A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Wilkinson of Bradford, in the County of York,
Watch Maker for an invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Wilkinson of Bradford, in the County of York,
Watch Maker for an invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOFORTES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Wilkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1882,
ALFRED WILKINSON of Bradford in the County of York, watch maker
AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOFORTES."
"A NEW
This invention relates to arrangements and construction of an apparatus for
automattically playing on pianofortes any tune by means of mechanical contrivances
which act upon the keys of the pianoforte and the apparatus is independent of the
piano and brought to the instrument when required; levers or fingers acting on
the keys of the pianoforte are placed on the keys and the apparatus is put in action
by turning a handle which actuates a horizontal oscillating cylinder over which is
passed an endless calicoed paper apron to which are fixed pegs which strike in turn
and according to the tune against heads of levers connected to other levers and
wires which lift up small levers or fingers placed on the keys of the pianoforte thus
pressing down the keys. For this purpose I construct a box having expanding
arms which extend when brought to the pianoforte across the keyboard; in the
box I first secure two side frames which are firmly kept in position by three stays;
in the top and in front of the box and to the side frames is fitted an arm having
an oscillating action; the arm is kept in position in the side frames by pointed
centre screws to give an easy action and prevent any shaking motion; the arm is
made at each end with dropping levers and the end of one of the levers is fitted
with a centred pointed screw and the other lever is fitted with a stud having a
projecting end on which is fitted a key for repeating the tunes; the screw and
stud are fitted to end plates of a hollow cylinder which is made by preference of
wood; on the cylinder is passed an endless apron made of paper covered with
calico the face being paper and this endless apron is punched with holes in which
are secured pegs of various lengths; the pegs are fitted in the punched holes

page_text: according to the music or piece to be produced. The cylinder receives an oscillating
action by means of an eccentric working in a slot opening formed in the end of a
horizontal arm which is connected to the arm fitted to one of the side frames; the
eccentric is secured on a small shaft which works in bearings in the side frames
and on pointed centred screws which are passed through the side frames. At the
back of the side frames is fitted a shaft; one end of this shaft is passed through a
boss formed on one of the side frames and made with a projecting end on which
is passed and secured by a set screw a key having a handle which actuates the
apparatus and the other end of the shaft works on a pointed centred screw which
is passed in the other side frame; on this shaft is secured a pulley over which is
passed a strap, passed crossways over another pulley smaller in diameter, this pulley
is secured on the shaft on which is fitted the eccentric and on the shaft is also
secured a fly wheel and a lever having an adjustable balance weight which is for
the purpose of counterbalancing the oscillating cylinder; a ratchet wheel is fitted.
on the playing handle shaft, in which wheel works a pawl, and the pawl works on
a stud secured in an arm of a bearing, which is bolted to the pedal rest and in the
bearing of which works the playing handle shaft; on the stud of the pawl is also
fitted a small grooved pulley over which works a small india rubber band which
passes crossways over the playing handle shaft so that, when turning the right
way when playing a tune, the pawl is lifted out of gear with the ratchet wheel,
but should the handle be turned the contrary way the cross belt would cause the
pawl to come in contact with the ratchet wheel and stop the playing handle shaft,
and it is obvious that on the removal of the pawl from the ratchet wheel, the
playing of the tune can be effected by turning the playing handle either way until
coming in contact with a pedal
Near the centre of the side frames is fitted a cast iron stay having secured
thereto two arms having bosses formed on the end, and in each Boss works a small
shaft working also in bearings made in the side frames; these two separate shafts
are for the purpose of working the loud and soft pedals; on each small shaft and
at each end are fitted small wheels made with cut out parts and in a centre line;
the wheels are cut on the surface with teeth and are actuated by small rollers or
pullies covered with india rubber and secured to the playing handle shaft; the
wheels are also fitted with two stop pins secured near the cut out parts.
