Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Abdank de Laskarzewski, of Camden
Town, and Thomas Herbert Noyes, of the United University Club,
Pall Mall, East, both in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention .

page_text: purity, richness, brilliancy, and intensity of tone than can be obtained
from a harmonium, or piano, or other stringed instrument, and in which
also by a peculiar arrangement of pedals the sounds produced can be
modulated or intensified.
The Invention consists in the employment and use of a series or
number of diapasons or vibrating forks of peculiar construction in licu
of cords or strings, arranged and actuated in a novel manner so as to
emit sound in the manner following:-Each vibrating fork or diapason
is made with a shank of peculiar construction, and projecting prongs of
cast steel, bell metal, or other sonorous or suitable metals, the size and
proportion of which is adapted to the key or note each fork or diapason
is required to emit or sound when struck. Each fork is provided with
a pin projecting from its shank, and by which it is fixed or suspended
on a rod (which, by preference, is composed of metal and wood) which
forms a conductor to convey the vibration of the prongs of the fork to a
box composed of sounding boards in the nature of an organ pipe. This
box is fixed to the general framing of the instrument, and is constructed
with its ends open, so that a valve or lid formed to slide upon and
partially or wholly close the orifice of such box or boxes is when
actuated by a pedal or other mechanism capable of modulating, modi-
fying, and intensifying the volume of sound transmitted therefrom.
The mechanism for striking the tuning forks through the medium of
hammers actuated by means of a keyboard is arranged in manner herein-
after described.
The dampers also for arresting vibration or continuance of sound are
arranged to fall simultaneously on to the ends of the two prongs of the
vibrating fork, each fork and damper having a separate and independent
action. Each of the forks are adjustable with respect to their striking
hammers, the whole being enclosed in a case similar to that of a piano,
but the form may be modified according to the requirements of taste in
any manner compatable with its interior structure.
The arrangement of the diapasons, conducting rods, and sounding
boxes, with the mechanism striking the diapasons for producing sound,
together with the general arrangement may be thus described.
In order that the novelties of the present Invention may be more
clearly understood, we will proceed to describe as an example an

page_text: instrument comprising the whole arrangements, provided with a key-
board of about 7 octaves.
For an instrument with a compass of 7 octaves of tones and semitones
the diapason's are divided, by preference, into three groups. The first
group comprises about one and three-quarter octaves of the treble notes.
The whole of the diapasons of this division are provided with holes in
their shanks by which they are threaded on a wire or spindle encased
with felt, so as to avoid metallic contact between the diapasons and the
spindles aforesaid..
The aforesaid spindle is attached by brackets to a stretcher, on which
also means are provided for packing and holding together the whole of
such treble diapasons in the requisite position, but without too great
rigidity. The diapasons are divided from each other by layers of felt,
which are fastened to a backing of wood and screwed on to a wooden
stretcher.
i
The second group of diapasons, comprising the intermediate compass
of the instrument or lower treble notes comprises about two and threc-
quarter octaves. Each diapason composing this group is of peculiar
construction, the forked prongs provided with a tapering shank into
which a stud is rivited or otherwise fixed above the fork, so as to leave
a portion of the same provided with a screw thread projecting therefrom.
The conducting rods to which these diapasons are attached by means of
the said screw studs are composed of metal shafts with a wooden cap to
which the diapasons are screwed, and are so arranged that the attachment
can be slackened or screwed up, if required, from time to time, so as to
leave the diapasons free to yield to the stroke of the hammer and to
vibrate.
Each diapason with its conducting rod is provided with a separate
sounding box, the dimensions and proportions of which are in proportion
to the diapason connected therewith. These boxes are made of wood,
by preference pine, and are fixed in two tiers in a horizontal position on
a supporting beam or stretcher, by preference made of limetree wood,
the boxes being left open at cach end. The two stretchers of wood
supporting the sounding boxes, and their conducting rods and diapasons
are fixed so as to let that portion holding the treble cnd bear upon a
bracket attached to the casing, the opposite end resting upon a vertical
bar supported by a cross bar or stretcher traversing nearly the whole
1

