Improvements in or appertaining to Organs and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Organs and like Musical
Instruments.
I, ROBERT HOPE-JONES of 11 Huskisson Street, Birkenhead in the County of
Chester, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of organs and
similar musical instruments and in the means for controlling the same, whereby the
power, pitch, and quality of the tone emitted may be more readily governed,
varied, or sustained, at the will of the performer.
This invention is chiefly applicable to organs having pneumatic or electro-
pneumatic actions.
In order to increase the volume of tone, it is sometimes advisable to employ, in
some of the pipes, a greater pressure of wind, and to provide (in electric organs)
an additional contact device for controlling such pressure, the contact being made
by depressing the keys or pedals more firmly than usual.
When it is wished to diminish the power of sound, swell boxes with shutters
may be employed, and these shutters, though more or less heavy in themselves,
may be actuated and controlled by a very light pressure on a key, pedal, lever, or
other device, by the organist.
In order to vary the pitch of the sounds in relation to the keys, shunts, switches,
or other devices, may be used to alter the order of the connections,existing between
the keys and the pipes.
In order to vary the quality and power of tone, small adjustable keys, touches,
or pedals, may be arranged whereby the speech of the various ranks of pipes may
be controlled with but slight effort on the part of the performer.
In order to prolong the continuance of the sound, electrical contacts may be
made, within the organ, the effective control of such contacts being within reach of
the performer.
One or two methods of accomplishing these objects may now be described a
little more in detail, by way of illustration only.
When it is desired to obtain a heavier pressure of wind than that furnished by
the bellows or engine for increasing the power of certain of the pipes, or for the
control of the organ; one or more small light pressure reservoirs may be provided.
These reservoirs may be supplied with wind from the bellows through non-
return valves and they are provided with weights or springs suitable to the original
pressure. In connection with the reservoirs, there is an arrangement capable of
being supplied with wind or of being opened to the atmosphere by mechanical,
electro-pneumatic or other means, and adapted to bring increased pressure to bear
upon the reservoirs and expel the air under heavier pressure through suitable valves.
An arrangement is also provided to ensure the equality of the supply of heavy
pressure air.
For producing a sforzando effect, additional contacts, which may be moveable,
may be provided for the pedals or keys, such contacts playing the octaves of the
pipes in use, or playing any pipes belonging to other ranks, or percussion
instruments such as a drum or drums.
When it is desired to control the power of the sound of certain of the pipes by
means of swell boxes having certain openings or shutters to allow the sound to
escape with varying degrees of power, the said shutters may be actuated by one of
the following methods:
I may employ a considerable number of wires and arrange a step by step

page_text: movement, the shutters being balanced, and pneumatic power bellows, governed by
some form of the electric pallet, being provided to actuate them. The circuits are
so arranged that the shutters cannot escape from the action of the bellows till the
switch, which is connected with them, is exactly opposite the section which is at
the moment furnished with current from the transmitting pedal.
Or, in another arrangement, in which two wires only are employed, I may
provide an electrical circuit which flows through an adjustable resistance on the
swell pedal and a similar one on, or connected with, the shutters; and is balanced
only when these two resistances occupy proportionate positions. The disturbance
of the balance (by the movement of the pedal) will result in the closing of the
relay and the consequent action of power bellows to close or open the shutters till
the balance is restored. An electro pneumatic brake is sometimes employed to
regulate the movement of these swell shutters. The swell pedal may, by the
simple addition or removal of a spring by the performer, be made "balanced" or
self-closing at pleasure. Under certain circumstances, it is well to add a stop key
for the better control of the swell shutters.
