Improvements in Self-playing Musical Instruments
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1900-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-playing Musical Instruments,
A communication from abroad by HAROLD W. SHONNARD, of 62, New Jersey
Railroad Avenue, Newark, State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Electrician.
I, REGINALD WILLIAM JAMES, of the Firm of Fell and James, of 1. Queen
Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent, 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:—
The present invention involves certain improvements in that class of self-
playing musical instruments wherein the production of the desired order and
duration of tones is governed by a movable music sheet having perforations so
placed as to permit successive closing of appropriate electric circuits, which latter
are arranged to cause operation of the tone-producing means. The invention is
particularly useful with pianos and organs, but some of its features are applic-
able to other musical instruments.
The following features of this invention are adapted to be employed all to-
gether or in groups or singly in any given instrument, as will be evident to those
skilled in this art.
One feature of this invention includes means whereby the tone producing agent,
as a piano key, is directly impelled by a magnet, without any of the many
difficulties hitherto found" inseparable from arrangements of this kind. This
is accomplished by so mounting the armatures of the impelling magnets as to
produce a constantly decreasing leverage in favor of the magnets in proportion
as the armatures approach the ends of their strokes. The preferred arrangement
for this purpose involves the use of an armature without a pivot rocking freely
over the magnet, the rear end of the armature acting to push up the key operating
rod.
Another feature of this invention involves the use of a support for the necessary
contact fingers so pivoted beneath the keyboard of the instrument as to be capable
of dropping down in front to permit quick access to the contact fingers for re-
pairs, etc.
Another feature involves the use of compound contact fingers, preferably com-
posed of three similar parts side by side on a common pivot, the middle one of
which extends backward and has attached to it a permanent electric connection.
Another feature involves the use of an outer contact finger support carrying
an inner support or "comb" enclosing the contact finger and carrying a movable
base on which are electric terminals to which the contact fingers are permanently
connected by fine wires, the outer contact finger support carrying a similar but
relatively immovable base carrying terminals adapted to be joined to the terminals
on said movable base by temporary electric connections.
Another feature involves the use of contact fingers of magnetic material used
in connection with a support for the music sheet with which said fingers make
the necessary electric contact through the apertures in the music sheet, said
support being itself magnetized.

page_text: Another feature involves the use of a music drawer carrying the music sheet and
means for operating the sheet and its permanent roller; in connection with a
telescoping rewinding device on said music drawer so arranged that when the
drawer is pushed in fully, a driving motor may operate to unwind the music
sheet for playing the desired tune, and when the drawer is pulled out fully said
motor may act to rewind said sheet, while in all intermediate positions, the
motor cannot affect the movement of the sheet:
Another feature involves the use of a driving motor operated by electricity
for moving the music sheet, together with mechanism between the motor and
the music sheet including a clutch operated by a magnet in series with said motor,
so that when the motor is not running mechanical connection between motor
and music sheet is interrupted at said clutch. This makes it possible to use a
worm for imparting movement of the motor to the music sheet mechanism, and
still be able to manipulate the music sheet when in the drawer but not operating.
Another feature involves the use of a motor carrying a friction disc or its
equivalent, and a brake shoe pivoted near said disc so as to enable the same to
bear on the disc near to or far from its centre and so vary its retarding effect
on the motor. Thus it is rendered possible to vary the speed of the music sheet
instantly and independently of changes in the force of the tone produced.
Another feature involves the use of a friction frame resting against the per-
manent music roller so as to insure constant tension on the music sheet when
wound or unwound.
Another feature involves the use of magnetic elements complete in themselves,
including magnets and armatures, together with frames between which said
elements may be first adjusted in required position in the instrument, and then
permanently fixed by screwing said frames down upon said elements
Another feature involves the use of a motor electrically driven, having a
separately wound field magnet fastened between its separate pole pieces, one of
which is itself fastened to the frame-work of the attachment.
Another feature is an electro-magnetic means attached over the music sheet
and operated by an appropriate contact finger, whereby the music sheet is stopped
when a given piece is ended. In the preferred construction, this involves a
switch which is automatically closed by impact with some portion of the music
drawer whenever the same passes under such switch in pushing in or pulling out.
Dated this 5th day of August 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.
A communication from abroad by HARROLD W. SHONNARD.
I, REGINALD WILLIAM JAMES, of the Firm of Fell and James, of 1, Queen
Victoria Street, in the City of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, 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:-
The present invention involves certain improvements in that class of self-
playing musical instruments wherein the production of the desired order and
duration of tones is governed by a movable music sheet having perforations so
placed as to permit successive closing of appropriate electric circuits, which latter
are arranged to cause operation of the tone-producing means. The invention is
particularly useful with pianos and organs, but some of its features are applic-
able to other musical instruments.

