Improvements in Flutes, Piccolos, Clarionets, Oboes, and other . similarly constructed Instruments.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flutes, Piccolos, Clarionets, Oboes, and other .
similarly constructed Instruments.
I COLLARD AUGUSTUS DRAKE of 3, Bedford Square Bloomsbury in the County
of Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the mechanism of wind instruments more
particularly of flutes & piccolos constructed on the "Boehm" system with open G
and to reduce the cost of manufacture of such instruments.
According to this invention I construct piccolos with cylindrical bodies and conical
beads of suitable dimensions. The body of each instrument is pierced with the
requisite number of holes three of which are stopped by padded keys actuated
by mechanism (one of these being the low D) and the others by the fingers of the
performer.
On the "Boehm" flute as usually constructed when either the first second or third
finger only of the right hand is placed upon its proper key or hole it not only closes
that key and stops that hole but also closes the Fkey above it and the first finger of
the right hand closes the B2 key as well as the key.
This result is obtained by means of mechanism operating upon the F key which
mechanism at present consists of padded keys or rings actuated by the aforesaid
fingers and connected with the Fkey by suitable tubes or levers or both.
Now my invention consists in forming the Fkey of a piece of metal or other
suitable material of such a shape as to enable the performer by placing either the
first second or third finger of the right hand on it to close the key while leaving
the 3 holes immediately below it open or he may close one or more of the said holes
under the three fingers in question and the F key simultaneously. By this
means I am enabled to dispense with padded keys or rings for the holes above
mentioned.
The B2 hole is stopped by a padded key operated upon by the second finger of
the left hand which finger covers and stops the hole immediately below it (A) at
the saine time.
The B2 key is connected with the F key in such a manner that the latter key
cannot be closed without closing the former while if the key be open the B2 key
may be opened and closed independently thereof. This latter key has attached thereto
or integral therewith on the side nearest to the player a piece of metal so that when
this piece of metal is operated upon by the thumb of the left hand the B7 key can be
closed while the said thumb still covers the Bhole.
I prefer to stamp the keys out of sheet metal but they may be made in the ordinary
way.
Instead of using pillars or blocks to attach the mechanism to the instrument as
at present I prefer to use metal bands or wire drawn tightly round the body of
the instrument and pressed or twisted into a suitable shape to receive the wires upon
which the keys are centred.
By this invention I am enabled to produce a "Boehm" piccolo with only two keys
viz. Bz and Fbesides the key common to all such instruments.
If desired the holes now closed by the third and fourth fingers of the left band may
be covered with padded keys to be operated on by those fingers.
The B2 and keys aforesaid are held open by springs preferably formed of small
indiarubber bands passed round the pillars formed by the bands of metal or wires
before described and the ends of the keys.

page_text: may add to the keys previously mentioned a closed G and a key to cover the
hole now closed by the thumb.
This invention is also applicable to flutes in D F & B2 Clarionets Oboes and
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flutes, Piccolos, Clarionets, Oboes, and other
similarly constructed Instruments.
I COLLARD AUGUSTUS DRAKE of 3, Bedford Square in the County of Middlesex,.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 to simplify the mechanism of wind instruments more
particularly of Flutes, and Piccolos constructed on the "Boehm". system with
open Gkey and .to reduce the cost of manufacture of such instruments.
According to this invention I construct Piccolos and Flutes with cylindrical
bodies and conical heads of suitable dimensions and material. The body of each
instrument is pierced with the requisite number of holes 3 of which are stopped by
padded keys, actuated by mechanism one of these being the low Dand the others by
the fingers of the performer.
On the "Boehm" flute as usually constructed when either the 1st 2nd and 3rd
finger only of the right hand is placed upon its proper key or hole it not only
closes that key and stops that hole but also closes the Fkey above it and the
Ist finger of the right hand closes the B2 key as well as the key.
This result is obtained by means of mechanism operating upon the Fkey.
which mechanism at present consists of padded keys or rings actuated by the
aforesaid fingers and connected with the Fkey by suitable tubes or levers or
both.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 represents the body of a piccolo constructed
according to my present invention.
Fig. 2 head of same, Fig. 3 holes in body developed on a flat surface, Fig. 4
mechanism detached from body.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, details hereafter referred to.
Now my invention consists in forming the Fkey a of a piece of metal or other
suitable material of such a shape (preferably that shown in the drawing) as to enable
the performer by placing either the 1st 2nd or 3rd finger of the right hand"
thereon to close the F key while leaving the holes, b c d immediately below
it open or he may close one or more of the said holes and the said key simul-
taneously. By this means I am enabled to dispense with padded keys or rings for the
holes a b c.
The Bz hole is stopped by a padded key y operated upon by the 2nd finger of the
left hand which finger covers and, stops the hole e at the same time.
The key g is connected with the key a by means of the piece of metal or other
suitable material g' passing beneath the key a so that the latter key cannot be closed
without closing the former while if the key a is open the key g may be open or closed
independently. thereof. The key g has attached to, or integral therewith a projecting
piece on the sido nearest the performer so that when the said piece is operated upon
by the thumb of the left hand, the key y can be closed whilst the thumb still covers
the Bhole i.
I prefer to stamp the keys out of sheet metal but they may be made in the
ordinary way.
Instead of using pillars or blocks to attach the mechanism to the instrument as at
present I prefer to use metal bands k or wire drawn or twisted tightly round the

page_text: body of the instrument and pressed into a suitable shape to receive the wires upon
which the keys are centred.
By this invention I am enabled to produce a "Boehm " piccolo with only two
keys viz., B2 and Fbesides the D common to all such instruments.
If desired the holes ef and i may be closed by padded key and a closed G
key added when requisite.
The keys a and g are held open by springs preferably formed of small india-
rubber bands passed round the bands & and the ends of the said keys.
This invention is also applicable to flutes in D F and B2 Clarionets, Oboes,
and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
I. The improved mechanism for flutes, piccolos, clarionets, and the like con-
sisting of the keys a and g with the pieces h and g' attached thereto for the
purpose specified.
II. The improved Flute, and Piccolo, substantially as described and shown.
Dated thin 15th day of Walrury 1800
COLLARD AUG. DRAKE.