Or the same end may be accomplished by so making the shutters that, if needful,
each shall afford a varying degree of opening, and by controlling the action of
each of these shutters independently, by means of an electro-pneumatic lever or
levers governed by a contact pedal, or other device, under the control of the
organist. It may be best in some circumstances to arrange the shutters so that
they will normally rest open and to arrange the pedal to close the shutters one by
one, beginning with the largest. The wind itself may be utilised to keep the large
shutters closed while the smaller ones are being operated, and an undue, expenditure
of electric power is prevented, or the swell shutters, being connected together in
the usual way, may be controlled, by the movement of a pedal, finger or pointer
moving over the face of a switch, which is itself moved in accord with the desired
movement of the swell shutters by mechanical, electric, or pneumatic means. This
complex switch is so arranged, as to actuate power bellows, which open or close
the shutters until they correspond in position with that of the pedal or the
shutters may be moved by a similar electric switch, placed within the organ, the
said switch being operated by a light mechanical, or a pneumatic, or electric
device. Or the shutters may be operated by means of power bellows, acted upon
by a relay, which relay is actuated by one or other of two distinct circuits which
pass through resistances connected respectively with the swell pedal and with the
shutters. In many of these cases a pneumatic, or electro-pneumatic brake may be
used to steady the shutters. Also switches are arranged in connection with the
An electro-
pedal, which cut off the electric current except at the moment of, usc.
pneumatic device may be arranged to revolve one of the shutters at a variable rate
or to impart a variable vibratory motion to one or more of the shutters and so to
increase or diminish the power of sound emitted in a vibratory or trembling
manner.
When it is desired to alter the pitch of an organ in relation to its keyboard, it
may be accomplished, where electricity is made use of, by arranging a switch or
compound test board in such a manner that the connections between the keys of
the organ may be shifted. In cases where additional pipes are not provided at
the upper and lower extremities of the organ, it is best to so arrange the switch
that, when transposed, the keys left without pipes shall play one of the octaves.
In pneumatically controlled organs, a set of slides, grooves or vents takes the
place of the aforementioned switch.
When it is desired to rapidly alter the quality and power of tone by bringing
into or putting out of play the various ranks of pipes or other sources of sound,
combination touches or pedals may be arranged in such a manner that, by the
movement of a small roller or other equivalent device, any adjustable number of
the stop keys or their equivalents may be actuated in either direction. Any
combination of stops or couplers may be "set" by the organist at a moment's
notice, so that, when depressing that particular "touch," the said combination shall

page_text: always come into operation. These touches may, when desirable, be made to
control the specch of the pipes, etcetera, without moving the stop keys.
When it is desired to prolong the continuance of the sound resulting from the
depression of the keys or pedals, contacts may be arranged within the organ or at
the keys, which contacts are actuated whenever a note is sounded, and these
contacts may be rendered electrically effective or ineffective by the movement of a
pedal or lever situated at the keys.
The above will serve to indicate in what manner the power, pitch, and quality of
tone of an organ or the like may be governed, varied, or sustained by means of
my invention.
Dated this 19th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Organs and like Musical
Instruments.
I, ROBERT HOPE-JONES of 11 Huskisson Street, Birkenhead in the County of
Chester, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 certain improvements in the construction of organs and
similar musical instruments and in the means for controlling the same, whereby the
power, pitch and quality of the tone emitted may be more readily governed, varied
or sustained, at the will of the performer, the invention being chiefly applicable to
organs having pneumatic or electro-pneumatic actions, some parts of it having
reference to the invention set forth in my Patent Specification No. 15461, of
September 30th, 1890.
·
The invention may be carried into effect as follows, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a section showing an arrangement whereby a sforzando effect may be
obtained.
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) shows a modification of the preceding arrangement depicted
as applied to the pedals.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan, partly in the form of a diagram, showing an
arrangement for operating the swell shutters, the pedal and its switch being
however shown in elevation.
Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale of part of the apparatus shown in
Figure 3, the section being taken as on a line zin said figure.
Figure 5 an elevation, partly in section, of a modified device for operating the
swell shutters.
Figure 6 is an elevation showing a modification of a part of the preceding
device.
Figure 7 shows one form of transposing apparatus.
Figure 8 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on line y y, Figure 7.
Figure 9 shows another form of transposing device.
Figure 10 illustrates, partly in diagram, an arrangement whereby the quality
and power of the tone may be instantly varied and a sforzando effect may be
obtained with the whole organ or any predetermined portion thereof.
