Improvements in and relating to Mouth-organs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mouth-organs.
I, EDWARD JOHN MATHEWS, of 8, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, London,
W., Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in mouth organs, and has for its prin-
cipal object to provide a musical instrument of this class in which the performer
can produce the semi-tones perfectly distinct from the natural notes, by means of
a mechanical arrangement which throws the performers breath, with which the
notes are produced, off the natural notes on to the semi-tones, at will.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheets
of illustrative drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the tune plates of the instrument.
Fig. 2 a perspective view of a portion of the instrument, parts being removed
in order to more clearly illustrate the invention.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the front portion of the instrument.
Figs. 4 and 5, shew in perspective, views of details of the invention,
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the instrument complete.
Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a modification of the invention.
Fig. 8 being a perspective view of a modified form of cover for same, while
Fig. 9 is a similar view of the modified form of instrument complete.
Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout the several figures, a is the body of the instrument,
channelled to form cells a¹ in the ordinary manner. On the upper and under
sides respectively of the body a, metal or other tune plates 6 are provided, such
plates being slotted as shewn by b₁ (Fig. 2). These slots b¹ have reeds be placed
over them, such reeds being fixed to the plate at one end in the usual manner,
and arranged in pairs or twins.
One of these tune plates b is tuned in the usual or German manner, while the
other one is so tuned as to be capable of producing the lower F natural, A natural
and top G natural, if tuned in C, or corresponding notes if tuned in other keys,
in addition to the intermediate semi-tones. The arrangement of the notes upon
this plate is illustrated by Fig. 1.
The said reeds may be tuned in octaves or in unison to form a tremolow.
At the front or mouth of the instrument I provide a wooden or other roller c
having a suitable number of transverse perforations c¹ formed in same
This

page_text: roller c is held in position against the mouth of the instrument by means of
slotted plates d having caps d' at one end adapted to receive the ends of the
roller and allow the latter to revolve freely in same. The said slotted plates d
are secured to the sides of the instrument by headed pins or their equivalent d
in such a manner as to allow such plates to have a certain amount of movement
or play. In the other ends of the slotted plates d, small transverse slots d³ are
provided, to receive the ends of a flat spring e fixed to the back of the instru-
ment, and by means of which the roller c is always held close up against the
mouth of the instrument.
A cover or case f of metal, celluloid or other suitable material is provided,
which cover or case is preferably in one piece and adapted to cover both sides
of the instrument. This cover or case f may be fixed to the body of the organ
by means of screws or their equivalent, or it may slide, from the back to the
front of the instrument in grooves (not shewn) provided for the purpose.
Referring to the modifications shewn in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, I have there shewn
the roller c as being fitted in a semi-circular groove in the front or mouth portion
of the instrument, the said roller being retained therein by means of the metal,
celluloid, or other cover f which is formed, as shewn in Fig. 8, of a shape to con-
form, with that of the body of the instrument. The said cover f has a flat
wooden or other back fl which projects laterally beyond the sides of the cover,
and which back, when the cover is in position upon the instrument, rests upon
a spring e fixed to the back of the instrument.
By this arrangement the roller c is always held close up against its seat in
the groove when the cover is placed in position.
A projecting handle c² is provided at one end of the roller c, for the purpose
of enabling such roller to be readily turned as occasion requires it. Perfora-
tions fare provided in the front of the cover f which perforations communicate
with the perforations in the roller c and the channels or recesses a¹ in the
body of the instrument.
In operation, the changes in the notes, from the naturals to the semi-tones,
and vice versa, are obtained by turning the roller cuntil the perforations cl
through which the performer blows or draws his breath communicate with the
desired upper or lower set of channels or recesses as illustrated by Fig. 3.
To prevent the roller c being turned farther than is necessary, in the arrange-
ment shewn by Figs. 3, 4 5 and 6 a slot 9 is provided in one or both of the
caps d', in which travels a stop or stops h projecting from the end or ends of
the said roller c. If desirable, the celluloid cover or case f may extend over the
roller, in which case perforations would be provided in such cover or case coin-
ciding with the perforations in the said roller, while a knob or other suitable pro-
jection would be provided upon the roller for the purpose of turning the latter.
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:
CLAIMS.
1. In mouth organs, the provision of a perforated roller c adapted to be turned
so as to cause the perforations c¹ to communicate with either the upper or lower
set of cells, at will, substantially as and for the purpose described, and as illus-
trated

page_text: in one of the caps d¹, all arranged combined, and operating substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
3. In mouth organs the modified form of roller, cover, and roller retainer sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings
Dated this 10th day of September 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.