CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO KEYED INSTRUMENTS, AS THE ORGAN, PIANOFORTE, HARPSICHORD, OR KEYS AR OR MAY OR CAN TO ANY INSTRUMENT OR SET OF INSTRUMENTS TO WHICH BE AFFIXED
Year: 1816

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM'
SIMMONS, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Writing Master and Teacher
of Accounts, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of
May, in the fifty-sixth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
William Simmons, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Simmons, my
exors, admors, and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Townof Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
APPLICABLE TO KEYED INSTRUMENTS, AS THE ORGAN, PIANOFORTE, HARPSICHORD, OR
KEYS AR OR MAY OR CAN
TO ANY INSTRUMENT OR SET OF INSTRUMENTS TO WHICH
BE AFFIXED;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said William Simmons, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months after
the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation
being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Simmons, do hereby declare that my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the Drawing hereunto aunexed,and the following description
thereof (that is to say) :-
Those parts of a barrel organ which, when the barrel is revolving round,
lift up the keys and open the valves of the organ, I call artificial notes
for the sake of distinction. I make artificial notes moveable, so that
after being set to one tune they may be taken from the barrel and set
over again to another tune, and so in succession they may be set to various
tunes at the option of the possessor.
I call them moveable artificial notes,
moveable notes, or notes only, and I claim the Invention of them. A
barrel is the same thing as a cylinder. To make a barrel for moveable
artificial notes, I take flat metal rings of equal diameter, and equal in
number to the keys of a keyed instrument which I intend shall be played
by means of my Inventions or improvements. Any hard metal or wood
will answer both for the rings and moveable notes, which is capable of
having small teeth cut in it; I prefer brass. I fix the said rings on a
cylinder or drum, turning truly on its own axis,at the same distance from one
another as the ends of the keys are from one another, each ring answering to
one key. When I mention the ends of the keys, I mean that end or those
ends which are acted upon and come into contact with artificial notes, unless
I mention to the contrary. In the middle of the outer surface of each ring
I turn a rectangular channel, a groove one eighth of an inch deep.
Fig. 2nd is a view of a ring in which the outer edge only is seen; the said
channel is seen at A and B. I then cut a number of equal teeth on the
outer surface of the said rings, so that the spaces between the teeth shall fall
one eighth of an inch below the rectangular channels; by good workmanship
less than one eighth of an inch will answer in the above cases. I then fix
them on a cylinder, so that all the teeth and spaces between them(the teeth)
shall lie in rows parallel to the axis of the cylinder (which is thus formed of
rings), and in that respect shall be like a fluted cylinder. This method of
fixing the rings is adapted on the supposition that the ends of the keys are
in a line with each other, and in that manner they should be fixed. The
dimensions of the teeth and spaces between them, taken in the direction of the
before-mentioned rectangular channels, I call the length of the said teeth and
spaces; their dimensions in a direction across the cylinder, parallel to its axis,
I call the breadth of the teeth and spaces; and their dimensions in the
direction of the radii of the rings I call the depth of the teeth and spaces.

page_text: When I shall mention the cylinder, I shall mean that which is formed by
putting equal rings on a cylinder or drum, and not the cylinder on which the
rings are put; and the teeth and spaces of the rings I shall sometimes call
the teeth and spaces of the cylinder, unless I mention to the contrary.
The diameter of the cylinder I reckon to be that which would be obtained
by applying a pair of callipers to one of the equal rings, putting one bowed
leg to the bottom of the rectangular channel on a tooth, and the other
leg on an opposite tooth at the bottom of the same rectangular channel.
There are equal divisions on the cylinder parallel to the axis of the same,
which I shall call demisemiquaver divisions, and the breadth of them will
consist either in the length of the teeth of the cylinder and in the length of
the spaces of the same, each being reckoned the breadth of one demisemi-
quaver division; or they will consist in the length of one tooth and one space,
both taken together being reckoned the breadth of one demisemiquaver
division. The former I shall call the first general method, and the latter
the second general method; so that, in the first general method, one row
of teeth and one row of spaces is reckoned each one demisemiquaver divi-
sion, and, in the second general method, one row of teeth and the next
row of spaces is reckoned together one demisemiquaver division.
Fig. 3d represents a moveable note; its length is reckoned in the direction
from a to b, a fromb to a; and a is the fore end and b is the back end of the
same. Its depth is reckoned in the direction of the dotted line c, d, and
its breadth in a direction perpendicular to the said dotted line c, d. The
visible side k, k, is the right side, and the opposite side is the left side of the
same. The part included between the lines a, b, and m, n, is the top or
upper part of the same, and the part between the lines m, n, and o, p, is the
bottom of the moveable note. That part projecting from its concave surface
is called its tooth, and its dimensions are reckoned in the same directions as
those of the note. These definitions being understood, what is advanced
relative to moveable notes will be understood the more easily. There is a'
small channel in each moveable note from one end to the other, parallel to
its sides, equal in depth to the depth of the upper part of the same, and as
much deeper as the diameter of a piece of strong and fine caigut or other
small string.
Fig. 4th is an end view of a section of the moveable note cut off at the
dotted line c, d, Fig. 3rd, shewing the channel, which must be wide enough
for a piece of catgut or other string to be placed in it along the bottom of
the same, or one side of the upper part may be taken nearly down, see

