CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Ward, of "The Retreat," Haverstock Hill,
in the County of Middlesex, Professor of Music, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
Scaled the 14th October 1876, and dated the 2nd May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Ward at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1876.
JOHN CHARLES WARD, of "The Retreat," Haverstock Hill, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Professor of Music. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
My Invention of certain improvements in musical instruments relates to musical
instruments in which sounds are produced by the action of hammers or strikers or
plectra, as also in part to instruments in which electricity is employed to work
mechanism beyond the keys.
The first part of my Invention has reference to the adaptation of what is known
as the English concertina key board to instruments of the kinds abovo referred
to. For this purpose, in conjunction with a suitable rocking shaft or roller, and a
spring for returning the same when released to its normal position, I use two lever
arms, one of which is operated through a key or stud, or directly by the finger of
the player, and the other lever arm constitutes a hammer stalk and carries the
hammer head striker or plectrum. Escapements, checks, and key stops may be pro-
vided where necessary. In carrying out this part of my Invention the rollers or
shafts are arranged so as to cross and clear one another as required to enable the key
studs or finger lever ends to be arranged in concertina order, and to communicate
the necessary movement through the rollers or shafts and the other lever arms to
the hammers, strikers, or plectra.
In some cases I may, in conjunction with the above-described arrangement of
combined rocking roller or shaft and lever arms, use an arrangement of supple-
mentary rocking rollers or shafts and lever arms operated by connecting rods from
the lever arms, which in my first-described arrangement carry the hammers, strikers,
or plectra. In this modification the hammers, strikers, or plectra are carried by the
supplementary lover arms.
The construction and arrangement of the connections between the keys and tho
hammers, strikers, plectra, or electrical apparatus, according to my Invention, may
be variously inodified to suit the requirements of particular applications. Thus the
Price 1° 271

page_text: rollers or shafts may be arranged in tiers one above the other, and centred on
standards made to allow of other rollers or shafts working freely through them, or
the rollers or shafts may be arranged on roller boards as in the organ, or upon plat-
forms placed at different levels or one above the other, the rollers or shafts on each
platform respectively being projected directly to any required point without being
bent to work clear of obstacles. To simplify the construction and to economise
space I in some cases make the rocking rollers or shafts, or some of them, tubular,
and arrange one within another, so that the innernost roller or shaft or a suitable
wire may form a common axis.
Bell crank or other levers without rollers may in some cases be substituted for
the levers formed by the combination of rollers with arms, as above described.
When the levers are arranged at different levels the keys which are the farthest
from the hammers, strikers, or plectra will usually operate the rollers or rocking
levers on the lower platform.
The key board may be arranged horizontally, or it may be placed vertically at
each side of the instrument, or each half may be sloped or inclined, or the key board
may be separately arranged to rest in the lap of the player, or in any other con-
venient situation, the necessary connection between the keys and the hammers or
their equivalents being effected by electricity.
My Invention relates, furthermore, to the application, as herein-after described, in
instruments of the above-mentioned classes, of a harmonic stopper to each key,
whether the key be a concertina key or otherwise, this part of my Invention being
equally applicable to instruments wherein the hammers, strikers, or plectra are
actuated from keys of the kinds generally used in pianos. According to this part
of my Invention the harmonic stopper for each key is brought into contact
with the string at the movement of the blow being given by the hammer, and is
liberated by the action on the return of the key, or of the hammer striker or
plectrum after the striking of the blow.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Charles Ward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd No-
vember 1876.
JOHN CHARLES WARD, of "The Retreat," Haverstock Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Professor of Music. CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS."
"
My Invention of certain improvements in musical instruments relates to musical
instruments in which sounds are produced by the action of hammers or strikers or
plectra, as also in part to instruments in which electricity is employed to work
inechanism beyond the keys.
This Invention originated in an endeavour on my part to meet the much felt
want of a portable keyed instrument of large capacity, strung with metal strings,
yet suitable as respects tone for use in the sick chamber for the benefit of invalids
susceptible to the healing influence of music, but to whom the tones of an ordinary
piano would be distracting. Hence to the class of instrument in question, as herein
described, I have given the name of the "Harmonic Angelute." It will, however, be
seen that my Invention is not limited to instruments of the size and power suitable
for invalids; some of the instruments herein-after described assume the proportions
and power of a good sized pianoforte.
