IMPROVEMENTS IN CORNETS AND OTHER SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORNETS AND OTHER SIMILAR MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS."-A communication from abroad by the Schreiber Cornet
Manufacturing Company (Incorporated), of the City of New York,
TT
Sealed the 28th December 1866, and dated the 25th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th September 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORNETS AND OTHER SIMILAR
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
There are four features which are essential in the construction of that class
of musical instruments to which the present Invention relates, viz. :-
First, the construction of the instrument with a view to enable the per-
former to hold and control the instrument without fatigue, and to operate
the keys with facility for the performance of rapid passages, and to control the
pressure of the mouth-piece against the lips, on which the modulation of the
tones so much depends.

page_text: Second, so making the apparatus connected with the valves as that they
shall be and continue to be air-tight, as the tones of the instrument are
materially injured by the slightest leak, and as closely connected therewith
the rendering of the movement of the keys as nearly noiseless as possible.
Third, the proper discharge of the sound of the instrument into the air so
that it shall properly mingle with the sound of other instruments, and so as
not either to dominate over them or be dominated over by them.
And, fourth, providing ample and easy means for the discharge of water
from the instrument.
The present Invention is directed to the improvement of this class of
nstruments in each and every of the particulars above pointed out. The
mouth-piece tube and that part of the main tube of the instrument which
may be termed the tone valve tube are parallel, and so placed that when the
instrument is held by the performer they will be horizontal or nearly so.
Both of these parts at their forward end, that is farthest from the mouth-piece,.
are bent to about a right angle by gentle curves, sudden and sharp tones
being objectionable. The lower vertical ends of both of these parts are
parallel and formed to receive the tuning pump, the lower curved part of
which is formed with a cylindrical enlargement or valve case for the recep-
tion of the water valve. The two parts of this tuning pump communicate
from opposite sides with the inside cylindrical bore of the valve case and near
the upper part thereof, and below there is another aperture in the case lead-
ing to a receptacle having an opening at the side for the free escape of water.
The water valve is formed of a cylindrical block with a journal at each end,
one of which journals is fitted to turn in a box in the closed end of the valve
case, and the other is fitted to turn in and extends through a central hole in a
cap plate, which closes the open end of the valve case, where it is secured and
held in place by a ring tapped on to the end of the valve case. One end of
the valve is formed with an annular recess, and in this recess there is a
projecting pin, and to the inner face of the cap plate is secured a segment
with a thin piece of vulcanized india-rubber interposed, the ends of which
project slightly beyond the ends of the segment to form stops for the pin on the.
valve to strike against and limit the movements of the valve as it is rotated.
The cylindrical body of the valve is cut out on opposite sides and in
directions at right angles with its axis of rotation, forming two ways. One of
these ways allows of the passage of the wind from the mouth-piece to the
body of the instrument, but when the valve is turned it closes the passage
leading to the body of the instrument, and establishes a communication
between the mouth-piece tube and small receptacle below, into which the

page_text: water will be readily discharged from the instrument. The main tube of the
instrument extends in a circle from the front end of the tone valve tube back
to and by the side of the place of starting, then it extends down at an in-
clination for a short distance, and then by a reversed curve it extends upward,
forming the bell to throw the issuing sound in an upward direction. By the
form thus given to the instrument the performer is enabled to hold it with ease
by the left hand, the weight mainly resting on his shoulder, and he can readily
control the pressure of the mouth-piece against the lips so as to modulate
the tones; the right hand is thus left free for the fingering of the keys, which
are by the general structure of the instrument brought to a convenient position.
Heretofore in the construction of instruments of this class the cases for the
tone valves have been made of several pieces of sheet metal brazed or
soldered together. In the improved instrument each valve case is made of
one single piece of metal without joints of any kind. Each valve case is
bored out from one end of the required diameter and depth for the reception
of the valve, and the closed end is formed with a recess for the reception of
the end journal of the valve. Four tangential holes are then bored to extend
to the inside, forming two short branch tubes in line the one with the other;
and the other two forming like branch tubes below, parallel the one with the
other and at right angles with the other two. The holes are bored of about
the same diameter as the tone valve tube. The cap plate is provided with an
india-rubber stop to stop the motions of the valve without noise. The tone
valves are fitted to the inside of the cases in the same manner as the water
valve already described, and like that valve are formed with two ways, one on
each side of and at right angles with the axis. In their cross section, taken in
the plane of the axis of the valve, these ways are segments of circles corre-
sponding with the bore of the tone valve tube and the tone crooks. The keys
for operating the valves are mounted on a fulcrum pin, and are held in the
required position to keep the valves open by the tension of helical springs.
The outer end of each key lever is formed with a straight stem at about a
right angle with the axis of the valve, and each stem is connected with the
arbor of the valve, which projects beyond the cap plate of the valve case by:
means of a cord which is wound once around and attached to the arbor of
the valve and secured by the ends to the opposite ends of the stem. In this'
way the keys operate the valves with ease and without noise.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CORNETS AND OTHER SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," being
a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
There are four features which are essential in the construction of that
class of musical instruments to which the present Invention relates, and to
which comparatively little attention has heretofore been given by instrument
makers, viz*:-
First, the construction of the instrument with a view to enable the
performer to hold and control the instrument without fatigue, and to operate
the keys with facility for the performance of rapid passages, and to control the