page_text: Fig. 5th, or the channel may be made sloping, see Fig. 6; or, forsome pur
poses, there may be a channel on each side, see Figure 7th, which is an end
view of a double-channelled moveable note. The depth of the upper part of
a note is according to what is required to lift the keys, and the depth of the
bottom part of the same must be equal to, but may be greater than, the depth
of the channels of the rings. Fig. 1st shews a ring with moveable notes fixed
on it, and its demisemiquaver divisions are after the second general method.
C is a quaver.
D is a dotted quaver. E, a dotted crotchet. G, a demi-
semiquaver. H, a dotted semiquaver. Then, after the rest of a quaver, I is
a semiquaver. K, a double-dotted quaver. L, a minim. M, a double-dotted
crotchet. N is a dotted minim. The dotted lines, which are parts of radii to
the center of the ring, show how many demisemiquaver divisions each move-
able note contains, where it is evident that each moveable note longer than a
moveable demisemiquaver is made up of as many perfect demisemiquaver divi-
sions as the note which it represents contains demisemiquavers minus one
together with the length of one moveable demisemiquaver. Thus a moveable
quaver contains three perfect demisemiquaver divisions, together with a part
equal in length to the moveable demisemiquaver, see G; a double-dotted. quaver
contains seven demisemiquavers, and a moveable double-dotted quaver con-
tains six perfect demisemiquaver divisions, and a part equal in length to the
moveable demisemiquaver. The imperfect demisemiquaver division contained
in every moveable note which is longer than a moveable demisemiquaver, I
call the demisemiquaver part of the same moveable note, and it may be either
at the fore end or at the back end of a note; in the Drawings it is shewn at
the fore end. When any number of notes are to be played in the same time
as a certain number of the same kind, as for example, three crotchets in the
time of two crotchets, it will be scarcely possible to make them all exactly of
a length, but they may be made very nearly all of a length by the following
method: Reduce the two crotchets into demisemiquavers, there are sixteen ;
divide them by three, it goes five times and one over; the one over I put
to one of the notes and that makes it six demisemiquaver long, and the
other two notes are each five demisemiquavers long. Again, suppose six
quavers to be played in the time of four quavers which contain sixteen
demisemiquavers, these divided by six go twice and four over, which four
I divide equally between four of the six notes to be played, so that four
out of six notes are each three demisemiquavers long, or they may have
any other proportion at the pleasure of the maker. Likewise, it is equally
evident that moveable notes may be made of the length of any number of
demisemiquaver notes, even such as there are not any musical characters

page_text: is to be played as a grace note according to the notes following it, either
one of demisemiquavers must be a moveable semiquaver, or the move-
able quaver must be five demisemiquavers long and generally, when any note
or number of notes are to be played in the same time as another note or
number of notes, and both when reduced into demisemiquavers are not
equal, they must be made equal, either by addition to one or substraction
from the other. Moveable demisemiquavers may be joined together by their
bottom parts, and they will serve for shakes. Every remark already made
applies to the first. general method, and to those may be added that in this
method, there will need two sorts of every moveable note which is longer
than a moveable demisemiquaver, that is to say, two sorts of moveable
crotchets, two sorts of moveable quavers, and so on.
Fig. 8th shews a ring with notes on it after the first general method. A is
one sort of a crochet, its fore end being on a space, and its back end on a
tooth. B is another sort of a crotchet, it fore end being on a tooth, and its
back end on a space. C and D are moveable double-dotted minims of the
two sorts. There are five sorts of moveable demisemiquavers. E is one sort
on a tooth, but its tooth is in a space at its back end. G is another sort
on a tooth, but its tooth is in a space at its fore end. His another
sort entirely on a space. The two next are double ones which are used when
two demisemiquavers follow one another immediately on the same ring; K
is one sort, the first being on a tooth, and the second one on a space; L is
another sort, the first being on a space, aud the second on a tooth. The
communication between the double notes, and between E and G and their
teeth, is not seen in the Drawings, as it lies hid in the channels of the ring.
As G is entirely in a space, and has no side support, its bottom part, at the
end opposite to the silent interval (to be explained afterwards) should project
out as inuch as the space allowed for the breadth of the key and the silent
interval will allow, which will give it a side support. In the second general
method it is immaterial whether the fore end of a note be on or towards a
space and the back end on a tooth, or the reverse, only by the latter method
the teeth of each moveable note may be quite at the back end of the same.
In Fig. 1st the first method is followed. The bottom part of a note fits into
the chaunels of the rings, see A and B, Fig. 2nd, and the teeth of the same
fits into the spaces between the teeth of the rings. Let each note (rest notes
as well as others) in only one part of a piece of music (the bass, for instance,

page_text: which is the longest that is intended to be played by means of moveable notes,
be reduced into demisemiquavers, and the sum of them obtained. Three or
four more should be added to the above number to leave room for the fasten-
ing strings, as will be shown afterwards. Suppose the number to be five
hundred. The number of demisemiquaver divisions shewn in the Drawings
is less than it is probable will ever be adopted by ony one; but the method
and general principle is exemplified as well by a small as a great number of
demisemiquaver divisions. The dotted circle a, b, c, d, Fig. 1st, which is even
with the convex surface of the moveable notes where it cuts the bottom of the
end of the key Q, T, shews the breadth of the same. The breadth of demi-
semiquaver divisions depends on three things, namely, the length of the move-
able demisemiquaver, the breadth of the bottom of the key (or keys), and the
length of what I shall call, for the sake of distinction, the silent interval. An
organist, when playing a piece of music, and passing his fingers from one key
to another, must of necessity take up a certain portion of time (however small
it may be), and this time I call the silent interval, and in setting a barrel after
the common method with fixed artificial notes it is found necessary to leave
this small space which I call the silent interval, it being the longest when the
rate of movement is the quickest. In this particular there is not any difference
between fixed artificial notes and moveable artificial notes, as the demisemi-
quaver divisions are fixed. The case is the same, as to the silent interval, as
when a person is setting a barrel after the common method to different tunes
with the same length of music, but to be played at different rates of movement
with any given rate of movement. The moveable notes to be played legato
will be longer than the rest, and those to be played staccato will be shorter
than the rest, in which matter individual taste is to be consulted. There
should be a different set of moveable notes for every rate of movement which
is so far different from other rates as to require different lengths of moveable
notes, as it is evident that the same barrel, with the same fixed artificial notes
on it, may be turned rather slower or rather quicker than any fixed rate
(which may be called its proper rate) without producing any disagreeable
effect. But in fixing the breadth of the demisemiquaver divisions, the silent
interval should be taken at the longest, otherwise a piece of music to be
played at the prestissimo rate can not be played, properly on the cylinder.
Granted, for the sake of example, that the breadth of the bottom of the
keys, the length of the moveable demisemiquaver, and the silent interval,
when the greatest is each one thirtieth of an inch, the sum of all is one
. tenth of an inch, which is a very practicable breadth. (In the Drawings
these dimensions are double the above, for the sake of being more dis