To the side frames and against the side of the iron stay hereinbefore mentioned
is secured a stay, by preference made of wood; this stay is fitted with three small
guides between which work levers having projecting heads and lugs formed at a
given distance from the heads, to allow for the oscillation of the cylinder; through
the holes of each lug is passed a wire on which work the levers and the wire is
supported by preference with nine stays which are secured to the woodon stay;
the levers are made at the extremities with hooks to which are secured wires
attached to bell cranks which work on studs secured in an iron stay fitted across
the box to the other arms of the bell cranks are secured wires connected to other
bell cranks and to the other arms of these bell cranks are secured bands or wires
connected to the levers or fingers which press down the pianoforte keys; the bands
or wires are connected with adjustable screws to regulate the tension and are fitted
in the expanding arms of the box and connected to a lever or finger on each
pianoforte key; at one end of the oscillating cylinder is fitted a ratchet or catch
wheel in which works a catch which is actuated by the oscillation of the cylinder
and gives a tooth at each revolution of the eccentric; to prevent the catch taking
more than a tooth at a time I employ a strap which is passed under the cylinder
end and the tension on the strap is kept up by screws which are fitted to the
oscillating arm in which works the eccentric; to maintain the endless calicoed
paper apron always in working position I employ forked levers bearing on the
apron, the forked levers are secured to the oscillating arm and a spring is also
employed. The two end levers having heads are for the purpose of actuating the
loud or soft pedals and the pedals are actuated when required by pegs on the
endless apron which strike on the heads of the pedal levers when either loud or

page_text: soft pedals are to come into operation; the head of a pedal lever being pushe !
knocks the rest from contact with the stop pin of the wheel which allows the wheel
to rotate by the action of the pulley covered with india rubber which gives a half
turn to the wheel having the cut out parts and which actuates the small shaft on
which the wheel is secured and gives motion to a crank fitted on the end of the
shaft; this crank actuates a connecting rod connected to levers fitted in the
bottom part of the box which presses down a lever acting on the pedal of the
piano; a similar action is given to both the loud and soft pedals; the cranks are
fitted a little over the centre so as to allow a pressure on the wheel having cutaway
parts which allows the wheel to be thrown into gear with the pulley covered with
india rubber when the rest is removed from the pin and an upward pressure is
produced by a spring, at the end of each lever or finger is fitted a spring for the
purpose of bringing back the fingers after having pressed down the keys when
playing the pianoforte; and when the apparatus or instrument is brought to the
piano the fingers are lifted up by a moveable rest to bring them on the top of the
keys; the rest is actuated by a cam fitted on a shaft turned by a button fitted on
the end of the shaft.
To play a tune, I employ an apron made by preference of calico and paper which
I have previously stamped with holes to give the desired music and in the holes
secure pegs; the apron is placed on the cylinder in the desired position, the fingers
lifted up and the instrument brought to the pianoforte and when in position I fit
the playing key on the playing key shaft and turn the handle which gives a rotatory
motion to the shaft and wheel having a band or strap actuating the eccentric shaft
and eccentric and producing an oscillating or rocking action of the eccentric arm
and an oscillating notion of the cylinder which brings the pegs in action on the
heads of the levers, this action gives motion to the catch wheel fitted on the end of
the cylinder turning the cylinder round slowly which brings the pegs fitted on the
apron, in turn and according to the music being played, in contact with the heads
of the dropping down levers pulling the wires connected to the bell cranks and
also the fingers and pressing down the keys of the piano thereby playing the piece
of selected music punched in the apron; the springs at the back of the fingers
bring back the fingers either for repetition or to be at rest until required; the
pedals also come in action exactly at the tune either loud or soft and are actuated
as hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1882.