page_text: pressure of the mouth-piece against the lips, on which the modulation of the
tones so much depends.
Second, so making the apparatus connected with the valves as that they
shall be and continue to be air-tight, as the tones of the instrument are
materially injured by the slightest leak, and as closely connected therewith
the rendering of the movement of the keys as nearly noiseless as possible.
Third, the proper discharge of the sound of the instrument into the air, so
that it shall properly.mingle with the sound of other instruments, and so as
not either to dominate over them or be dominated over by them.
And, fourth, providing ample and easy means for the discharge of water
from the instrument.
The present Invention is directed to the improvement of this class of
instruments in each and every of the particulars above pointed out.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig 1 is a side elevation of a cornet con-
structed on the improved plan; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same; Fig. 3 is a
longitudinal vertical section upon an enlarged scale and taken at the line A, a,
of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross vertical section at the line B, b, of Fig. 3;
Fig 5 is a cross vertical section through the water valve case and valve;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof at the line C, c; Fig. 7 is a separate
view of the stop for arresting the turning of the valves. The Figures 3, 4, 5,
6, and 7 are drawn on a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
The mouth-piece tube a and that part of the main tube of the instrument
which may be termed the tone valve tube 6 are parallel and so placed that
when the instrument is held by the performer they will be horizontal or
nearly so. Both of these parts at their forward end, that is farthest from the
mouth-piece, are bent to about a right angle by gentle curves, sudden and
sharp turns being objectionable. The lower vertical ends of both of these
parts are parallel and are formed to receive the tuning pump c, the lower
curved part of which is formed with a cylindrical enlargement or valve case d
for the reception of the water valve. The two parts of this tuning pump
communicate from opposite sides with the inside cylindrical bore of the valve
case and near the upper part thereof, and below there is another aperture e in
the case leading to a receptacle f, having an opening at the side for the free
escape of water.
.
The water valve g, Fig. 5, is formed of a cylindrical block with a journal
at each end, one of which journals is fitted to turn in a box in the closed end
of the valve case, and the other is fitted to turn in and extends through a
central hole in a cap plate h, which fits with a close joint to close the open.
end of the valve case, where it is secured and held in place by a ring i tapped

page_text: on to the end of the valve case. One end of the valve is formed with an
annular recess, and in this recess there is a projecting pin j, and to the inner
face of the cap plate h is secured a segment k with a thin piece of vulcanized
india-rubber interposed, the ends of which project slightly beyond the ends
of the segment to form stops for the pin j on the valve to strike against, and
limit the movements of the valve as it is rotated in one direction when being
opened by the key 1, and in the opposite direction when being closed by the
tension of a spring m on the rocking shaft of the key. The cylindrical body
of the valve is cut out on opposite sides and in directions at right angles
with its axis of rotation, forming two ways n, o.
When the valve is in the
position in which the spring will hold it, the way n will establish a free and
full communication for the passage of the wind from the mouth-piece to the
body of the instrument, but when it is turned by the key to the position
represented by dotted lines (see Fig. 5), it closes the passage leading to the
body of the instrument, and the way n establishes a communication between
the mouth-piece tube and the receptacle f, while the other way o in like
manner establishes a communication between the part of the instrument
beyond the valve with the said receptacle. Water will thus be readily
discharged from. the instrument, and instead of being driven into all parts of
the instrument. it must accumulate in the lower part of the tuning pump,
because the force of the wind is not sufficient to drive it
the vertical part
of the main pipe beyond the valve, and as by the opening of the valve wind
is prevented from travelling beyond the valve, it follows that all water between
the mouth-piece and the valve will be instantly driven out by the force of
the wind into the receptacle f, whilst any water which may have been carried
beyond the valve will be discharged by gravity, the current of wind by which
it had been carried being cut off by the valve. This presents a more ready
and efficient means for the discharge of water than any heretofore known.
The main tube of the instrument extends in a circle p from the front end
of the tone valve tube back to and by the side of the place of starting, then
it extends down at an inclination for a short distance, and then by a reversed
curve q it extends upward and forms the bell r to throw the issuing sound in
an upward direction. By the form thus given to the instrument its weight
mainly rests on the shoulder of the performer, who is enabled to hold it with
ease by the left band, the weight mainly resting on his shoulder, so that he
can readily control the pressure of the mouth-piece against the lips to enable
him to modulate the tones. The instrument being thus sustained by the
shoulder and controlled by the left hand in an easy position, the right hand
is left free for the fingering of the keys, which are by the general structure
up