page_text: length of the case. One of these supporting stretchers is fixed above
the keyboard, and the other below in vertical instruments, but in
horizontal instruments the two tiers are brought into the same planc,
either above or below the keyboard.
Each diapason has three regulating screw packing pads, one for the
conducting rod and two for the diapasons. On the opposite side of the
diapason from these regulating pads there is a plate lined with felt to
keep the end of the conducting rod in its position while leaving the
diapason itself free to vibrate. The conducting rod is supported inside the
sounding box by a small block of wood secured to the side of such box,
from which it projects to a point outside, where it terminates in a wooden
cap to which is secured the diapason by means of its projecting stud and
regulating pads before mentioned.
Third group comprising the bass contains about two and. three-quarter
octaves, the diapasons of which are arranged in a manner similar to
those of the intermediate range or series, with this exception, that cach
box serves one or two diapasons, and each diapason at the point of
percussion with the hammer is provided with a small pad of felt.
Each tier of sounding boxes is fixed in the interior of a large sounding
case which runs the whole length and breadth of the instrument, and is
divided longitudinally into two parts. One of these sounding cases so
divided is fixed above, and the other below the keyboard.
The smaller sounding boxes are secured to the upper surfaces of the
large case by means of screws, but isolated from them by packing pieces.
In the bottom of the large case or box holes are provided for the purpose
of admitting of the passage of the conducting rods, which are fixed into
the interior of the smaller boxes.
The hammer action for striking the diapasons is the same as in the
piano, with the additions and modifications following:-The keys
traverse the breadth of the instrument, and are so arranged that they
cause the hammers (which we prefer to be loaded) to strike in a manner
the reverse of that which is usual in piano arrangements, that is, towards
the player in the vertical instrument, but from below upwards in the
grand or horizontal instrument. The dampers in construction are
similar to those of the piano, but so arranged as to fall and rest
simultaneously upon and between the ends of the prongs of the diapason.

page_text: The opposite ends of the dampers are fixed on an axis screwed into a
stretcher running the whole length of the instrument secured to the
framework, similar to the damper action of a pianoforte.
Between the hammers and the usual pianoforte mechanism there is
an additional apparatus composed of-three horizontal and one vertical
wooden strips. One of these strips is glued into the vertical strip end to
end, the second being glued to the middle, and the third is pinned or
jointed on an axis at the lower or bottom end thereof.
The top
horizontal strip is adapted to raise the mechanism of the hammers and
dampers, and has a little strip of wood hinged on to it by a piece of
parchment, the opposite end of which is secured into a forked hinge
screwed to a fixed bar. The second or intermediate horizontal strip rests
at the extreme end of the key lever on a friction roller. The third
horizontal strip has its end hinged into a fork which is screwed into a
fixed bar stretcher.
There being two tiers of diapasons, sounding boxes, and conducting
rods, so there are two tiers of actions operating alternately, one on the
upper and one on the lower tier.
The additional mechanism herein-before described is for the upper tier
only, for the lower tier the following would be the arrangement :-The
same horizontal and vertical strips of wood, as previously described in
the upper tier are employed, but in a reversed arrangement, viz., the
horizontal top strips one, two, and three; in the bottom tier are placed
two, three, one. The lowest horizontal strip has its bearing on a
stretcher situate in the bottom of the instrument. The vertical or
supporting strip is much longer than the corresponding strip of the
upper mechanism. The pedals modulating or intensifying the volume
of sound act in a manner similar to those of the piano, for instance, the
forte pedal lifts the whole range of the dampers, and the piano pedal is
composed of a long length of wood so arranged that it can be actuated
so as to partially or wholly close the apertures of the sounding boxes,
the effect of which will, be to gradually moderate or give a swell to the
volume of sound, producing crescendo and decrescendo effects similar to
the swell of an organ.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said. Charles.
Abdank de Laskarzewski and Thomas Herbert Noyes in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 31st October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
ABDANK DE LASKARZEWKSI, of Camden Town, and TпомAS HERBERT
NOYES, of the United University Club, Pall Mall, East, both in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Charles Abdank de Laskarzewski and
Thomas Herbert Noyes, Her special licence that we, the said Charles
Abdank de Laskarzewski and Thomas Herbert Noyes, our executors
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles
Abdank de Laskarzewski and Thomas Herbert Noyes, our 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Charles Abdank de Laskarzewski and Thomas Herbert Noyes, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 on or before the 31st day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Abdank de Laskarzewski
and Thomas Herbert Noyes, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
°
The object of this Invention is the production of a musical instrument
capable of emitting musical sounds of longer duration and greater purity,