ALFRED WILKINSON of Bradford, in the county of York, Watch Maker,
AND IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOFORTES
»
"A NEW
The said invention relates to arrangements and construction of an apparatus for
automatically playing any tune on pianofortes and pianinos by means of
mechanical contrivances which act upon the keys of the pianoforte or pianino and
the apparatus is independent of the piano or pianino and brought to the instrument
when required; levers or fingers acting on the keys of the pianoforte or pianino
are placed on the keys and the apparatus is put in action by turning a handle
which actuates a horizontal oscillating cylinder over which is passed an endless
calicoed paper apron to which are fixed pegs which strike in turn and according
to the tune against heads of levers connected to other levers and wires which press
down small levers or fingers placed on the keys of the pianoforte or pianino thereby
pressing down the keys producing the notes or tune
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
represents a sectional side view of the box in which is fitted my improvements and
apparatus for automatically playing on pianofortes or pianinos; figure 2, is a front
view and figure 3, a plan of the same.
Figure 4, represents a part of the apron with pegs drawn to an enlarged scale
and figure 5, is a side view shewing side view of some of the pegs.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the figures to represent similar parts.
A is a box having expanding arms B for extending across the key-board of a
pianoforte or pianino; in the box are secured two side frames C, which are kept
firmly in position by three stays D; to the side frames C is fitted an arm E
having an oscillating action and kept in position in the side frames by pointed
centre screws F, to give an easy action and prevent shaking motion; the arm E
is made at each end with dropping levers G, and the end of one of the levers G
is fitted with a centred pointed screw 1 the other lever is fitted with a stud J
having a projecting end on which is fitted a key for winding up the paper apron
hereinafter described and for repeating the tunes; the screw I and stud Jare
fitted in the end plates K of the hollow cylinder L which is by preference made of
wood; over the cylinder is passed an endless apron M, made of calico and covered
with a paper face; the endless apron M, is punched with holes 0 (figures 4 and 5
of the drawing); in the holes O, are secured pegs P made of various lengths
according to whether loud or soft notes are required and the holes O are punched
according to the music or piece to be produced the pegs P being firmly secured in
the said holes, the apron ends are secured together by hooks and a long sheet of
calico covered with a paper face may be employed without having the ends fastened
together. The cylinder L receives an oscillating action by means of the eccentric Q
which works in the slot opening R of the head S of the horizontal arm T, which is
connected to the arm E; the eccentric Q is secured on the shaft U which works
in bearings in the side frames C and the shaft works on pointed centre screws
passed through the frames.
At the back of the box A and between the frames C, is fitted a shaft V; one end
of the shaft passes through a boss formed on one of the frames and the end of the
shaft is made with a projecting end W on which is passed a key and secured with
a set screw this key has a handle and is for actuating the apparatus; the other

page_text: end of the shaft works on a pointed set screw I; on the shaft V is secured a
pulley X over which passes a strap Y which is passed crossways over the pulley Z
secured on the shaft U, and on the shaft U is secured a fly wheel A', and also a
lever B', having a balance weight C₁ for the purpose of counterbalancing the
oscillating cylinder L. Near the centre of the frames C is fitted a cast iron
stay D¹, having two arms E¹, in the ends F¹, of which work small shafts G¹, which
also work in bearings made in the frames C the shafts G¹, are for the purpose of
working the loud and soft pedals and on each shaft G¹, are fitted small wheels or
cams H¹, made with cut out parts I', the wheels or cains H', are cut with teeth on
the surface and the wheels are actuated by small rollers or pullies J', covered with
india-rubber or leather; the rollers or pullies J', are secured on the playing handle
shaft V and the wheels or cams are fitted with two stop pins K',.
To the side frames C, is secured a wooden stay I, but a metal stay may be
employed; to the stay are secured three small guides M', between which work
levers N¹, having projecting heads 0¹, and on the levers are also formed lugs
through which is passed a wire P¹ on which work the levers N¹, so as to allow for
the oscillation of the cylinder L; the wire P¹, is supported by nine stays Q1, secured
to the stay L¹; the levers N', are made with hooks R', to which are secured
wires S', connected to bell cranks T', working on studs secured in an iron stay
fitted across the box A; to the bell cranks T', are secured wires U¹, which are
connected to other bell cranks V₁, and to the cranks V', are secured wires W¹,
which are secured to the levers or fingers X', which press down the pianoforte or
pianino keys; the wires are fitted in the arms B and connected to each finger or
lever X¹, one for each pianoforte or pianino key.