page_text: In order that the invention may be the better understood I will now proceed
to describe it in relation to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts in the various figures.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a half front view of a removable attachment for
pianos including this invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same;
Figures 3 and 3ª show details connected with finger holder and automatic stopping
means; Figure 4 is a top view of the piano attachment; Figure 5 is a side view
thereof showing the music drawer pulled forward; Figure is a sectional detail
of the rewinding means; Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating one operative method
of connecting the parts electrically; Figures 8 and 9 show details of the tempo
controller.
This invention includes a number of improvements hereinafter described, which
may be used all together, alone or in groups, or may be employed if desired in
various relative locations according to taste.
A framework, 1, is attached by lugs, 2, beneath a piano or organ keyboard.
The support of the music sheet and contact fingers is carried upon pivots 3 on
the frame 1, and by screws 4, under the keyboard, thus making it possible to
swing the whole down so as to aid in repair of the fingers and their holder.
The keys, 5, are operated by striking rods, 6, from beneath, and these rods are
moved at the proper times by curved rocking armatures, 7, attracted by mag-
nets, 8, placed in two rows one above the other to save space. It will be seen
that during delivery of a blow upon a key, 5, the normally elevated end of the
armature 7 is moving downward, and, owing to its curved form, the point of
support of the armature or its fulcrum is moving continually toward the magnet
poles. Owing to this the ratio of the lever arm on the magnet side of the fulcrum
to the lever arm on the other side, or behind the fulcrum, continually decreases
in proportion as the rod 6 is raised. It is one important point in my invention
to secure this change of leverage-ratio during movement of the armature, whether
this end be attained by a rocking lever with a resulting moving fulcrum or other-
wise. The object of this change of leverage-ratio is to compensate for the rapid
progressive increase of attractive force exerted by a magnet during the approach
of its armature. This permits the use of relatively smaller magnets using less
current, and produces a greatly improved quality of touch and resultant tone.
One terminal of each electro-magnet
is connected to a common return rail, 9.
A conducting roller 10 co-operates with contact fingers 11 to close the magnet
circuits at relative times governed by perforations in a music sheet 12, as
already understood in the art. Each finger 11 is connected to the second terminal
of its appropriate magnet 8, (See Figure 7).
The feeding roller 13 winds the sheet 12 off of its permanent roller 14, the
whole being driven by a gear 15 on roller 13 which meshes with gear 16, when
the music drawer 17 is pushed back to the operative position shown in Figure 2.
The object of this music drawer is to make it convenient to reach the music sheet
for changing the same.
A horizontal driving shaft is provided, which is in two parts, 18 and 19, (See
Figure 1).
The prime mover is a motor supported preferably in one corner of the frame.
This comprises a rotary armature 20, and a field magnet having the usual wind-
ings 21 and pole pieces 22 preferably attached to the windings by heads 23. The
armature drives a vertical shaft 24 carrying a worm 25 which turns a worm
wheel 26 upon the shaft 18. (See Figures 1 and 5).
The main motor circuit is governed by a switch, such as 27, and includes in
series a magnet 28 whose pivoted armature 29 operates a two-part clutch 30
between shafts 18 and 19. The arrow 31 shows the normal direction of rotation,
and, if either part of the clutch 30 is turned oppositely to that normal direction.
the two parts will separate. The spring 32 holds the clutch 30 open as illustrated
in Figure 1, and therefore the two parts 18 and 19 of the horizontal shaft can
only turn together when current is passing through both the magnet 28 and the

page_text: driving motor. Consequently when the motor is at rest the shaft 19 and the
parts geared to it can be freely turned in either direction desired. This is an
advantageous feature of my invention.
The gear wheel 16 is driven by a shaft carrying the gear wheel 33 which is
driven by the gear 34 on the shaft 19. This train of gears serves to move the
music sheet through the gear 15 while the instrument is playing.
In rewinding the music sheet upon its permanent roll 14, a gear wheel 35
on the shaft 19 drives the geared sleeve 36, which turns in the bracket 37. (See
Figures 4 and 6). A hollow square tube 38 is carried by the sleeve 36, within
which tube slides the square rod 39 having a longitudinal slot 40 beneath it.