The first part of my Invention has reference to the adaptation of what is known
as the English concertina key board to instruments of the kinds above referred to.
For this purpose, in conjunction with a suitable rocking shaft or roller, and a spring
for returning the same when released to its normal position, I use two lever arins,
one of which is operated either through a key or stud or directly by the finger of
the player, and the other lever arm constitutes a hammer stalk and carries the

page_text: hammer head or striker. Escapements, checks, and key stops may be provided
where necessary. In carrying out this part of my Invention the rollers or shafts
are arranged so as to cross and clear one another as required to enable the key
studs or finger lever ends to be arranged in concertina order, and to communicate
the necessary movement through the rollers or shafts, and the other lever arms to
the hammers or strikers.
In some cases, in conjunction with the above-described arrangement of combined
rocking roller or shaft and lever arms, I use an arrangement of supplementary
rocking rollers or shafts and lever arms operated by connecting rods from the lever
arms, which in my first described arrangement carry the hammers or strikers. In
this inodification the hammers or strikers are carried by the supplementary lover
arms.
'
The construction and arrangement of the connections between the keys and the
hammers, strikers, plectra, or electrical apparatus according to my Invention may
be variously modified to suit the requirements of particular applications. Thus
the rollers or shafts may be arranged in tiers and centred on standards made to
allow of other rollers or shafts working freely through them; or the rollers or shafts
may be arranged on roller boards as in the organ, or upon platforms placed at
different levels or ono above the other, the rollers or shaft on each platform
respectively being projected directly to any required point without being bent to
work clear of obstacles. To simplify the construction and to economise space I in
some cases make the rocking rollers or shafts, or some of them, tubular, and arrange
ono within another, so that the innermost roller or shaft, or a suitable wire, may
form a common axis.
'
Bell-crank or other lovers without rollers may in come cases be substituted for
the levers formed by the combination of rollers with arms, as above described.
When the levers are arranged at different levels the keys which are the farthest
from the hammers, strikers, or plectra will usually operate the rollers or rocking
levers on the lower platform.
The keyboard may be arranged horizontally or it may be placed vertically at
each side of the instrument, or each half may be sloped or inclined, or the keyboard
may be separately arranged to rest in the lap of the player, or in any other con-
venient situation, the necessary connection between the keys and the hammers, or
their equivalents, being effected by electricity.
My Invention relates furthermore to the application, as herein-after described, in
instruments of the above-mentioned classes of a harmonic stopper to each key,
whether the key bé a concertina key or otherwise, this part of my Invention being
equally applicable to instruments wherein the hammers, strikers, or plectra are
actuated from keys of the kinds generally used in pianos. According to this part
of my Invention the harmonic stopper for each key is brought into contact with the
string at the moment of the blow being given by the hammer, and is liberated by
the action on the return of the key, or of the hammer, striker, or plectrum after the
striking of the blow.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of an instrument constructed according to my
Invention; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are details.
a is the frame of the instrument; the upper part of this frame is formed by the
"wrest" plank, and the, triangular space enclosed by the frame is boxed in by means of
"sound boards "b arranged one at each side; over these "sound boards" are arranged
the strings c which pass over bridges d, d¹. It will be observed that both the
bridges are for the greater part of their lengths situated upon the sound board, and
that the striking node employed in the upper part of the instrument is the "fourth."
My object in these arrangements is to secure a soft quality of tone suitable for.
invalids. e and c¹ are general dampers; fif, are the keys, the musical arrangement
of which (in so far as concerns the side of the instrument seen in Fig. 1) is separately

page_text: shewn in Fig. 3. Each of these keys is (as clearly shewn in Fig. 4) formed in one
piece with a small rocking shaft or roller g provided with a spring for returning
the rocking shaft or roller to its normal position when released by the player; this
rocking shaft or roller has formed with it two lever arms i and j, the one lever
arm (i) carries the key f against which the player's finger operates, and the other
lever arm () constitutes a hammer stalk and carries the hammer head or striker k.