At one end of the oscillating cylinder L is fitted a catch wheel Y', in which works
a catch Z, actuated by the oscillations of the cylinder and which gives a tooth at
each revolution of the eccentric Q and to prevent the catch Z, taking more than
a tooth at a time I employ a strap which passed under the cylinder end and the
tension on the strap is kept up by screws which are fitted to the oscillating arm
in which works the eccentric Q and to maintain the endless calico papered apron M
always in working position I employ forked levers A2, which are secured to the
oscillating arm T, the forked levers A press on the apron M and I also employ a
spring B2.
The two end levers N', are for the purpose of actuating the loud and soft pedals
and when the pedals are required to be actuated either loud or soft the pegs P on
the endless apron M which have been fixed in the apron at the required place and
according to the piece to be played, come in contact with the heads O' and actuate
the end levers N¹, which pull the wires C2 connected to the pedal lever or rest D²
which knock the rest from contact with the pin K', allowing the wheel or cam H'
to rotate which is effected by the action of the rollers or pullies J' and which gives.
a half turn to the wheel or cam H¹, which actuates the small shaft G¹, and gives
motion to the crank D³ fitted on the end of each shaft G' actuating a connecting
rod E2, (which may be either for the loud or soft pedal) the rod E2 is connected to
levers F, pressing down on lever G2, which acts on the pedal of the pianoforte or
pianino; a similar action is given to both the loud and soft pedals and the
cranks D³, are fitted a little over the centre so as to allow a pressure on the wheels
or cams H¹, which enables the wheels or cams to be thrown in gear with the
pullies J, when the rest D2 is removed from the pin K¹ and the upward pressure
is produced by the spring H³.
To each lever or finger X', are fitted spiral springs I, for the purpose of bringing
back the finger after having pressed down the key and when the apparatus is
brought to the pianoforte or pianino, the fingers X¹ are lifted up by a movable
rest J which is actuated by a cam K, fitted on a small shaft which is turned by
a button fitted on the end of the shaft.
To play a tune, I employ an apron M made by preference of calico having a
papered face and which I previously stamp with holes O to give the desired music
and in the holes O, I firmly secure pegs P; the apron is placed on the cylinder L

page_text: in the desired position; the fingers X are lifted up and the instrument is brought
to the pianoforte or pianino and when in position I secure the playing key on the
end W and turn the handle of the key which gives a rotatory action to the shaft V
actuating the pulley X giving motion to the eccentric shaft U and consequently
the eccentric, thereby communicating an oscillating or rocking action to the arm T
and an oscillating motion to the cylinder L which brings the pegs P into action on
the heads O¹ of the levers N' which give action to the catch wheel Y¹ which
slowly turns round the cylinder and brings the pegs P in turn and according to
the music in contact with the heads O¹, pulling the wires connected with the bell
cranks and also the fingers X¹, pressing down the pianoforte or pianino keys and
thereby playing the piece of selected music; the springs I2 bring back the fingers
either for repetition or to be at rest until required and the pedals come in action
exactly at the time either for loud or soft notes.
Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of the invention, but what I do claim is :-
Firstly. The combination of parts forming the new and improved apparatus for
automatically playing pianofortes and pianinos, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing or any mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The construction and employment of the oscillating cylinder over
which is passed an endless apron or an apron without having the ends secured
together the apron being made of calico or any other suitable textile fabric and
covered with a paper face in which are punched holes and fitted with pegs
according to the notes of the music to be played substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. The use of a papered textile fabric having holes punched therein as
described for receiving pegs made of various lengths and according to loud or soft
notes to suit the selected piece of music to be played by the apparatus substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Wilkinson have hereto set my
hand and seal this Sixth day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
WALTER JAMES TURNER C.E
Patent Agent
Bradford.
ALFRED WILKINSON. (L.S.)