties
by preparing the paper of which the tune-bands are formed with any well known
water-proofing material.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements relating to the playing of organs,
harmoniums, pianofortes, and other musical instruments, by the employment of a
band or sheet of paper provided with wires or metal plates projecting beyond its
surface, and which cause the production of sounds or notes in such instruments.
In carrying into practice this part of my Invention, which is illustrated in
Figures 21 to 31, I arrange below the band or length of paper provided with the
said metal wires or plates (and which is wound upon rollers 1. 7, in the ordinary
manner) a series of electro or permanent magnets, one of which is arranged in
connection with each key of a pianoforte or each balanced valve for controlling the
admission of air into reed or pipe chambers, or other sound producers.
When I employ an electro-magnets for the purpose above described, as shewn in
Figures 24 and 25, I so arrange the same that the circuit will be broken and closed
by the wires or plates on the music-sheet or tune-band, and when a permanent
magnet is employed, as shewn at s in Figures 26 to 29, I so arrange the magnet
that when the said wires or plates pass over the magnet-ends, which are below the
surface of the bridge or action board when in their normal position, as shewn in
Figure 26, the said magnet will ascend and will actuate a key of a pianoforte or
other instrument, or open the valves, and when the said wires or plates pass
beyond the influence of such magnet over the bridge or action board, this magnet
will again descend and cause the key or valves to return to their normal position.
When the electro-magnets is employed the contact-wires s³, s, are flattened at
their upper ends, the said plates or wires being arranged in close proximity to the
music-sheet, tune-band, or roll of paper b. The flattened ends of the said plates or
wires, however, are arranged at a suitable distance apart, as shewn in Figure 25,
so that the current cannot pass through the said magnet until the circuit is com-
pleted, as hereinafter described. The series of wires or plates rare preferably
attached to the music-sheet or tune-band in a somewhat similar manner to that
in which card-teeth are affixed to a leather, one of the said wires or plates being used
for a short note, and a series of such wires or plates employed in order to produce
a long note.
When one of the said wires in the music-sheet passes over the said flattened
wires or plates of the electro-magnets, or the poles of the permanent or horse

page_text: shoe magnets, the said wire in the music-sheet will complete the circuit, and the
poles of the said magnet when employed in connection with a pianoforte will act
upon the key or hammer corresponding to the note to be produced, or when used
in connection with a reed instrument, organ, harmonium, or other sound producer
or yielder, will act upon the balance or other valves or keys for controlling the
supply of air to produce the corresponding notes. The permanent magnets may
be arranged vertically, as shewn in Figures 26 and 27, or may be placed hori
zontally and arranged to swing, as shewn in Figures 28 and 29, in which case the
said magnet is provided with extensions 83, which extend upwards through the
action-board a. By the above described arrangements I am enabled to produce on
pianofortes, reed instruments, harmoniums, pipe organs, or other sound producers
or yielders, any tunes desired, that is to say, by the insertion of the desired sheet or
band of music I can produce the desired sounds, whether long or short, to correspond
to the series of wires or plates affixed to the said paper.
Moreover, in some cases I arrange the wires or plates 2 connected with the
magnets between the bridge or action board holes in the musical instruments
operated as above described, as shewn in Figure 31, and insert the wires or plates r
between the rows of perforations in the music sheets, as shewn in Figure 30, so
that I can produce the desired sounds on the organ or reed instrument and a
pianoforte or other instrument at one and the same time; or the said perforations
and wires may be so arranged that the pianoforte may play the air, and the organ
or reed-instrument the accompaniment, or vice versa.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood
that I do not claim broadly or irrespectively of the novel devices herein specified
the playing or performing upon a musical instrument by means of a perforated
music-sheet or tune-band moved across or over holes or apertures communicating
with the reed or pipe chambers of the instrument, but I claim in a musical instru-
ment in which tunes are played automatically or mechanically.
First. The employment of a collapsible chamber, bag, or diaphragm which is
expanded and caused to collapse to control the admission of air to the reed.
chambers or the pipes of an organ, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Second. A collapsible chamber or bag provided with an opening communicating
with the bridge-hole, over which a perforated tube-band or music-sheet passes, and
with an opening communicating with an aperture extending into the reed or other
chamber, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. A collapsible chamber or bag having attached to its moveable end
balance or other valves to control the admission of air into an extension of the
reed or pipe chambers of the said instrument, substantially as above set forth.
Fourth. The passage communicating with the said chamber and bridge-hole,
and the reed or other chamber. provided with and closed by a screw or plug, which
may be detached to facilitate the removal of dust from the same, substantially as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The employment of a valve in the passage leading from the bridge-
opening to the reed or other chamber, so that the quantity or volume of air passing
through the said passage will be regulated by the position of the collapsible
chamber or bag, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The employment of a valve fixed upon a rod or lever pivoted to the
frame at one end, and attached at its other end to the collapsible end of the chamber
or bag to regulate the supply of air to the reed-chamber, substantially as herein
described and for the purposes specified.
Seventh. A flap or valve, which is closed by means of the vacuum produced in
the reed-chest, and opened by a spring when the vacuum is destroyed by the
passage of air through a perforation in the tune-band or music-sheet, substantially
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The method of coupling the balanced or other valves for controlling the

page_text: supply of air to the reed or pipe chambers in two or more octaves, substantially as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Ninth. The means for automatically regulating the softening and swelling of the
sounds, consisting of a slide or slides, whose movement is controlled by a perforation
or perforations in the tune-band or music-sheet and a collapsible chamber or bag,
and provided with inclined surfaces to limit the extent of movement of the valves
in such a manner as to regulate the admission of air to the reed or pipe chambers,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Tenth. A series of collapsible chambers arranged in connection with each or any
of the openings in the bridge or action board of a reed or pipe organ to enable
sound yielders or producers other than the said organ to be sounded simultaneously
with the same, substantially as herein set forth.
Eleventh. A series of rollers or other devices, in combination with collapsible
chambers or magnets, whose movement is controlled by the music-sheet or tune-
band, and which cause friction on strings, glass, or other sound-producers, substau-
tially as above set forth.
Twelfth. The power-transmitting apparatus for imparting a regular or unvarying
speed to the tune-band or music-sheet during the playing of the instrument, which
apparatus consists of the parts combined and operating substantially as above
specified.
Thirteenth. The employment of a series of collapsible chambers or bags controlled
by means of the perforations in the music-sheet or tune-band, and arranged above
or below the keys of a pianoforte, or connected directly with the hammers thereof
for actuating the same substantially as above set forth and for the purposes
specified:
Fourteenth. A music-sheet or tune-band provided with a series of wires or metal-
plates or pieces projecting from the surface of the same, and arranged in combina-
tion with permanent or electro-magnets in such a manner as to actuate the keys or
other parts of a pianoforte, or to control the admission of air to a pipe or reed organ,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifteenth. A music-sheet or tune-band provided with perforations to control the
adinission of air to the pipe or reed chambers of a wind-instrument, and with a
series of wires or plates projecting from the same to control a series of permanent
or electro magnet for actuating the keys or other parts of a pianoforte or other
sound producer, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Sixteenth. The collapsible chambers or bags controlled by a music-sheet or tune-
band, and designed to effect the opening and closing of the stops of organs or
similar instruments, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Y. Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN Y. SMITH. (L.S.)