Improvements in Supplementary Transposing Key-boards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oot., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Supplementary Transposing Key-boards.
I, RODERICK ECCLES of 8 Gloster Street, Haulgh, Bolton in the County of
Lancaster, Annexe-pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to supply mechanical means whereby an air or
melody played upon a piano or analogous instrument may be transposed from the
original to a higher or lower key without difficulty, the air being played in such
higher or lower key while the player strikes apparently the notes set down in the
original music. This invention is applicable to all kinds of pianos. The trans-
position key board may be described as consisting of two parts, one the stationary
frame, not because it is permanently affixed to the piano but in contra-distinction
to the sliding frame which it carries. Tho stationary frame-when in place-
occupies the space of five and one-fifth octaves and carries a grooved rail within
which a tounged rail slides and to which the upper frame is attached. For the
purpose of this invention being thoroughly understood the particulars have
reference to a five octave trausposer. The transposer may be made in 4, 5, 6, or
other octaves in each case the stationary frame being set a fifth octave over. The
stationary frame also carries a "pallet" rail to the front of the frame into which
are placed levers; the free ends corresponding to the keys of the key-board. The
levers, when the frame is in place, rests respectively over the keys-against the
check rail-being held there by a spring or its equivalent disposed between
the lever and frame. The frame carries a check rail. The upper side of the levers
present an even horizontal surface. The underside of the levers which operate
upon the "sharp" keys are at rest immediately over and near the end of the piano
sharp keys. To the ends of the levers which operate upon the "naturals" fix
blocks to extend down to the "natural" keys of the piano, the ends of the levers
being in lino to the front of the "sharp" keys. Over the levers and near the
check rail-in a line-I fix "dolly" regulating screws. The sliding frame is of
the same length as the stationary frame and within itself is an ordinary key-board.
The rear of the sliding frame is hinged to the upper sido of the tonnged rail. The
latter is held vertically by bands of metal fastened to the grooved rail. The
operation of the invention is simple the stationary frame is set in place on the key-
board and the eliding frame is brought to its normal position theroon, this being
marked by tho coincidence of the indicator on the frout piece carried in the
stationary frame and the centre of the sliding frame which is then moved in either
direction the desired distance, or the number of semitones which is shown by an
index or scale. In any of these positions the keys of the sliding frame are directly
above and rest on the "dolly" screws so that when the "air" as originally set is
played upon the bank of keys in the sliding frame, such keys-when struck-act
through the transposing levers and re-produce the "air" transposed as desired. In
order to secure the exact correspondence and working together of the several
parts it is proposed to so construct the ends of the stationary frame that the height
of the key-board is adjustable. To prevent tilting and hold the frame firmly in
position suitable wedges or other mechanical means are employed.

page_text: part plan of the former which is intended to represent the key-board of a
piano-forte.
A' are the "natural" keys of a piano-forte and B' the "sharp" and "flat" keys
nccording to the music to he played-B the "pallot" rail-C spring applied
under each key for the purpose of raising the keys of the transposer aftor being
released through the intervening lever-from the fingers of the operator. The
trans-position key-board C' consists of the parts D and E; the latter being the
sliding frame mounted in the rail attached to the stationary frame F.
The latter when in position-occupies the space of five and one-fifth octaves
(more or less) and carries the grooved rail F in which the tounged rail E slides.
To the latter is attached the upper frame D by the hinges D'. The stationary
frame H carries the "pallet" rail B' at the front of the said frame, and into which
the levers I and I are placed; the freo ends acting or corresponding with the
motions of the keys A and B of the transposition key-board. The levers I and 11
when the frame F is in position-rest respectively over the keys A' and B'
against the check rail L being held there by the spring C or its equivalent disposed
between the levers I and I' and the stationary framo H. The underside of the
leves I and I are at rest immediately over and near the keys of the piano-forte.
To the ends of the levers I which operate upon the "natural" keys I fix the
blooks T to extend down to the said keys of the piano-forte, the ends of the
blocks T being in line to the front of the keys B. The levers I and I¹ are
provided with the "dolly" regulating screws W. The sliding frame E may be of
any desired length to operate on any number of transposition keys. The end of
each lever is provided with the regulating screw Z.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts composing
the improvements in supplementary transposing key-boards for piano-fortes and
other similar musical instruments, as herein before described and as illustrated in
the annexed drawings.
2. The use of the levers 1 and I mounted and applied in the manner described
for the purposes specified.
Dated the 27th Anonut 180
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.