An Improved Device for Damping the Tongues of Musical Boxes.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Damping the Tongues of Musical Boxes.
We, GUSTAV BORTMANN, and REINHOLD MUNKWITZ, both of 78 Ammonstrasse,
Dresden (formerly of 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 and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved device shown in the annexed drawing
intended for damping the reeds or tongues of musical boxes.
This device is distinguished from those known for the same purpose by its peculiar
construction and secure operation.
Figs 1 and 2 of the drawing show each a side view of the improved damping
device with the damper in two different positions.
Fig 3 shows a front view.
Figs 4 and 5 are side views of a modified form of damper in two different
positions and
Fig 6 a front view of the damping device.
The damping device consists of the lever b, arranged alongside an operating
wheel a, and turnable on the axle i, with the damper d, and the two drivers c, and c¹,
placed at an angle to be operated by the wheel a.
The lever b, with the damper d, and drivers c, and c¹, are preferably made of steel
plate. The damper d, as shown in Figs 4 and 5, is made with a narrow band which
stands up on the lever b, and is deflected when the damper is pressed on the tongue z,
while damping the same.
The axle i, round which the lever 6 turns, lies parallel to the axle i¹ of the small
wheel a.
The drivers c, and c¹, are arranged opposite one another on the lever b, and
correspond with the teeth of the wheel a. The lever b may have also any other
convenient form besides that shown. Also the plate band, which forms the damper d,
may be replaced, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, by a steel wire fixed on the lever 6, and
occupying the same direction.
For operating the tongues z, the wheels a, receive their revolution from the
music-sheet n.
The damping of the tongue z, by means of this device is effected by arranging
that each turn given to the wheel a, for one operation of the tongue z, a tooth of the
wheel a, passes the driver cand thus turns (Figs 2 and 5) the latter with the lever b,
certain distance on the axle i; so that by the lever b, the damper d, is guided to
the tongue and thus damps it; then a second tooth of the wheel a, passes the
driver c¹, whereby (Figs 1 and 4) the latter with the lever b, is turned back on the
xle i, and by this revolution of the lever b, the damper d, is again moved away from
he tongue 2. With this side movement of the damper d, the tongue 2, is
imultaneously operated by a third tooth of the wheel a, and gives thus the
sound.
In order that the damper d, does not fall by itself prematurely on the tongue 2,
he driver c¹, is formed in such a manner that the tooth of the wheel a, passing the

page_text: same, slides on it during the revolution of the wheel until another tooth of the
wheel a, begins to pass the driver c, for the movement of the damper d, on to the
tongue.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is —
An improved damping device for mechanical musical-boxes reeds or tongues,
comprising a lever b, with two drivers c, and c¹, and damper d, in connection with an
operating-toothed-wheel a, in such a manner that by a revolution given to the wheel a,
for operating a tongue z, a tooth of the wheel passes the driver c, before the
operating of the tongue, whereby the lever b, is caused to guide the damper d, to the
tongue, and to damp the same and then a second tooth of the wheel a, passes the
driver c', whereby the lever b, moves the damper again away from the tongue.
Dated th: 0041
C
100
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Agents to Applicants.