IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Communicated to,
him from abroad by The American Automatic Organ Company (Incorporated)
of Boston Massachusetts United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS" [a communication to him from abroad by The American Automatic
Organ Company (Incorporated) of Boston Massachusetts United States of
America]
This invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments in which
the playing is automatically effected by the passage of a strip or sheet of perforated
paper or other equivalent music sheet through the instrument
The said invention comprises the combination with a reed-board having reeds
and cells, of a race-way covered with a sheet of flexible material having openings
through it and supported at intermediate points as more fully hereinafter
explained
It also comprises mechanism for separating the presser, and feed rollers to
facilitate the insertion of the music-sheet between the two; also a brush or Hexible
or elastic scraper located to brush or wipe dust or the like from the music-sheet in
the travel of the latter through the instrument to prevent entrance of dust into the
reed-chambers; also a novel formation of the race-way in relation to its supporting
table and the entrance of the music sheet between the presser and feed rollers; also
other features of detail all of which will be hereinafter described.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a horizontal table supported
at each corner upon legs. This table has attached to its under side one part of a
reservoir bellows; the other part of this reservoir bellows, at one end, is hinged to

page_text: the first named or stationary part so as to open and close therefrom and this
moving part of the reservoir bellows carries two force-bellows having the
moving part of each connected by pitman rods to separate crank-arms of a common
driving shaft which (a winch handle being provided for turning it) will work both
of the force-bellows, but alternately with each other, and secure the continuous
forcing of air from the force bellows into the reservoir bellows and thence into, and
through, parallel air-passages in the race-way to and through the reeds and reed-
cells of the reed-board according as such of said reed cells and reeds shall be open
to said passage of air from the travel of the music-sheet along the race way, all as
is well known, and needing no particular description herein.
Partitions separate the air-passages of the race way from each other and these
partitions severally run lengthwise of the ruce way or in the direction of the travel
of the music sheet through the instrument, and the several air passages all open to
the upper surface of the race-way The said race-way, from side to side, and from
end to end, is covered with a sheet of flexible material such as india rubber leather,
or the like that is secured at each end and side to the race-way, and between its
two ends and sides is left free and unconfined, and is provided with a series of
openings arranged at equal distances apart and corresponding in number and
position to the openings in the reed-board, which latter openings make communi-
cation with the series of reeds in said reed-board, and each opening communicates
with a single reed
.
The series of reeds may be in a common plate or they may be separate from each
other
The reed-board is above the race-way and at each end it fits within a cut out
portion of parallel side uprights of the table and rests by its lower face upon raised
pieces at each side of the race-way, the edge of each of which acts with the inner
faces of the side uprights as guides to the proper passage of the music sheet through
the instrument under the operation of feed and presser rollers
The reed-board can be fastened in this position of rest by screws, or in any
suitable manner, preferably by fastenings so as to be detached
The race-way rises above the upper surface of its supporting table, and at its
rear end it is, bevelled off to the table surface, and at the front end it has an
extension raised above the table surface and located at the centre, but which may
be at the sides as well or both at the sides and centre and its upper surface made
level with a horizontal line between the feed and presser rollers for facilitating
the entrance of the music sheet between them and for supporting the same in its
passage from the race-way and reed-board to the feed and presser rollers
The feed-roller is below the presser-roller, and the presser-roller is held at each
end with a yielding pressure against the feed roller by coiled springs placed in holes
of the side uprights and each held against escape from the upper open end of said
holes by an arm crossing thereon and adapted by one part to be screwed into, and
out of, the side uprights so as to regulate the pressure of the springs upon the
presser-roller and as a consequence, its pressure upon the feed roller or music-sheet
passing between the two rollers. The bearing of the presser-roller in each upright
is a vertical slot, so as to permit the roller to be lifted from its rest upon the feed-
roller to facilitate the insertion of the music sheet between the rollers, and for so
lifting the presser roller, an angular lever is provided at each end connected together
by a cross rod and each turning on a fulcrum of the side uprights and passing by
an arm under the presser roller, all in such manner that the swing of the augular
levers in one direction will lift the presser roller from the feed-roller or music-sheet,
as the case inay be, enabling the latter to be freely inserted or removed as may be
desired, without necessarily causing any operation or movement of the working
parts of the instrument.
The air or reed cells of the reed board are above the reeds and these several cells
are in a common block which is free to be removed from the chamber of the reed
board, but is so fitted to the inner walls of the chamber that when placed therein
ite cells will be in proper position in relation to the reeds,