The pin 41 within this slot is intended to come against the pin 42 when the inner
tube is drawn out as shown in Figure 4. This limits the outward movement of
the music drawer. By unscrewing the pin 42, the rod 39 can be entirely with-
drawn.
A gear 43 is carried on the extremity of the inner rod 39 which rod has a fixed
bearing at 44 permitting it to rotate with the gear 43 always engaging with the
gear 45, whatever the position of the music drawer. The gear 45 is thus made
to drive the holder 46 for one end of the permanent music roll. (See Figure 4).
A spring 47 within the screw cap 48 bears on the sleeve 36 tending to throw
it into the position shown in Figure 6 and out of engagement with the gear 35.
It is thus clear that if the music drawer is pushed in so as to bring gears 15
and 16 together while the motor runs, the music sheet will be revolved from left
to right in Figures 2 and 5. The telescopic rewinding device will be idle, because
the spring 47 holds gears 35 and 36 apart.
If at any time the music drawer is pulled forward until the pins 41 and 42
come together, they act against the spring 47 to bring gear 36 into engagement
with 35. This causes the motor to rewind the sheet from right to left in
Figure 2.
In order to regulate the tension on the music sheet a plate 49 bears against the
permanent roll. (See Figures 2 and 4). This plate is carried by arms pivoted
on the music drawer at 50 and pressed upward by springs 51.
The tempo is regulated by variations in a frictional retarder applied to the
driving motor. A preferred form of this device is shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 8
and 9. The wheel 52 is driven by the shaft 24, and should have a cup or de-
pression 53 on its face. A friction tip 54 is carried in a cup 55 held in a
socket 56 and pressed upward by a spring 57. This upward movement is limited
by a screw 58 and adjusting nut 59.
The socket 56 is carried on the end of an arm 60 fastened at 61 upon a vertical
shaft 62 pivoted in the framework and to which is attached a spring 63, (Fig. 5)
tending to swing arm 60 into the position shown in Figure 8.
An arm 64 on the upper end of the shaft 62 is governed by any convenient
means, as the lever 65 and bell crank 66, (Fig. 4) so as to swing the arm 60 in
the arc indicated in the dotted line in Figure 8, near to or away from the center
of the friction disc 52.
When the friction tip 54 is opposite the cup 53, as in Figure 9, the motor runs
at full speed unretarded. In proportion as the arm 60 is swung further from
the center, a slower tempo is obtained, since the retarding action of the tip 54
rubbing on the face of disc 52 acts through a progressively longer lever arm as the
circumference of the disc is approached.
Figures 2 and 3 show the details of the mountings for the contact Fingers 11.
It is found advantageous to form each finger of three plates shaped as illus-
trated, the middle one (shown in Figure 2) being projected backward of the com-
mon pivot 67, for more convenient connection with wires 68. These wires are
carried to separate terminals 69 on an insulating bar carried in a box 70 fastened
over the music drawer, and provided with a slit 71 through which the tips of
fingers 11 project on to the music sheet and conducting roller 10. As before

page_text: stated, the box 70 swings down, together with the music drawer, around the
pivots 3, when desirable for repairs etc.
The reason for the three blade construction of the contact fingers is for greater
certainty of operation. Where only one finger is used, which is necessarily broad
to accomodate the working current, a slight misplacement of the music sheet
sometimes causes the lateral edge on one or the other side of the holes in the
sheet, to move under one side edge of the broad finger and by thus supporting it,
prevent it from falling against the cylinder under it when it is intended that it
should so fall. Where three blades are used the holding up of either side blade
by the edge of a hole in paper not rightly running would not prevent the other
two blades of the finger from falling onto the cylinder.
The rear of the box 70 is closed by a wall 72, and between successive triple
fingers 11 are placed insulating partitions, 73.
In addition to the insulating bar 74, carrying the terminals 69 and removable
with the fingers 11 and the wires 68, there is a fixed insulating bar 75, carrying
terminals 70 for attachment to the wires in the cable going to the magnets 8,
as shown in Figure 4. Easily removable connections, such, for instance, as
strips 77 can be used to connect the removable with the fixed terminals and thus
the adjustment and withdrawal of the group of fingers is simplified and facilitated
One operative method of electric connection for the various elements of this
instrument is plainly shown in Figure 7. From this figure and Figures 3 and 8
the operation of the automatic stopping device is made plain.
The main motor circuit may be broken, not only at the switch 27, but also at
the automatic switch which latter comprises a pair of fixed spring terminals 78,
between which fits the movable blade 79 to close circuit.