It will be seen the rollers or shafts gare arranged so as to cross and clear one
another as required to enable the keys to be arranged, in concertina order, and to
communicate the necessary movement through the rollers or shafts g and the lever
arms to the hammers or strikers k; is an india-rubber spring which draws up
the arms ex fastened to the axes of rotation of the padded rails e, c¹, which con-
stitute the general dampers, and this spring has the effect of keeping the said
dampers in contact with the strings c at all times except when the right foot
pedal o is pressed down so as to draw down the arms ex by the cord or string «³,
which action has the effect of moving the dampers away from the strings; m is a
pedal connected by cords m' (passing over pulleys n) to the harmonic bars p, p', to
which bars suitable stoppers of india-rubber are attached; the stoppers press (when
the pedal m is depressed) upon the strings c midway between their extremities so
as to produce the octave harmonic; q is a metal spring by which the harmonic
bars are kept away from the strings of the instrument at all times except when the
pedal m is depressed; q* is a base plate on which the instrument stands in such
imanner as that the back portion a' of the frame is in an inclined position. x, x, are
the hammer rests.
The striking points of the several strings deviate from the straight line in order
to accommodate the movement of the hammer heads. This may be obviated by
placing the strings farther apart than in the arrangement illustrated.
The instrument shewn may be enclosed in a case arranged to serve as a very
efficient outer sounding board, and so as to leave the keys exposed conveniently
for playing.
Instead of forming the keys at the ends of the lever arms j, as shewn, separate
keys working in suitable guides may be used, so that by pressing the keys they
will operate the lever arms j.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew an arrangement in which in conjunction with the herein-before
described combined rocking rollers or shafts g and lever arms i, j, I use supplementary
rocking rollers or shafts and lever arms, operated by connecting rods from the lever
arms, which in my first described arrangement (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4) carry the
hammers or strikers. The keys or studs f work in a perforated platform, as in the
English concertina, the key stop being provided to prevent the keys passing
beyond their proper point. Each key operates a detached supplementary stud f1,
which works a lever arms fixed to a rocking shaft s'. Another lever arm (8)
fixed to this shaft is connected by a rod 83 to a lever armt fixed to a rocking
shaft, which shaft has attached to it the hammer butt ¹, to which the stalks of
the hammers are attached. The hammer butts serve also to move the damper
away from the strings when the parts are in the position shewn in Fig. 5. When
the parts are in the position shewn in Fig. 6, the damper is pressed against the
strings by the action of the spring E.
In Fig. 5 (Sheet 2) is shewn in one form my improved harmonic arrangement.
According to this arrangement the harmonic stopper p is brought into contact with
the string e concurrently with the delivery of the blow by the hammer, and on the
return of the hammer the harmonic stopper p leaves the string c free to vibrate.
Each harmonic stopper consists of a wire hook covered with india-rubber or other
suitable material, the stem of the hook being fixed in a butt 21 which is centred
on a lever p, having its fulcrum at 7 and a spring at 2, which spring tends to
push the stopper away from the string. When the hammer is moved into the
position shewn in Fig. 5, it brings the stopper 2 in contact with the string c by
ineans of the flexible connection u, bell-crank lever u, rod u (with regulative
button) and bell-crank lever u³; v is a rail carrying the centres of the bell-crank

page_text: levers . This rail is arranged to be shifted by the pedal, so as to bring the
harmonic stoppers into gear when the pedal is depressed and to leave them free at
other times.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew an arrangement in which some of the rocking rollers or shafts
are made tubular and some solid, and some of them are arranged within others, so
that the innermost roller or shaft forins a common axis.
'
Fig. 7 shews the left hand.keyboard of an instrument of five octaves with
sixteen notes to the octave, there being in this instrument two more keys on each
side than in the instrument illustrated on Sheet 1; g are solid rollers; g', tubular
rollers; i, j, lever arms; and ³, connecting rods through which the hammers kare
operated from the keys which depress the studs f. The general arrangement of
the action is clearly shewn in the Drawings.
