IMPROVEMENTS IN HARMONIUMS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wardle Eastland Evans, of Cantelows Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Professor of Music, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARMONIUMS.”
-
Sealed the 2nd June 1876, and dated the 10th December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wardle Eastland Evans
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th December 1875.
I, WARDLE EASTLAND EVANS, of Cantelows Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARMONIUMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of producing what is known as
expression" in harmoniums, and consists essentially of a peculiar com-
bination and arrangement of valves or pallets and." well," whereby the
"expression" can be applied at the will of the performer either to the
treble or to the bass separately, or to both treble and bass conjointly,
provision being made for sustaining the sound during the return motion

page_text: of the feeder of the bass whilst the "expression" is given to the melody
or treble, and vice versa.
"
or
In carrying out this Invention I divide the "well" by a transverse
partition into two distinct chambers, each of which is in direct commu-
nication with its corresponding feeder and also with the "reservoir
bellows below, which is common to both chambers, the communication
with such bellows being opened or closed at will by a pallet acted upon
by a draw stop, which is in fact the "expression" stop, two of such
stops being employed. A further communication is made by means of
another pallet and hollow trunk between the treble chamber and the
"reservoir"
or bellows and an opening is made in the partition between
the two chambers to allow of intercommunication between the two when
required, the said opening being provided with a pallet for closing the
same at the will of the performer.
When "expression" is required in the melody alone, whilst the accom-
paniment is given with non-expression (an effect hitherto unattainable
in harmoniums), the pallet in the left-hand chamber of the "well" is
to be opened, so as to establish free communication with the "reservoir,"
the same motion simultaneously opening the pallet in the right-hand
chamber on the before-mentioned trunk, and closing the pallet in the
partition between the two chambers, thereby admitting sufficient wind
from the "reservoir" into the right-hand chamber to sustain the sound
when the feeder of that chamber is returning, and vice versa.
The above described improvements are applicable to all existing har-
moniums as well as to those of my manufacture.

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Wardle Eastland Evans, Her special
licence that I, the said Wardle Eastland Evans, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Wardle Eastland
Evans, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARMONIUMS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Wardle Eastland Evans, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, 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 within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
;
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Wardle Eastland Evans, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
<
"
My said Invention relates to a mode of producing what is known as
expression" in harmoniums, and consists essentially of a peculiar con-
struction of wind chest or "well" in combination with a peculiar
arrangement of valves or pallets, whereby the "expression can be
applied at the will of the performer to the treble separately, or to both
treble and bass conjointly, provision being made for sustaining the sound
by supplying wind from the left feeder during the return motion of the
right feeder, whilst the "expression" is given to the melody or treble.
:
"
In carrying out my said Invention I divide the "well" by a tranverse
partition into two distinct chambers, each of which is in direct commu-
nication with its corresponding feeder and also with the "reservoir
below, which is common to both chambers, the communication with the
reservoir being opened or closed at will by an "expression" pallet in

page_text: consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Dividing the wind chest or "well" of a harmonium into two
chambers, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described
and illustrated by my Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the two separate chambers C, C¹, of the
"well" with their respective "expression" pallets D, D', and pallet G,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illus.
trated by my Drawings.
3 Thirdly. The wind trunk K and pallets i and m when combined with
the left chamber C, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of the partition B, chambers C, C',
"expression" pallets D, D', pallet G, wind trunk K, and pallets i and m
"with the feeders H, H', and "reservoir" E when arranged to operate
together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wardle Eastland Evans, have here-
unto set my hand and seal; this Tenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
¨W. E. EVANS. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
14, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.