Figure 11 is a transverse section of a portion of the apparatus taken as on
line, Figure 10.
Figure 12 shows a device whereby the sound of the notes may be prolonged
at will.
Figure 13 shows a brake apparatus for steadying the swell shutters & preventing
rebound of the same.

page_text: When it is desired to momentarily increase the volume of tone or to produce a
sforzando effect, additional, contacts may be provided for the pedals or keys, such
contacts playing the octaves of the pipes in use, or playing any pipes belonging to
other ranks, or percussion instruments such as a drum or drums, the contacts being
brought together by depressing the keys or pedals with more force than usual.
An arrangement of this kind is depicted in Figure 1, in which A. is one of the
manual keys provided (in an electric organ) with suitable contact devices for
operating its own note and the notes. coupled to it. A' is the pin rail. B is a stiff
insulated metallic spring mounted on the pin rail below the key and (if desired)
prevented from rising beyond a certain fixed point by an insulated staple or headed
screw b, which passes through the spring. 13' is an adjustable insulated contact
screw mounted in the pin rail with its point in proximity to the lower side of the
spring B. The springs B of each manual are all connected by a wire to the
battery supply wire 2, whilst the pins B are each connected by a separate wire b³
to the electro-pneumatic lever or levers for operating the octave or octaves of the
note in question or other pipe or instrument as before described. a is a piece of
felt attached to each key above its contact spring B. The circuit comprising the
wire may be controlled by a suitable switch located conveniently to the
performer.
In operating the keys with the ordinary touch, they are not depressed further
than will bring the felt a into contact with the spring B. When a sforzando effect
is required in connection with any particular key or keys, it or they are depressed
with considerable force and bring the corresponding spring or springs into
contact with the adjacent pin or pins B₁ thus completing their respective circuits
and instantly bringing into play the additional pipe or other device as described.
On the key or keys being released, each depressed spring B returns to its elevated
position against a felt washer below the head of the screw b.
In Figure 2 (Sheet 2) there is shown a modified arrangement of the preceding
device, shown as adapted to the pedals. A is the front end of a pedal key, A¹ the
pin rail, and a the ordinary key spring. A2 is a short key or lever pivoted at a²
below the key A and carrying two or more contact pieces B* B2 B3 B², each
adapted, when the lever A is sufficiently depressed, to engage a suitable fixed
contact device below it, as for instance a pair of insulated flexible metallic pins B*
or B3 which form terminals to the particular circuit to which they are connected.
The contacts B2 B3 are for closing and opening the circuits of the key's own note
and two other notes coupled thereto, as fully described in my Patent Specification
above mentioned. The contacts B* B' form terminals of the sforzando circuit 62 63
before described. a³ is a spring tending to depress the lever A2, and at is a link
connecting said lever with the pedal key A, the latter holding the lever A² and its
contacts normally in their elevated position in defiance of the spring a³. The link a
is capable of a longitudinal movement through its connecting eye as on the pedal
key. B is a stiff spring located below the lever A. a, a, a, a² are thumpers of
felt. It will be noticed that the sforzando contact pins B₁* are considerably shorter
than the pins B³.
On depressing the pedal key with the usual touch, the lever A² is unsupported
and the spring a³ draws it down till the felt a touches the spring B, the key A
being depressed until it bears upon the felt a. This action closes the key
contacts B2 B3, the sforzando contacts B* B* being still open. An additional
pressure on the key A compresses the spring B' and closes the sforzando contacts.
The upper end of the screw a passes freely through the adjacent limb of the
spring B and enters, with the head of screw, into a hole in the key A, when
the latter is depressed beyond its normal amount, through which hole the position
of the screw may be readily adjusted. The circuits of each set of sforzando
contacts are controlled by one or more main switches within reach of the
operator.
