AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PRODUCE SOUND AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A CASTANET
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Distin, of No. 11, Tavistock Street, Bedford
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Musician, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PRODUCE SOUND AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A CASTANET."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Distin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1876.
HENRY JOHN DISTIN, of No. 11, Tavistock Street, Bedford Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Musician. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PRODUCE SOUND
AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A CASTANET."
The apparatus is shewn in the Drawings which accompany this Provisional
Specification.
Figure I. represents the case or shell A without the steel spring S, shewn in
Figure VII., the red lines shew the groove in which the spring is to be inserted, and
the blue lines the slots through which an clastic band with clasps or fastenings C at
the ends is passed, in order to fix the apparatus inside the hand when it is to be
operated on, as shewn in Figure IV.
Figure VI. represents one form of the apparatus with the steel spring S inserted
in the grooves; the spring is indented by one or more blows, as shewn at B, and at
the end of the spring there is a roller R which is constructed to revolve.
Figure V. represents three of the springs fixed in a suitable case with the elastic
band, and if desired, a larger number of springs may be inserted in suitable cases,
as a chromatic or other arrangement.
Figure II. represents a double apparatus for operation above and below. The
apparatus is acted on by pressure of the finger at the roller end of the spring, which
causes the spring to bulge up at the part B where it is indented, and thereby give a
sharp sound, and by withdrawing the pressure the spring in resuming its normal
position gives off another sound similar to a castanet.
Figure III. shews an arrangement for conveniently holding the apparatus by
means of a ring, through which one of the fingers is passed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Henry John Distin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August
1876.
HENRY JOHN DISTIN, of No. 11, Tavistock Street, Bedford Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Musician. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PRODUCE SOUND
AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A CASTANET."
Figure 1 represents the case or shell A (which may be made of metal sufficiently
hard for the purpose) without. the steel spring S shewn in Fig. VII., the red lines
shew the groove in which the spring is to be inserted, and the blue lines the lateral
slots through which an elastic or other band with clasps or fastenings C at the ends
is passed, in order to fix the apparatus inside the hand when it is to be operated on,
as shewn in Figure IV.
Figure VI. represents one form of the apparatus with the steel spring S inserted
in the grooves; the spring is indented by one or more blows, as shewn at B, and at
the end of the spring there is a roller R which is constructed to revolve.
Figure V. represents three of the springs fixed in a suitable case with the elastic
band, and if desired, a larger number of springs may be inserted in suitable cases, as
a chromatic or other arrangement.
Figure II. represents a double apparatus for operation above and below. The
apparatus is acted on by pressure of the finger at the roller end of the spring, which
causes the spring to bulge up at the part B where it is indented, and thereby give a
sharp sound, and by withdrawing the pressure the spring in resuming its normal
position gives off another sound similar to a castanet.
Figure III. shews an arrangement for conveniently holding the apparatus by
means of a ring, through which one of the fingers is passed.
Having described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same
may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim any of the parts
thereof separately, but that what I claim is the combination and arrangement,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry John Distin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by
the above-named Henry John
Distin, in the presence of
H. WICKENS,
Solicitor,
HENRY JOHN DISTIN. (L.S.)
96, Palmerston Buildings,
Old Broad Street,
London.