Improvements in Cornets and other similar Wind Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
Improvements in Cornets and other similar Wind Musical
Instruments.
I, BENJAMIN Joseph Barnard MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex,. Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me by Charles Gerard Conn and William F. Seidel, both of
Elkhart, in the State of Indiana, in the United States of America, Musical
Instrument Manufacturers, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to attachments to the pitch slides and key slides of cornets
and other wind musical instruments, in order to provide more convenient and
effectual means for the ready and accurate adjustment of such extension slides.
To this end the invention consists in part, in applying to the pitch slide or tuning
slide, finger pieces by which the pitch of the instrument may be regulated with
facility and exactness while in use.
:
The invention further consists in the combination of a detachable guide rod with
the key or transposition slide of a musical instrument as hereinafter set forth.
The invention further consists in the particular mode of attaching the guide rod
to the key slide, as hereinafter described.
The invention consists finally in constructing a cornet or like wind instrument
with a pitch or tuning slide having finger pieces for adjusting it and a key or
transposition slide having a guide rod and finger piece for adjusting it as hereinafter
described.
The improvements will be fully understood by the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure I is a side elevation of a cornet with the improvements applied, part of
the mouth pipe being broken away to show the key slide attachment.
Figure II is a separate detail view of the pitch or tuning slide.
Figure III is a separate detail view of the key or transposition slide with the
guide rod detached.
A represents a cornet, and B the U-shaped pitch slide or tuning slide. C is a
thumb piece, and D is a finger piece attached to one arm 6 of said slide by suitable
connecting rods or parts c and d respectively.
Those thumb and finger pieces are operated upon by the thumb and finger of the
left hand for moving the pitch slide in and out to vary the pitch of the instrument.
E is the U-shaped key slide inserted in the third bend of the mouth pipe, its
object being to change the key of the instrument, as for example, from Bb to A.
Attached to the middle of this U-shaped slide is a projection F, in which is formed
a square socket f. G is a guide rod adapted to slide in supporting sockets 9. g.
attached to one end of the valve slides of the instrument. This rod G has a thumb
piece H on one end and the other end squared and bevelled so as to fit snugly in the
socket, so that the key slide can be moved by said rod. This slide is adapted to
be moved outward by the thumb of the right hand and inward by the fingers of the
left hand.
By these finger and thumb attachments the slides can be accurately and quickly
moved to any desired point with little or no trouble and without removing the hands
from their normal position.
The rod G is detachably connected to the key slide E to allow said slide to be
removed for cleaning.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. In combination with a cornet, a pitch slide B having thumb piece C and finger
piece D for the purpose herein set forth.
2. In combination with a cornet, a key slide E and a guide rod G detachably
connected to said slide, for the purpose herein set forth.
3. In combination with a cornet, a key slide E having attached to it a projection I
in which is formed a squared socket f and a guide rod G having a thumb piece H
on one end, and its other end squared to fit said socket f, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein set forth:
4. In a cornet, the combination of the pitch slide provided with thumb and
finger pieces, with the key slide provided with a guide rod and thumb piece, for the
purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 18th day of December 1800.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.