In organs in which the volume of the sound of certain of the pipes is controlled
by enclosing said pipes within a swell-box having a series of adjustable openings or

page_text: shutters through which the sound may escape in varying volume, I provide
arrangements whereby these shutters, though more or less heavy in themselves,
may be readily actuated and controlled by a very light pressure by the performer
on a key, pedal, lever or other equivalent device. Two such arrangements may be
described as follows:-
:-
Referring first to Figures 3 and 4:-
C is the swell box and CC² C³ C C C C the swell shutters which, in this
instance, are supposed to stand vertically for the purpose of readily balancing them.
The shutters are, preferably, so arranged that each shutter or set of shutters shall
control an opening of a different area from the others, and they are arranged to be
opened successively according to size, beginning with the smallest and ending with
the largest. In the drawings, the first five shutters C1 C2 C3 C4 C³ are shown as
single pieces of a gradually increasing size, whilst the sixth and seventh shutters,
instead of being single pieces, are formed of coupled sets of shutters C6 C7
containing respectively two and four single shutters of a suitable size. It is
preferable to provide each single shutter and coupled set thereof with a spring
device (not shown) adapted to normally hold it open, and to close each indepen-
dently by means of an electro-pneumatic lever or levers, governed by a contact
pedal or other device under the control of the performer, the largest shutter being
closed first.
D1 D2 D3 D D D D are the main bellows of a series of electro-pneumatic
levers which are contained in a wind box E and are connected with their respective
bellows D D - by tubes d¹ d³ ³ ³ do d². The bellows D¹ D³, etcetera,
are connected with their respective shutters by tail-pieces, links and arms
or lugs
F is the battery, F¹ is the swell pedal and F an insulated contact piece which is
mounted upon the rear end of the pedal, or on some part moving therewith, or with
an equivalent operating device as described, and is connected by a wire to the
battery supply lead. G is a switch quadrant, subdivided into a series of
insulated contacts G G2 G³
over which the contact F2 works. The
contacts G G² G³
are connected with their respective electro-pneumatic
levers within the box E by wires g¹ g² g³.
e el e² -
- are the return wires
of the several electro-pneumatic levers." F³ is a stop against which the swell pedal
rests when fully depressed as shown. A spring may return it to its normal position
when the weight of the foot is removed.
The pedal being fully depressed against the stop F³, all the shutters are fully
opened by their respective springs and all the electro-pneumatic levers are inopera-
tive by reason of the contact being removed from the switch quadrant G. On
permitting the pedal to move into contact with the section G of the quadrant G,
the circuit of No. 7 electro-pneumatic lever is closed, its bellows D7 operated and
the set of shutters C7 closed. In a similar manner, the downward movement of the
contact F closes all the circuits in succession, causing their respective shutters C
C³ C¹ to be successively closed.
----
In the apparatus as thus far described, each shutter would re-open again under
the influence of its spring as soon as the circuit of its electro-pneumatic lever had
been broken by the movement of the contact F2 off the corresponding contact as G7
on to the contact G next below it. To prevent this re-opening of the shutters,
the pedal contact F may be extended upwards so that, as it moves downwards over
the quadrant, all the contacts G7 G G
above its lower end are retained in
circuit and their respective electro-pneumatic levers remain operative. Such an
arrangement would however entail an undue expenditure of electric energy. To
avoid such waste, I prefer to employ a suitable arrangement, whereby the wind
itself may be utilized to hold the larger shutters closed while the smaller ones are
being operated. The following may be described by way of illustration though I
do not confine myself to this or any particular device for effecting the object above
set forth-
Each electro-pneumatic lever is provided with a device such as shown in

page_text: Figure 4. E' is the primary valve of the electro-pneumatic lever and E² the perforated
valve seat, whence, when the valve is depressed, the air may escape into the atmo-
sphere through the tube E³ and thus allow the lever to be operated, as is fully
described in my Patent Specification No. 15461%. Above each tube I³ there is
mounted a small wind chamber E' which is provided on its under side with a
flexible diaphragm E' and is furnished with a wind tube E. E is a light rod
passing through one of the perforations in the valve seat and resting with its lower
end against the valve E, its upper end being provided with a button E8 bearing on
the diaphragmn E. E is a guide for the rod E7 and E a spring serving to take
the weight of the rod off the valve. Each tube E is connected at one end with the
wind chamber E of one electro-pneumatic lever, and at the opposite end with the
wind pipe d of the lever next below it in the series, as seen in Figure 3. It will
thus be seen that, as any given electro-pneumatic lever is operated by its circuit
being closed, a small amount of wind from its pipe d will pass by a tube E into
the chamber E of the lever next above it in the series and, by depressing the
diaphragm E, rod E' and valve E', will retain said latter lever in its operative
position and hold its corresponding shutter closed. The contact is so arranged
that (as seen in dotted lines at F) it touches the adjacent contact, as G³, before it
has quite moved off the contact G next above it. In this manner, wind is
admitted successively into each electro-pneumatic lever, and thence into the
chamber E of the one next above it in the series, before the circuit of the latter
lever has been broken.
