IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE PLAYED BY MEANS OF TUNE BANDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Hunt, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE PLAYED BY MEANS OF TUNE
BANDS." A communication from abroad by Mason Johnston Matthews, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1879.
EDMUND HUNT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Patent
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE
PLAYED BY MEANS OF TUNE BANDS." A communication from abroad by Mason
Johnston Matthews, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention comprises improvements which are more or less developments or
modifications of those formerly communicated to me by the said Mason Johnston
Matthews, and described in the Specifications of Patents granted to me, and
having the following official numbers, namely, 2509, of 1878; 139, of 1879, and
1547, of 1879. In carrying out the present Invention, as in the earlier ones
referred to, perforated or embossed tune bands are employed for playing on the
musical instruments, such tune bands being endless in some cases and in open
lengths in others.
The present Invention comprises arrangements whereby the power for causing
the sounding of the notes is derived directly from a motive roller, the tune band
acting indirectly by moving parts into position for being acted on by the motive
roller. It is an important feature of some modifications of these arrangements that
the instrument is provided with finger keys of the usual kind for being played on
by hand, the parts operating by means of a tune band being connected to such keys,
so that the instrument can be played on either by hand or by means of the tune
band or both. The improved arrangements, or some of them, are applicable to
either wind, or stringed, or other keyed instruments.
When using a tune band rotation is imparted by hand or otherwise to a first
motion shaft, which is connected by cranks and rods, or otherwise, to the tune band

page_text: feed roller, and in the case of reed instruments to the bellows; and this shaft has
on it a motive drum for actuating the note sounding details. For each key or
valve lever, or equivalent part, there is a bar carrying a small eccentric roller,
which when put in contact with the motive drum is made to turn so as to push the
bar, and through toggle links or other connection move the key, or equivalent, so as
to sound the note. The bar fitted with the eccentric roller is ordinarily held clear
of the motive roller by a spring, but is moved into contact by a lever or spring
finger, which is directly acted on by the tune band. Whenever the key or
equivalent is moved into the position for sounding a note it is held there for a time
corresponding to the length of the perforation or embossed part of the tune band by
a jack or lever which catches in a step or notch, and is only released therefrom by
the return of the spring finger or lever acted on by the tune band. In another
modification the eccentric rollers acted on by the motive roller are fitted directly to
the levers or keys which cause the notes to be sounded.
When a reed chest is placed above a tune band, as described in my earlier
Specification, No. 139, of 1879, hereinbefore referred to, it is by the prosent Invention
made in two or more parts; and when in two parts these are held in frames hinged
to the opposite sides of the instrument, the object of this improvement being to
obtain more complete contact throughout, particularly when the reed chest is of
extra length.
By another improvement the tune band is made in two or more widths, so that
each may be adjusted separately to compensate for shrinkage or other atmo-
spherically induced changes.
In some cases an instrument may be made with more keys or notes than those
connected with the tune-band details, the extra keys having to be acted on by
hand; and in such cases the tune bands may have suitable note characters or
indications to inform the player when he is to strike the extra keys.
An improvement in the driving arrangements consists in substituting belts for the
cranks and connecting rods, these belts consisting, by preference, of leather having
pitched holes formed in them to gear with teeth on the driving and driven pulleys.
The pulley on the spindle or shaft on which the tune band is wound is made
movable on the shaft, so as to admit of being disengaged to allow of the band being
unwound again without working the other parts.
Another improvement comprised in the present Invention consists in arranging a
small revolving fan to agitate the air in the neighbourhood of the reeds, or some of
them, in order to produce a tremulous or "vox humana" effect; this fan being
driven by means of a cord from a pulley on the first-motion, or other rotating
shaft.
The present Invention also comprises an improved arrangement of the bellows in
relation to the other parts when the instrument is mado with reeds. In this
arrangement the instrument is made with ornamental end frames formed each with
a pair of feet and carrying the rollers or spindles on which the tune band is wound
at opposite sides above the feet, whilst the bellows are placed vertically along the
middle part, and a reed chest in one or more parts is placed at the top, the tune
band passing under it. The driving handle is placed centrally at one end, and has 4
on its spindle a toothed wheel from which a perforated belt drives the tune-band
roller, and also a crank shaft just outside the bellows at one side and directly
working the feeders, the reservoir bellows being at the other side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmund Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th June
1880.
