Improvements in Portable Organs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Portable Organs.
1, PETER PHILIP BILHORN, of 148 Madison Street, Chicago, County of
Cook State of Illinois, United States of America, Music Dealer do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 my invention is to provide an organ, of such construction that
it may be easily and readily folded or collapsed to its minimum size for the
purpose of rendering it easy to carry from place to place; and the invention
consists in the features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my organ in
its open position; and Fig. 2 a similar view showing it in its closed position.
It is well known that organ music is the best to use as an accompaniment for
vocalists in church, revivals, camp and open air meetings. The ordinary organ
as now constructed is very difficult to move from place to place, as it is very
heavy and cumbersome, requiring the exertion of several men, as well as the
loss of considerable time, where the singer is to appear in several places in the
course of an evening or day. My invention is intended to provide an organ
comprised of several movable parts, and so constructed that they may be readily
folded together to diminish the size of the organ and give it the appearance of a
travelling case at the same time easy to handle.
In constructing my improved organ, I make a body portion, A, of the desired
form and size, which contains the reeds and operative mechanism of the organ
and key-board, 13, consisting of three octaves, which is the normal range of the
human voice. Pivoted to the body portion is a music rack, C, which, when folded
in its closed position, forms a portion of the enclosing case. This rack is provided
with the usual hinged holders, e, on which rests the music book or sheet.
Pivoted to the body portion by means of the hinges, D, is a standard, E, made
in the shape of a triangular box adapted to enclose and form a portion of the
organ case; front and sides preferably made in triangular shape for the purpose
of giving greater strength to the supporting sides. The ends of the body portion,
as at a', are made at an angle corresponding to the edge, e, of the standard, so that
when the organ is folded into its portable size or smallest bulk, the sides will match,
as shown in Fig. 2.
To more securely hold and sustain the organ in its open position upon its supporting
standard, I use pivoted brackets, G, one at each end, pivotally secured to the body
portion at g. These pivoted brackets are provided with bayonet shaped metallic
catches, H, arranged to hold them in and upon the end walls of the supporting
standard, as shown particularly in Fig. 1.
When the brackets are not in use, and
the organ is folded to its smallest size, the brackets are folded against the under
side of the front portion of the organ.
The body portion is provided with a handle, I, for carrying it from place to place,
and the music rack with catches, K, adapted to catch the pins, k, on the standard
and lock the parts securely together. Instead of these catches, the organ may be
provided with an ordinary lock, which will securely lock the parts together in their
folded position.
The organ is provided with the usual bellows, L, pressure lever, M, pedals, N,
and other mechanism which I deem it unnecessary to describe, but which are essential
to form the complete musical part of the organ.

page_text: While 1 have described my invention with more or less minuteness as to its
precise forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly, as I contemplate
all proper changes in form, construction and arrangement, the construction of
parts and use of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient.
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. A portable organ made of several movable parts and capable of being
diminished in size by changing the position of several of its parts, substantially as
described.
2. A portable organ provided with a movable lower section forming a supporting
standard and adapted to be moved into position to form a portion of its enclosing
case, substantially as described.
3. A portable organ having a pivoted part forming a music rack in its open
position and a portion of its enclosing case when in its closed position, a pivoted
lower section forming a standard in its open position and a portion of its enclosing
case when in its closed position, and means for locking the parts together in their
closed position, substantially as described.
4. A portable organ comprising a body portion, several parts pivoted thereto
and adapted to be folded and diminish its size, substantially as described.
5. A portable organ having a pivoted music rack adapted to be folded into
position to form a portion of its enclosing case, a pivoted lower section forming
a standard adapted to form a second portion of its enclosing case, and brackets
pivotally secured to the body portion of the organ for supporting such portion
securely on its standard, substantially as described.
6. A portable organ comprising a body portion, a music rack pivoted thereto
and forming a portion of its enclosing case, a lower section pivotally secured to
such portion forming the standard in its open position and a portion of its enclosing
case in its closed position, brackets pivoted to such portion, and catches on such
brackets adapted to keep them in engagement with the supporting standards and
securely hold the organ in its open position, substantially as described.
7. A portable organ comprising a body portion, a music rack pivoted thereto
and forming a portion of its enclosing case, a lower supporting standard pivoted
to such body portion and forming a portion of its enclosing case, brackets
pivotally secured to such body portion, and catches for supporting the portion
in its standard when in its open position, and means for locking the several
portions together when in their closed position, substantially as described.
8. A portable organ comprising a body portion, a music rack pivoted thereto
and forming a portion of its enclosing case, a supporting standard pivoted to such
body portion and forming a portion of its enclosing case, brackets pivoted to such
body portion and provided with catches upon which such portion is supported
and sustained by the lower standard, means for locking the parts together in
their closed position, and a handle for carrying the organ from place to place,
substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of 1..1., 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.