A NEW OR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Year: 1884

page_text: I MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER of No 3 Palace Grove Upper Norwood in the
County of Surrey Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
A NEW OR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT to be as follows:-
In this instrument I employ Reeds placed upon a rectangular, circular or other
shaped metal plate arranged so as to form a tune or harmony similar to that used
in my Patent No 3533 taken out in 1878 in a Gyrophone or tune playing top.
I cause these reeds to be sounded in succession by picking them up at the points
as in the well known musical box.
I cause the notes to be picked up and vibrated by a piece of metal or other
material shaped like a wedge, the pointed edge of the wedge is caused to travel
from one note to another taking them up at the sides of their points and passing
under them the reed is gradually lifted up the inclined plane of the wedge, when
reaching its highest point it suddenly springs back to its normal position in its
slot and is thus vibrated.
To give motion to the wedge I may employ an endless screw and nut the latter
carrying the wedge or by arranging the notes upon a circular plate a stein and
handle in the center may carry the wedge and as it is turned the wedge is caused
to pass sucessively under each note or notes, thus playing a tune or harmony.
Motion may be given to this wedge in any desired or convenient manner.
Dated this first day of January 1884.

page_text: I MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER of 3 Palace Grove Upper Norwood Surrey
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED
same is to be
AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT and in what manner the
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
In this instrument I employ reeds placed or mounted upon a rectangular,
circular or other shaped metal plate, arranged so as to form a tune or harmony
similar to that used in my patent Gyrophone or tune playing top No 3533 1878.
I cause these reeds to be sounded in succession by picking them up at the points
as in the well known musical box.
I cause the notes to be picked up and vibrated by a piece of metal or other
material shaped like a wedge. The pointed edge of this wedge is caused to travel
from one note to another taking them up at the sides of their points and passing
under them the reed is gradually lifted up the inclined plane of the wedge when,
reaching its highest point it suddenly springs back to its normal position in its slot
and is thereby vibrated.
To give motion to the wedge I may employ an endless screw and nut, the latter
carrying the wedge or by arranging the notes upon a circular plate, a stem and
handle in the centre may carry the wedge and as it is turned, the wedge caused to
pass successively under each note or notes thus playing a tune or harmony. Motion
may be given to this wedge in any desired or convenient manner.
Fig 1 Exhibits one method of causing the wedge shaped piece of metal to pass
under the notes. A is a plate of metal upon which the notes are mounted in their
slots in proper order to form a tune. B is an endless screw carrying the nut C to
which the wedges D D are attached and which are arranged with their points in
opposite directions. E is a case of suitable shape and size into which the above
arrangement is fixed. F is a handle.
To operate the instrument the handle is grasped and the case containing the
tune plate, screw and wedges is whirled round like a rattle. The wedges then
travel forward or backward according to the direction in which the case is turned.
One part of the tune may be played when the case is revolved from right to
left and the other part when revolved in the opposite direction.
Fig. 2. is another method of arranging the motion of the wedge. A is a case of
cardboard or other material inside of which the tune plate B is fixed. C is a disc of
tin or other material to which the wedge is attached. D is a stem passing through
the case A with a handle E attached thereto. F is a piece of rubber tube attached
to the stem D. G is a piece of tube placed loosely upon the stem D to balance or
keep the stem parallel with the tin disc C. H is a loop of wire loosely fixed to the
stem and passing through the tin disc C washer I and tune plate B. K is a cover
It will be seen that
of metal or other material fixed to the top end of the case A.
upon grasping the handle E and whirling the case A around as in a rattle the
rubber tube F pressing against the tin disc C causes it to turn by friction, the
wedge L passes from one note to another lifts it up and causes it to vibrate.
Instead of using the instrument as a rattle a crank and handle M may be attached
to the stem D as shewn in dotted lines Fig 2 and the handle turned as in an
organ.

page_text: 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:
The construction of musical Instruments with reeds arranged in such manner as
to form a tune or harmony in conjunction with a wedge or wedges for the purpose
of picking them up and vibrating them substantially as described and illustrated
in the drawings.
Dated this manter coventh day of Contronha 1001
MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER.