Improvements in and connected with Wind Chests for Reed Organs: and similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Wind Chests for Reed Organs:
and similar Musical Instruments.
I, FRANK JENNINGS of 20, Wood Street, Lambeth, Joiner, 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:-
My new wind chest for reed organs and the like consists of a box fixed just
below the keys and furnished with shutters which can be removed when the
instrument is to be tuned. Below the box is a large space for sound box or swell.
The wind chest can be made any size to accommodate from one to four sets of reeds
and can either be divided, with a wind chest at each end, or have the chest at one
end only, leaving space for tremulent fan. The reeds may be set directly over the
pallets, in which case is obtained a reed or oboe tone, or on grooves varying in.
length according to the size of reed, in which case a round, mellow, pipe-like tone
is the result. The chief features of my new wind chest are convenience in tuning
and regulating the reeds which can be effected after removing the keys. There is
also obtained a great and penetrating tone resembling more closely the pipe organ
than any other existing reed instruments, and the variety of tone is far greater and
more perfect than anything at present obtained with this class of instrument, the
bass being regulated in proportion to the upper notes and speaking instantly
and full.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I make reference to.
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a cross-section.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section,
Fig. 3 a plan from below, and
Fig. 4 a plan from above.
In each figure the same letters denote the same parts.
In the drawings the wind chest is at one end leaving space for tremulent fan on
the right, and although the drawings only show the invention as applied to the
manual part of the instrument the same principle of construction is applicable to
the pedal part.
a is the wind trunk between the bellows and the wind-chest; b the wind chest to
which air from the bellows has free access: c stop valves admitting air to reed
chambers; d reed chambers: resonant box; f, grooves: g key pallets: g' wire
guides for key pallets: h reeds in position: i rows of holes at back and front for
exit of sound: holes at bottom of resonant box e: (there should be as many of
these holes as possible) j vacant space closed at top by swell shutters and to
contain tremulent fan. In the case of single manual instruments the stops would
be divided and the wind chests and valves on the left hand side would be continued
on the right hand side and the reed chamber would be continued the whole length..
k bottom of resonant box e, in the thickness of which run the slides opening and
closing the sound holes : slides for opening and closing holes i; shutters to
reed chamber, removable for tuning, by lifting off the keys and action.
m stickers which open the valves on pressure being applied to the keys n: o holes
through sourd board into each set of reeds: p wind holes.
I do not confine myself to the precise shapes, relative proportions or dispositions
[Price 8d7

page_text: of the various parts described in the above specification and exemplified in the
accompanying drawings, as any or all of them may be considerably varied without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
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. An improved wind chest for the manual and pedal parts of reed organs and
the like; the said wind chest consisting essentially of a box fixed beneath the keys
or equivalents and having shutters to facilitate tuning and a larger space under-
neath to serve as a sound box or swell chamber, the whole substantially as
described in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying
drawings.
2. An improved wind chest applicable to the manual and pedal parts of reed
organs and the like, the said chest being constructed and having its parts arranged
substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1896.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.