It will be evident that plectra mnay be substituted for the hammer heads shown.
I prefer to use plectra of the kind known in connection with the lyrachord piano
to which I lay no claim, but which will be found particularly described in the
Patent Specification, No. 1751, dated 11 July, 1861. In unicord instruments
I, of course, use but one "claw."
Fig. 9 (Sheet 3) shewa an arrangement of action I use where the strings are
arranged as in the harp, viz., with the bass strings farthest from the performer.
The key action is substantially the samo as that shown in Fig. 20. The rails
carrying the levers shown to the left of the Drawing are arranged closer, and the
levers are made narrower than those coming under the keys in order to distribute
the convergence of the rods over the two lengths. The rods work bell-crank levers
centred on the rail z, placed over the strings and the cranks operate, pulling lyra-
chord plectra placed underneath.
Figs. 10 and 11 (Sheet 4) are respectively a plan and side view showing parts of
the mechanism of a vertical key board arrangement in which the rollers or shafts
proper to each row of keys are arranged in tiers and centred on standards G,
formed as indicated at g* in Fig. 12, to allow of the passage of other rollers or
shafts. The Drawing shows auxiliary rollers 6 and lever arms 6 which may be
dispensed with where it is not desirable that the connecting rods should be all in
one plane. When these are dispensed with it is obvious that the angles at which
the lever arms and h¹ appertaining to the rollers g and those attached to the
hammer butts would merely require readjustment. The numerals found on the
levers / in Fig. 11 denote to which tier they respectively belong. t is a clothed
platform in which the bottoms of the keys work, and which serves as a guide and
rest for them when the arrangement is used shewn in Figs. 12 and 13.
Figs. 12 and 13 aro elevations at right angles to each other shewing an escape-
ment provided in the keys. The hopper 1 centred at 2, kept in its place by a
spring, as shewn, and regulated by a screw 3 works the notched lever 4 and sets
off in the usual way.
Fig. 14 shews in elevation how I apply in my improved instrument the escape-
ment known as the Molyneux as used in the pianoforte. The spring 5 which
may be variously formed serves the double purpose of keeping the connecting rod
pressed against the notch and of returning it to its normal position on the libera-
tion of the key. The hammer butt works in a slot. The clothed lever arm 6
works also in a slot and works the check action.
Fig. 15 is a vertical section and Fig. 16 a front view shewing the arrangement of
an action in which the rollers or shafts g are arranged on roller boards 7 somewhat
as in the organ. The rollers g are seen arranged in clothed slots in the board 7
which is faced with board 7. They are kept in place by boards 7' with cloth
let in a recess coming immediately opposite the rollers, as shewn. The two boards
are fastened together by screws 8, which also answer the purpose of preventing
lateral motion. The whole of the sets are then bolted together by bolts 9 mado
fast by nuts. f,f, are the keys; i, j, the lever arms; & is one of the connecting,
rods; and is a hammer stálk; 72 is a board fastened on to 7 and slotted at 10 to
allow of the passage of the keys; 11 are slots to allow of the passage of the con-

page_text: necting rods to the hammer butts, the arrangement here shewn not having the
auxiliary lever shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 17 (Sheet 5) is a side view of another arrangement, and Fig. 18 (Sheet 6) is
a diagram shewing the positions of the keys and the general arrangement of their
rollers or shafts and lever arins. It will be seen that in this plan I combine the
English concertina key board with an ordinary pianoforte check action and a modi-
fication of the improved harmonic arrangement shewn in Fig. 5 of the Drawings,
the present arrangement being one in which the harmonic stopper leaves the string
free to vibrate on the liberation of the key. ff', ƒ ƒƒ ƒ are the keys; g, g
I, I, I, their rollers; these are arranged on platforms 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, placed one on the top of another and bolted together. The
rollers g, g, g, g³, I', g³, work in grooves formed in their respective platforms and
covered with cloth or other suitable material to deaden sound. The shafts of the
two innermost keys in each row cross one another, as seen in Fig. 18. Therefore
in order that the rollers or shafts may clear one another the groove of the one roller
or shaft is formed in the under side of its platform and part of the platform immedi-
ntely below it is cut away to allow of the action, so that the relative positions of
the two rollers or shafts are, as shown in Fig. 19 (Sheet 5), on the fourth platform,
which represents the two rollers or shafts marked d* in Fig. 18. Where a roller
in the platform immediately beneath would prevent the aforesaid recess being cut
away use a supplementary platform (into which the recess may be made) inserted
between those shewn in the Drawing. i, i, and j,j, are the lever arms.