When the swell pedal is in its closed position, it rests, as shown at F in dotted
lines, with its contact F2 bearing on the section G of the switch quadrant G, the
shutter C being then held closed by the clectric current and the remainder of
the shutters by the wind alone. Or the apparatus may be so arranged that the
shutters are normally held closed by a spring or other device and are opened
successively by the action of the electro-pneumatic levers. Also the switch
contact G may be movable with the pedal and the contact F2 may be fixed, being
connected as before with the battery supply lead.
Or the swell shutters may be operated by an arrangement such as shown in
Figure 5. The shutters C* are connected together in the usual manner by a
rod C operated in either direction by a pair of electro-pneumatic levers H H.
Jis a switch having two insulated contacts J J2 separated by a gap or insulation
piece J³, and connected respectively by wires with the electro-pneumatic
levers H H. The switch J is movable with the swell shutters, being to this end
conveniently mounted on a pivot and connected to the rod C8 by a link or
other light mechanical device. F is an insulated contact moving over the face of
the switch and mounted upon the pedal F, or other equivalent operating device as
described, or upon a finger, pointer-or-other-part-movable therewith, the said
contact being connected to the battery supply lead as before. The pedal F¹
and switch J may be conveniently mounted on the same pivot j³, each moving
however independently of the other.
As the pedal is depressed or raised, the contact F is brought to bear upon the
contact Jor J, the circuit of the electro-pneumatic lever Hor H is closed and
the shutters C✶ opened or closed. The shutters being connected to the switch J
as aforesaid, the latter is moved with them until its gap or insulation piece J³, is
brought opposite to the contact F, and, the circuit of the electro-pneumatic lever
being thereby broken, the movement of the shutters ceases until the pedal is again
operated in one or other direction.
If desired, the switch J could be connected to the shutters by a pneumatic device
such as shown in Figure 6, in which J is a bellows having its tail piece connected
by a link with the switch J. J' is a second bellows communicating with the
first by a tube J and having its tail piece movable with the shutter rod C³ as
shown. The bellows are so arranged that, as the upper one is expanded by the
movement of the rod C³, the lower one is collapsed and vice versa. In cases where
the pedal is located at a distance from the organ, the switch contact F³ may be

page_text: operated from the pedal by any suitable light mechanical device, or by a pneumatic
or electro-pneumatic device. If desired, the switch J could be movable with the
pedal and the contact F' with the shutters.
When it is desired to alter the pitch of an organ in relation to its keyboard, this
may be accomplished, where electricity is employed, by arranging a compound
switch or test board in such manner that the order of the connections between the
keys and the organ pipes may be readily changed. In Figures 7, 8 and 9 two ways
of carrying this into effect are depicted by way of illustration only.
K. Figures 7 and 8, is a fixed test board, provided with a series of terminals k k¹.
There are as many terminals & as there are keys in the organ, plus a few additional
terminals at each end of the series. Each end of the sound board is also
provided with a few additional pipes. Wires & connect the various terminals & A¹
with their respective electro-magnetic or electro-pneumatic actions within the
organ. K' is a second but movable test board conveniently mounted in slides ³,
and capable of being operated by the performer through any suitable mechanism.