EDMUND HUNT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Patent
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE
PLAYED BY MEANS OF TUNE BANDS." A communication from abroad by Mason
Johnston Matthews, residing at Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The said Invertion comprises improvements which are more or less developments
or modifications of those formerly communicated to me by the said Mason Johnston
Matthews, and described in the Specifications of Patents granted to me, and
having the following official numbers, namely, 2509, of 1878, 139, of 1879, and 1547,
of 1879. In carrying out the present Invention as in the earlier ones referred to,
perforated or embossed tune bands are employed for playing on the musical
instruments, such tune bands being endless in some cases and in open lengths in
others.
The present Invention comprises arrangements whereby the power for causing
the sounding of the notes is derived directly from a motive roller, the tune band
acting indirectly by moving parts into position for being acted on by the motive
roller. It is an important feature of some modifications of these arrangements that
the instrument is provided with finger keys of the usual kind for being played on
by hand, the parts operating by means of a tune band being connected to such
keys, so that the instrument can be played on either by hand or by means of the
tune-band or both. The improved arrangements or some of them are applicable to
either wind or stringed or other keyed instruments.
When using a tune band rotation is imparted by hand or otherwise to a first-
motion shaft, which is connected by cranks and rods otherwis to the tune-band
feed roller, and in the case of reed instruments to the bellows; and this shaft has
on it a motive drum for actuating the note sounding details. For each key or
valve lever or equivalent part, there is a bar carrying a small eccentric roller, which
when put in contact with the motive drum is made to turn so as to push the bar,
and through toggle links or other connection, move the key or equivalent so as to
sound the note. The bar fitted with the eccentric roller is ordinarily held clear of
the motive roller by a spring, but is moved into contact by a lever or spring finger
Whenever the key or equivalent 18
which is directly acted on by the tune band.
moved into the position for sounding a note, it is held there for a time
corresponding to the length of the perforation or embossed part of the tune band
by a jack or lever which catches in a step or notch, and is only released therefrom
by the return of the spring finger or lever acted on by the tune band. In another
modification the eccentric roller acted on by the motive roller are fitted directly to
the levers or keys which cause the notes to be sounded.
When a reed chest is placed above a tune band, as described in my earlier
Specification, No. 139 of 1879, hereinbefore referred to, it is by the present
Invention made in two or more parts; and when in two parts these are held in
frames separately hinged or otherwise attached to the instrument, the object of
this improvement being to obtain more complete contact throughout particularly
when the reed chest is of extra length.
By another improvement the tune band is made in two or more widths so that
each may be adjusted separately to compensate for shrinkage or other atmo-
spherically induced changes.
In some cases an instrument may be made with more keys or notes than those
connected with the tune-band details, the extra keys having to be acted on by
hand; and in such cases the tube bands may have suitable note characters or
indications to inform the player when he is to strike the extra keys.

page_text: An improvement in the driving arrangements consists in substituting belts for
the cranks and connecting rods, these belts consisting by preference of leather
having pitched holes formed in them to gear with teeth on the driving and driven
pulleys. The pulley on the spindle or shaft on which the tune band is wound, is
mode movable on the shaft, so as to admit of being disengaged to allow of the band
being unwound again without working the other parts.
Another improvement comprised in the present Invention consists in arranging
a small revolving fan to agitate the air in the neighborhood of the reeds or some of
them, in order to produce a tremulous or "vo humana" effect, this fan being
driven by means of a cord from a pulley on the first-motion or other 1otating
shaft.
The present Invention also comprises an improved arrangement of the bellows
in relation to the other parts when the instrument is made with reeds. In this
arrangement the instrument is made with ornamental end frames formed each with
a pair of feet, and carrying the rollers or spindles on which the tune band is wound
at opposite sides above the feet, whilst the bellows are placed vertically along the
middle part, and a recd chest in one or more parts is placed at the top, the tune
band passing under it. The driving handle is placed contrally at one end, and has
on its spindle a toothed wheel, from which a perforated belt drives the tune-band
roller, and also a crank shaft just outside the bellows at one side and directly
working the feeders, the reservoir bellows being at the other side.
