A CERTAIN FLUTE OR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT WITH IMPROVED KEYS, WHICH KEYS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FLUTES, AND VARIOUS OTHER MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS THEN IN USE
Year: 1810

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MALCOLM
MAC GREGOR, of Bell Yard, Carey Street, in the County of Middlesex, Musical
Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Nineteenth day of June, in the fiftieth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Malcolm Mac Gregor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, his especial
licence, that I, the said Malcolm Mac Gregor, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A CERTAIN FLUTE OR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT
WITH IMPROVED KEYS, WHICH KEYS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FLUTES, AND VARIOUS
OTHER MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS THEN IN USE;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Malcolm Mac Gregor, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same Letters
Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear.
03

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Malcolm Mac Gregor, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, as follows (that is to say):-
The nature and object of my new invented flute is to produce a bass or
octave below to the concert German flute, and which, by being made on
reduced scales or sizes, will also produce basses or octaves below to the
different sizes of German flutes, which vary from the concert pitch, viz,
seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and octaves; and the nature
and intent of my improved keys is the better to prevent the rattling sound
generally produced by the use of keys to flutes, and other wind instruments,
and to improve the operation of the key on the hole; it is to cover by more
nearly assimilating the part of the key which stops the hole to the touch of a
finger on a hole where the finger is used, and which I consider as the best
standard for imitation in the action of the key. In the annexed Drawings are
shewn a form of my new-invented flute, made of the largest size, for a bass or
octave below to the concert German flute. Another form of one of a smaller
size for a bass or an octave below to a German flute called a fifth or A, accord-
ing to which latter form new invented flutes required as basses or octaves
below to German flutes of smaller sizes than the fifth or A flute may be made
by being proportionably less than such latter form. A representation is given
in the same Drawings of my improved key. My said Invention and improve-
ment may be made and produced by attending to the said Drawings, and the
following directions explaining the same :-
Figure 1st in the said Drawings represents the form of my new-invented
flute of the largest size; as before stated, it is composed of three joints, but may
be made of a greater or less number, as may be judged most convenient; the
top joint G, which I call the head, is of an oval or flat form for the accomoda-
tion of two calibers or bores, which bores answer similar purposes to the two
joints called the head and middle of a German flute having the four usual
joints, one of such bores having the mouth hole, the other of such bores having
three holes for the left or upper hand. The mouth hole A is placed on the
side of the head or top joint G, at a convenient distance from the three holes
for the left or upper hand, so as to allow the mouth and left hand to be at a
suitable distance from each other, and which they will be by the proportion in
Figure 1 being observed, or nearly so, and so as to allow the body to be in
an easy posture. The tone or sound is produced by the wind proceeding from
mouth hole up to the caliber or bore, in which it is made through the other
bore, by means of the communication between the two bores, shewn in the
section C. By thus having the two bores in one joint, the larger sized new-

page_text: invented flute is much curtailed in length, and rendered manageable to perform
upon, which would not be the case if such bores were made into two joints.
1, 2, 3, in the same, Figure 1 represent the three holes to be played with the
left or upper hand; two of such holes 1 and 3, being acted upon by keys,
which are to be so made as to remain open till used; these keys are necessary,
owing to the distance which the holes are from each other, being, in a new-
invented fluto of the largest size, about double to that of a concert German
flute. The holes 1 and 3 are supposed to be hid in the Drawing by the
flaps of the two keys h and i. 4, 5, 6, in the samo Figure 1, represent
the three holes to be played with the right or lower hand; two of
such holes, 4 and 6, being acted upon by keys in the same manner as
described as to 1, 2, 3, and the holes 4 and 6 are supposed to be hid in the
Drawing similarly to the holes 1 and 3, as before described. The holes 1,
2, 3, and 4, 5, 6, respectively of a new-invented fluto of the largest size are
about the distance of three inches and one-fourth from cach other. The mode
of fingering this flute is similar to that of the concert German flute, except that
the keys acting on the holes 1 and 3, and 4 and 6, are to be used instead of
the fingers being placed on those holes; the tails of which keys are to be so
made as with the open holes to form about the same distances from each other
as the finger holes of a concert German flute. 7, in the same Figure 1, is a
hole to be played by the little finger of the right or lower hand by means of a
key, the flap of which is supposed in the Drawing to hide that hole, by which
last hole the semi-tone D sharp below the lines is made. B represents
a screw or apparatus for the purpose of moving the cork, similar to that
now in use for bringing concert German flutes to the desired pitch; C is a
section of the two bores contained in the head or top joint of the largest sized
new-invented flute; the bore wherein the mouth hole is is placed, is in diameter
one inch five-sixteenths, or thereabouts; the other bore decreases to about
fifteen-sixteenths of an inch. The bore of the lower joint or joints diminishes,
so as to be at the extreme or smallest end or foot of the same instrument about
three-fourths of an inch in diameter. Figure 2 represents the form of my new-
invented flute calculated to produce a bass or an octave below to the 5th or a
German flute. The head or top joint of this flute being considerably smaller
than the preceding one contains only the mouth hole, the joint corresponding
to the German flute middle joint being detached. By boring the holes
corresponding with the holes marked in the Drawing of the larger flute already
described, 2 and 3, and 4 and 5, in an oblique direction inwards from each
other, they are brought on the surface nearer together, so as to be capable of
being fingered in the manner of a German flute; the two remaining holes -