It carries a series of terminals corresponding in number to the organ keys and
connected to the key contacts by wires. The terminals are preferably in
the form of spring fingers (see Figure 8) adapted to bear upon the ends of the
terminals. By moving the board K in one direction or the other for the
distance of one or more terminals, the pitch of the organ may be raised or lowered
one or more semi-tones.
In cases where additional pipes are not provided at the upper and lower
extremities of the organ, it is advisable to so arrange the aforesaid test board or
switch, that, when the organ is transposed, the keys left without pipes shall play
one of their octaves. This may be accomplished by connecting the additional
terminals with the terminals k representing their upper or lower octaves as
shown in dotted lines at A*.
In Figure 9, K are a series of roller switches mounted on a board K³ and cach
adapted to be operated independently of the others by any suitable device under
the control of the performer. Each roller is provided with a series of insulated
contact pieces K each located in proximity to a pair of insulated pins K* K* with
which it is adapted to be placed in contact when the roller is turned. The corre-
sponding pins of all the rollers are connected by wires 7 to their respective key
contacts. Each pin K of any given roller K is connected by a wire, as k³ kº k¹ k¹ĭ,
with that pin K on the roller next above or below it, which represents the note a
semi-tone higher or lower, as the case may be. The wires from the pins K of the
last roller are led away to their respective electro-magnetic or electro-pneumatic
actions within the organ.
Assuming No. 3 roller to be the "C" or "normal" roller, then, when this
roller is turned as in Figure 9, the organ is of normal pitch. If it be desired to
raise the pitch of the organ a semi-tone, the roller No. is turned out of action
and the roller No. 4 is so turned as to bring its contact pieces K' in touch with the
adjacent pins K K. The various key contacts are now connected in circuit with
the electro-pneumatic levers of those pipes which are a semitone higher in pitch
than the pipes to which they were previously respectively connected. For example,
the wire from the key D D "was previously connected by the roller No. 3 to
the wire leading to the electro-pneumatic lever of the pipe "D D," but on
transposing, as before described, the wire k' of the key "D D is connected by the
roller No. 4 with the wire k, which forms part of the circuit of the electro-
pneumatic lever of the pipe "D D
As in the construction previously described, additional pipes may be provided at
each end of the sound board, or, failing this, the keys which are left without pipes
when the organ is transposed may be so connected as to play one of their octaves as
before described. Forins or arrangements of compound switches other than those
described with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9, may be employed with the object of
altering the relative connections between the keys and the organ.
In order to vary the quality and power of tone, one or more adjustable keys,

page_text: touches or pedals may be provided and so arranged and connected that the speech
of the various ranks of pipes may be controlled with but slight effort on the part
of the performer, and when desirable, without moving the stop or coupler keys or
draw stops.
::
An arrangement of this kind is depicted in Figures 10 and 11. L is a roller
capable of being operated by the performer by any suitable device, as for example
by a pedal, link and arm 12. is a spring adapted to return the roller to its
normal position when the pedal is released. The roller is provided on two opposite
sides respectively with two rows of insulated metallic pins L' L². L³ is one of the
stop or coupler keys, shown in its "on" position. F is the battery supplying
current to the stop key by wire . L is the ", on contact and 15 16 the wires
leading therefrom to the console test board L. Lo is the "off" contact and
17, the wires leading from it to the board L. is the cable connecting the test
board 1 with the battery F and comprising in its circuit (as at (10) the various
electro-pneumatic levers and other electrical devices within the organ. Each of
the pins Laforesaid works between and in contact with a pair of flexible insulated
metallic pins L'L* connected in circuit with the "on" wires ll, whilst the pins L²
work in a similar manner between flexible insulated pins L' connected in circuit
with the "off" wires 18. The turning of the roller in either direction thus closes
or opens all the "off" and "on" circuits at the pins L' L8 L.
**
Lis an insulated contact strip running along the roller in proximity to the
pins L7 L8 and adapted, when the pedal is depressed and the roller is turned to
break the "on" and "off" circuits as aforesaid, to bear against all the pins L7 L8.