page_text: richness, brilliancy, and intensity of tone than can be obtained from a
harmonium or piano or other stringed instrument, and in which also by
a peculiar arrangement of pedals the sounds produced can be modulated
or intensified.
Having thus far described the object of this Invention we will now
in further compliance with the aforesaid condition in the said Letters
Patent contained proceed to further and particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature and object of our Invention, which we shall do by the
aid of the Drawings accompanying these Presents, that is to say :-

page_text: bridge, to which connecting rod D is secured; F, sounding box; G,
regulating screws for keeping diapasons or forks A. in position; the heads g
are covered with felt or other suitable material; H, dampers for arresting
the vibrations or continuance of sound of forks, as hereafter described;
J, key board; K, stretcher, to which dampers (H) are secured, as here-
after described; L, strip of wood, conveying action of key by means of
rod L¹ to the second strip M, on which rests the mechanism by which
the hammers Mare caused to strike the fork (A); N (Fig. 11),
comprises the first group of notes or tier of diapasons, as hereafter
described; O, the second or intermediate group of notes; P, the third or
bass group of notes; X (Fig. 10) is where action is placed for striking
diapasons, such action being as ordinarily used in grand pianos.
DESCRIPTION OF PARTS SHOWN IN SAID DRAWINGS.
This Invention consists in the employment and use of a series or
number of diapasons or vibrating forks A (which are herein-after some-
times termed 'diapason' only) of peculiar construction, in combination
with conducting rods and sounding boxes, arranged and actuated in a
novel manner, so as to emit sound in the manner following:-Each
vibrating fork or diapason A is made with a shank A' of peculiar con-
struction and proportion (shown in Fig. 1), and projecting prongs of
cast steel, bell metal, or other sonorous or suitable metals, the size and
proportion of which is adapted to the key or note each fork or diapason
is required to emit a sound when struck, the prongs of such forks being
constructed of any form, but a square section is the one we prefer. As
an instance of the dimensions of forks we may state that for normal
A the section of prong would be inch square, and so on in proportion
for higher or lower notes. Each fork is provided with a pin B projecting
from its shank, said pin being generally at a distance from the centre of
the fork equal to the width of one of the prongs, and by which it is fixed
or suspended on a cap C upon a rod D (by preference composed of a
combination of metal and wood), which forms a conductor to convey the
vibration of the prongs of the fork to a box F, composed of sounding
boards in the nature of an organ pipe. This box F is fixed to the general
framing of the instrument, and is constructed with its ends open, so that
a valve or lid formed to slide upon and partially or wholly close the
orifice of such box or boxes is, when actuated by a pedal or other
mechanism, capable of modulating, modifying, and intensifying the
volume of sound transmitted therefrom.