And in order that the said Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets of explanatory
Drawings to bo hereinafter referred to, and representing parts of musical instru-
ments as made with the improvements. In these Drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Drawings are sectional side elevations of a
musical instrument as made with some of the improvements, Figure 1 being shown
as with the reed valves closed, and Figure 2 as with them open. Figure 3 is a
plan, and Figure 4 a cross section corresponding to parts of Figure 2. In this
improved arrangement a perforated tune band 1 is used, and a first-motion shaft 2
turned by a handle is connected by cranks and rods 3 to the tune band feed roller
4; and this shaft 2 has on it a motive drum 5 for actuating the note sounding
details. For each key or valve lever or equivalent part there is a bar 6 carrying a
small eccentric roller 7. This bar 6 is slightly inclined from the horizontal, its
lower end being connected by toggle-links 8 to a horizontal lever 9 centered at its
inner end to the framing of the instrument, and fitted with a button at its outer
end bearing on the finger key 10. The finger key 10 bas suitable connections to
the valves 11 of the reeds or other sound yielders. The bar 6 carrying the
eccentric rollers 7 has centered near its middle a short vertical rod 12 which is
acted on by a pin 13 on the underside of a horizontal lever 14, fitted with a
projection or nose to enter the tune-band perforations, and acted on by a spring 15.
When a perforation in the tune band 1 allows the lever 14 to rise, its inner end is
depressed by the spring 15, and causes the pin 13 to push the vertical bar 12 and
bar 6 down, bringing the eccentric roller 7 into contact with the motive drum 5.
The eccentric roller 7 is by the drum 5 made to turn so as to push the bar 6, and
through the toggle links and connections move the key 10 so as to sound the note.
Whenever the key 10 is moved into the position for sounding a note, it is held
there for a time by a jack or catch lever 16. This jack 16 is connected by one
end to the toggle links 8, and is formed near its middle with a bent part which
catches in a step or notch in a cross bar 17, whilst its higher bent end rests upon
the inner end of the lever 14. On an unperforated part of the tune band depressing
the lever 14 it, through the hooked part of the jack resting on its inner end, raises
the jack, and lifts its bent part out of the notch in the bar 17, and allowing of the
closing of the reed valve, which is thus kept open for a time corresponding to the
length of the perforation. The bar 6 is ordinarily held clear of the motive drum 5
by a spring 18, and a stop 19 is provided for limiting the extent of movement of

page_text: the toggle links, a similar stop 20 being likewise provided for the lover 9.
Figure 5 shows a modification of the arrangement for opening the valve. The bar
6 carrying the eccentric roller 7 is connected by its lower end to a short vertical
arm of a bellerank lever 21, the other arm of which is longer and is horizontal,
and has a button on its end for bearing on the key or valve.
In another modification shewn in side elevation in Figure 6, and in vertical
section in Figure 7, the eccentric roller 7 acted on by the motive drum 5 is fitted
directly to a horizontal lever 9, which bears upon a push pin 22 for opening the
valve. The lever 9 is centered at one end on a crossbar 23, its other end being
guided by a pin 24 on a block 241, and connected loosely by a wire 25 to a vertical
rod 25¹ The rod 25¹ is guided by the block 24, and bearing on this block and
coiled round the rod 25¹ there is a spring 26 pressing against a head on the top of
the rod 25. The head of the 1od 251 bears upwards against one end of the lever
14, which is centered at its other end, and has attached at right angles to it a catch
lever or jack 16 projecting downwards. The jack 16 is mado to catch on a step
or notch in a block 17 carried by the lever 9. Whenever a perforation in the
tune band comes over the nose of the lever 14 it is caused to rise by a spring
pressing against the jack 16. The rising of the lever 14 permits the spring 26 to
lift the rod 25, and with it the lover 9, thereby bringing the eccentric roller into
contact with the motive drum 5. The eccentric roller is then made to turn and
push the lever 9 down upon the push pin 22, opening the valve, the jack 16 at
the same time getting above the notch or step in the block 17 and holding the
reed valve open for the required time The jack 16 is released when an unper-
