Improvements in and connected with Musical Instruments
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1897- Accepted, 1st Jan., 1898
$6
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Musical Instruments.”
I, HENRY EDWARD GREEN of 30 Estelle Road, Gospel Oak in the County of
Middlesex, Musical Instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with automatic musical
instruments in which a roll or sheet of perforated paper operates to produce indirectly
musical sounds.
In constructing an automatic musical wind instrument in which the sound
producing devices are worked by pressure, the air for the operating pneumatics is
drawn through a bridge or tracker which is made solid and the holes corresponding
to the notes are bored through said tracker to meet corresponding holes in a grooved
board which latter holes radiate out to a removable socket board for a number of
primary pneumatics. The socket board forms one side of a wind chest and the primary
pneumatics therein consist of a membrane or membranes covering the several holes
or sockets in the socket board and each hole as an independent return vent capable
of adjustment. Each primary pneumatic or puff is suitably connected to a lever or
the lever bears against the puff. The lever is pivoted at or near its middle to the
side of the wind chest which is provided with a number of holes or secondary
pneumatic channels leading through from the interior of the wind chest and with
other holes at right angles to the first leading down to a number of secondary
pneumatics which are arranged in one row at one level or in two or more rows
(preferably in two rows) at two or more levels, so that the pneumatics may be made
sufficiently large to operate the pallets of the sound producing devices with facility.
At the end of each lever furthest from the puff there is a valve formed (by a piece
of leather or the like and screwed into this end of the valve is a tapped wire which
passes through the through hole leading from the interior to the exterior of the
wind chest and this tapped wire carries at its other end outside of the wind chest
another valve which may conveniently be normally held from its seat by a spring.
Or instead of mounting the two valves last described on a lever and both outside of
the secondary pneumatic channel, the lever may be dispensed with and one valve may
be mounted inside the secondary channel on a tapped wire connected to the primary
pneumatic puff in such manner as to close one side while opening the other side
of the secondary channel. Channels lead down to the secondary pneumatics from
the secondary channels before referred to and branch off when they reach them.
The secondary pneumatics are of bellows-like form and are preferably arranged in
two rows in the same manner as the primary puffs. The secondary pneumatics are
so mounted that when they collapse, the movable sides which are provided with forks
rise and in rising lift the sound producing pallet by means of a tapped wire and
button. By providing the secondary pneumatics with forks the former may easily
be bodily withdrawn thus facilitating detaching and attaching. The upper end of
the wire is bent into an L shape or provided with another button and the back of
the key is also provided with a fork which embraces the wire for the purpose
of raising the pallet.

page_text: The sound producing pallets are held to their seats by means of springs or weights
and are suitably guided by being provided with holes through which project pins
fixed on the top of the sound producing chest and air is admitted to the latter by
means of valves controlling the different sets of reeds which are operated by stop
work preferably constructed as follows: The stop stick is slotted and this slot has
working therein a double armed lever of wire bent so that the wire always remains
in the slot wherever the stop stick may be thus acting as a guide to prevent the
stick turning.
The keys are balanced and weighted and the wire being free in the fork may rise
and fall independently of keys and further the keys may be drawn away without
necessitating the detachment of the wires.
The bellows which operate the operating pneumatics and the air supply to the
sound producing devices consist of two reservoirs, one for vacuum and the other for
pressure and these two reservoirs are worked by a pair of feeders which feeders draw
air from the vacuum or exhaust reservoir and also from the outside if necessary,
which air is forced on the return motion of the feeder into the pressure reservoir to
supply the sound producing devices. The feeders may be returned by springs or
weights as found most convenient and if desired they may be operated from a
rocking lever.
The roll of perforated paper is operated by a motor preferably constructed as
follows: The body of the motor is made of a block of wood, metal or other suitable
material of triangular or other section and provided with a hole right through in
which is mounted a cylindrical valve with parts cut away on the outside and at
the opposite ends. Air supplied by pressure or exhaust is admitted from one end of the
body of the motor to the valve and the body of the motor is so constructed that the
valve admits the air by one or more holes to one or more bellows like devices which
in turn are each connected by a connecting rod to a crank formed on a spindle or
shaft on which the valve is mounted. The other one, two or more bellows are at
the same time exhausting and when exhausted the valve causes air to be supplied to
it or them while the bellows first described is or are being exhausted. It is evident
that the motor work by exhaust without any modification. The motor spindle is
suitably provided with a spur wheel which gears with another spur wheel on the
"take up" roller and the motor spur wheel is so mounted as to permit of its being
moved along the motor spindle out of gear with the spur wheel on the "take up
roller shaft and into gear with a train of wheels gearing with a spur wheel on the
spindle for the "re-roll."