page_text: The mechanism for striking the vibrating forks through the medium
of hammers actuated by means of a key board is arranged in manner
herein-after described.
The dampers (H) also for arresting vibration or continuance of
sound are arranged to fall simultaneously upon the two prongs of the
vibrating fork A, each fork A and damper H having a separate and
independent action, as shown in Fig. 8. Each of the forks A. is adjustable
with respect to its striking hammer, the whole being enclosed in a case
similar to that of a piano, but the form may be modified according to
the requirements of taste in any manner compatible with its interior
structure.
The arrangement of the diapasons A, conducting rods D, and sounding
boxes F, with the mechanism striking the diapasons A for producing
sound, together with the general arrangement, may be thus described.
In order that the novelties of the present Invention may be more
clearly understood, we will proceed to describe as an example an instru-
ment comprising the whole arrangements, provided with a key board of
about 7 octaves.
For an instrument with a compass of 7 octaves of tones and semitones
the diapasons A are divided by preference into three groups. The first
group comprises about one and three quarter octaves of the treble notes,
see N in Fig. 11. The whole of the diapasons of this division are
provided with holes in their shanks, by which they are attached separately
to a sounding box, or the whole are threaded on a wire or spindle (but
this we do not prefer) encased with felt, so as to avoid metallic contact
between the diapasons A and spindles aforesaid.
The aforesaid spindle is attached by brackets to a stretcher, on which
also means are provided for packing and holding together the whole of
such treble diapasons in the requisite position, but without too great
rigidity. The diapasons are divided from each other by layers of felt,
which are fastened to a backing of wood, and screwed on to a wooden
stretcher.
The second group of diapasons A; comprising the intermediate compass
of the instrument (shown also in Fig. 11, and marked P), or lower treble
notes, comprises about two and three quarter octaves, more or less.
Each of the diapasons composing this group is of peculiar construction;

page_text: the forked prongs provided with a tapering shank A' (see Fig. 2), into
which a stud or pin B is rivitted or otherwise fixed above the fork, so as
to leave a portion of the same provided with a screw thread projecting
.therefrom. The cap C and conducting rods D, to which these diapasons
A are attached by means of the said screw studs, are composed of metal
shafts D, with a wooden cap C, to which the diapasons are attached by
their studs, and are so arranged that the attachment can be slackened or
screwed up, if required, from time to time, so as to leave the diapasons A
free to yield to the stroke of the hammer, and to vibrate.
Each diapason A with its cap C and conducting rod D is provided
with a separate sounding box F, the dimensions and proportions of
These
which are in proportion to the diapason connected therewith.
boxes are made of metal or wood, by preference pine, or a combination
of wood and metal, and are fixed in two tiers in a horizontal position on
a supporting beam or stretcher, by preference made of limetree wood,
the boxes F being left open or partially open at each end. The two
stretchers of wood supporting the sounding boxes, and their conducting
rods and diapasons, are fixed so as let that portion holding the treble end
bear upon a bracket attached to the casing, the opposite end resting
upon a vertical bar, supported by a cross bar or stretcher traversing
nearly the whole length of the case. One of these supporting stretchers
is fixed above the key board, as in Figs. 8 and 10, and the other below,
(see Figs. 9 and 10) in vertical instruments, but in horizontal instruments
the two tiers are brought into the same plane either above or below the
key board.
Each diapason has three regulating screw packing pads, one for the
conducting rod D, and two for the diapasons A; this is clearly shown in
Fig. 8. On the opposite side of the diapason A from these regulating
pads G there is a plate lined with felt to keep the end of conducting
rod in its position, while leaving the diapason itself free to vibrate. The
conducting rod D is by preference supported inside (but in some cases
outside) the sounding box F, by a small block of wood or bridge E secured
to the side of such box F, from which it projects through an aperture
provided in the sounding box to a point outside, where it terminates in
a wooden cap, to which is secured the diapason A by means of its project-
ing stud B and regulating pads G, before mentioned..
Third group R, comprising the bass, contains about two and three-
quarter octaves, more or less, the diapasons A of which are arranged in a

