Improvements in Musical Boxes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 8th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in Musical Boxes.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention which has been commu-
nicated to me from abroad by Auguste L'Epée of Sainte Suzanne (Doubs)
manufacturer of musical boxes and Louis Emile Jérome Thibouville of 68 and 70 Rue
Réaumur, Paris, both in the Republic of France :-
This Invention relating to musical boxes in general refers more particularly to an
improved arrangement of interchangeable barrels or cylinders hereinafter described
whereby the disadvantages attending the use of interchangeable cylinders as ordinarily
arranged are obviated.
The barrel is provided with a spindle terminating at each end in points or centres.
On of these centres engages in a corresponding recess in the end of a spindle receiving
rotary motion from a motor spring by means of toothed gearing. This spindle is
provided with a toothed wheel driving the fly or regulator and which may be arranged
to act as a stop wheel when acted on by a lever provided for that purpose. This
wheel is provided with guides which enable the end or centre of the barrel spindle to
be readily slipped into position and which also engage with a stud or driver on a disc
on the end of the barrel spindle so as to produce the required rotation of the barrel.
The other end of the barrel spindle rests in a stationary guide until a short spindle
on which it turns is brought into position to receive it by means of a lever handle or
releasing lever acting in combination with spring. This spring tends to press the
short spindle against the releasing lever which is provided with an inclined or cam
surface bearing against the end of the said spindle in such a manner as to enable the
spindle to be moved longitudinally by turning the lever on its centre. The barrel
spindle imparts motion to the barrel by means of a disc fixed on this spindle and
carrying a stud or driver engaging with the end of the barrel. This disc also carries
a cam employed for changing the tune and acting upon a pin carried by a lever so
as to cause the barrel to move longitudinally at each revolution and change the tune
unless the lever be so manipulated as to move the said pin out of the path of the cam.
A spring tends to maintain the barrel at one end of the spindle. In order to remove

page_text: the barrel for the purpose of introducing another the afore said pin has to be moved
out of the way of the cam and this is accomplished automatically by causing the lever
carrying the pin to be acted on by the lever operating the short spindle receiving the
centre of the barrel spindle as herein before described. The motion of the barrel being
stopped and the releasing lever operated so as to draw back the short spindle and
disengage the end of the barrel spindle the barrel can be readily lifted out of the case
and another barrel introduced in its place. In order to further facilitate the intro-
duction of the barrel stationary guides or supports may be provided which support
it temporarily at both ends. When each barrel plays one tune only the devices
herein before described for changing the tune by shifting the barrel on its spindle are
dispensed with and the operating spindles at each end are preferably arranged to
engage directly with holes or recesses in the ends of the barrel. The motor spring is
wound up by a key inside the box acting on the vertical spindle of the spring and the
clockwork is released by means of a combination of springs and levers turning on
axis in different planes. According to another arrangement the barrel is supported
at one end by a short spindle connected to a blade spring in such a manner that by
pressing the free extremity of this spring the short spindle can be displaced longi-
tudinally to a sufficient extent to release the barrel. The spindle at the other or
driven end of the barrel may be stationary being screwed into a support and the
barrel being provided at one end with a worm wheel operated by a worm on an axis
to which rotary motion is imparted by means of an external crank handle or other-
wise. The case may be made with suitable recesses for the barrels which are not in
use or these barrels may be kept in a drawer arranged underneath the mechanism.
Dated this 8th day of December 1886.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.

page_text: Improvements in Musical Boxes.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Auguste L'Epée of Saint Suzanne (Doubs)
Manufacturer of Musical Boxes and Louis Emile Jerome Thibouville of 68 and 70 Rue
Réaumur Paris both in the Republic of France and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relating to Musical Boxes in general refers more particularly to the
improved arrangement of the interchangeable pin barrels or cylinders the employment
of which as ordinarily arranged is costly, complicated and an impediment to the
proper action of the mechanism. By means of these Improvements as hereinafter
described, these disadvantages are removed and the barrels or cylinders being devoid
of complication and easily managed, are enabled to work with precision.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section and
Figure 2 a plan of a musical box constructed according to this Invention. Figures 3,
4 and 5 illustrate details of the mechanism and the remaining figures refer to
modifications hereinafter described.