page_text: tinctly discovered). Five hundred times one tenth of an inch is fifty
inches, which in the circumference of a circle whose diameter is 15 909
inches. Substract from this twice the depth of a moveable note, and it
gives the diameter of the cylinder in the sense before explained. To get
the maximum of music on a cylinder of a given diameter, the breadth of
the bottom of the keys and the length of the moveable demisemiquaver should
be the minimum; and in this particular much will depend on the skill and
dexterity of the workman. Some workmen will make them less than others.
The number of teeth to be cut on the rings, if the first general be used,
will be half the number of demisemiquaver divisions, namely, in the above
supposed case, two hundred and fifty, and the length of the teeth and the
length of the spaces must be equal. If the second general method be used,
there must be five hundred teeth cut on the rings, and it is immaterial
whether the length of the teeth and the length of the spaces be equal or not,
only all the teeth should be equal, and all the spaces equal to each other. In
fixing the rings on a cylinder or drum after the first general method, it is not
necessary for all the teeth and all the spaces to lie in rows (as is the case in
the second general method); but some of the rings may have their teeth in a
line with the spaces of others. When rings are fixed close together on a
drum, one side of the channel may be taken down. To fasten moveable notes
in their places that the resistance of the keys, when the barrel is revolving
round, may not move them out of their places, Idrill two holes, one in the
space e, and another in the space g, Fig. 1st. I put a piece of string or cat-
gut through the hole at e, drawing it all through but one end, which I fasten
by a knot or otherwise. I then pass the string round the ring in the direction
c, d, a, b, laying it in the channel of the same, (and in the channels of the
notes, if any be fixed on the ring,) and put the other end through the hole
at g, and fasten it to the spring S, U. The channels in the rings prevent the
notes from moving to either side, and the teeth of the moveable notes fitting
into the spaces of the rings, keep them from moving backwards or forwards,
and the spring S, U, operating on the fastening string, keeps the notes in their
places. There may be two springs, one to each end of each string. The
edges of the holes in the spaces e and g, and all other edges that may come
into contact with the strings, should be rounded off, that the strings may not
be torn by them. To take off the edges of the teeth at the bottom of the
channels, take a thin piece of steel of the same side shape as a long moveable
note without a tooth, and let its concave edge be formed into internal curves
similar to the external curve to be given to the teeth, and being rubbed
across the channels will take off the edges of the teeth. Small rollers may

page_text: be placed at the holes in the spaces to diminish friction, and the said holes
should all be in two rows on the cylinder. To facilitate setting music on a
cylinder, I use what I call a string holder, the Invention of which I claim as
a part of my Invention. A, B, Fig. 9, is a piece of metal in which are as
many dove-tail'd grooves as there are keys to the keyed instrument (only ten
are shewn, they being sufficient to explain by). The parts marked C, D, are
sliders in the grooves which have liberty to slide downwards in the direction
C, D, about an inch, and are kept up by springs, which must be stronger
than the springs inside the cylinder. The parts R are small rollers having
small channels turned on them, and themselves do turn on pins projecting
from ene side of the sliders, and are at the same distance from one another as
the keys are from one another. Fix the piece A, B, immoveably over the
cylinder, parallel to its axis, with the rollers about an inch from the teeth of
the same, and with the sliders in the position as shewn by O, i, D, m, Fig. 1,
which is a side view of one of the sliders of the string holder. The fore end
of the first moveable note, in setting a tune on the cylinder, should be on or
near the next demisemiquaver division to e, in the direction O, d, from e; and
when only one spring is used to each fastening string, bring that part of the
cylinder at or near V under the roller R. Then take a piece of wire hooked
at one end; put the hooked end into a space under the fastening string, and
lift the string over the roller R. Then turn round the cylinder in the direc-
tion C, D, L, N, till it comes into the position as shewn in the Figure.
Then, in order to fix a moveable note, put it into the position as shewn by P.
where the string is in the channel of P ; then, holding P by its upper part,
and lifting up the string gently, slide the note l'into the position as shewn by
the note O. In this case, when the string is lifted up, the spring belonging
to the slider O i, D m, yields and stretches, because it would require a very
strong string and a strong effort to make the spring S, U, stretch in the above
case. As the setting of music advances, turn round the cylinder in the direction
in which it turns when playing a tune, and when it is turned round so far that
the space y comes near the roller R, then turn it back again a little, and the
setting may proceed on the side d of the roller as well as on the side P of
the same, or this may be done before the space g comes near the roller R,
should it be thought proper. If the moveable notes be double channelled, the
rollers should be doubled channelled, and have holes in the rings and springs
inside the cylinder accordingly. Though rollers are not absolutely necessary,
yet they are adviseable to the string holder. When the desired music is fixed
on the cylinder, lift off the fastening strings from the rollers, and let the
spring S, U, pull the string tight, when, if thought necessary, small pegs or