page_text: manner similar to those of the intermediate or second group, or range, or
series, with this exception, that each box serves one or more diapasons A,
and each diapason at the point of percussion with the hammer is provided
with a small pad of by preference felt.
Each tier of sounding boxes E' is fixed in the interior of a large
sounding case (Q, Fig. 10), which runs the whole length or breadth of the
instrument, and is divided longitudinally into two parts, shown on said
Fig. 10.
One of these sounding cases so divided is fixed above and the
other below the key board, as shown.
The smaller sounding boxes are secured to the upper surfaces of the
large case by means of screws, but isolated from them by packing pieces.
In the bottom of the large case or box holes are provided for the purpose
of admitting of the passage of the conducting rods, which are fixed into
the interior of the smaller boxes.
The hammer action for striking the diapasons is the same as in the
piano, with the additions and modifications following:-The keys J
traverse the breadth of the instrument, and are so arranged that they
cause the hammers (which we prefer to be loaded) to strike in a manner
the reverse of that which is usual in piano arrangements, that is, towards
the player in the vertical instrument, as in Fig. 8, but from below upwards
in the grand or horizontal instrument. The dampers H, Fig. 8, in con-
struction are similar to those of the piano, but so arranged as to fall and
rest simultaneously upon and between the ends or on the middle of
the prongs of the diapason. The opposite ends of the dampers are fixed
on an axis screwed into a stretcher running the whole length of the
instrument, secured to the framework similar to the damper action of a
pianoforte.
Between the hammers and the usual pianoforte mechanism there is an
additional apparatus composed of three horizontal and one vertical
wooden strips. One of these strips is glued into the vertical strip end
to end, the second being glued to the middle, and the third is pinned or
jointed on an axis at the lower or bottom end thereof. The top hori-
zontal strip is adapted to raise the mechanism of the hammers and
dampers, and has a little strip of wood hinged on to it by a piece of
parchment, the opposite end of which is secured into a forked hinge
screwed to a fixed bar. The second or intermediate horizontal strip rests
at the extreme end of the key lever on a friction roller. The third.

page_text: horizontal strip has its end hinged into a fork, which is screwed into a
fixed bar stretcher.
There being two tiers of diapasons, see Fig. 10, sounding boxes F¹, and
conducting rods D, so there are two tiers of actions, as in Fig. 10,
operating alternately, one on the upper and one on the lower tier, as for
example the note C on the upper tier and C sharp on the lower tier, and
so on, as in the arrangement of grand organ pipes.
The additional mechanism herein-before described is for the upper tier
only; for the lower tier the following would be the arrangement :-'
-The
same horizontal and vertical strips of wood as previously described in the
upper tier are employed, but in a reversed arrangement, viz., the
horizontal top strips, one, two, and three, in the bottom tier are placed
two, three, one respectively; the lowest horizontal strip has its bearing`
òn a stretcher situate in the bottom of the instrument.. The vertical or.
supporting strip is much longer than the corresponding strip of the
upper mechanism. The pedals, modulating or intensifying the volumo
of sound, act in a manner similar to those of the piano; for instance,
the forte pedal lifts the whole range of the dampers, and the piano pedal
is composed of a long length of wood so arranged that it can be actuated
so as to partially or wholly close the apertures of the sounding boxes,
the effect of which will be to gradually moderate or give a swell to the
volume of sound, producing crescendo and decrescendo effects similar to.
the swell of an organ.
We may here mention that our mechanism for causing vibration of the
tuning forks or diapasons can be worked by electricity or by other means;
for although the instrument, as herein-before described, is intended to be
played on by means of a key board, we can use barrel and handle or
other contrivance capable of effecting the object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and.
object of our Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed
or put in practice, we hereby declare that we claim the Invention of
"A New or Improved Musical Instrument," as herein-before described,
wherein the following are important points :—
1. The form and proportions of the diapasons or vibrating forks.
2. Making the rivet hole in the shank of the diapason, and by
preference at a distance from the centre of the fork equal to the width of
the prongs.

page_text: 3. In the upper treble group the attachment of the diapasons, sub-
stantially as herein-before described. In the middle group and in the
bass group the attachment by a metal stud, substantially as herein-before
described.
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
CHARLES ABDANK LASKARZEWSKI. (L.S.)
T. HERBERT NOYES.
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street.
(L.S.)