Improvements in Musical Notation, and in Key Boards for Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Notation, and in Key Boards for Musical
Instruments.
I, JOHN HENRY THIRLWELL, of Summerhill, Shotley Bridge, in the County of
Durham, Painter and Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in musical notation, and in means of
connecting the same with the key boards of pianos, harmoniums, organs or other like
musical instruments, the object of the invention being to provide a ready and simple
method of indicating the musical notes on the keys of said musical instruments, for
the purpose of facilitating the manipulation thereof.
In order to carry this invention into practice. I provide on the surface of each key
in the key board a certain figure or numeral, having a distinguishing colour in the
manner to be hereinafter described, said colours being preferably black, red, and
white. The figures employed are the ordinary numerals, viz., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 0, and they may be fixed on the surface of each key in any convenient way.
The bass keys may be provided with black and red numbers, and the upper or treble
keys may also be provided with black and red numbers in a similar manner, the ten
middle keys having white numbers in between the bass and treble keys to divide the
one from the other. The black keys to have the same figure or numeral on their
surfaces as the white keys to which they belong, and of the same colour..
In the improved notation, I use the same staff as at present, with the exception that
I only require four lines instead of the usual five, and I omit the ledger lines. These
four lines provide an upper and lower space, in which I place the various notes, the
notes between the lines representing notes on the white keys, and those above the lines
representing notes on the black keys in their respective clefs.
I make use of the same kind of notes as at present adopted in staff notation, but
instead of placing them in position on the score I place them all on a level position
between or above the lines as the case may be, and mark their identity by figures of
the same colour and number as the corresponding note or key intended to be struck
on the piano or like musical instrument.
Dated this 18th day of June 1896.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Monument Chambers, E.C., Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Notation, and in Key Boards for Musical
Instruments.
I, JOHN HENRY THIRLWELL, of Summerhill, Shotley Bridge, in the County of
Durham, Painter and Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in musical notation, and in means of

page_text: connecting the same with the key boards of pianos, harmoniums, organs or other like
musical instruments, the object of the invention being to provide a ready and simple
method of indicating the musical notes on the keys of said musical instruments, for
the purpose of facilitating the manipulation thereof.
In order to carry this invention into practice, I provide on the surface of each key
in the key board a certain figure or numeral, having a distinguishing colour in the
manner to be hereinafter described, said colours being preferably black, red, and
white, but any other colour or colours may be used. The figures employed are the
ordinary numerals, viz., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, and they may be fixed on the
surface of each key in any convenient way.
The bass keys may be provided with numbers of black and red or other
distinguishing colours, and the upper or treble keys may also be provided with
black or other coloured numbers in a similar manner, the ten middle keys having
white numbers in between the bass and treble keys to divide the one from the other.
The black keys to have the same figure or numeral on their surfaces as the white
keys to which they belong, and of the same colour.
In the improved notation, I use the same staff as at present, with the exception
that I only require four lines, i.e., two for each clef, instead of the usual five, and I
omit the ledger lines. These four lines, i.e., two for each clef, provide an upper and
lower space, in which I place the various notes, the notes between the lines
representing notes on the white keys, and those above the lines representing notes on
the black keys in their respective clefs.
I make use of the same kind of notes as at present adopted in staff notation, but
instead of placing them in position on the score I place them all on a level position
between or above the lines as the case may be, and mark their identity by figures of
the same colour and number as the corresponding note or key intended to be struck
on the piano or like musical instrument.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a plan to a reduced size of the key board of a piano or other similar
instrument shewing the arrangement of figures or numerals on the several keys as
hereinbefore described.
Fig. 2 is a plan shewing some of said keys in full size, with aforesaid numerals or
figures on the surface of the keys.
Fig. 3 illustrates the method of marking the figures or numerals on the notes, and
the arrangement of said notes, as hereinbefore described,
Fig. 4 representing some of said notes enlarged beyond natural size to shew the
detail more clearly.
In Figs. 1 and 2 A is the keyboard, with the usual arrangement of black and white
keys B B, B B. Upon these several keys are the figures or numerals CCCC, either
in black or other distinctive colour as may be determined. In Fig. 3 the notes D D D D
are arranged between the lines E E, treble and bass clefs respectively, these
notes DDDD having reference to the white keys, whilst the notes FFFF, being
placed above the lines, are understood to designate the black keys. On each of
these said notes is the figure or numeral corresponding in colour and figure to
that on the particular key which each said note is intended to represent. On reading
the notes in the staff, attention is given first to the position of said notes, whether
between or above lines E E, indicating whether white or black keys respectively,
and then the key is struck corresponding to the number indicated on the note.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The arrangement of musical notation, and means of connecting the same with
the key boards of pianos, organs, harmoniums or other like musical instruments by
figures or numerals, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. The application of this invention to any piano, organ, harmonium or other
like musical instrument substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
of March 1907
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Monument Chambers, London, E.C., Applicant's Agent.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Monument Chambers, London, E.C., Applicant's Agent.