Improvements in Musical Dolls or Toys.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
Improvements in Musical Dolls or Toys.
A communication from WILLIAM ALFRED GAY, of Corry, Erie County, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Clergyman.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce a musical doll or other toy of cheap
and simple construction, the parts being so arranged that when the doll is shaken a
musical tone shall be produced. To this end the invention consists in a doll a toy
animal or other toy the body of which contains a series of vibratory sound-emitting
devices, adapted to produce a musical tone when struck, and a striker adapted to
hit the same when the doll is shaken. It also consists in a doll whose body contains
a cage of vibratory metal rods within which cage is a striking device; and in
certain other combinations and constructions of the parts hereinafter described. As
shown in Figure 1 the doll may be of usual form, and within its body is a case 2
which may be made of card-board, or any other suitable material, and which is
preferably upwardly flaring in form and substantially elliptical in cross-section, so
as to conform to the shape of the doll.
The sound-producing device comprises a metal ring or base 3 having rods 5 of
resilient resonant metal, preferably steel, which project therefrom substantially at
right angles, though they may diverge somewhat upwardly. In order to afford
different musical tones, the rods are of unequal length and are united by casting a
metal ring 3 around their ends, the wires being thrust into the matrix of the ring
mould after the pattern has been withdrawn from the same, and the molten metal
subsequently poured in. When the rods are of steel, the heat of the molten metal
is apt to impair their temper and to destroy somewhat their capacity for producing
musical sound, but it may be restored by putting the finished ring with the rods
attached into an oven and heating them to about 500 degrees to 700 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The ring 3 is secured to a plate 8 at the end of the case 2 by gluing or otherwise,
and a block 7 of wood or other material is set within the ring and also secured to
the base, thus holding the ring firmly in position. The block 7 is preferably
covered by a layer of felt or other soft material, which will prevent the device
from producing an unmusical, rattling sound when the doll is shaken. A ball 4,
which may consist of a child's marble, is set within the cage formed by the rods 5,
and the case 2 is covered and closed by a plate 6. The device thus constructed is
set within the doll's body, and packing is placed on top of the case 2 for the purpose
of filling out the bust of the doll on which the head rests. If now the doll be
shaken, the ball 4 moving from side to side of the cage, will strike against the
rods 5 which are set in vibration thereby so as to produce clear and full musical
notes. The resonance of the doll is greatly enhanced by securing the ring 3 to the
plate 8 which acts as a sounding-board.
Within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, modifications in the
form and arrangement of the parts may be made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of sound-emitting devices capable

page_text: of emitting musical tones when struck and means for striking them when the doll is
shaken substantially as described.
2. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of resonant rods cast in a metal
base from which they project and means for striking the rods and causing them to
vibrate when the doll is shaken substantially as described.
3. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of resonant rods secured to a
metal base from which they project transversely said rods being arranged in the
form of a cage, and containing a ball or striker substantially as described.
4. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of resonant rods secured to a
metal base from which they project transversely said rods being arranged in the
form of a cage and containing a ball or striker, and an inclosing case to which the
metal base is secured; substantially as described.
5. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of resonant rods secured to a
metal ring from which they project transversely a case enclosing the same said case
having a plate to which the ring is fixed, and a block or plate set within the ring
substantially as described.
6. A doll or toy whose body contains a series of resonant rods secured to a
metal ring from which they project transversely a case enclosing the same said case
having a plate to which the ring is fixed and having a soft sound-deadening centre
within the ring substantially as described.
7. The method herein before described of making musical toys which consists in
casting a metal base to a series of steel rods and subsequently restoring the resonant
properties impaired thereby by heating the rods to about the temperature specified
substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.