IMPROVEMENTS IN BRASS MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS WITH VALVES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David James Blaikley, of Canonbury, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRASS MUSICAL
WIND INSTRUMENTS WITH VALVES."
Sealed the 9th May 1879, and dated the 14th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David James Blaikley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1878.
DAVID JAMES BLAIKLEY, of Canonbury, Islington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BRASS MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS WITH VALVES."
This Invention has for its object the improvement of the chromatic scale in
cornets, trumpets, saxhorns, and generally all wind instruments in which three
piston valves are employed for the purpose of producing the chromatic scale.
In such instruments the valves actuated by the first, second, and third fingers
respectively are commonly termed the first, second, and third valves, and are so
referred to in the following description:-In the ordinary arrangement of these
valves on pressing down the piston of the first a sufficient length of tube is added
to lower the pitch of the instrument one tone, and in like manner the second valve
lowers the pitch half a tone, and the third valve one tone and a half; but as such
additional lengths should be in inverse proportion to the number of vibrations of
the required notes, the desired result is not exactly obtained when two or three
valves are used in combination. For example, suppose an instrument to be in the
key of C when the first valve only is actuated, the pitch is lowered to Bb when the
third valve only is employed the pitch is lowered to A. To produce G the first
valve is used in combination with the third, but as its tubing is tuned to give the
interval from C to Bb, and the instrument when the third valve is down being
virtually in A, the tubing of the said first valve is not sufficiently long to flatten

page_text: the pitch a true tone from A to G. This defect is intensified when all three valves
are used together to produce the notes Db and Gb.
My said improvements, by means of which the above described defects are
avoided, consist in passing the tubing connected with the third valve through the
first and second valves in such a way that when the third valve is pressed down
the vibrating column of air passes through passages in the first and second valves in
addition to the two passages in which the third valve, as used in the common arrange-
ment; and for the purpose of bringing additional tubing into action in connection
with the first and second valves, as required for correct intonation, when they are
either or both used in combination with the third, I add two air passages to each
of these valves, and in connection with each pair of passages a loop or circuit of
tube of the required length, which is added to the effective length of the instrument
only when the third valve is used in connection with the others. Such additional
tubing "compensates" for the lowering of the pitch of the instrument due to the
pressing down of the third valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David James Blaikley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
May 1879.
DAVID JAMES BLAIKLEY, of Canonbury, Islington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BRASS MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS WITH VALVES."
My said Invention has for its object the improvement of the chromatic scale in
cornets, trumpets, saxhorns, and generally all wind instruments in which three
piston valves are employed for the purpose of producing the chromatic scale.
In such instruments the valves actuated by the first, second, and third fingers
respectively are commonly termed the first, second, and third valves, and are so
referred to in the following description:-In the ordinary arrangement of these
valves on pressing down the piston of the first a sufficient length of tube is added
to lower the pitch of the instrument one tone, and in like manner the second valve
lowers the pitch half a tone, and the third valve one tone and a half; but as such
additional lengths should be in inverse proportion to the number of vibrations of
the required notes, the desired result is not exactly obtained when two or three
valves are used in combination. For example, suppose an instrument to be in the
key of C, when the first valve only is actuated the pitch is lowered to Bb; when
the third valve only is employed the pitch is lowered to A. To produce G the first
valve is used in combination with the third, but as its tubing is tuned to give the
interval from C to Bb, and as the instrument when the third valve is down is
virtually in A, the tubing of the said first valve is not sufficiently long to flatten
the pitch a true tone from A to G. This defect is intensified when all three valves
are used together to produce the notes Db and Gb.
My said improvements, by means of which the above described defects are
avoided, consist in passing the tubing connected with the third valve through the
first and second valves in such a way that when the third valve is pressed down
the vibrating column of air passes through passages in the first and second valves
in addition to the two passages in the third valve, as used in the common arrange-
ment; and for the purpose of bringing additional tubing into action in connection
with the first and second valves, as required for correct intonation, when they are
either or both used in combination with the third, I add two air passages to each
of these valves, and in connection with each pair of passages a loop or circuit of
tube of the required length, which is added to the effective length of the instrument
only when the third valve is used in connection with the others. Such additional
tubing compensates for the lowering of the pitch of the instrument due to the
pressing down of the third valve.
"
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
my said Invention will be more clearly understood. Figure 1 is a front elevation
of the valves with the pistons up; and Figure 2 is a back elevation, showing all
the pistons down. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in both Figures.
The dotted line A, A, Figure 1, shows the air passage through the piston for "open
notes, that is to say, notes produced with the pistons up; the line B, B, in the same
Figure indicates the air passage when the third piston only is pressed down. Iu
Figure 2 the line C, C, represents the air passage when the whole of the pistons are
pressed down; D is the additional tubing connected with the first piston; and E,
the additional tubing connected with the second piston.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When either the first or second piston
only is pressed down the air passages are of the same length as in instruments of
ordinary construction, but when either or both of those pistons is or are pressed
down together with the third piston, then the air passage is lengthened by the
additional length of tubing D or E, or both, thereby lengthening the air passage in
inverse proportion to the number of vibrations of the required notes.

page_text: Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said; herein before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
First. The arrangement of the passage B,IB, through the valves 1, 2, and 3, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before described and set forth.
Secondly. The additional tubing.D. connected with piston 1, substantially.as and
for the purposes herein before described and set forth.
Thirdly. The additional tubing E connected with piston 2, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and set forth.
And, Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of the air passages of wind
instruments, in which three valve pistons are employed, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David James Blaikley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord Ope
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
DAVID JAMES BLAIKLEY. (L.S.)