page_text: plugs may be driven into the holes g of the cylinder; but if the spring S, U,
be of a tolerable strength that will be useless. When very strong fastening is
wanted, iron or brass wire may be added to the strings, and laid in the same
channels. What has been said relative to one roller R and fastening string,
answers for all belonging to the same cylinder. When the fastening strings
are put over the rollers of the string holder, there will be a strong
effort to lift the axis of the cylinder out of its place, and security must
be provided against that; or, if each end of A, B, Fig. 9, be connected
to a piece of wood or inetal, and those pieces connected with with collars
having liberty to turn on the said axis, there will be no such tendency to lift
the cylinder out of its place. Wheels on an axis will answer the purpose of
rings on a cylinder or drum, but they are not adviseable. If more than one
time be wanted to be set on the same cylinder at the same ti 1. c, there should
be as many more rings between the first mentioned as are wanted to set tunes
multiplied by the number of keys of the keyed instrument, as is evident to
any one acquainted with common barrel organs. Instead of rings on a
cylinder or drum, or wheels on an axis, let a hollow metal cylinder be turned
truly toan equal outside diameter made to revolve on an axis, and be fluted with
channels parallel to its axis of the same breadth as the length of the spaces
of the rings (when rings are used), and as deep as the whole depth of the
said spaces from the top of the side support of the moveable notes to the
bottom of the said spaces; then let it be channelled with channels perpen-
dicular to the said axis, as broad and as deep as the channels of the rings at a
distance from one another, leaving a proper side for the channels, and likewise
to be regulated by the distance from each other of the keys of the keyed
instrument; or parts of a whole cylinder, fluted and channelled as before, may
be fixed on a cylinder or drum turning truly on an axis. When I mention
channels with regard to the cylinder, I mean rectangular channels, as shewn
at A and B, Fig. 2, unless I specify otherwise. Moveable notes may be
made with teeth either on the right or left sides or on both sides of the
same; at the same time that they be furnished with teeth projecting from
their concave surface, and the side teeth will fit into the spaces between
the parts forming the sides of the channels perpendicular to the axis of
the cylinder. If side teeth be fixed to the notes without teeth on the con-
cave surface of the same, then the channels perpendicular to the axis, and
those parallel to the said axis of the cylinder, should be all of the same
depth. It is plain that a wooden barrel may be pinned with pins so as to
form the proper channel and spaces for the side teeth instead of being of
Or the wooden barrel inay be cased
metal fluted and channelled as before.

page_text: with sheet iron or other metal, and have holes made in the same to receive
the pins, and then pinned. Let a metal hollow cylinder be fluted with
channels parallel to its axis of a depth sufficient for the depth of the teeth of
moveable notes, and have other channels perpendicular to its axis at equal
distances, and in them put flat wire tightly lapped round the cylinder at the
bottom of the said channels, and brazed together or otherwise fastened at
their ends. The breadth of the wire should be equal to the depth of the
bottom part of the notes added to the depth of the teeth of the same, and be
made quite or nearly of the proper curve before it be lapped round the
cylinder. Then the distances between the flat wires will form channels per-
pendicular to the axis of the cylinder, serving as a side support for the notes.
Or it is evident that wires may be fixed on a wooden cylinder so as to form
channels both perpendicular to its axis, and others parallel to the same. The
teeth of moveable notes adapted to cylinders whose channels are formed with
wires must be on the concave surface of the same, as there will not be any
spaces in the sides of the channels perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder for
side teeth. A metal cylinder may have holes drilled in it so as to form rows
of the said holes parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and circles of the said
holes perpendicular to the axis of the same. The teeth of the moveable notes
adapted to the cylinder being made round or otherwise, so as to fit exactly
into the holes, and the side support of the notes not depending on channels
perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, but on the teeth of the notes, they
(the teeth) should be deeper than the teeth of the before-mentioned moveable
notes. The long notes should have a tooth at or near each end of the same,
and there should be a small channel in the direction of the fastening strings
to keep them perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. This kind of a
cylinder made be made of wood, and cased over with sheet iron or other
metal before the holes are drilled. Let a metal cylinder be fluted with dove-
tail'd channels parallel to its axis, as deep as the depth of the tooth of a
moveable note,and have other rectangular channels cut in it perpendicular to
its axis a trifle broader than the breadth of the moveable notes, and as deep
as the former channels and at an equal distance from each other, by which
means there will be rows of teeth on the cylinder broader at the upper end
than at the lower end. The moveable notes here will not be placed in the
channels but upon the teeth of the cylinder, and the teeth of the notes will be
dove-tail'd to fit into the spaces between the teeth of the cylinder, see Fig. 10.
In fixing a moveable note of this kind, put its tooth into a channel perpen-
dicular to the axis of the cylinder, and slide it in a direction parallel to the
axis of the same, so as to fit the tooth of the note into a space between the

