Improvements in Wind Musical Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wind Musical Instruments.
I, ANTON RICHARD BREINL of Graslitz, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria,
Musical Toy-instrument Manufacturer, 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 object of this invention is a toy trumpet and similar key or stop instruments
such as wood clarionettes, flute-harmonicons and the like which by means of the
keys contained in the frame pieces can be played by children not musically educated
in the following manner.
A music sheet moving before the player's eyes advances after each depression
of a key round or along a certain path and causes a figure to appear which indi-
cates, that the key marked with a similar figure is next to be depressed and so on.
The mechanism of the toy-instrument itself is assumed as understood-what is
new and requires description, are the peculiar music sheets, their connection with the
instruments and the mechanism by means of which they are moved forward by the
depression of any one particular key.
The music sheet as represented in the accompanying drawing is either a circular
ring provided with internal teeth (Figs. 4, 6, 9) or a rigid strip (band) (Fig. 10) on
which, in the intermediate spaces corresponding to the distances between the teeth
there are placed single figures, which indicate the keys corresponding to the notes
of any particular tune, that are to be depressed in succession; the value of each note
being also indicated with each figure either by fractions (Fig. 4) or by a corre-
sponding figure of the note itself (Figs. 6 and 10) or by both (Fig. 9).
The music sheet is fixed in the following manner :-Its toothed edge engages
with the outer toothed edge of a toothed wheel 6 (Figs. 4, 6 and 10) advancing by
one tooth on the depression of a key, the sheet being thus held in a case c (Figs. 4,
1 and 2) fixed on the body of the instrument, is covered in such a manner by a cover
plate d provided with a slot e that only one figure at a time is visible through the
slot viz. that which indicates the key to be depressed which is itself provided with a
corresponding figure.
The cover d is fixed by means of two lugs or projections ii in the guide pieces f
of the case c. (The music sheets partly figured in the drawings contain a portion of
the "Last Rose of Summer" the well known song from Flotow's "Martha.")
The mechanism for the forward movement of the music sheet is arranged in the
following manner. On the short spindle w (see Fig. 1 which is a view of the whole
instrument) are placed on the one side the toothed wheel b mentioned above for the
placing in position of the music sheet, on the other side a small ratchet wheel g, in
which engages a pawl h (see also Fig. 5, a section along line z-2 through Fig.
and viewed in the direction of the arrows 2, while Fig. 4 is a view in direction of
arrow 1) which is constantly pressed against the wheel by a small spring j.
This pawl is fixed on a frame capable of revolving round an axis k (see also
Fig. 7) which is so arranged that one of its longitudinal bars m lies exactly
below all the keys k-whereby on depression of any one key this bar is also
depressed.
In consequence of this and because the two cross bars 9 which join m and n (see
in Fig. 5 and Fig. 3 section along y-y through Figure 1) are curve shaped, the
other bar n (which besides lies at a higher level) is raised and with it the pawl h
which is attached to it, which in its turn causes the ratchet wheel g to move one
tooth in the direction of arrow in Fig. 5 carrying forward the toothed wheel b
and the music sheet a attached thereto, so that the next figure makes its appearance
in the notch e.

page_text: i
At the same time a second pawl g fixes the particular position at any time, of the
ratchet wheel.
In order that after the, release of a key the frame shall return to its original
position, a spiral springs (see also Fig. 2) a section along line x-x Figure 1 is
wound round the revolving axis and applies itself by its free end against the bar n
which lies at a higher level. The revolving axis k of the frame is supported upon
two small brackets (Figs. 1 and 7) fixed on the body of the instrument. If
instruments with double notes, such as those in which each key supplies two different
notes are to be played viz. one on blowing into the instrument the other on drawing
breath, the whole arrangement of the instrument is the same, except that the music
sheet must contain an additional column.
In Figure 8 in which the lettering is the same as in Figure 1, I represent
a double noted flute-harmonicon with 10 keys each giving 2 notes (violin notes 1-10)
-1 and 11 being the keys of the bass-notes.
The music sheet (Figure 9) shows in the first column the time or value of
the note, in the second column the notes that are formed on depression of the corre-
sponding keys, on blowing into the instrument, in the third column those given out
on drawing in breath.
.
Although this invention has been described as particularly applicable to instru-
ments for children, it can be applied to the ordinary wind musical instruments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
;-
1. Wind musical instruments in which by depressing the keys (*) forming the
notes one of the longitudinal bars (m) of a frame revolving round an axis (r) is
lowered whereby a pawl fixed at the side of another higher longitudinal bar (n)
is carried along with it and made to move forward a ratchet wheel and with it a
small toothed wheel situated on the same shaft so that a toothed music sheet (a)
(ring or strip) which engages with the latter is moved forward through one tooth
whereupon on relieving the key the frame by the action of a spiral spring is made
to return to its original position substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. Music sheets adapted to instruments described in the preceding claim in
the form of rings or strips which in the case of rings are toothed on the inner
and strips on the lower edge and are marked at equal intervals with figures which
indicate the keys marked with corresponding figures which in playing the instru
ment are to be depressed in succession substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. In the instrument described above in order that one note only i.e. that which
is to be played at the particular time may be shown to the player the arrangement
of the case (c) fixed to the instrument for the reception of the music sheet the cover
plate (d) provided with a slot (e) such cover with its lugs or projections i being
inserted in the guide pieces (f) of the case in front of the music sheet substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1802
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.