page_text: The holes
The inside
of the instrument brought to a convenient position. Heretofore in the con-
struction of instruments of this class the cases for the tone valves have been
made of several pieces of sheet metal brazed or soldered together, and therefore
very liable to leak; the slightest leak it is well known renders the instrument
comparatively worthless. This defect is avoided by making each valve case.
of one single piece of metal without joints of any kind. Each valve case s
is bored out from one end of the required diameter and depth for the reception
of the valve, and the closed end is formed with a recess for the reception of
the end journal of the valve. Four tangential holes are then bored to extend
to the inside, forming two short branch tubes t, t, in line the one with the
other, and the other two forming like branch tubes u, u, below parallel the
one with the other and at right angles with the other two t, t.
are bored of about the same diameter as the tone valve tube.
of the case having been formed as described, the outside is worked to a form
corresponding with the inside, leaving the metal of a uniform thickness, and the
open end of the case is threaded to receive a flanched ring v, which encloses:
the cap plate w of the open end of the case, as already described in connection
with the construction of the water valve. The cap plate is provided in like
manner with an india-rubber stop to stop the motions of the valve without
noise. The four branch tubes t, t, and u, u, thus formed become short tubes
of the required diameter, the two t, t, being properly. united, as represented,
to form parts of the tone valve tube b, and the other two u, u, in like manner:
connected with the tone crooks x. The tone valves y are fitted to the inside
of the cases in the same manner as the water valve already described, and
like that valve are formed with two ways z, z, one on each side of and at right
angles with the axis. In their cross section, taken in the plane of the axis of
the valve, these ways are segments of circles corresponding with the bore of
the tone valve tube 6 and the tone crooks, and when the valves are in the
position held by the keys at rest, one of the ways of each of the valves will
correspond with the bore of the tone valve tube b, so that the wind will pass
through as if the whole was one continuous tube, but when any one of the
keys a' is depressed the corresponding valve is turned a quarter revolution,
the ways will be thereby brought at right angles with the tone valve tube b,
so that the wind from the mouth-piece will pass through one of the ways z,
down one of the branches of the tone crook, up the other branch, and through
the other way to and through the main pipe of the instrument. The
keys a' for operating the valves are mounted on a fulcrum pin b¹, and are
held in the required position to keep the valves open by the tension of helical
springs c. The outer end of each key lever is formed with a straight stem d

page_text: at about a right angle with the axis of the valve, and each stem is connected
with the arbore of the valve, which projects beyond the cap plate of the
valve case by means of a cord f¹, which is wound once around and attached
to the arbor of the valve, and secured by the ends to the opposite ends of
the stem. In this way the keys operate the valves with ease and without
noise.
What I claim as new in the present Invention, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is, the form given to the instrument as herein described, by
means of which the sound is discharged from the bell in an upward direction,
the weight of the instrument being allowed to rest on the shoulder of the
performer, whilst the part to be held by the left hand and the keys are in
front in positions which will enable the performer to have an easy control
thereof, as described.
I also claim the rotating water valve and its case in combination with and
located at the lower part of the curved pipe between the mouth-piece tube
and the tone valve tube, as and for the purpose described.
I also claim making the tone valve cases each of one piece of metal
without seams or joints and connected with the instrument as and for the
purpose described.
And I also claim the india-rubber segment stops attached to the inner face
of the cap plate of the valve cases in combination with the rotating valves,
as and for the purpose described...
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)