Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 25th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to those kinds of musical instruments, such as musical boxes,
in which metallic tongues properly tuned after being drawn back are allowed to
vibrate by being suddenly released.
In such instruments tunes have been heretofore played by means of cylinders or.
discs made to revolve by clockwork, or by hand or other power, and provided with
projecting pins or pieces which as the cylinder or disc revolves-strike and release the
vibrating tongues in the proper order and combination to produce the desired tune.
My present invention consists in a novel method of operating the vibrating musical
tongues by means of keys, similar to those in pianos, organs, and instruments of the
like kind, pressed by the fingers of the player, each particular key being connected by
suitable mechanism such as that hereinafter described with a corresponding vibrating
tongue.
For this purpose, I arrange a key board carrying keys similar to those in a piano
or organ and corresponding in number with the vibrating musical tongues, and I
arrange opposite each such tongue light levers consisting preferably of a star shaped
wheel turning upon an axis, and having pointed arms the extremities of which if
the wheel be turned partially round press upon and force back the point of the
tongue and then suddenly release it, the arm then passing on and leaving the tongue
free to vibrate.
In order that the wheel may be turned through a sufficient space by the pressure of
the key connected with it, a lever upon or connected with the latter, is made to press
upon one of the other arms of the wheel (preferably the opposite one) or upon a
projection upon it, when the key is depressed. The end of the key, or of the lever
connected with it, which so operates the wheel is hinged or otherwise connected to its
remaining part, so that when the key is released, it passes back over the next succeeding
arm of the wheel without moving it, and it is then again ready to sound the vibrating
tongue when it is depressed or struck by the player.

page_text: Friction or other detents may be provided by which the wheels are prevented from
moving too freely forward or from moving backward, and so touching the vibrating
tongue and causing it to jar.
It is evident that, in some cases, the vibrating tongues might be bent back and
released by the hinged ends of the keys themselves or of the levers carried by
them.
The sets of wheels are preferably carried upon a common central axis upon which
they all revolve, and washers or pieces of cloth, leather, or other soft material may be
used between them, or where necessary to prevent vibration and rattling.
The novel instrument described may either be played alone, or the keys may be
arranged so that they simultaneously operate the valves of organs, harmoniums, or
other musical instruments.
By my invention I obtain a musical instrument which possesses the attraction of tone
of an ordinary musical box, but upon which any tune can be played by a performer,
who can also vary the time and give a considerable amount of variety of expression to
the music, by a suitable manipulation of the keys.
0211 1
1001

page_text: Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, ELLIS PARR, of Long Lane, in the City of London, Merchant, 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, and
accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
My present invention relates to those kinds of musical instruments, such as musical
boxes, in which metallic tongues properly tuned after being drawn back are allowed
to vibrate by being suddenly released.
In such instruments tunes have been heretofore played by means of cylinders
or discs made to revolve by clockwork, or by hand or other power, and provided
with projecting pins or pieces which as the cylinder or disc revolves-strike and
release the vibrating tongues in the proper order and combination to produce the
desired tune.
My present invention consists more especially in a novel method of operating the
vibrating musical tongues by means of keys, similar to those in pianos, organs, and.
instruments of the like kind, pressed by the fingers of the player, each particular key
being connected by suitable mechanism such as that hereinafter described and
illustrated with one or more corresponding vibrating tongues.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, Figures
and 2 are side views, and figure 3 a plan, shewing a form of arrangement of apparatus
which I use for the purpose desired.
a represents a keyboard carrying keys bbb similar to those in a piano or organ and
corresponding in number with the vibrating musical tongues or sets of tongues ccc,
and I arrange opposite each such tongue light lovers consisting preferably of star
shaped wheels d'dd turning upon an axis e and having pointed arms or teeth the
extremities of which, when the wheel is turned partially round, press upon and force
back the points of the tongues cand then suddenly release them, the arm or tooth then
passing on and leaving the tongue free to vibrate. In order that the wheel may be
turned through a sufficient space by the pressure of the key b connected with it, a
lever or pall upon or connected with the latter, is made to press upon one of the
other arms of the wheel (preferably the opposite one) or upon a projection upon it,
when the key is depressed, or (as shewn in the drawing) upon a ratchet toothed wheel i
connected to or forming part of the wheel d. The end. of the key, or of the lever g
connected with it, which so operates the wheel is hinged at or otherwise connected
to the remaining part of the key, so that when the key is released, it passes back over
the next succeeding arm or tooth of the wheel i without moving it, and it is then
again brought by the spring k into a position to sound the vibrating tongue when it is
depressed or struck by the player.
Friction or other detents not shewn in the drawing may be provided by which the
levers or wheels d are prevented from moving too freely forward or from moving
backward, and so touching the vibrating tongue and causing it to jar.

page_text: It is evident that in some cases, the vibrating tongues might be bent back
and released by the hinged ends of the keys themselves or of the levers carried by
them.
The sets of wheels are preferably carried upon a common central axis e upon
which they all revolve, and washers or pieces of cloth, leather, or other soft
material may be used between them, or where necessary to prevent vibration and
rattling.
The novel instrument described may either be played alone, or the keys may be
arranged so that they simultaneously operate the valves of organs, harmoniums, or
other musical instruments.
In figure 4, three musical tongues e vibrating in unison, are shown for each note,
the wheels or levers d being sufficiently wide to operate all of them simultaneously,
either by three sets of teeth or by teeth of sufficient width to touch the three tongues.
The entire set of tongues c, or the keys b, may be made to move laterally when
desired by means of a pedal or stop, so that either three, two, or one, of the tongues
may he sounded as desired. Instead of three any other number of tongues may be
used as described.
In figure 2 a metal bar or plate is shewn arranged above the tongues c and carried
by arms m, so that it can be raised or lowered by a pedal or stop when desired, the
bar or plate when resting upon the tongues imitating what is known as a zither
effect.
By my invention I obtain a musical instrument which possesses the attractiveness of
tone of an ordinary musical box, but upon which any tune can be played by a per-
former, who can also vary the time and give a considerable amount of variety of
expression to the music, by a suitable manipulation of the keys.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and method of arrangement and
operation of the several parts of the apparatus, which may be varied more or less,
but 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. The combination with the vibrating tongue c, of keys b, and levers or teeth f
or equivalent devices, by which the tongues are sounded when their appropriate keys
are depressed by the fingers of the performer, substantially as described and shewn in
the drawing.
2. In the instrument described, the use of two or more tongues vibrating in unison
for each note, in combination with the devices by which either one or more such
tongues may be sounded as desired, substantially as described.
3. The moveable bar or plate for producing, when desired, the zither effect,
substantially as described and shewn.
TL 115 3511
1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Patentee.