Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1837
Complete Left, 6th Mar., 1838
Complete Accepted, 6th June, 1888
I, WILLIAM HENRY HANSON, of Denmark Villa, Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Sussex,
Expert in musical instruments, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to drums of the kind or class known as side-drums, also to
drum-sticks, and is designed to provide various improvements the nature of which is
hereinafter described.
According to my invention I make the "battre "head (viz., the head which is
to be beaten by the sticks) of wood instead of vellum, and I stretch a string which is
preferably of gut covered with metal, across this head, the said string having attached
thereto at one end a screw or other suitable appliance whereby the tension of the said
string may be increased or decreased. Secured to this string there is a ring of wood
which is in contact with the wooden battre head and when the latter is beaten
with the sticks, the said ring vibrates and a loud metallic tone is produced. The
bottom head of my improved drum is made of vellum or any material ordinarily used,
but I dispense with the transverse strings or "snare" usually applied to the bottom
head of drums of this class. Any suitable wood may be used for the battre head but
it should not be very hard wood, and I prefer that it should be about three sixteenths
of an inch in thickness.
As there is little or no elasticity in the battre head made according to my invention
I provide for the elasticity which is necessary when the drum is being played, by
providing the drum-stick-heads with india rubber or some suitable elastic compound.
I prefer to do this by making a groove in the said drum-stick heads and inserting
therein a ring or other piece of india-rubber or elastic compound in such manner that

page_text: when the sticks are used the india rubber or compound will be the only part which
comes in contact with the battre head. Drum-sticks made in this manner will also
be found of considerable utility for learners or others when practising as they
will, when used for this purpose in connection with a suitable surface, cause very
little noise.
Drums made according to my invention have various advantages as compared with
those made in the usual manner, amongst which are the following viz. (1) the
liability of the battre head to be broken is reduced to a minimum; and (2) the weight
of the drum is considerably reduced for the reason that the heavy metallic parts
ordinarily used are dispensed with in my arrangement.
Dated this 6th day of June 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Drums and Drum-sticks.
WILLIAM HENRY HANSON 40, Wightman Villas, Wightman Road, Hornsey,
Middlesex, late of Denmark Villa, Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Sussex, Expert in Musical
Instruments, 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:-
"
"
C
«
My invention relates to drums of the kind or class known as side-drums, also to
drum-sticks, and is designed to provide various improvements the nature of which is
hereinafter described. According to my invention I apply to the top of a side-drum
shell of the usual form, and of the material of oak, a "battre" head (viz., the head
which is to be beaten by the sticks) made of wood instead of vellum; and to the bottom
part of said drum-shell I attach a vellum head of the ordinary. kind. The usual side-
drum appendage, termed the "timbre or snare," consisting of two or more cords of
gut tightened across, and lying against, the lower or bottom drum-head, whereby a
peculiar jarring or rattling effect is produced when the drum is beaten, I dispense with
in preference for a more effective "timbre" or snare "appliance which I connect with
the upper or
"battre" head of my drum.
In the accompanying Drawings, which form part of this specification, 1 show the
construction, and the manner of operation of the aforesaid improved timbre" or
snare" appliance-In Fig. 1, representing a plan of top of drum, "A" indicates
a "battre "head of wood; "B" a ring of wood forming part of " timbre" appliance;
"C. C." a metallic or metal covered gut string; "D screw holding & regulating
tension of string C. C; "E" button or nut. Fig. 2. represents section of drum
through E&D of Fig. 1. The same letters are employed in both figures to indicate
identical parts. Across the "battre" head "A" I stretch the metallic string "CC"
affixing one end of sanic to button or nut "E," and the other end to tension screw "D."
Secured to string C. C. is the ring of wood "B" which is in contact with the upper
or "battre "head "A," and when this latter is beaten by the sticks, the ring of
wood "B" vibrates, and produces in concussion with the "battre "head A, the peculiar
sharp, close, "rattle "effect, specially desired in drums of this class. The string C. C.
is also put in vibration by similar means, and, at such time, it emits a distinct, sustained,
sound which reinforces the general resonance of the drum.
"
"
"
The battre head of my improved drum may be made of a single piece of
any moderately hard wood, and I prefer that it should be about three sixteenths of an
inch in thickness; or it may be constructed of three veneers-preferably of Swiss pine
or American white wood-one veneer placed on another, with the grain reversed, and
the whole glued together, and further strengthened by small brass brads or nails driven
through the head and "clouted" on the opposite or inner side of same.
As there is little or no elasticity in the battre head made according to my invention,
1 provide for the elasticity which is necessary when the drum is being played,
by providing the drum-stick heads with india rubber or some suitable elastic
compound.

page_text: As shown in accompanying Drawings by sectional view of drum stick (Fig. 3) I
prefer to do this by making a groove in the said drum-stick-heads, and inserting therein
a ring or other piece of india-rubber or elastic compound in such manner that when
the sticks are used the india-rubber or compound will be the only part which comes
in contact with the battre head. Drum sticks made in this manner will also be found
of considerable utility for learners or others when practising, as they will when
used for this purposo in connection with a suitable surface, cause very little
noise.
Drums made according to my invention have various advantages as compared with
those made in the usual manner; amongst which are the following, viz. (1) the battre
head of wood is practically unbreakable in connection with drum beating, and when
worn out it can be replaced by a new head in a few minutes and the drum is made
immediately effective and serviceable. (2) a more powerful, incisive, and brilliant
tone; quite drum-like in quality or character, and unvarying under any conditions
of weather. (3) the weight of the drum is considerably reduced for the reason that
the heavy metallic parts ordinarily used are dispensed with in my arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim as new is
(a) the production of a side-drum having the upper or "battre "head of wood instead
of vellum, and a snare or timbre" appliance operating upon the said batire head
of wood.
23
(b) the production of side-drum sticks provided with heads or rings of india-
rubber or other elastic compound.