The pin barrel marked A in the drawing works on a spindle B provided at its
extremities with points or centres a b. The centre a engages or works in a corre-
sponding recess in the end of a spindle C carried in a support S¹ and receiving rotary
motion from a motor spring in a barrel D by means of a toothed wheel R gearing
with a pinion r figure 2. This spindle is provided with a toothed wheel E driving
the flier or regulator and which may be arranged to act as a stop wheel when acted
on by any ordinary or suitable mechanism not shewn in the drawing, controlled by a
lever L, figure 2. This wheel is provided with a guide plate c, figures 1 and 3,
which enables the end or centre a of the barrel spindle to be readily slipped into
position and which also engages with a stud or driver g on a disc G fast on the end
of the barrel spindle so as to produce the required rotation of the spindle B and
barrel A. The centre point b at the other end of the barrel spindle B rests in a
stationary guide F until a short spindle H, capable of moving longitudinally in a
support S, is pushed up to it by means of a lever L. Figure 5 represents this part of
the mechanism with the spindle H, retracted to allow of placing the cylinder in
position. A spring e bears at one end against the support S and at the other against
a head or shoulder on the spindle H. This spring tends to press the spindle H
against the releasing lever 1 and away from the point until it is forced back into
the position indicated in Figure 1, so as to engage with the point b and render the
axis B free to rotate. The lever I is provided with an incline or cam surface i bearing

page_text: against the end of the spindle H in such a manner as to enable the said spindle to be
moved longitudinally towards the point b by turning the lever I on its centre I' until
it occupies the position indicated in full lines, figure 4. The barrel spindle B, imparts
motion to the barrel A by means of a disc K fixed on this spindle and carrying a
stud or driver k engaging with the end of the barrel (Figures 1 and 2). This disc
also carries a cam employed for changing the tune. This cam displaces the barrel
longitudinally on its axis at each revolution and changes the tune unless it is thrown
out of action by a projection on a lever L which causes it to turn on its pivot, in
which case the same air is repeated. A spring tends to maintain the barrel at one
end of the spindle and returns it automatically to the position for playing the first
tune. In order to remove the barrel for the purpose of introducing another, the
projection has to be moved out of the way of the cam f, and in order to prevent
accidents arising from the neglect of this precaution, this is accomplished auto-
matically by causing the lever L' carrying the pin to be acted on by, the lever I
operating the short spindle H receiving the centre of the barrel spindle as hereinbefore
described. For this purpose, the lever L¹ is provided with a projection Figure 2,
facing the lever I, so that in moving the latter to release the barrel, it comes in
contact with this projection and shifts the lever L' to the required extent. This enables
the barrel to be removed without danger of straining any part of the mechanism.
Care must be taken to wait until the motion of the barrel has stopped before the
releasing lever I is operated so as to draw back the short spindle H and disengage
the end of the barrel spindle or the barrel can be stopped by means of the lever L
hereinbefore described. The barrel can then be readily lifted out of the case (preferably
by taking hold of the discs G and K and moving it slightly to the right before lifting
it vertically) after moving the lever I to the position indicated in dotted lines in
figure 4, and another barrel introduced in its place, the point a and pin g being
adjusted in the wheel E and the point b in the guide F. The lever I is then returne
to it original position, thereby pushing the spindle H up to the point b, and the barrel
being maintained between the points b and c, the mechanism is ready to act again.
When each barrel plays one tune only, being fixed on its spindle, the action is the
same except that the cam and lever L' hereinbefore described for changing the tune,
by shifting the barrel on its spindle, are dispensed with.
