CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE GERMAN FLUTE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE CLARIONET AND BASSOON
Year: 1814

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
Wood, of the Parish of Saint Giles-in-the-Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Musical Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the First day of April,
in the fifty-fourth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
James Wood, my exors, adññors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said James Wood, my exors, adññiors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE GERMAN FLUTE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE
CLARIONET AND BASSOON;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso that if I, the said James Wood, should not particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and
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
Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advan-
tages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become
void, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and
at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Wood, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained as follows:-
And as applied to the musical instrument commonly called the German
flute, consists in the construction and manner of making, adapting, fixing,
inserting, or applying a cylindrical tube, as hereafter described, to and within
the bottom part of the upper or top joint of the flute; and also applying,
fixing, or adapting the like cylindrical tube to, on, or upon the outside of the
bottom part of the said upper or top joint, forming together a double cylindrical
tube, with a proper and sufficient space between the outer and inner tubes to
apply, admit, insert, or join with the like double. cylindrical. tube formed by the
inserting, applying, fixing, or adapting of the like cylindrical tubes within, to,
and on or upon the top of the second joint of the flute, and which double]
cylindrical tubes so inserted, fixed, or applied, are made to fit, slide into or over
each other, so that when joined together they form one compleat whole or
piece, which may freely be pulled in or out when it is required to flatten or
sharpen the pitch, in order to tune the flute to any other instrument. And
my said Invention of improvements extends, to the making of but one separa-
tion or division between the first and second joints of the flute, which is, at the
junction formed by the working, sliding, passing over or into each other, of. the
said double cylindrical tubes hereafter described, and also to their application,
insertion, or adaption to and within the bottom of the second joint and the
top of the third joint, and also and in like manner to and within the bottom of
the third joint and the top of the fourth joint of the German flute, and which
are likewise made to fit, slide into; or pass over each other; and that by my
said Invention of improvements no thread, flax, or other foreign, auxiliary, or
extraneous matter of whatever, description.or, denomination is required,, as, by
the application, insertion, or adaption of my said double. cylindrical tubes the
instrument is rendered perfectly, air-tight, at the different joints, is always ready
for use, and the whole preserved, from decay. And also my said: Invention, of
improvements extends to the marking or dividing the outside of each joint into
spaces marked #b so that the marked spaces on each joint shall correspond,
assimilate, and act, with each other when it is required, to make the instrument
flatter or sharper by pulling in or out, the sliding, double cylindrical.tubes.here-
after described, as occasion may require, so that the flute can be made con-
siderably sharper than concert pitch, or flattened nearly half a note if necessary.
And my Invention of improvements farther extends to the keeping every part
of the instrument to its proper bearings throughout, how much soever the.

page_text: flute at the joints formed by and for the insertion, application, adaption,
working, sliding, or passing over or into each other of the double cylindrical
tubes hereafter described shall be extended, provided that the marked spaces
on the respective tubes at each joint be made to correspond or agree with each
other, by which means every part of the instrument bears a correct analogy
and the same just and harmonical proportion as when turned to concert pitch,
both with respect to the double and hitherto unknown advantage of retaining
its good quality of tone and keeping the notes A, G, and the lower D, as well as
every other part of the instrument, perfectly in tune though flattened nearly a
note, as before mentioned. And also by my said Invention of improvements my
double cylindrical tubes sò inserted, fixed, applied, or adapted to and within the
upper or top joint of the flute, does not extend the whole length thereof, and
also that the instrument may be tuned to any pitch that may be required
without the aid or assistance of any other extra joint or joints whatever.
And that my said Invention of improvements being applied to the musical
instrument commonly called the clarionet consists in the application, insertion, or
adaption of my cylindrical tubes hereafter described (as applied to the German
flute), within, to, on, or upon the second and third joints of the instrument, forming
at the ends of each of the said joints, double cylindrical tubes, as hereafter
described (as applied to the German flute), and which tubes are divided into
spaces and numbered, by which means the instrument can be made sharper
or flatter, as occasion may require, by drawing out or pushing in the joints at
the junction formed by the said double cylindrical tubes, care being taken that
the number to which the upper tubes are pulled out, or vice versa, be made to
agree or correspond with the same number marked on the third joint. And
also by my said Invention of improvements the instrument is preserved from
decay, and the joints to which my said double cylindrical tubes are so inserted,
applied, or adapted, are rendered perfectly air-tight without the assistance or aid
of thread, flax, or any other extraneous matter or substance whatever.
And my said Invention of improvements likewise extends to the musical instru-
ment commonly called the bassoon, by the application, insertion, or adaption of
my said double cylindrical tubes to the yoke joint of the instrument, whereby
it may be flattened or sharpened as occasion may require without pulling out
the joints, so that the instrument always retains its natural position, and is
consequently air-tight.
And that with respect to the application of my said Invention of improve-
ments to the German flute, and as applicable to other wind instruments, is
farther particularized, described, and ascertained as follows, that is to say :-
Firstly, the upper or top joint thereof, to which the said double cylindrica