forated portion of the tunc band acts on the nose of the lever 14, depressing it,
and thus allowing the valve 11 to close by the action of a light spring. The
motive drum 5, which is on a first-motion shaft 2, is turned by a handle, as in the
first modification, and the shaft 2 is connected by cranks and rods 3 to the tune-
band feeding roller 4, and also by rods 27 connected by bars 28 to the rods 3 to
cranks on the ends of the cranked shaft 29 actuating the bellows
Figures and 9, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, are a plan and a
sectional side elevation of a musical instrument as made with some of the improve-
ments. In this arrangement the reed chest is made in two parts 30, 31, and is
also made with duplicate sets of reeds 32, 33, having separate reed ducts 31, 35,
communicating with an air passage 36 common to each duplicate set of reeds, and
controlled directly by the perforated tune band 1, which in this case acts as a
valve. The two reed chests 30, 31, are arranged in the same transverse line over
the tune band 1, which passes between them and the wind chest of the instrument,
and are held in position by studs 37 on their ends. The studs 37 on the outer
ends of the reed chests 30, 31, are entered into slots formed in a side framing 38 of
the instrument, blade springs 39 being provided for maintaining them in position,
and also to press the reed chest close against the tune band and wind chest to
avoid leakage. The studs 37 on the inner or adjacent ends of the reed chests
30, 31, fit into slots or housings formed in a blade arm 40 projecting horizontally
from a cross bar 41, which also carries two blade springs 42, one on each side of
the arın 40, for pressing the reed chest close against the wind chest. Instead of
being attached as described the reed chests 30, 31, may be held in frames hinged
to the opposite sides of the instrument. A first-motion shaft or roller 43 turned
by means of a handle has at its ends pulleys 44 having pins or tooth-like pro-
jections, which engage with holes in driving bands 45 passing round pulleys 46
also having pins and tixed on the cranked shaft actuating the bellows. The tune
band 1 is drawn off a roller 50, and passing through the instrument is wound upon
a roller 47 driven by frictional contact with an intermediate or take-up roller 48
carried in standards 49 between the roller 43 and winding-on roller 47, this roller
4S being driven by frictional contact with the driving roller 43. The driving
roller 43 is carried by arms 51 centered at their lower ends on brackets fixed to
the standards 49, so as to be capable of being moved out of contact from the take-
up roller 48, when it is desired to rewind the tune band 1 on the roller 50 from off

page_text: the winding-on roller 47. Suitable catches 52 are provided for holding the arms
51 vertically when required. The winding-on roller 47 is carried on arms 53
centered at their lower ends on the framing of the instrument, so as to be capable
of rocking, and springs 54 are provided to press it into contact with the take-up
roller 48, so that as the tune band 1 becomes gradually wound on the roller 47 its
increase in diameter does not cause the take-up rate to vary. The dotted lines in
Figure 9 show the position of the roller 47 and arms 53 when the tune band is all
wound on the roller 47.
Figures 10 and 11, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, are a side elevation
and a longitudinal vertical section showing the application of a revolving fan for
giving a tremulous or "vox humana" effect to a musical instrument, and also other
improvements. In this arrangement the levers 14 are fitted above the tune band 1
and act on push pins 22 to open the valve. The tune band 1 is drawn through the
instrument by means of two rollers, the lower one 55 being a first-motion shaft, and
having fitted at one end a grooved pulley 56, having formed on it or connected to
it an eccentric 57. The eccentric 57 works in a hooked part formed at the end of a
spring 58 which has its lower end connected to the lower end of a nearly vertical
lever 59. This lever 59 is centred at its lower end to the framing, and carries
at its upper end a pawl 60 engaging with a ratchet wheel 61 fixed on the shaft
of the take-up roller 47. The rotation of the eccentric 57 causes the vibration of
the spring 58 which actuates the lever 59 and pawl 60, causing the tune band to
be wound on the roller 47. The spring 58 is not strong enough to draw the tune
band 1 through the instrument, but merely to take up the slack produced by the
feeding rollers 55. The grooved pulley 56 carries a driving cord 62 which is passed
