IMPROVED MEANS OF CONVEYING SOUND FROM PREACHERS OR LECTURERS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Charles Rein, of the Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Manufacturer of Acoustic Instruments, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED MEANS OF CONVEYING SOUND FROM PREACHERS OR LECTURERS
"
Sealed the 5th April 1867, and dated the 22nd January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Charles Rein
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd January 1867.
I, FREDERICK CHARLES REIN, of the Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer of Acoustic Instruments, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OF CONVEYING SOUND FROM PREACHERS OR
LECTURERS TO THE CONGREGATION OR AUDIENCE," to be as follows:-
I propose to construct an acoustic pulpit, or, in other words, make the
pulpit a conductor of sound by constructing it with an inner and an outer
case, leaving between the two a space through which the preacher's voice may
travel down to the pillar or pulpit stand, (which may be a hollow cylinder, or
of any other form so that it be hollow,) and be led from thence through tubes
beneath the flooring to various parts of the church, from which tubes branch
tubes with ear caps will come within reach of such of the congregation as are
afflicted with deafness. The open space at the top between the inner and
outer case will be covered with ornamental scroll or fretwork, which will but
little impede the passage of sound, and support books, reading desk, or other

page_text: article which the preacher may require to place upon it. I prefer that the
outer case or pulpit proper should have a heavy moulding or outward pro-
jection at the top in order that by bevilling the inside of it I may obtain a
wider orifice for the entrance of sound between the two cases, both of which
may be lined or coated with metal, or any material facilitating the passage of
sound. The outer case will usually be of wood and the inner one of metal,
but any suitable material may be used both for the one and the other, and it
will be evident that although I have herein only referred to the construction
of an acoustic pulpit for churches that pulpits of similar construction may be
used in the lecture rooms of learned societies for the benefit of such members
as being afflicted with deafness would otherwise be debarred from joining in
public discussion, and with equal advantage in many other places; but as a
fixed pulpit on stand might in halls and lecture rooms be unsightly and
inconvenient, and as such localities are usually furnished with an elevated
platform, I propose to place an open cylinder under the stage of such platform
to serve instead of the pulpit stand, with pipes or tubes to conduct sound to
the audience, and to place over this hollow cylinder a moveable pulpit con-
structed as above described, the stage having a perforated metal plate or
opening for the passage of the sound.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Charles Rein in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
CHARLES REIN, of the Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer of
Acoustic Instruments, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, 'Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederick 'Charles Rein, Her special licence that I, the said Frederick
Charles Rein, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Frederick Charles Rein, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention

page_text: for "IMPROVED MEANS OF CONVEYING SOUND FROM PREACHERS OR LECTURERS TO
THE CONGREGATION OR AUDIENCE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said Frederick Charles Rein, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Charles Rein, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters of reference
placed thereon, similar letters of reference being placed upon and denoting
similar parts where such parts appear or may be seen at each of the
Figures respectively: :-
The object of my Invention is the construction of an acoustic pulpit or
tribune by means of which the sound of a preacher's or lecturer's voice may be
distinctly conveyed to such of the audience or congregation as are afflicted
with deafness.
I attain my object by constructing the pulpit or tribune with an inner and
an outer casing, thus obtaining an intermediate space forming a conduit,
through which the voice of the preacher or lecturer may travel down to the
pillar or other support of the pulpit, and be led from thence through fixed or
flexible tubes to various parts of the church or hall, branch tubes coming from
the main tubes, being provided with ear caps, and being placed within con-
venient reach of the persons requiring them.
On the annexed Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 represents an elevation of an
acoustic pulpit constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2, a vertical
section of same at A, B, Figure 3; Figure 3, a plan, shewing the intermediate
space between the two casings; and Figure 4, a sectional plan through
line C, D, of Figure 2.
a indicates a perforated metal or wooden covering, through which the sound
passes between the inner and outer casings of the pulpit, and on which may
rest a reading desk, books, or other article required by the preacher; b, outér
casing; b', inner casing; c, hollow column or pillar supporting the pulpit;
d, base of column or pillar; e, intermediate space or chamber passing round
the pulpit between the casings b and b', and occupying the centre of the
pillar c; f, brackets supporting the inner casing or frame of the pulpit;

page_text: g, bottom of inner casing forming the floor of the pulpit. To the base of the
column c, and mostly beneath the flooring of the church, will be fitted one or
more tubes or conduits in connection with the conduit e. The door may be
double cased or not, and be placed at the back of the pulpit, as indicated on
the Drawing at the sides, or in any desired position. The sound of the preacher's
voice passing through the perforations of the covering a descends the conduit e,
and passes from thence through the tubes to various parts of the church.
I prefer giving to the casing b a moulding at the top, as in ordinary pulpits,
and I sometimes bevel the inside of it, as illustrated on the annexed Drawing,
to obtain a wider orfice for the entrance of sound into the space e,
and the inner surface of the casings b, b', may be lined or coated with any
metal or material which will render the space e a better conductor of sound.
The outer case will usually be of wood, and the inner one of metal, but stone
or any suitable material may be used for both the one and the other. Instead
of supporting the inner casing and platform on the brackets f I may adopt
any other means of support which will leave a conduit or conduits for the
passage of the sound to the hollow column, and more than one hollow column
may support the pulpit, and form a passage for sound if desired.
The annexed Drawing only illustrates the application of my Invention to a
pulpit for churches, but it is equally applicable to the tribunes used in the
lecture rooms of learned societies for the benefit of such members as would
otherwise be debarred by deafness from joining in public discussion, and with
equal advantage in many other places.
As a fixed pulpit or tribune supported on a stand or on columns might in
some cases prove inconvenient, and as most halls and lecture rooms are
furnished with a raised platform, I in such cases cut a hole in the platform,
placing over this opening the double cased tribune or reading desk, and beneath
the opening a cylindrical or other shaped conduit, connecting the sound
conduit of the tribune with the pipes leading to various parts of the building.
The opening cut in the platform may be covered with a perforated metal
plate or with a solid piece of wood or metal when the shifting tribune is
removed.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which I carry the same into practical effect, I desire it to be distinctly under-
stood that I do not confine myself to any particular form or shape of pulpit or
tribune, nor to any relative dimensions of parts, or to the use of any particular
material, as such will necessarily be varied to suit the circumstances of
particular cases; neither do I confine myself to the use of a single conduit or
sound chamber within the inner and outer casing of my pulpit or tribune, as

page_text: this conduit may be divided by partitions or otherwise, although I prefer a
single conduit as being a better receiver of sound; but I claim the exclusive
use of the "Improved Means of Conveying Sound from Preachers or Lecturers
to the Congregation or Audience" by constructing a pulpit, tribune, reading
desk, or rostrum with an inner and an outer casing, the intermediate space
between which forms a conduit or conduits for sound in connection with tubes
leading to different parts of the church or other edifice or apartment, sub-
stantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Charles Rein, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
F. CH. REIN. (L.S.)