When the roller is thus turned, the strip L is also brought into contact with an
insulated pin L connected with a supply wire from the battery, so that a
current is sent through the wire ", pin L, strip L", pins Ls, "on" wires 16, and so
on, through all the electro-pneumatic levers connected therewith, back to battery.
The whole of the corresponding stops are thus instantly brought into operation,
and that quite independently of the positions of the various stop and coupler
keys L³. On releasing the pedal, the roller resumes its normal position and
all the stops are silenced except those the stop keys of which happen to be in
the speaking position.
A separate roller and pedal, or its equivalent, may be provided for each manual
and for the pedals, or one roller and pedal may operate the stops of the entire
organ, or any predetermined portion thereof. By the use of an arrangement such
as just described, a sforzando effect may be instantaneously obtained at will.
When it is desired to obtain a prolongation of the sound resulting from the
depression of one or more of the keys or pedals, electrical contacts may be arranged
within the organ or console, two or more of said contacts being brought together
whenever a note is sounded, and the whole or a given number of them being
rendered electrically effective or ineffective by the movement of a key, pedal, lever
or the like, situated within reach of the performer.
H2 is
An arrangement for carrying the above into effect is seen in Figure 12.
a wind box containing a series of electro-pneumatic levers for operating the pallets
of a corresponding number of pipes by means of bellows H³ and rods or pull-
downs is a wire leading from the battery F through the contacts of one
key (supposed to be situated at 1) to its electro-pneumatic lever within the box H
h is the return wire to the battery. ³ is a second supply wire from the battery to
the electro-pneumatic lever. The circuit of this latter wire is broken at and
at . At a switch H' is provided by means of which the circuit may be opened
or closed at will by the performer, the switch being operated by a pedal or other
suitable device at the console. At the separated ends of the wire 3 terminate
in flexible insulated metallic pins H H*. H7 is an insulated contact mounted
upon the tailpiece of the bellows H³, and adapted to establish an electrical
connection between the pins H H at each operation of said bellows.
suitable form of contact device may be employed in lieu of the above.
Any
When the circuit is closed at by the depression of its key by the performer,

page_text: the corresponding electro-pneumatic lever is operated, the bellows H³ expanded
and the note sounded. If the switch H³ be open, the circuit HF remains
broken when contact is made at h³, and, on the release of the key and the consequent
breaking of the circuit H2 2 Fat ', the electro-pneumatic lever becomes
inoperative, the contact at his broken and the pipe silenced. When, however,
the switch H is closed by the operator and the key also depressed, both the
circuits aforesaid are closed and the note sounded. On releasing the key, the
circuit HF is broken, but the circuit ³h HF remains closed, as
the electro-pneumatic lever which is included in the latter circuit operates to
maintain the contacts H H* H' closed. The note is thus prolonged as long as
the switch at remains closed.
It will be understood that one switch H only is provided for cach department
of the organ or otherwise for each predetermined series of contacts H, each
contact H of the series being connected to a common wire in electric connection
with the supply lead ³.
In my Provisional Specification I briefly described a combination or composition
device adapted to operate any adjustable number of the stop keys; also an electro-
pneumatic brake for the swell shutters; also two electro-pneumatic arrangements
for operating the swell shutters in a different manner from those set forth herein;
and also an arrangement whereby a heavier pressure of wind could be obtained in
certain of the pipes. None of these devices or arrangements are, however,
re-described herein, as they have all been fully described in my Patent Specification
No. 15461 of 1890 aforesaid, with the exception of the last named arrangement,
which in a somewhat modified form was made public prior to the date of this
application.
In some cases I employ a pneumatic or electro-pneumatic brake for the purpose
of steadying the shutters at the moment of closing and thus preventing rebound
of the same.
An arrangement of this kind is shown in Figure 13. C³ is the
shutter rod and H8 the bellows whereby the shutters are opened. M is a second
bellows of smaller arca than the bellows H³. M' is a wind box communicating by
the passages m m with the bellows M. M is a small double valve adapted to
close either end of the passage m, one end of which communicates with the wind
box M', and the other with the atmosphere. m² are guides for the valve spindle.