"
Although I have described the operating pneumatics as being capable of being
worked by exhaust and the sound producing devices by means of pressure it will be
evident that with slight modification the operating pneumatics may be worked by
pressure and the sound producing devices by means of exhaust, and if desired, both
the operating pneumatics and the sound producing devices may be operated either
by pressure or by exhaust.
It is however apparent that when pressure is used to work the operating
pneumatics the perforated sheet of paper and tracker must be contained in a wind
chest.
2
"Improvements in and connected with Musical Instruments."
I, HENRY EDWARD GREEN formerly of 30 Estelle Road, Gospel Oak in the County
of Middlesex but now of 143 Fortess Road Kentish Town in the county aforesaid,

page_text: Musical instrument Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with musical instruments
in which a roll or sheet
capable of being played mechanically from the key board
and
or
of perforated paper operates to produce indirectly musical sounds.
Figure of the accompanying drawings represents an instrument constructed
according to my invention in transverse section.
Figure to a reduced scale.
Figure 2 is a detail plan section on the line 2-2
Figure 3 is a detail plan section on the line 3-3 Figure 1 to a reduced scale.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing the stop stick when drawn out.
Figure 5 is a plan view partly in section showing the construction and arrangement
of motor for effecting the movement of the roll of paper to an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 is an end view of the motor.
Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the valve detached from the motor shaft.
Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation showing the arrangement of the socket holes
which are covered by the primary puffs.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of a modified form of instrument as regards the
primary valve arrangement.
Figure 11 is a back elevation of the groove-board containing the secondary
channels F Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 figure 11 with the board F5 containing the
exterior port holes detached.
Figure 13 is a transverse section of part of an instrument in which both the .
operating pneumatics and the sound producing devices are actuated by pressure
wind.
Figure 14 is a similar view of a modified construction of primary valves and
Figure 15 is a transverse section of an instrument in which the operating
pneumatics and the sound producing devices are actuated by vacuum or exhaust.
Referring to Figure 1 which shows a musical wind instrument capable of being
played automatically or from the keyboard in which the sound producing devices A
are worked by pressure, and the operating pneumatics B and C are worked by
vacuum or exhaust. The air for the primary operating pneumatics is drawn through
a bridge or tracker D which is made solid and the holes D¹ corresponding to the notes
are bored through said tracker or the holes or openings may be forined by grooving
in any convenient or well known manner. The said holes D¹ meet corresponding
holes or channels E¹ in a grooved board E which latter holes radiate out to a re-
movable socket board B see also figure 9. for a number of primary pneumatics B¹.
The socket board B conveniently forms one side of a wind chest F and the primary
pneumatics B¹ may suitably as shown consist of a membrane or inembranes covering
the several holes or sockets in the socket board B. Each hole has an independent
return vent F1 for the purpose of assisting the return of the primary pneumatic B¹
to its normal position and the said vent is in each case capable of regulation by
means of a screw F2. Each puff or primary pneumatic B¹ is suitably connected to a
lever G or the lever bears against the puff. The lever G₁ or as shown a valve
attached thereto is pivotted to the side of the pneumatic wind chest F which side is
provided with a number of holes or secondary pneumatic channels F's leading through
from the interior of the wind chest F and with other holes or secondary pneumatic
channels leading to a number of secondary pneumatics C which may be arranged
in a row at one level but preferably as shown in two rows at two levels so that the
said pneumatics may be made sufficiently large to operate the pallets A¹ of the sound
producing devices A with facility and the wires A² of the pallets are guided in holes
in a guide rail C2 to rise vertically so that the pallets are always parallel with their
At the end of each lever ( furthest from the puff there is a valve as afore-
seats.

page_text: said formed by a piece of leather or the like, which also forms the hinge of the lever.