page_text: tubes are inserted, applied, or adapted, is of the dimensions following, that is
to say, in length nearly six inches and a half, and the diameter thereof about
one inch and two tenths; which said top joint is represented in the Drawing,
and marked A; and that to the inside of the said upper or top joint is affixed a
cylindrical tube, in length one inch and a half, and the diameter thereof about
six eighths of an inch, marked No. 1 in the Drawing, and which said cylindrical
tube is fixed, applied, inserted, or adapted by screwing or other ways fastening
or letting into and within the bottom of the said upper or top joint, about three
eighths of the length of the said cylindrical tube; and also that at, to, on, or
upon the bottom part of the said upper or top joint is fixed, applied, and
adapted a cylindrical tube of the following dimensions, that is to say, the
length thereof is about one inch and three eighths, and the diameter thereof
one inch and one eighth, marked in the Drawing No. 2, and which said
cylindrical tube is fixed on or applied to the bottom part of the said top joint
by being laid over the extremity of the wood forming the end of the said top
joint, about, three eighths of an inch; and the said outer cylindrical tube so
placed, applied, or adapted is then screwed or pin'd to the said bottom part of
the woodwork of the top joint by the said pins or screws being made to pass
through the whole from the surface or outside of the outer tube to the inside
of the inner tube.
Secondly, my said Invention of improvements is applied to the fixing,
inserting, and adapting my said double cylindrical tubes to the upper part of the
second joint, the dimensions of which is as follows, that is to say, the length
thereof is eight inches and a half, marked in the Drawing letter B, and that
into the upper part of the second joint is fixed, inserted, or applied a cylin-
drical tube marked No. 3 in the Drawing; in length one inch and one eighth,
and the diameter thereof nearly seven eighths of an inch, and so formed as to
be capable of receiving or sliding over the tube No. 1, so that the tubes No. 1
and 3 may correspond or agree with each other so as to form a sliding joint;
and also on the outer part of the woodwork of the said second joint is fixed,
applied, or adapted, a cylindrical tube marked No. 4 in the Drawing, the
length thereof being one inch and one eighth, and the diameter thereof nearly
one inch and one eighth, which is to slide into the tube No. 2, and forming
together a double sliding joint, and which tubes so inserted, applied, or adapted
to the top of the second joint, are screwed, fastened, or pin'd together from the
outside of the outer tube to the inside of the inner tube. And my Invention
of improvements of my double cylindrical tubes are also fixed, applied,
inserted, or adapted to and within the bottom part of the second joint of the
flute marked B, and of the following dimensions, that is to say, the inner

page_text: cylindrical tube being one inch in length and five eighths of an inch in diameter,
marked No. 5 in the Drawing, and which cylindrical tube is fixed, applied,
inserted, or adapted to or into the bottom of the second joint in the same
manner as the tube No. 1 is inserted, adapted, or applied to the top joint
marked A, as before described; and that to, on, or upon the bottom of the said
second joint B is fixed, applied, or adapted a cylindrical tube marked No. 6, of
the dimensions following, that is to say, the length thereof being one inch and
the diameter thereof one inch, which said cylindrical tube is fastened, fixed on
or applied to the bottom part of the said joint in the same manner as the tube:
No. 2 is fixed on, applied or adapted to the joint A, as before described.
And my said Invention of improvements are farther applied to the third joint
of the flute marked C in the Drawing, which is four inches and a half in
length, by fixing, inserting, or adapting to and within the upper part of the
said joint a cylindrical tube, in length five eighths of an inch, and the diameter
thereof eight twelfths of an inch, marked No. 7 in the annexed Drawing, and
which is made to receive the cylindrical tube No. 5 at the bottom of the joint
B, forming together a sliding joint, and also that to, on, or upon the upper part
of the joint C is fixed, applied, or adapted a cylindrical tube marked No. 8 in
the Drawing, in length half an inch, and the diameter thereof eleven twelfths
of an inch, which tube is made to fit into and receive the tube marked N. 6,
forming together a double cylindrical sliding joint, and which said cylindrical
tubes are fixed, fastened, or pin'd in and on the top of the said. second joint in
the same manner as the tubes, at the top of the second joint B, as before
described; and also that to and within the bottom of the third joint of the
flute is inserted, adapted, or applied a cylindrical tube marked No. 9, being one
inch in length, and the diameter thereof seven twelfths of an inch; and a like
cylindrical tube is applied or adapted to, on, or upon the bottom part of the
said third joint, and marked No. 10 in the Drawing, the length thereof being
six eighths of an inch, and the diameter thereof one inch, and the said cylin-
drical tubes are fastened, screwed, or pin'd in and on in the same manner as
the tubes 1 and 2 of the joint A, as before described.
And, farther, my said Invention of improvements of my double cylindrical tubes
is applied to the upper part of the fourth or bottom joint of the flute, which is six
inches in length, and marked D in the Drawing annexed, by applying, inserting,
or adapting a cylindrical tube marked No. 11 in the Drawing, the length thereof
being five eighths of an inch and the diameter six twelfths of an inch, which
said cylindrical tube is made to fit and receive the tube No. 9; and a like
cylindrical tube, marked No. 12 in the Drawing, is also applied or adapted to,
on, or upon the outside, of "the top of the said fourth joint, the length of the

page_text: said tube being half an inch and the diameter thereof eleven twelfths of an
inch, and which is made to slide into the tube marked No. 10 of the joint C,
and forming together a double cylindrical sliding joint, and which said tubes
are.fixed, fastened, or pin'd in and upon the said fourth or bottom joint in the
same manner as the tubes marked Nos. 3 and 4 of the joint B, as before
described. And if the Patent Flute is intended to be made of a larger or smaller
size than what is commonly termed or known by the name of Concert Flute, as
it must in that case be made longer or shorter, then the several particulars con-
stituting my said Invention of improvements should be diminished or extended
according to their reciprocal and relative proportions, to the flute commonly
called Concert Flute. And my said Invention of improvements, when applied
to clarionets of different sizes or bassoons or other wind instruments, must be
varied accordingly.
And, lastly, I do declare that I do use my said improvements either
separately or collectively, and do construct or make my said tubes, which
I call double cylindrical tubes, or other appropriate name, of silver, brass,
copper, pewter, or other sonorous 'metal or mixture of metals, or other 'suitable
materials.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
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