page_text: The chamber of the reed-board is closed by a cover one portion of which is
hinged to the other so as to be opened and closed and thus enable the sounds of the
reeds to be qualified as desired.
The guide edge of each guide-plate for the music sheet is cut out in line with,
and for a portion of, the length of the guide-edge at each side of the air-passages.
through the race-way and flexible covering thereto so as to allow the flexible
covering to lift from the force of the air which is being forced from the operation
of the force bellows, and thus to make close contact with the under surface of the
music sheet and the upper surface of said sheet with the under surface of the reed
board.
Again the supports of the partitions of the flexible covering at intermediate
points across the width of the raceway not only hold said covering from sagging,
but at the same time leave it free between the air-passages to make most perfect
and close contact with the music-sheet and the music-sheet with the reed-board, as
the music-sheet travels through the instrument.
Flaring extensions of the air-passages in the raceway expose the flexible covering
of the race-way to the upward action of the air against it by the operation of the
force bellows.
I provide a scraper made of a strip of india-rubber. This strip is secured to a
holder and is placed across the supporting table at its front end and secured to the
side uprights, so that the edge of the rubber strip will press and scrape upon the
upper surface of the music-sheet as it travels through the instrument to free
the same of dust, or the like, which may be upon it and thus provent the possibility
of its being carried to the reeds.
In lieu of a scraper a brush may be used and again only one lifting lever for the
presser roller may be employed.

page_text: Figure 5, is a plan of the raceway and the table supporting the same, the reed
board and its attachments being removed,
Figure 6 is a view hereinafter described
A indicates a horizontal table supported at each corner upon legs B. This table
has attached to its under side one part C of a reservoir bellows D, the other part E,
of this reservoir bellows at one end is hinged. to the stationary part C, so as to
open and close therefrom and this moving part E of the reservoir bellows carries
two force-bellows F having the moving part G of each connected by pitman rods H
to separate crank arms J of a common driving shaft K which (a winch bandle L
being provided for turning it) will work both the force bellows F but alter-
nately with each other, and secure the continuous forcing of air from the force
bellows into the reservoir bellows, and thence into and through parallel air
passages a in the raceway M to and through the reeds b and reed cells c of the
reed board N according as such of the said reed cells and reeds shall be open to
the passage of air by reason of the travel of the music sheet O along the raceway
in the ordinary and well known manner
dddicate partitions separating the air passages a of the raceway from each
other and these partitions severally run lengthwise of the raceway, or in the
direction of the travel of the music sheet through the instrument, and the several
air passages a all open to the upper surface of the raceway. The raceway M from
side to side and from end to end is covered with a sheet P of flexible material such
as india-rubber, leather or the like which is secured at each end and side to the
raceway and between its two ends and sides is left free and unconfined, and is
provided with a series of openings farranged at equal distances apart and corre-
sponding in number and position to the openings a in the reed board N which
latter openings make communication with the series of reeds c in the said reed