Screwed into this end of the lever valve G¹ is a tapped wire G2 which carries at its
other end outside of the wind chest F. another valve G³ which may conveniently be
normally held from its seat by a spring G4 The secondary pneumatics C are so
mounted that when they collapse the movable sides, which are provided with forks or
projections C¹, rise and in rising lift the sound producing pallets A¹ by means of
tapped wires A2 and buttons A³. By providing the secondary pneumatics C with
forks or projections C¹ the secondary pneumatics or indeed the whole of the automatic
apparatus may easily be bodily withdrawn thus facilitating detaching and attaching.
The upper end of each of the wires A² is bent into an L shape or as shown provided
with another button A4 and the back of the key H is also provided with a fork or
projection H¹ which embraces the wire A2 for the purpose of raising the pallet A'.
The sound producing pallets are held to their seats by weights or springs A5 and
are suitably guided by being provided with holes through which project pins Aº fixed
on the top of the sound producing chest A', and air is admitted to the latter by
means of a valve or valves K controlling one set of reeds which valve or valves is or
are operated by stop work preferably constructed as follows:-The stop stick K¹ is
guided in rails in the ordinary manner and is slotted at K2 and this slot has working
therein a double armed lever K3 which is suitably made of wire bent so that one arm
of the said lever always remains in the slot whereever the stop stick K¹ may be,
thus acting as a guide to prevent the stick from turning. By making the upper end
of the lever Ks with two bends it is impossible for the stop stick to slide in of its own
accord when the same is drawn out as shown in Figure 4 because the tendency of
the lever is to push the stick up and not horizontally.
The keys are shown in this instrument as being balanced and weighted and the
wires A2 being free in the .forks H¹ may rise and fall independently of the keys and
further the latter may be drawn away without necessitating the detachment of the
wires.
The bellows which operate the operating pneumatics B¹ and C and the air supply
to the sound producing devices A Figure 1. consist of two reservoirs, one for vacuum
designated by the letter L and the other M for pressure, see also the plan sections
Figures 2 and 3 and these two reservoirs are worked by a pair of feeders N of which
only one is shown in Figure 1 for the sake of simplicity but it is evident that there
may be only one feeder or more than two feeders. These feeders draw air from the
vacuum or exhaust reservoir L past the valves L₁ through the trunks 17
(Figures 1 and 3) or if the instrument is to be played by hand the air may be drawn
from the outside which prevents the disagreeable noise which would be caused by the
influx of air into the vacuum reservoir L by the so callel escape valve L. The air
is drawn from the outside by opening the valve L3 which is operated by a stop in any
convenient manner. On the return notion of the feeder N operated for instance by
a spring N¹ the air is forced therefrom into the pressure reservoir M through the
trunks L7 past the valves M¹ to supply the sound producing devices A. The vacuum
reservoir 1 is connected to the pneumatic wind chest F by trunks IA (Figures 1 and 2)
and a pipe L and the pressure reservoir M is connected to the sound producing
valve chest K by trunks L' (Figure 2).
The roll of perforated paper is operated by a motor preferably constructed as
follows and as shown more particularly in figures 5 to 8. The body or valve casing P
of the motor is made of a block of wood metal or other suitable. material see for
instance Figures 5, 6 and 7 and it is provided with a hole P¹ right through in which
is mounted a cylindrical valve P2 see also figure 8 with parts cut away on the outside
and at the ends as shown. Air is supplied by pressure to or exhausted from the
opening Ps in the cover P16 of the body P of the motor and the valve P2 admits the
air by one or more of the holes P to one or more of the bellows-like devices P5 which
in turn are each connected by a connecting rod P to a crank P* formed on a spindle
or shaft P on which the valve P2 is mounted. The other one or two bellows are at
the same time exhausting and when exhausted the valve P* causes air to be supplied
to it or them while the bellows first described is or are being exhausted. If desired

page_text: the motor body may be provided with cylinders and pistons instead of the bellows-like
motive devices shown. It is evident that the motor works by exhaust without any
modification. The motor shaft P8 is suitably provided with a spur wheel P which
gears with another spur wheel P on the shaft of the "take up" roller P" and it is
also capable of sliding along the motor shaft P8 by means of a feather and feather way
out of gear with the spur wheel P10 on the take up roller P" and into gear with a spur
wheel P" as shown in the dotted position Figure 5 and this intermediate spur
wheel P gears with a spur wheel P" on the "re-roll" shaft P". The motor may if
desired be worked by both pressure and exhaust that is to say one end may be supplied
by air under pressure say at Ps and the other end may be connected to a vacuum
reservoir say at P¹³. P1 is a collar on the shaft which revolves in the fork P18 to
prevent lateral-motion of shaft.