page_text: teeth of the cylinder, then fasten it by fixing two pieces of wood or metal
tightly into the channel on each side of the tooth of the note. The long note
should have a tooth at or near each end. To a cylinder of this kind, and to
those which will be specified, there will not need any string holder, strings,
springs inside the cylinder, nor channels in the notes. Let a metal cylinder
be formed in every respect like the last mentioned, only let the channels
parallel to its axis not be dovetail'd, but rectangular, and the teeth of the
notes corresponding. Let there be a small channel or nick on one end of
the teeth of the notes, as shewn in the tooth of Fig. 11th, and a similar
channel or nick on the ends of the teeth of the cylinder, so that when
the tooth of a note is put into a space between the teeth of a cylinder
both channels or nicks together will form a hole, into which thrust a pin, and
if the pin fit tightly the note will not require any other fastening. The long
notes should have a tooth at or near each end. The depth of the notes
shown in Fig. 10th and 11th are not so deep as those notes which fit into
channels perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, as is evident by comparing
Fig. 10, 11, and 3d. The before-mentioned methods are common both to the
first and second general methods, where it is obvious what parts will answer
to the length of the teeth and spaces, as before explained. The following
method is adviseable only to the second general method:-Let a metal cylin-
der have channels cut into it perpendicular to its axis, broader at the bottom
than at the top. Fig. 12th is a view of a ring where the outer edge only is
the channel is seen between a and b, and between c and d. Then let
the cylinder be fluted with channels parallel to its axis, as much deeper than
the other channels as the teeth of the moveable notes require.
seeu;
Above the
channel between a and b is a view of an end section of a moveable note,
where it is plain that the narrow part of the channel is as broad as the
broad part of the note, and that the shoulder of the note fits into the
broad part of the channel. Notes of this kind are fastened by means
of a wedge, like a piece of wood or metal, fitting between the side of the
channel next to a and the side e of the note; or springs may be fixed either
to the side of the channel next to a, or to the side e of the note, which
will keep the shoulder of the note into the broad part of the channel
under the part o. The teeth of moveable notes in general may be placed
either near the middle or at or near either end, but the most effectually as
near the back end as possible, whether they be side teeth or fixed on the con-
cave surface of the notes. When notes are made to fit into channels perpen-
dicular to the axis of the cylinder, the bottom part of the demisemiquaver
moveable note should be of the exact length of a demisemiquaver division, and

page_text: the other notes may or may not be similar in this respect. Likewise about
one-fourth of the back end of the bottom part of each moveable note may be
filed off, and then the opposite end of the bottom of the moveable demisemi-
quaver being made so much longer, that note will rest entirely on the channel
and not at the bottom of a space at all. If the ends of the keys be not in
an exact line with one another, then the demisemiquaver divisions, which
should be parallel to the axis of the cylinder,and which answer for those keys,
should be of the same irregularity as the ends of the keys are. The before-
mentioned methods, except the last, are common both to the first and second
general methods.
I now come to methods in which there is not any tooth on the moveable
note, which comprehends a third general method. Let a metal cylinder have
channels cut in it perpendicular to its axis, of the same depth as the depth of
the bottom part of moveable notes, and a little broader than the breadth of the
said notes. Then let it be marked on the top of the sides of the said channels
with lines parallel to its axis, the distance between the said lines being equal
demisemiquaver divisions. l'he notes are like those shown in Fig. 3d, only
without a tooth, with out a channel, and of half its breadth, and their bottom
parts of the exact length of a certain number of demisemiquaver divisions.
These notes are fastened in their places by small wedges, and of course the
sides of the channels should be stronger than where the notes are fastened by
strings and springs. The wedges should have small holes in their thick part, by.
means of which, with a pin acting as a lever, they may be taken out and the
notes made loose. Let a cylinder and moveable notes be formed ineveryrespect
like the last mentioned, but without lines parallel to the axis of the cylinder,
and instead of them the same number of holes in a circle perpendicular to its
axis at equal distances, forming demisemiquaver divisions. Fix an index to one
of the holes like the index of a teeth-cutting engine, which will keep the cylin-
der in a fixed position. Then fix a moveable note in a channel with its back end
close to the side n of a key (see the key Q, T, Fig. 1st), and in that position
fasten it as before with a wedge. Then move the cylinder in the same direc-
tion in which it moves whenplaying a piece of music, as manydemisemiquaver
divisions as the note represented by the moveable note next to be fixed contains
demisemiquavers; thus, if it were a moveable crotchet next to be fixed, move
the cylinder eight demisemiquaver divisions; if it were a moveable dotted
minim, move the cylinder twenty-four demisemiquaver divisions, and then fix
the cylinder immoveable by means of the index and the holes in a circle, and
fix the next moveable note as the first, and so do till the tune is fixed;
spaces between teeth will serve for holes for the index. The channels for

page_text: the two last-mentioned cylinders may be either such as are shewn in Fig. 2,
or in Fig. 12th, and the notes will correspond; the latter will be the surest
fastening for the notes. Or the cylinder may be moved forwards either
one or a certain number of demisemiquaver divisions by another method.
Thus, suppose as before, there were five hundred demisemiquaver divisions on
the cylinder, then divide that by some number without a remainder, suppose
fourteen; the quotient forty shows how many channels that part should be
fluted into (on which the worm of the axis of the handle operates) so that one
turn of the handle will make fourteen demisemiquaver divisions pass under
the keys. Let there be a pointer like a clock finger fixed on the axis of the
handle which turns the cylinder, and let the circle which the pointer describes
be divided into fourteen equal divisions, and the pointer and divided circle will
serve as a guide by which to turn the cylinder either one or an exact number
of demisemiquaver divisions at once. Thus there are notany demisemiquaver
divisions on the cylinder, but the moveable notes are exactly of the same
length as if there were demisemiquaver divisions on the cylinder. The
pointer on the axis of the handle, and its divided circle, may be added to a
cylinder with channels parallel to its axis, whose notes are furnished with teeth
if thought proper. The upper part of moveable notes, to whatever kind of
cylinders they may be adapted, may be made as deep as they ever will be
required; and, instead of using different depths of artificial notes (as is the
case in barrel organs sometimes, and in order to serve as a substitute for
different lengths of notes for different rates), the key frame may be raised or
depressed by means of a screw or otherwise, the breadth of the bottom of the
keys increasing upwards, so as to fill up the silent interval. There are other
methods; but as they are not attended with any advantage over those already
specified, I shall merely hint at them, and shall take them, if practised by any
one without my consent, as mere evasions of my Patent right. With a cylinder
like the last mentioned a jointed circle, or only a semicircle with divisions
marked on it, may serve as a guide by which to fix the moveable notes; or
other things, with divisions marked on them, may serve for that purpose by
being applied to the cylinder; or the back end of the notes may be fixed
against a slider sliding parallel to the axis of the cylinder instead of against the
keys, or a number of sliders, fixed parallel to the keys, may slide down into
the channels for the same purpose. Different lengths of demisemiquaver
divisions may be used by having the cylinder of different diameters in different
parts, or by using different lengths of divisions on the circle of the pointer,
and moveable notes accordingly; or parts may be used of the exact length of
certain number of demisemiquaver divisions to fill up the intermediate-space