the arms joperates its appropriate hammer through a bell-crank lever 20 and other
parts, as shown; 21 is a thumb rest or guide; the springs 22 serve the double
purpose of keeping their respective keys in their proper normal positions and of
returning the lever arms i after they have been depressed. Each of the lever arms i
and j may be provided with shields, as shown at i* to prevent undue wear of the
platforms and keys.
Each of
Fig. 20 (Sheet 7) is a half sized side elevation, partly in section, of an instrument
with a horizontal key board and in which bell-crank levers without rollers are
employed for transmitting motion to the hammers.
Fig. 21 (Sheet 8) is a sectional plan of the foregoing, shewing two ways of
operating the hammers; one plan is shown at the right-hand, the other at the left-
hand side of the frame. The keys are arranged higher up at either end to be more
conveniently reached by the player. The connecting rods are supported at a by
loops of silken cord fastened into the rail, as shewn. The springs b serve the double
purpose of returning the hammers and in some measure taking the weight of the
hammers and forming a partial support of the latter.
Fig. 22 is a transverse vertical section of the key board.
Fig. 23 shews a full size arrangement of inclined key board which may be
substituted for the horizontal key board shewn in Figs. 17 to 19, inclusive.
Figs. 24 and 25 (Sheet 9) show an arrangement in which the motion from the
keys is transmitted through levers of the first order. Each of the keys f
operates a bell-crank lever like that shewn at 20 through a lever f¹, as shewn.
The platforms are supported by supports bound and bolted together. The proper
proportions and shape are shewn more clearly in Fig. 25. The levers f₁ are centred
on the metal standards f. The end of the lowest of the levers f¹ comes against
the lever 20 and operates it without connecting rod.
Fig. 26 illustrates a method of effecting the connection between the concertina
key board and the action of any musical instrument which may be played by
electricity.
The spring (A) serves the double purpose of returning the key to its normal
position and of carrying the electric wire placed over the inercury cell, as shown to
the right of the view. I confine my claim in this part of my Invention to these
details. The extra quarter tones 1b and Gb provided for in some examples
shewn are introduced in order to lessen the necessity for the instrument being
tuned on the "equal temperament" when it is designed for healing purposes.

page_text: They otherwise serve to facilitate the playing of the scales of Ab and D b
respectively.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and having explained the
manner of carrying it into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that I
know various portions of the mechanism herein-before described are similar in
construction and arrangement to portions of the mechanism to be found in musical
instruments at present in use, and furthermore that I do not intend to claim any
of the mechanical parts herein-before shewn and described when taken separately
and apart from the combination or application thereof in manner and for the
purposes herein described, but what I consider to bo novel and original, and
therefore claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The application and use, as herein-before described, of the English con-
certina key board in conjunction with appliances for producing musical sounds by
the operation of hammers, strikers, or plectra upon strings.
Secondly. The application and use, as herein-above set forth, of the harmonic´
stoppers shown in and described with reference respectively to Fig. 5 and to Fig. 17
of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of parts constituting the improved musical instrument
constructed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The several methods of arranging the English concertina key board in
conjunction with other parts, herein-before described, with reference to and respec-
tively shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, in Fig. 9, in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13, in Figs. 15
and 16, in Figs. 17, 18, and 19, and in Figs. 24 and 25 of the accompanying
Drawings for the purposes specified.
'
Lastly. The combination of parts constituting the improved instrument con-
structed, arranged, and operating as described with reference to Figs. 20 to 23,
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charles Ward, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.