Instead of mounting the valves G¹ and G³ shown in Figure 1 on a lever and both
outside of the secondary pneumatic channel the lever may be dispensed with, and
one valve G13 see Figure 10 may be mounted on a tapped wire (+2 inside each
cell F3 formed in each secondary channel F4 made in the secondary grooved board F
see also Figures 11 and 12. The valve G¹s on the tapped wire G2 is guided by
two rails G and Go and the spring G' tends to keep the valve closed to normally
prevent the air from being exhausted from the secondary pneumatic C. It is
however evident that the valve rod G2 may instead of being guided in the rails be
mounted on a lever as shown in Fig 14. Figure 12 shows the board F5 with the
exterior ports detached for permitting of access to the valves G13 Figure 10. In
this Figure my invention is shewn as applied to an instrument with four rows of
sound producing devices A operated by two sets of secondary pneumatics C at two
levels but it will be understood that there may be more rows if the instru-
ments be made larger. I have not shewn how the pallets on the right hand side
are operated from the key board but it is evident that this may be carried out by
double armed levers for communicating motion from one set of pallets to the
other.
If the instrument be constructed for both the sound producing devices and the
operating pneumatics to be actuated by air under pressure, the modification shown
by Figure 13 may be employed. In this case the perforated roll of paper O is mounted
as before over the bridge D but inside a wind chest O¹ which is provided with a
hinged, or otherwise attached, door 02. The air for the primary operating pneumatics
or puffs is forced through a bridge D which is in communication with the grooved
board E in which the grooves or channels radiate out to a removable socket board B
having a number of primary puffs B'. Each hole in the socket board B is provided
with an independent vent F¹ capable of adjustment by a screw F2.
Each primary
puff is in contact with a button mounted on a valve rod G2 which is suitably guided
in rails G and Go and normally the valve rods G2 are held against the puffs B¹ by
means of springs G. The valve rods G2 have mounted thereon valves G¹ and Gs
just as has been described with reference to Figure 3 and when a hole in the paper O
comes over an opening in the bridge D air passes down the channel or groove E¹,
forcing out the primary puff B¹ which closes the valve G' opens the valve G³ and
permits air from the wind chest F to pass down the passage F into the secondary
pneumatic C. The latter is then distended and the movable side in moving lifts the
tapped wire A2 by meats of the button A³ The lower end of the tapped wire A² is
fixed or connected to a lever As pivotted at A° and normally held down by a spring A10.
The lever As has connected thereto the pallet for the sound producing device A. The
key H is normally upheld by means of a double armed key lever H2 normally held in
position by a spring H³ and the key lever is forked or takes under a button A* on the
tapped wire A²
Figure 14 represents a modified construction of valves to that just described. In
this case the primary puff B₁ has glued on or affixed thereto the valve G¹ and the other
valve G³ is mounted on a lever which may be assisted by a spring G and the said
lever has a tapped wire G2 which passes through the secondary pneumatic channel F³.

page_text: It is however evident that if desired both valves may be mounted on the valve rod G2
and the valve G¹ may be separate from the puff.
Figure 15 shews an instrument in which both the operating pneumatics and the
sound producing devices are actuated by vacuum or exhaust. In this case the
description of the pneumatic work described with reference to Figure 10 applies
exactly. The tapped wires A2 which connect the keys and the secondary pneumatics
are connected to exterior pallets A¹ The bellows are of the usual type and exhaust
the wind from the wind chest K and the valves K are operated by stop work in the
usual nanner. The pneumatic wind chest F is in communication with the chest K
by means of the pipe or trunk connections L³.
Although I have only described the operating pneumatics and the sound producing
devices as being worked by exhaust and pressure respectively and both the operating
pneumatics and the sound producing devices as being worked either by exhaust
or by pressure, it will be apparent that with slight modification an instrument
could be constructed according to my invention in which the operating pneumatics
could be operated by pressure and the sound producing devices by exhaust or
vacuum.
By my invention I am enabled to manufacture an automatic action of simple
construction and applicable to instruments of which the sounding devices are operated
either by pressure or by vacuum. The automatic action is further placed outside the
sounding devices and is capable of easy attachment or detachment so that if necessary
the automatic action is capable of being withdrawn from the instrument leaving the
latter in proper condition for playing by hand only. Another advantage is that the
instrument is more easily tuned as it is capable of being operated from the key board
mechanically and not pneumatically.