Figure 6 represents a plan and Figure 7, an end elevation, partly section, of a
similar arrangement wherein a lever I (figures 6 and 8) provided with an incline i, is
employed as in the preceding arrangement, being pivoted at a on a plate P, and
acting on the head of a spindle H when moved into the vertical position. When the
lever is inclined the spindle is pushed back by a spring e placed between the support S
and the head or its equivalent. This spindle being pushed forward by the lever I
supports the barrel in the proper position for receiving rotary motion from the driver
or guide, c, which engages with a pin on the end of the barrel. Beforo being fixed
in position the barrel being placed before the comb rests in two guides or supports F F¹
Figures 6 and 7; these guides support the barrel at both ends and facilitate its
adjustment.
When the same barrel is arranged for playing a number of airs it is provided with
a loose spindle B carrying points or centres a and b as in the arrangement herein-
before described, but when it only plays one air it is more convenient and economical
to make a central hole or depression in each end of the barrel for the reception of a
point or centre on the supporting spindles (C and H). In this case also the barrel
receives motion from a spring in a barrel 1) which may be wound up by a key X
figures 6 and 7, placed on the part of the arbor projecting from the top of the spring
barrel. This key is situated inside the case. This spring is put in or out of action
by a spring detent L³ figure 6, worked by a lever L, figure 9, pivoted at ¹ on the
plate P, (figures 6 and 9,) and likewise contained within the case.
To still further simplify the fitting of single tune change barrels or cylinders in
small boxes, the arrangement illustrated in figures 10, 11 and 12 may be employed.
Figure 10 represents the box in section, Figure 11 in plan and Figure 12 is an end
elevation of the mechanism.

page_text: In this arrangement, the spindle H, is connected by a pin and shoulder to a blade
spring R which is provided with a handle or projection r, by which it can be pressed
back to release the barrel, but springs forward to its original position when the
pressure is removed.
The same arrangement can be combined with a musical box worked by hand, as
indicated in figures 13, 14 and 15, instead of by a spring. In this case, the spindle C
is fixed, being screwed into the support S¹ and the barrel A is not provided with the
pin g (figure 1.) being driven directly by a wheel E, gearing with an endless screw v,
fixed on its axis whereby it can be rotated from the exterior in the usual manner.
In this case also, the change barrel A before engaging with the spindles or centres C
and H rests in guides or supports F, F1, which may be made in one with the supports S
and S. The change barrels or cylinders may be kept in a drawer underneath the
works or may be arranged in suitable recesses in the woodwork as indicated in
figures 6, 7, 11 and 14.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First, In musical boxes, providing the axis or spindle (B) of the pin barrels or
cylinders (A,) with points or centres (a and b) acting in combination with guide-
plates (c, and F) for enabling the change barrels or cylinders to be placed directly
into the proper position substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second, In musical boxes, providing the spindle (B) with points or centres, one of
which (a,) fits into a supporting spindle (c,) whilst the other (b,) fits into a longi-
tudinally moveable spindle (H.) the latter acting in combination with a spring (e,)
and a lever (1) presenting an incline (i,) whereby the said spindle can be caused to
alternately engage with and release the point or centre substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in figures 1 to of the accompanying Drawings.
Third, In musical boxes, the employment of a lever (I) acting simultaneously on
the moveable spindle H, and on a projection l' on the lever (L,) for changing the
tune so as to disengage the cylinder A, and facilitate the removal thereof substantially
as hereinbefore described, with reference to figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth, In musical boxes, the employment of the key X and the spring detent L'
controlled by a lever L in the interior of the box or case for restraining and releasing
the motor spring substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 6 to 9
of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, In musical boxes, making the change barrels or cylinders with central holes
or recesses in the ends and carrying them on two points or centres C and H, the
latter acting in combination with the lever I and the spring e substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth, In musical boxes, making the ends of the change barrels or cylinders with
central holes or recesses, working on two points or centres C and H, one of such
points (C,) being fixed, and the other (H) moveable and carried by a spring R, the
barrels being arranged between supports S and S¹ provided with guides F and F¹ in
the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to figures 10, 11,
12, & 13, 14, 15 of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated thin 7th day of September 1887