page_text: corresponding to the holes 1 and 6 in Figure 1, are to be played by means of
two keys, as described in the Drawing Figure 2. This flute may, however, if
desired, be made with four keys like the largest sized flute, described in Figure
1; if made with only the two keys just mentioned, they are made and fixed as
represented in the Drawing Figure 2, being pinned at or near the end near to
which the spring acts; the parts & and l covering the holes when used, the keys
at other times being open. D represents the side appearance of my improved
jointed or open key; it is jointed together at m by a pin in the manner of a hinge;
a, a, is a long slit or cut, near the flap or palm of the key, through which a pin is
passed when the key is fixed to the instrument; and which slit or cut, as the key
is used, gives it more play than would be the case if the pin passed through a mere
pin hole made in that part of the key; or, the key may be made by having the
pin hole towards the spring slit in the same manner; but, in that case, a pin
hole should be substituted for the slit or cut before described in the other mode
of making the key. E represents the under side of the key for the purpose of
shewing the improved joint, and the pin passed through the slit or cut first
described, when the key is fixed; e, e, the palm or flap of the key, has a cavity
and small hole in the centre for receiving the pad which shuts the hole. F repre-
sents the form of the pad or valve, which is applicable to all kinds of keys used
to wind instruments whether open or shut; it is composed of a small plate and
screw for the purpose of fixing it into a cavity. In the flap beneath the plate is to
be placed a bit of sponge, which sponge is to be covered with fine thin leather,
so as to be air-tight, and to form, as it were, the point of a finger; by which
means the hole is shut more effectually, and with less pressure than by keys
now in use. Perhaps india-rubber or other elastic substances may produce the
same effect, but I prefer sponge; keys on the above principle may be made to
any length or shape that may be required for concert flutes, or for semitones to
the new-invented flutes, and for the purpose of various other wind instruments,
requiring such sort of keys. Concert or other German flutes may be made
with heads having double bores, as before described; and the double bored
heads may be made by joining two or more pieces, so as to imitate the double
bored head before described, as made in one joint or piece, or by joining two
pieces to communicate by any metal, crook, or other material calculated for the
purpose. The new-invented flute may be made of ivory, wood, metal, or any
substance of which German flutes are usually made, regard being had and
allowance made for the difference in point of size, which in the larger sort may
render some wood and materials commonly used not altogether so proper. The
new-invented key may be made of silver, brass, or other metal, of which keys
to wind instruments are usually made. The Drawing, Figure 1, represents a

page_text: new-invented flute to produce a bass or an octave below to the German concert
flute, having only one key for the D sharp; but if the new-invented flute be
required as a bass to a German flute, having keys for more semitones, or
descending to C natural below the lines, then corresponding keys must be added
on the new-invented flute accordingly. The lengths of the different joints of
the largest size of the new-invented flute as described in the Drawing, Figure 1,
are as follows:-The head or top, fourteen inches; the second joint, about ten
inches; third joint or foot, about seven inches. I have given these and the
other different dimensions as near as may be; which, however, the manufac-
turer will regulate at his discretion, so as to produce the different notes in
proper tune. As a general rule, it may be observed, that the distances in the
largest size new-invented flute between the holes corresponding to the finger-
holes to a concert German flute, and between the nearest of such holes to the
mouth hole and the mouth hole, are about double those of the concert German
flute. Where new-invented flutes are required of different sizes to that of the
largest size of which the dimensions are particularly given, the workman will,
of course, observe similar rules of proportion to those which govern him in
making German flutes of smaller sizes than the concert pitch, taking as a guide
either of the new-invented flutes, described in the Drawing, according to the
size wanted; viz, the largest where the size wanted is between that and the
other, which is the bass or octave below to A, and taking the other when
smaller sizes are required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Malcolm Mac Gregor, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our