By making the socket board B merely with through holes the manufacture is
greatly simplified and further additional facility is given for making and fitting the
pneumatics of puff form. Finally it is capable of being easily detached from the
grooved board E so that the grooves may easily be cleared of any obstruction. By
making the secondary grooved board F with cells contained therein and the board,
to contain the exterior ports the manufacture is simplified and permits of easy access
to the valves, while the whole grooved board containing the valves is no stouter than
an ordinary grooved board without the valves.
I also cheapen the manufacture of an instrument operated by two winds inasmuch
as I have rendered it possible to operate a pressure and a vacuum reservoir by one
feeder or set of feeders instead of having two separate feeders or sets of feeders.
Motors constructed according to my invention are, as compared with motors here.
tofore used for similar purposes, much more simple in construction have fewer parts,
and take up less space.
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. In an automatic musical instrument an exterior sound producing pallet
capable of being operated automatically independently of the key or key lever
substantially as set forth.
2. In an automatic musical instrument a sound producing pallet capable of being
operated from the key-board and independently of the automatic work substantially
as set forth.
3. Pallets for sound producing devices mounted and guided so as to rise perpen-
dicularly to and always be parallel with their seats substantially as set forth
4. A socket board formed with through holes the holes on one side of such board
being covered with pneumatics while the other side is in direct communication with
a grooved board or the like substantially as set forth.
5. Stop work consisting of a guided stop stick provided with a slot in which a
double armed lever works in such manner as to prevent the stop stick from turning

page_text: and to lock the. double armed lever when the stop stick is fully drawn out sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. A motor consisting of a valve casing in which is mounted a revolving valve fixed
on a crank shaft motive devices connected to the crank shaft a port at one end of the
valve casing for the inlet of the motive fluid ports in the valve casing controlled by
the valve and leading to the motive devices and a port at the other end of the said
valve casing for the outlet of the motive fluid substantially as set forth.
7. The employment of one feeder or set of feeders to operate one or more pressure
reservoirs and one or more vacuum reservoirs.
8. In a musical instrument the employment in a pneumatic wind chest of a number-
of primary puffs, each operating one arin of a double armed lever carrying at its other
end a valve and a valve rod having mounted thereon another valve outside of the
said wind chest for the purpose of operating a secondary pneumatic substantially as
set forth.
9. In a musical instrument the employment of a primary puff operating a lever
carrying a valve rod having one or two valves thereon for the purpose of operating a
secondary pneumatic substantially as set forth.
10. In a musical instrument the employment of two or more sets of secondary
pneumatics governed by one set of valves the secondary pneumatics being mounted
in two or more rows at two or more levels.
11. A secondary grooved board provided with a number of cells communicating
with secondary channels and closed by a board provided with the exterior ports
substantially as set forth.
12. An automatic musical wind instrument provided with a bridge D communicating
by a grooved board E. with a number of primary pneumatics B₁ contained in a wind
chest F and operating valves for opening communication between such wind chest
and a number of secondary pneumatics C adapted to open the pallets of the sound
producing devices substantially as described.
and
or
13. A musical wind instrument capable of being played automatically from
the key board provided with a bridge O communicating by a grooved board E with a
number of primary pneumatics B¹ contained in a wind chest F and operating
valves G and G3 or G13 for opening communication between such wind chest and a
number of secondary pneumatics C adapted to open the pallets of the sound producing
devices and connections between the pallets and the keys substantially as described.
14. Amusical instrument provided with a wind chest for containing a roll of perforated
paper which is moved over a bridge contained in such wind chest grooves or channels
leading from the bridge to outside of the wind chest primary pneumatics in connection
with the grooves, valves, operated by the primary pneumatics and secondary
pneumatics operated indirectly by means of the said valves substantially as set forth.
15. A musical wind instrument capable of being played automatically from the
key board provided with a bridge O contained in a wind chest O¹ and communicating by
a grooved board E with a number of primary pneumatics B¹ outside of said wind chest
operating a number of valves for opening and closing communication between a wind
chest and a number of secondary pneumatics, adapted to open the pallets of the sound
producing devices and connections between the pallets and the keys substantially as
described.
16. The constructions as shewn on the drawings.
and
or