page_text: board and each opening communicates with a single reed. The series of reeds is
shown as in a common plate Q but they may be separate from each other.
The reed board is above the raceway and at each end it fits within the recessed
portion of the parallel side uprights R of the table, and rests by its lower face
upon the raised pieces h at each side of the raceway, the edges h¹ of which act with
the inner faces of the side uprights R as guides to the proper passage of the
music sheet O through the instrument under the operation of the feed and presser
rollers S T
The reed board can be fastened in this position of rest by screws / or in any
suitable manner, preferably by fastenings so as to be detached."
The raceway N rises above the upper surface of its supporting table A and at
its rear end m it is bevelled off to the table surface as shown at n, and at the front
end q it has an extension U shown raised above the table surface and as located at
the centre, but which may be at the sides as well, or both at the sides and centre
and its upper surface made level with a horizontal line between the feed and
presser rollers S, T, for facilitating the entrance of the music sheet between them
and for supporting the same in its passage from the raceway and reed board to the
feed and presser rollers
The feed roller S is below the presser roller T and the presser roller is held at
each end with a yielding pressure against the feed roller by coiled springs placed
in holes t of the side uprights, and each held against escape from the upper open
end of said holes by an arm u crossing thereon and adapted by the part v to be
screwed into and out of the side uprights so as to regulate the pressure of the
springs upon the presser roller and as a consequence its pressure upon the feed
roller or music sheet passing between the two rollers. The bearing of the presser
roller in each upright R is in a vertical slot, so as to permit the said roller to be
lifted from the feed roller to facilitate the insertion of the music sheet, between
the rollers; for so lifting the presser roller, two angular levers V are provided, one
at each end, connected together by a cross rod w and each turning on a fulcrum x
of the side uprights R. and passing by an arm y under the presser-roller T all in
such a manner, that the swing of the angular levers in one direction will lift the
presser roller from the feed roller or music sheet, as the case may be, enabling the
latter to be freely inserted or removed as desired without necessarily causing any
operation or movement of the working parts of the instrument.
The air or reed cells c of the reed board are above the reeds b and these several
cells are in a common block W which is free to be removed from the chamber Z
of the reed board, but is so fitted to the inner walls of the chamber that when
placed therein its cells will be in proper position in relation to the reeds
.
The chamber Z of the reed board is closed by a cover ✗ one portion of which
is hinged to the other so as to be opened and closed and thus enable the sounds of
the reeds to be qualified as desired.
The guide edge h' of each guide-plate h for the music sheet is cut out as shown
at b' in line with and for a portion of the length of the guide edge at each side of
the air passages a, f, through the raceway and the flexible covering P.thereto, so
as to allow the said flexible covering to lift by the force of the air which is being
forced from the bellows and thus to make close contact with the under surface of
the music sheet, and between the upper surface of the said sheet and the under
surface of the reed board
Again the support by the partitions of the flexible covering at intermediate
points across the width of the raceway not only hold the said covering from
sagging, but at the same time leaves it free between the air passages to make most
perfect and close contact with the music sheet and the music sheet with the reed
board, as the music sheet travels through the instrument
Flaring extensions of the air passages in the raceway expose the flexible covering
of the raceway to the upward action of the air against it by the operation of the
force bellows
Y indicates a scraper made of a strip of india-rubber. This strip is secured to

page_text: a holder A' and is placed across the supporting table at its front end and secured
to the side uprights, so that the edge c¹ of the strip will press and scrape upon the
upper surface of the music sheet as it travels through the instrument to free the
same from dust or the like which may be upon it, and thus prevent the possibility
of its being carried to the reeds.
In lieu of a scraper Ya brush may be used and if desired only one lifting
lever V for the presser roller need be employed
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my.
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I Claim :-
First. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the reed-board
having reeds and reed-cells, of a raceway covered with a sheet of flexible material
having openings through it and supported at intermediate points, substantially as,
and for the purpose, specified.
Second, In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the
raceway M for the music sheet covered with a sheet of flexible material having
openings through it and supported at intermediate points, of the plates h cut
away at b¹, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third, In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the reed-board
having reeds and reed-cells, of the raceway M covered with a sheet of flexible
material and having openings a through it and supported by the partitions & in
the raceway, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified
Fourth. In a mochanical musical instrument, the combination, with the
raceway M for the music sheet O, of the plates h serving as guides for the music
sheet and supports for the reed-board N, substantially as described.
Fifth. The supporting table A, in combination with a raceway M bevelled at its
front end, substantially as described.
Sixth. The side uprights R for supporting the music sheet, cut out at g, the
reed-board N, and the plates h for supporting the reed-board, in combination with
the raceway M and its flexible covering P, substantially as described for tho
purposes specified.
•
Seventh, The feed roller S and the presser roller T, in combination with a
lever V for moving the rollers from, each other, substantially as described for the
purposes specified.
Eighth. The raceway M raised above the table A, in combination with the raised
extension U, the feed-roller S and presser roller T, substantially as described for tho
purpose specified
Ninth. The combination with the presser roller T, of the confined pressure
springs r, and the adjustable arms u, for regulating the pressure of the said springs
and presser roller, substantially as described.
Tenth. A brush or scraper Y for cleaning the music-sheet of dust or the like as
the same passes through the instrument, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Eleventh. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the reeds,
of the reed-cells arranged in a block, which block is free to be removed, substan-
tially as, and for the purpose, specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty throe