Mechanical Gong or Bell Playing Apparatus for Application to Accordions and other Valve Musical Instruments.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1989
Mechanical Gong or Bell Playing Apparatus for Application to
Accordions and other Valve Musical Instruments.
I, LUDWIG HABERKAM of Goblis near Leipzig, in the German Empire, Manu-
facturer, 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 :-
Hitherto the arrangements for the mechanical playing of gongs or bells simul-
taneously with the lifting of the valves of musical instruments have included
displaceable gongs or bells so that when they are not to be played upon the lifting
of the valves they are removed beyond the reach of the hammers. This method
however is not convenient in practice as the hammers have an irregular springing
stroke and the gongs must be moved far away if they are not to be played when
the keys are sharply struck.
This invention has for object to remedy the prosent defects by a construction in
which the hammers are arranged separately from the keys on a special shaft round
which they may be turned so far as not to be within the reach of the keys whilst in
their normal position they would by the key action be impelled against the gongs.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a top view of the apparatus of this invention
applied to the outside of an accordion or like instrument. Fig. 2 is a section taken
through the keys of the instrument shewing the peal of gongs placed behind. Fig. 3
a side view with key not struck. Fig. 4 a side view with struck key.
d
upon
On plate
a are fixed two standards b carrying shaft c on which the gongs d are
mounted, also shaft e on which the hammers are mounted. Those extend to the
valves and have eyes p by which they are carried on shafte so as to allow of their
free motion round the same; they are consequently impelled against the gongs
the ascent of valves g. On each of the standards & there is also a pivot on which a
frame i may be turned by means of lever k. The frame i acts upon that part of the
haminers which projects beyond shaft c so that when pressed down through lever &
the hammers are so raised that the valves y cannot conie in contact with them. In
order for the time being to fix the frame in the desired position there is arranged
on one of the standards ba spring m furnished with lug n which bears against frame i
and so keeps it in its place.
The hammers are formed with extensions which act as sound dampers they being
covered over with cloth and bent to such a shape as will permit of their lying against
the gongs upon the descent of the hammers.
Small springs o keep the hammers pressed against the valves g when the frame i
is not turned down:
In Figs. 3 and 4 the position of the hammers when moved away from valves 9 by
frame is shewn in dotted lines. Hence it will be seen that valves 9 may perform any
desired stroke without coming in contact with the hammers so that however energetically
the keys may be struck the gongs will not sound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim, is:
1. In gong or bell playing apparatus in which the gongs or bells are played by the
ascent of the valves of musical instruments, the arrangement of hammers swinging
freely on a shaft and impelled against the gongs or bells by the lifting of the valves
against which they are held by springs, for the purpose specified substantially as
described and shewn.

page_text: 2. In combination with the hammers mounted as described the application of a
frame by the operation of which the hammers may be held beyond the reach of
the valves for the purpose specified substantially as described and shewn.
3. The arrangement of sound dampers at the ends of the hammers in the manner
that they come to bear against the respective gongs or bells.as soon as the hammers
fall back substantially, as described, and shewn."
Dated this 7th day of August 1889.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.