page_text: between one moveable note and the next on the same channel, when the
notes do not follow one another immediately on the same channel. Or again,
when cylinders are used with teeth on their concave surface, holes in the notes
may fit on the teeth of the cylinder, instead of fitting the teeth of the notes
between the teeth of the cylinder, and channels in the notes supply the place
of channels on the cylinders for a side support. Lastly, notes may be used of
the exact length of either one or more demisemiquaver divisions, by which,
together with the moveable demisemiquaver, the notes may be made of any
desired length.
It is evident to any one acquainted with barrel organs that all the methods
already specified are practicable with a spiral barrel as well as when channels
are made perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder; only when the cylinder is
formed with rings the rings should be of the saine breadth as a number of
spiral channels. Let cylinders be formed like those already specified, only
instead of channels or rows of holes perpendicular to the axis, let the channels
or holes be spirals, and as many turns round the cylinder appropriated to one
key as is thought fit, the axis of the cylinder being made with a similar spiral
as in barrel organs. When fastening strings are used it will be adviseable to
have one spring to each end of each string, and each string will pass as many
times round the cylinder as the cylinder is permitted to turn. When teeth are
on the moveable notes for a spiral cylinder it is evident that if the surface of
the fore and back ends of the said teeth must be even with the sides of the
channels parallel with the axis of the cylinder, then the fore and back ends
of the said teeth must have the same degree of obliquity to the concave surface
of the notes as the channels parallel to the axis of the cylinder have to the
spiral channels on the same cylinder. Moveable notes may be made to play
any of the accompaniments sometimes fixed to barrel organs. Moveable notes
are not only applicable to move the keys of a keyed instrument to produce
sounds, but any other purpose which the motion of a key is made to accom-
plish may be brought about by means of moveable notes. The stops of a
keyed instrument may be put in or out, pedals raised or depressed, and
different wheels locked or unlocked to or from an axis, as will be shewn after-
wards. The demisemiquaver divisions for the channels, either perpendicular
to the axis of the cylinder or spirals, which are for moveable notes for any
other purpose than for producing sounds, may have only half the number of
teeth cut in them which the others have, and by that means they will be
stronger than the others; and the moveable notes for the said channels may
have their bottom parts three or four times as long as their upper parts, in
order to have a broad bearing, because they will not need fixing on the

page_text: cylinder in general to the exactness of a demisemiquaver division, either
backwards or forwards.
I claim the Invention of each method already specified, both for cylinders
and moveable notes, taken separately and singly, as being a part of my
Invention.
Likewise I claim the Invention of certain moveable parts which I call
moveable swell notes or swell notes, and of others which I call moveable
uniform notes or moveable piano or forte notes, because they produce different
degrees of piano or forte without crescendo or diminuendo.
Fig. 13th represents a ring, with its demisemiquaver divisions, after the
second general method, swell notes being fixed on it. I fix on certain equal
(or unequal, but I prefer equal) distances from the surface of the ring or
cylinder perpendicularly from the same. Any number of distances may be
fixed on; suppose five, for example. The five concentric dotted circles
represent these distances. The key A, B, should be so connected to the
swell of an instrument that that part of its friction roller which is lowest at
the time in passing up to the highest degree or distance should open the swell
to the maximum, and of course produce a fortissimo sound. Uniform notes
will be similar to the moveable notes already specified, only they will be of
different depths, according to the desired piano or forte, and will consist of the
exact length of a certain number of demisemiquaver divisions. A small part
may be wanting, but it should be less than half the diameter of the friction
roller on the key. In this supposed case there will be five sorts of every
length of uniform notes, and they may be made of the length of any number
of demisemiquaver divisions. Moveable swell notes will be different to
uniform notes in that their edge or upper surface will be more or less
excentric from the surface of the cylinders or from the channels in which they
are placed. In order to have all kinds of swell notes with a given number of
distances or degrees from the cylinder there will be as many sorts (for each
length in demisemiquaver divisions)as there are different degrees or distances,
and as many more decreasing in arithmetical progression. For example, if
five degrees or distances are assumed, there will be 5+4+3+2+1=15 in
all; if six degrees, there will be 6+5+4+3+2+1=21 sorts in all. It is
plain, that the long notes will only want to be swelled, and the difference
between swell notes and uniform notes will consist chiefly in the degree of
excentricity given to the edge or upper surface, or that part of the swell notes
which comes into contact with the friction roller of the key. Each of the
following lines represents the edge of a dotted crotchet swell note, there being
fifteen diffierent sorts in all, and the method is the same whatever be the

