Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, RICHARD LEHMANN, of 42, Geuthineistrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Musician, 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and has for
its object to produce sounds that shall have the qualities of those usually produced
by bow instruments while the instruments may be capable of operation in the
manner of a piano.
My invention consists in providing a series of bells or tubes of glass, metal or
other suitable material which I arrange to be struck by means of the usual pianoforte
haminer mechanism while at the same time their rotation being effected, and a
pressure hammer being placed in contact therewith whereby vibrations result by
relative motion in the same manner as in a bow instrument, while crescendo or
increase or diminution of sound may be effected by variation of pressure upon the
keys operating the respective hammers.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a key board arranged in accordance with the
present invention, while
Figure 2 shows detail in end and side elevations of the mounted extremities of the
stroke and pressure hammers.
Figure 3 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 1, while
Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative arrangement for damping vibration.
A
In carrying the invention into effect a bell or tube a is provided and mounted upon a
vertical spindle upon which is also mounted a small pulley about which a cord b lies.
A bell or tube a is arranged to be operated by each of the individual keys employed,
and at the extremity of the lever c two hammers, a stroke hammer d and pressure
hammer e, are connected, and are mounted upon a transverse bar as illustrated.
fork lever b1 pivots about a centre 63 and has a cranked arm b³ arranged to be operated
by the uplifting of the extremity of the key lever c, and by such means the arm b¹
presses upon the cord b carrying it backwards and as one end of the cord b is fixed
while the other may be connected to a spring, the movement of the cord by friction
partially rotates the pulley and motion of the bell or tube a results; at the same
time as the respective hammers are operated by the keys. These hammers are
mounted upon the same fixed axis fand are arranged so that the stroke hammer dis
first struck by the key lever c and compresses the spring forcing the pressure
hammer e against the bell a simultaneously with the stroke of the hammer d and
on the release of the key lever c the hanımer d is forced back by the spring g; a
sound is thereby produced while the pressure hammer lies against the glass and
friction between it and the rotating bell or tube allows the sound to vibrate or be
toned away. The arm c¹ attached to the key c also further presses the hammer e
against the bell a when the key c is struck. By such means the player is enabled
to increase or diminish the sound by heavy or light pressure upon the keys. A

page_text: damper is provided in the upper part of the interior of the bell or tube against
which it lies and moderates or damps the sound as soon as the key is
released.
Mounted near each bell or tube so that it may act upon the exterior there is
placed in addition a second moderating or dampening arrangemeut as illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5 in which the moderator or damper i is shown as being operated by
means of a collar m upon the axle n of the bell or tube a, motion being effected on
the operation of the keys rotating the pulleys by the cord b as herein before described.
A transverse ledge k which is capable of being moved in the direction of its length
by operation of pedals permits of the damper i being completely removed from the
bell or tube by means of an operating lever which is turned aside and thus swivels
the bracket. o carrying the damper i. This second damper i when placed in position
reduces the vibrations and when swivelled away from contact with the bell or tube
allows the production of loud vibrations or sounds.
It will be understood that the greatest dampness or highest temperature would not
effect the tone of an instrument as hereinbefore described, and there would therefore
be no necessity for the periodic tuning as in the case of pianos of the usual
construction.
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 :-
1. Musical instruments consisting of bells or tubes a made from glass metal or
suitable material which are operated by suitable pianoforte mechanism in such a
manner that they are first struck while the sound is continued by means of pressure
upon the bell or tube whilst being rotated whereby an increase or dimination of
sounds can be effected by corresponding pressure upon the keys substantially for
the purpose described.
2. Improvements in musical instruments substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1807
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.