round a small grooved pulley 63 fixed on a shaft formed with continuous wings
forming a fan, which when made to revolve agitates the air in the neighbourhood
of the outlets from the reeds or other sound yielders, producing a tremulous or
28 Vox humana" effect.
Figure 12, on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan of another
improved musical instrument, the tune band and certain parts being shown as
broken away; Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section. In this instrument the
reed chest 64 is fitted within a semicircular cavity formed for it in a movable cover
or lid 65 which is conveniently hinged at one side to the instrument so as to be
easily raised, lifting at the same time the reed chest 64 along with it. The reed
chest 64 when in position for playing is above the perforated tune band 1, which
acts as a valve, the tune band passing between the reed chest 64 and the top of a
passage 66 leading to a wind reservoir 67. This passage 66 is formed in the
upper part of a board 68 fixed vertically about the middle of the instrument, and
having the wind reservoir 67 fitted vertically upon it at one side. On its opposite
sido bellows 69 are fitted communicating with the wind reservoir 67 through holes
formed in the board 68 and shown in dotted lines. The bellows are worked by
connecting rods 82 and cranks 83 driven from a first-motion shaft, or the bellows
may be worked by toothed wheels and perforated belts. The tune I and 1 is carried
at one end of the instrument on a removable ruller 70 carried in slots formed in the
sides of the framing, the cover of the instrument at this part being made with a
curvature concentric with the roller 70 and hinged to the end of the framing
forming a door or opening, admitting of access being had to the roller 70 for its
removal or replacement. A similarly curved part is hinged and forms a door at
the opposite end of the instrument, admitting of access being had to a take-up
roller 47 and other mechanism. The take-up roller 47 is carried at one end in a
bearing formed in the side framing, its other end being carried in bearings in a
standard 71 fixed to the opposite side framing. The roller 47 has fixed at its
end near the standard 71 a disc wheel 72 having an outer flange or rim. A small
pulley 73 is fixed on a first-motion shaft 74 having a handle 75 and carried
in bearings in the upper part of a forked arm 76, which is centered at its lower
end on a rocking shaft. The shaft 74 also carries a pulley 77, preferably
having its periphery covered with rubber, which can be put into frictional

page_text: contact with a pulley 78 fixed on the crank shaft for operating the bellows.
The arm 76 when moved outwards brings the small pulleys 73 into contact
with the inside of the rim on the disc 72, and on motion being given to the
shaft 74 the tune band is wound on the roller 47, and the pulley 77 being at
the same time in contact with the crank shaft pulley 78 the bellows are operated.
When it is desired to rewind the tune hand back upon the roller 70 the arm 76 is
moved inwards, taking the pulley 73 out of contact from the rim of the take-up
roller 47, and bringing the rubber covered pulley 77 into frictional contact with a
grooved palley 79 connected by a driving cord to a grooved pulley 80 on the end
of the roller 70. The pulley 80 is loose on the shaft of the roller 70, and is formed
with a clutch to engage with the roller 70. The shaft 74 is passed out through a
curved slot formed in the framing of the instrument, so as to admit of its position
being changed, which is effected by means of a lever 81 connected to the rocking
shaft of the arm 76, being held in the required position by pins entering suitable
notches in the framing.
Having thus particularly described the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, as communicated to me by the said Mason Johnston Matthews,
I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described
or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the
Invention secured to be by and in terms of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1. The combination and arrangement of a tune band with parts for operating the
keys and valves of a musical instrument, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
2. The eccentric rollers (7) arranged to derive power for causing the sounding of
notes from a motive drum (5), substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of the catch lever or jack (16) and other
parts for maintaining the sounding of a note for a time corresponding to the length
of perforation in the tune band, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The arrangement of parts hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of
the accompanying Drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of a tune band with parts for operating on
the valves of a musical instrument, substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts forming an improved automatically
playing wind musical instrument, substantially as hereinbofore described with
reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings
7. The constructing of reed chests in two or more parts (30, 31), all arranged
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
8. The arrangement for winding the tune band on the roller (47), such roller
being carried by rocking arms (53) and driven by frictional contact with an
intermediate or take-up roller (48), substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. The application of tune bands (1) in two or more widths, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbfore described.
10. The combination in a wind musical instrument of parts for automatically
playing the same by means of a tune band with keys to be acted upon by hand,
substantially as herein before described.
11. The application to tune bands for automatically playing wind musical instru-
ments of note characters or indications to inform the player when he is to strike
keys by hand, substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. The employment of a revolving fan (63) placed in proximity to the outlets
of the reeds or other sound yielders, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
13. The combination and arrangement of parts forming an improved automati-
cally playing wind musical instrument, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 14. The arrangement of a vertical board (68) carrying bellows (69) and a wind
reservoir (67) in a vertical position, substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
EDMUND HUNT. (L.S.)