page_text: versa.
length of the swell note, and varies only in the length of the swell note.
The lines are a b, a c, ad, a e, af, then gk, gi, gh, gl, then n m, no, np,
then r, s, and t u." These lines show the outer edge of swell notes which
produce a crescendo, and the reverse is a diminuendo, or the same swell note
may be turned round the reverse way, and it will serve as a diminuendo, only
a small part must be cut off. Thus if the swell note 1) be turned round with
its fore end towards the uniform note E, that part of D included between the
dotted lines 14 and 36 will come in the place of E; therefore that part
should be cut off. C is a minim swelling from below the first degree to the
fourth; D is a crotchet decreasing from the fourth degree to the third; Eis
a uniform note of eleven demisemiquavers long, and of the third degree; Gis
a swell note of nine demisemiquavers long, decreasing from the third degree
to the second; Hisaminim swelling from the second degree to the fifth ; Lis
acrotchet decreasing from the fifth degree to nothing. In fixing swell notes,
for example, if a semibreve should be wanted to be swelled gradually and die
away niore abruptly, then take a dotted minin swelling from and to the
desired degree; fix it as a crescendo; then take a crotchet swelling properly;
fix it as a diminuendo; and they will produce the desired effect, and vice
It would be quite impossible to show all the various methods in which
swell notes might be fixed; that must be left to the fancy of the possessor.
The external surface of moveable swell notes may be of different lines and
curves at the pleasure of the maker. The channels for swell notes had better
be deeper than the other channels on the cylinders, because the swell notes
being of a greater depth than the other notes, if they do not fit in their
channels with great accuracy, they will not lie all in one plane. For the same
reason the distances or degrees assumed should be as small as possible, and
the key for the swell made to open the same with but a small motion, and the
friction roller as broad as possible. An upright rod, with a friction roller on
one end, may serve instead of a key, but I prefer a key; and the key may be
fixed in any desired position, either above or on one side or under the cylinder.
Likewise, by different connexions of levers from the key to the swell, either
a diminuendo or a crescendo may be produced by the ascent of that end of
the key having the friction roller on it. If swell notes are fastened by strings
and springs they may be double-channelled, and the channels will not be
excentric but parallel to the chaunels of the cylinder. If swell notes are made
much wider than others when the cylinder has its channels perpendicular to
its axis, and there be several tunes on one cylinder, then the key for the
swell should be made to slide when the cylinder is shifted to different
tunes, and that end of the key which is connected to the swell (or to any

page_text: thing connected to the swell) should be connected to a dove-tail'd piece
and the piece made to slide in the connecting mechanism, so that when
the key for the swell is made to slide, the love-tail'd piece will slide and
preserve the connexion between the swell and key. To ascertain either,
one certain velocity or several velocities in the cylinder, I use a semiglobular
bowl with a cylinder fixed on the top of the same, all made to turn true on
an axis.
Fig. 14. A, B, the axis connected to the axis of the handle, which turns
the cylinder by a wheel on the end A of the same; C, D, the bowl, one third
or one fourth part (or nearly so) filled with water, spirits, or quicksilver (but
always one exact quantity). L,ahollow metal or earthern ball connected to the
rod F, G, which is square or triangular, and made to slide perpendicularly and
easily. As the axis A, B, turns round, the liquid sinks in the middle and
rises to the sides of the bowl C, D, of course the ball L falls and raises the
end I (which end from the center may be outside the instrument like a clock
finger) of the lever H, I, the position of which indicates certain velocities.
As nothing is more indefinite than the rates of movement indicated by the
Italian words adagio, andante, presto, and the like, every one must suit his
fancy what velocity of the cylinder answers to each term. If a slow motion
of the handle turning the cylinder be reckoned at one round in two seconds
then let the bowl revolve once in a second by having the wheel on the axis of
the handle twice the diameter of the wheel connected to it, and fixed on the
axis A, B. This may be varied at the pleasure of the maker. If it be
preferred to have the handle turn at one fixed rate, or nearly so, whilst the
cylinder playing a tune is made to move at different velocities, then two
cylinders must be in motion at one time.
Fig. 15th is a horizontal section of the two cylinders and a part of their
apparatus. A, B, is the main cylinder on which are placed the moveable
notes which produce a piece of music and swell notes, if any be used. There
are not any channels and divisions shewn on it, they not being necessary for
presentexplanation. C, D, is the second cylinder which is turned round atone
fixed rate by the handle V, O. The axis I, H, is connected to the upright
axis A, B, Fig. 14. On the axis G, E, I fix fast and immoveable as many
wheels as rates at which I intend the cylinder shall move, suppose ten; any
number may be used, but suppose ten. They may be equal in diameter, and
the corresponding wheels on the axis H, I, (which are loose on their axis, and
are capable of being locked to it at pleasure,) may increase in conical grada-
tion a wheel of double diameter for a double rate. But to make the two
axis parallel let the wheel 1 on the axis G, E, be of equal diameter to its

page_text: fellow on I, H. Then, supposing presto to be a rate the double of grave, and
theintermediate rates from grave to presto to encrease equally, make the wheel
8 on G, E, one third the sum of the diameters of the two equal wheels, and the
fellow of 8 two thirds the same, then it is plain that the cylinder A, B, will be
turned at double the rate when 8 and its fellow are locked together to what
it will when the two equal wheels are locked together, the axis I, H, being
turned at one uniform rate. Let moveable notes be placed on the cylinder
C, D, which may move keys connected to the means of locking and unlocking
each wheel on I, H. The methods of locking and unlocking wheels on an
axis are so well known, and the motion, when done by hand, is so simple,
that no competent mechanic will be at a loss how to effect it by the motion of
a key. One key is used for locking a wheel, and another for unlocking the
same wheel. By this means different parts of the same piece of music may
be made to move at different rates. A number of pairs of wheels may be in
one side of the axis of the cylinders, and the other pairs on the other side, the
axis G, E, and H, I, extending on the side E, H, of the axis of the cylinders.
It is plain that the two worms of the axis G, E, and H, I, must be the reverse
of each other to make the two cylinders turn both the same way round.
When a pointer on the axis of the handle and its divided circle is used to fix
moveable notes on the cylinders, the two equal wheels should be locked
together at that time. When the handle is at different velocities for different
rates of performance, then only one cylinder is used at a time, and the two sets
of wheels are dispensed with. Moveable notes may be fixed on the cylinder,
having words or signs marked on them indicating different rates of music, and
being fixed so as to be seen, will warn a person turning the cylinder; or they
may move a key connected to any means of warning when to change the rate
of turning the cylinder. A string with a weight at one end may be hung out-
side a keyed instrument, like the tell-tale of an organ, and the other end
connected to the end I of the lever H, I, Fig 14; or the rod F, G, may
work in a pinion (which may likewise be connected to the screw for raising and
depressing the key frame), and the string in part wound round a wheel on
the same axis as the pinion, and the rise and fall of the weight will indicate a
change in the velocity of the cylinder; or, if thought proper, only the same
means may be used to turn the cylinder as is used for common barrel organs;
or one or more handles may be connected by wheels of different diameters to
the axis on which is the worm. As some pieces of music (whether the
cylinder be a spiral or otherwise) will reach round only a part of one round, or
one round or more and a part of another, the following means will bring that
part of the cylinder where the beginning of the music is under the keys much