M³ is an adjustable abutment carried by shutter rod, or by some part moving
therewith, and adapted to strike the end of the valve spindle a moment before the
shutters are fully closed.
In the normal position of the parts, that is, when the shutters are open or partly
open, the valve M' is so operated by the pressure of the wind in the box M' that
the passage m is closed to the wind box and open to the atmosphere. The bellows M
is thus free to move with the shutter rod and offers no impediment to the move-
ment of the rod. When the shutters are almost closed, however, the abutment M³
strikes the valve spindle and closes the passage m to the atmosphere, opening it
at the same time to the wind box. The bellows M is instantly filled with wind and
the shutters are held firmly closed against any tendency to rebound. The bellows. M
being of smaller area than the shutter operating bellows H³, the latter when
operated is able to move the shutter rod, in defiance of the bellows M, to sufficient
distance to release the valve M' and permit the bellows M to exhaust.
In some cases I may mount the abutment M³ upon the shutter rod in such
manner that it may have a slight longitudinal play thereon, and in this case I
connect the shutter closing bellows to the sliding piece supporting the abutment.
The object of this is to permit the abutment to act upon the valve a little in
advance of the movement of the shutter rod, that is, before the shutters are actually
closed. The inflation of the bellows M then acts to firmly close the shutters and
hold them closed.
It will be obvious that in place of the abutment striking a pneumatic valve as
described, the abutment may carry or move an electric contact or may otherwise

page_text: so act as to close an electric circuit which operates through an electro-pneumatic
device to inflate the bellows M.
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. In an electric organ or like musical instrument, the providing of each of the
ordinary manual or pedal keys, or each of a given number thereof, with an
additional electric contact device, connected in circuit with one or more electrically
operated devices for bringing into action an additional pipe or pipes or other
musical instrument as described, and adapted to be closed by a pressure upon the
key greater than that required for the ordinary touch, each set of such additional
contacts being under the control of one or more main switches, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. In connection with a series of electro-pneumatic levers for successively
operating in one direction a series of counterbalanced swell shutters, the employ-
ment of the wind pressure from that electro-pneumatic lever at any time in action
to retain the previously operated electro-pneumatic lever or levers in an operative
condition after the breaking of their circuits, and to hold their respective shutters
closed (or opened) in defiance of their counterbalancing devices, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
3. The arrangement for operating the swell shutters in accordance with each
minute movement of the swell pedal, said arrangement comprising a single contact
connected to the battery and a double contact having its two sections separated by
a gap or insulating piece and connected respectively with the electro-pneumatic
levers for operating the swell shutters, the said contacts being arranged to work
one against the other, one of them being morable with the swell shutters and the
other with the swell pedal or its equivalent, substantially as described.
4. The raising or lowering of the pitch of an electric organ, or like musical
instrument, as a whole, by altering the relative electric connections between the
keys and their electro-magnetic or electro-pneumatic actions within the organ by
means of a suitable switch device, substantially as described.
5. The electrical apparatus, whereby the tone of the organ may be temporarily
augmented and a sforzando effect produced at will without interfering with the
stop keys, the said apparatus comprising a switch device operated by the performer
by means of a counterbalanced pedal or its equivalent and so connected and
arranged that, when operated, as described, it breaks the "on" and "off" circuits
of all the stop keys and couplers, or any predetermined number thereof, and
simultaneously closes the "on circuits of the electro-pneumatic levers of the
corresponding set or sets of pipes, substantially as described.
6. In connection with the swell shutters of an organ or like musical instrument,
a brake apparatus for steadying the shutters and preventing rebound of the same
when closed, the said apparatus comprising a bellows connected to the shutters
and adapted when inflated to hold them firmly closed, a pneumatic or electro-
pneumatic device for admitting wind into said bellows, and an abutment movable
with the swell'shutters and adapted to operate the aforesaid device as the shutters
close or are on the point of closing, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th 1 of
1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.