The blade 79 is pivoted at 80, and carries the armature 81 which may be
attracted by the electro magnet 82 to open the switch. A transverse rod 83
(Fig. 2) is mounted upon the music drawer in such a position as to strike the
roller S4 when the blade 79 hangs down and when the drawer is pulled in or
out. This pushes the blade up into position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3ª.
In Figure 7 is shown a special finger 11 which acts with a special perforation
in the music sheet at the end of a musical piece to close circuit through magnet 82
and thus open the switch 78, 79 and stop the main motor.
The drawer is then pulled forward. This brings the rod 83 against the roller 84
and closes the motor circuit again. It also brings gears 35 and 36 together as
heretofore explained, and thus the motor rewinds the music sheet.
One important feature of this invention relates to the means whereby the
magnets 8 and their armatures and striking rods may be easily adjusted in place
after the frame work is in place on a piano or organ. This is important because
different pianos have differently spaced keys.
Each magnet 8 is carried in a block 85 (preferably wooden) upon which rocks
the armature 7, kept from falling off by a spike or otherwise and preferably kept
in proper alignment by a raised side on each block, as shown in Figure 1. Thus
cach magnet and its armature together constitute a single tone-producing unit,
and such units can be produced in large numbers for adjustment when desired to
any instrument.
These units are placed in rows between the bars 86 and 87, and each unit is
preferably secured from movement up and down by a projection 88, extending
into a recess in one of the securing bars. The other bar bears against a slightly
tapered shoulder 89.
These bars are secured together at convenient intervals by bolts 90, and
fastened to the framework by screws 91.
In placing the tone-producing units in any piano, the blocks 85 are put loosely
between the bars 86, 87 and then each unit is slid opposite the key to be operated
by it. The bolts and screws 90, 91 are then tightened so as to firmly grip all
the blocks. Then the striking rods can be adjusted in place.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In electrically operated musical instruments, a tone-producing means oper-
ated directly by an electro-magnet and armature arranged so that the armature
operates with a lessening leverage as the attraction of the magnet pole increases
due to approach of the armature.
2. In electrically operated musical instruments, a tone-producing means oper-
ated directly by an electro-magnet and rocking armature, so arranged that the
point of support for the armature approaches the magnet pole during operation
and thus causes progressive decrease of the ratio between the lever arm on the
magnet side and the lever arm on the other side of the fulcrum.
3. A separable tone-producing motive unit for direct operation of musical
instruments comprising an electro-magnet, a rocking armature, a support for
the armature and means for securing these elements together.
4. In an electrically operated musical instrument, a number of electro-magnets
and rocking armatures, separate supports for the same, bars between which said
supports are held in a row and means for squeezing said supports more or less
tightly between said bars after they have been suitably adjusted.
5. In an electrically operated musical instrument, a sliding music drawer for
carrying a perforated sheet, driving gear wheels for rewinding the sheet after
completion of operation and telescoping shaft sections for transmitting the force
of the driving gear wheels and acting to bring said gear wheels into engagement
when the drawer is pulled forward.
6. In an electrically operated musical instrument of the class described an
electric prime motor, a shaft in two sections driven thereby, a movable clutch
between the two parts of said shaft and a magnet in series with said motor for
operating said clutch to connect the parts of said shaft.
7. In an electrically operated musical instrument, pivoted contact fingers,
terminals connected thereto and fixed to a movable insulated bar, corresponding
terminals carried by a fixed insulated bar, and connections for joining each
terminal on one bar to a terminal on the other, whereby connections may be made
without disturbing the fine wire attached to each finger.
8. In an electrically operated musical instrument, employing a flexible music
sheet, a pivoted friction bar adapted to bear against the sheet on the rolled
portion thereof whereby the tension is regulated.
9. In an electrically operated musical instrument, employing a flexible music
sheet and electric driving motor therefor; a switch in series with said motor,
an electro-magnet for opening said switch, a special contact finger in circuit with
said electro-magnet and a special perforation whereby said magnet is energized
at the end of a piece of music.
10. The combination described in the last preceding claim wherein a sliding
music drawer is used carrying a part adapted to strike against said switch to
close it when said drawer is pushed in or out.
11. In an automatic musical instrument, a music sheet, a prime motor for
moving said sheet, and a frictional retarder adapted to offer more or less resistance
to said motor to control the tempo.
12. In an electrically operated musical instrument, an electric motor, a music
sheet driven thereby, a friction disc driven by the motor, a rubbing tip to rub
thereon and means for varying the distance of said tip from the center of said
disc to vary the resistance to movement thereof.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1900.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.