page_text: quicker than by turning it round by the handle; I claim the Invention of the
means specified for that purpose as parts of my Invention. In Fig. 15 the
same sorts of parts are represented by the same letters in both cylinders, or
belonging to both cylinders. The fluted parts R, T, on which the worms of
the axis G, E, and I, H, act, are made to run loose on their axis, and are
capable of being locked to them at pleasure. L. N, and N, P, are equal
wheels; the parts R, T, being unlocked, the cylinder may be turned round
quickly,and the beginning of the music brought under the keys by the arms Q;
or the arms U may be used for that purpose. The ends of the arms Q or U
(as either be used) should come gently up to a pin or stud outside the keyed
instrument to which they may be sent, either by being made elastic or made
with a joint and spring like the blade of a clasp-knife half opened. In some
cases two tunes may be set in one round of the cylinder, and the situation of
the arms Q or U on the circle which their ends describe will show what part
of the said circle the arms should be brought to, in order to place the
beginning of a tune under the keys, likewise the situation of the said arms
may indicate when the rates of motion are to be changed by the circle being
marked accordingly. When the cylinders are spirals, or are suited to several
tunes, the wheels L, N, must work in a fluted part on the axis of the cylinder
of equal diameter with the said wheels; or the axis of the wheels N, P, must
move in the frame which holds the cylinders, and which slides when the said
cylinders are shifted to different tunes.
Fig. 16 shows the general method or plan of a director, which, being fixed
over the keys of a keyed instrument, shows what each key answers for.
".
I claim the application of this director for the purpose of enabling a person
to arrange moveable notes on a cylinder, but for no other purpose than that, as
many divisions longitudinally are formed by long lines as there are clefs to
which the director should be suited, and as many more divisions formed by lines
perpendicular to the said long lines as there are keys to the keyed instrument.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, may or may not be used, and the whole director
will be suited to the keys with which the keyed instrument is furnished. When
certain notes are to be sharped or flatted through a part or the whole of a
I fix a piece of wood or pasteboard on each division (or on part of it)
which answers to each note, and fasten it there by a pin or otherwise, the
words sharp or flat, or to be sharped or to be flatted, or next key to the right
or next key to the left, or the signs or b, or combinations of these, being
written on the piece of wood or pasteboard. The ouly rule to be observed-in
setting a cylinder to music with moveable notes is to make the fore end of a
succeeding note fall on the next demisemiquaver division to that on which the.
tune,

page_text: every
back end of a preceding note falls; and when rests occur, leave as many
demisemiquaver divisions vacant as the rest note or notes contain demisemi-
quaver rests.
If there be not any demisemiquaver note in a tune or part of
a tune, the moveable demisemiquaver may be used for the semiquaver note,
and other moveable note for a note in music which is double the length
which the moveable note represents, the cylinder being turned at half the rate
at which it otherwise would have been turned, the music will be produced by
that method. In like manner if there be not any semiquaver in a tune, the
moveable demisemiquaver may be used for the quaver, others in like propor-
tion, and the cylinder turned at one fourth the rate. But by these methods
there will not be any moveable note for the dotted semiquaver and dotted
quaver, and the silent interval as before shewn must be adapted to the rate of
movement. Several cylinders may be to one keyed instrument and it may
have either an imperfect or a perfect scale. The proportion of the parts for
strength, as given in the Drawings, compared with the Specification, is
adapted to organs, pianofortes, harpsichords, and the like, though I do not
confine myself to those dimensions; but stronger parts will be required when
a cylinder is made to work the heavy hammers of great bells, as will be plain
to an intelligent workman. Moveable notes may have marks or signs on
them indicative of their length. Cylinders may either be worked by hand or
by power of spring. The keys operated on by moveable notes may be con-
nected either directly or by the connexion of levers to the finger keys of a
keyed instrument, or otherwise, at pleasure. Every possible variation has not
been shown, else it might be shown how the cylinder might be stationary,
and a keyed instrument made to revolve round it, but this would be
ridiculous.
'
It is not enough to show a different construction merely, but a different
construction on a different principle attended with some advantage should be
shown, or a variation not shown here will be a mere evasion of the Patent.
I claim the application of the before-specified Inventions or improvements
to the organ, pianoforte, organized pianoforte, harpsichord celestina, harpsi-
chord spinet, verginal clarichord, manichord, and to any other instrument the
sounds of which are produced by working keys or levers, for which keys may
be used; likewise to a set of bells and to automata, or such mechanica
figures as are representations of animals, men, and the like, which are worked
by keys.
As to the application of my Inventions or improvements to any instrument
or 'set of instruments to which keys may or can be affixed, it must not be
understood to mean any instrument for which other persous have or may

page_text: obtain Patents without the consent of the Patentees, but only such instruments
as are not now patent, or which may in future be invented by me, or to which
I may fix keys.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Simmons, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
WILLIAM SIMMOND.
(L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of October,
in the year of our Lord 1816, the aforesaid William Simmons came before
our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifica-
tion aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the First day of November, in the year of our Lord One