" IN AND IN MEANS FOR TUNING FREE REEDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1885

page_text: Musical Instruments.
I GEORGE COUSINS of Minnis Road Birchington-on-Sea in the county of Kent
Organist do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
"
IN AND IN MEANS FOR TUNING FREE REEDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
as follows:
"J
to be
This invention relates to improvements in and in means for tuning free reeds of
musical instruments the object being to effect the "sharpening" or "flattening" of
the note, emitted by the vibrations of the free reed, by means of a tuning-slide-bar
or sliding-piece arranged either underneath the reed or to positively hold the reed
without pressing the reed within the opening in which it vibrates said slide being
adjustable so as to cause it to touch the free reed at a point thereof in its free
length varying according to the adjustment of the slide and so to render the note
"sharp" or "flat."
In carrying the invention into effect I proceed as follows:-On the block to
which the base of the reed is attached, and in direction of the length of the reed,
there is cut a channel or groove through which the tuning slide is passed and
works, one end of said slide extending beyond the said groove so as to lay against
the underside of or to hold the free reed and the other end or tail of said slide
extending outward. The shape of the slide groove and slide may be conveniently
of V form and the tail of the slide be carried out through the side or back board
of the instrument according to its construction, so that the instrument can be
readily tuned without opening it.
This is very useful for so called chamber organs "Estey organs" harmoniums and
so forth in which free reeds are used.
In some constructions of instruments it may be desirable to make the tuning-
slide so as to span or saddle the free reed, and to provide V, or angle shaped edges
to the free reed, and recessed V or angle shaped grooves in the tuning slide, this
however is but varying the mechanical form and position of the slide parts in
which the said tuning slide is to be operated to effect the tuning of the free reed
by contact without pressure thereon so as to accentuate or to lessen the vibrations
of the reed according to the requirements.

page_text: The tail end of the tuning slide has been described as being carried out through
the instrument and this is intended to express that it is a convenient way for
bringing the tuning slides of the free reeds within reach of the tuner's hands.
Said tail pieces of the tuning slide may be applied so that they may be simply
advanced and retired by operation of pushing or pulling but in many cases it will
be desirable to fit the said tail ends or shanks of the tuning slide with screws male
and female so that by turning screw buttons or squared heads of the tail pieces by
a key or such like the tuning slides may be advanced and retired to effect the
tuning of the reeds.
I am aware that a sliding pressing bar or piece has been employed in connection
with the striking reeds of organs and such might be used with free reeds but this
is not the intention under this invention because such action of pressure upon the
outside of a free reed would cause the voicing to be very detrimentally affected.
Deted this 20th day of April 1885.

page_text: Improvements in and in Means for Tuning Free Reeds of
Musical Instruments.
:
I, GEORGE COUSINS of Minnis Road, Birchington-on-Sea in the county of Kent,
Organist, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN, AND IN MEANS FOR TUNING FREE REEDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in, and in means for tuning free
reeds of harmoniums, concertinas, American organs, and other free reed musical
instruments the object being to effect the "sharpening" or "flattening" of the note
emitted by the vibrations of the free reed by means of a new or improved tuning
slide or sliding piece constructed and arranged so as to positively hold the reed at
its base and sides without pressing upon the reed or forcing it within the opening
in which it vibrates, said slide being adjustable so as to cause it to be in contact
with the free reed at a point thereof, in its free length varying according to the
adjustment of the slide, and so to provide for rendering the note sharp or flat
without detrimentally effecting the voicing of the reed.
This is effected by means of a tuning slide or sliding piece arranged to work in
grooves cut on or in the sides of the base of the free reeds, and the sides of the free
reeds themselves, or in two grooves cut under the reed at each side of the fixed end,
said grooves being made also for a certain distance up and along the sides of the
reeds.
In the drawings annexed Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a free reed with the
improved tuning slide in position, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1,
Fig. 1B a transverse section, and Fig. 1° a perspective view.
Fig. 2, is a top plan view of modified construction, Fig. 2ª a longitudinal section,
Fig. 2B a transverse section, and Fig. 2° a perspective view.
Figs. 3, 3, and 3B are plan, longitudinal section, and transverse section respec-
tively of a further modification.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are transverse sections of modifications of the slide
Figs. 1 to 10.
A is the free reed attached at A¹ to the body B. said reed A. being at its free
end capable of vibrating in the free opening in B.
The tuning slide a, spans or saddles the base end of the free reed, in Figs. 1 to 1°,
and 4, 5 and 6 it spans the reed, and in Figs. 2 to 2º, and 3 to 3B it saddles the
reed. The vee or angle shaped edges to the free reeds, and the grooves cut in the
sides of the fixed ends of the free reeds are shown in the sections Figs. 1B, 2B, 3B,
and 6, and the modifications whereby the grooves are undercut in the reed block
under the fixed ends of the reeds are shown in the sections Figs. 4 and 5.
The tuning slide a, is made as shown in Figs. 1 to 1° of somewhat horseshoe
shape or as shown in Figs. 2 to 2°, and in Figs. 3 to 3B of balf tubular or "saddle"
shape so as to clip and slide on the fixed base of the reed, and yet to hold, by the
fore part of the slide a, the sides of the free reed. In Figs. 2 and 2° the half

page_text: tubular slide piece has an opening b cut out therein, so as to render the forward
part al of the slide a, (by which the free reed is held) of a very light character
whereby great delicacy of contact is obtained for the tuning effect, and whilst
substantial hold is provided for the slide a, upon the base of the free reed even the
finest reeds may have this tuning slide applied thereto owing to the delicacy of
By this con-
contact of the fore part a¹ (Figs. 2 and 2°) of the tuning slide a.
struction reeds of irregular shape or of irregular widths can readily have these
slides applied thereto.
The tail wire of the slide indicates means for operating the slide from the
exterior of the instrument if necessary.
The note of the free reeds will be sharpened as the slide a or a a¹ is advanced,
and flattened as it is drawn back towards the base.
I am aware that a sliding pressing bar or piece has been employed in connection
with the "striking-reeds" of organs, and such might be used with free reeds but
this is not the intention under this invention because such action of pressure upon
the outside of a free reed would cause the reed to be pressed within the opening a¹
in the reed block and thereby detrimentally affect the voicing of the reed..
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
'
Firstly. The construction of free reeds with a tuning slide a or a, a¹ for purposes
of tuning same as herein set forth and shown by. the drawings.
וי
Secondly. The tuning slide of a free reed constructed of the horse-shoe shape or
the half-barrelled or saddle form as herein set forth and shown in Figs. 1 to 1°,
2 to 2° and in Figs. 3 to 3B of the drawings.
Thirdly. The tuning slide of a free reed made to slide upon the base of the
free reed with the cut away portion thereof b and the light forward portion a¹ as
and for the purpose herein set forth.