Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 31st May, 1887.
I, RIOCARDO CARLO GALLICO, of 2 Lupton Street, St. John's College Park, in
the County of Middlesex, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The primary object of this invention is to produce a new or improved musical
instrument, whereby the harp is combined with a pianoforte action or keyboard, and
in such manner that the strings of the harp, instead of being plucked by the fingers
are plucked by special mechanism, such as that hereafter described, operated by
means of the key board of a piano. By this means any one who can play the piano,
can play the harp, and that without the fingers being injured as heretofore by
the plucking of the strings.
According to this invention the numerous pedals and complicated mechanism
connected therewith now usually employed in harps are dispensed with, and instead
thereof five extra strings can be employed in each octave for the semitones, thereby
including the sharps and flats, whereby the twelve notes can be completed in each
octave, and corresponding with the twelve keys of the key board.
A pedal for damping, or modifying, the tones of the harp may, if desired; be
employed. A convenient manner of constructing the "action" of this new or
improved musical instrument is as follows:-
The inner extremities of the keys are furnished with vertical hoppers, the lengths
of which, preferably, increase towards the treble or higher octaves of the instrument;
and two rails are placed parallel with one another and longitudinally with the harp,
one upon each side of same. These rails are provided with metal forks, two to each
string, covered with cloth or other suitable material, which act as guides to thick
brass wires passing between the strings.

page_text: A small metal (preferably brass) plate rotates at the extremity of each of these
wires, and is provided on one side with a finger which is covered with leather
for plucking the string. Upon the opposite side of said metal plate is attached
a small steel wire which actuates the plucker plate, and has a travel of about
1 centimétre upon a second brass wire provided, on which it is guided by two metal
hooks or forks covered with cloth. The movement or travel of this second brass
wire together with the steel wire aforesaid moves the leather plucker on first
mentioned small metal plate towards or away from the harp string, which movement
produces the plucking of the string.
To regulate the distance of the movement or travel of this wire, it is provided with
a screw around which two small pieces of leather are placed, which are pressed against
by cloth or leather discs, thus making a kind of cushion. The petal forks above
mentioned take against this cushion, and regulate the travel of the wire actuating the
plucker."
66
When a key is struck the upper end of the vertical hopper is brought over towards
the player, and this hopper being connected to aforesaid actuating wire by a hook
or other suitable attachment, also pulls such wire towards the player. This action
causes the plucker plate to partly rotate, and present its leather "plucker" behind
the harp string, and causes the string to be plucked.
By releasing the key its own weight brings the hopper to its normal position, and
in so doing the metal "plucker" plate assumes its upright position, and the leather
'plucker" passes between two strings and returns to its original position, viz. :
by the side of the harp string, so as to be ready to pluck again.
$6
The wire on which the plucker plate rotates is, by means of the lowering of
the key, pulled slightly towards the player, and also returns to its original position
as soon as the key is released.
An important feature in this invention is that loud or soft tones can be produced
at will by the player according to the strength or lightness of touch upon the key
board, for the two pieces of leather, which regulate the passage or travel of the brass
wire, as aforesaid, being fitted with a cushion, when the key is heavily struck
the cushion is greatly compressed and causes the " plucker" to press upon the
string more closely, and thus produces a louder vibration than when the key is
lightly struck, and the string acted upon with less pressure.
This very important feature for obtaining the different degrees of strength needed
in music constitutes the essential difference between the mechanism herein described,
and that of the old spinet, the strings of which were plucked, but always produced
the same degree of strength, although the pressure on the keys varied.
Dated this 10th day of August 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Musical Instrument.
I, RICCARDO CARLO GALLICO of 2 Lupton Street, St. Johns College Park, in
the County of Middlesex, Professor of Music do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (A communication to me from abroad by Alessandro Antoldi of Mantua,
Lombardy, Italy, Harpist) and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The primary object of this invention is to produce a new or improved musical
instrument whereby the harp is combined with a pianoforte action or keyboard,
and in such manner that the strings of the harp instead of being plucked by the
fingers, are plucked by special mechanism, such as that hereafter described operated
by means of the keyboard of a piano; by this means any one who can play the piano
can play the harp and that without the fingers being injured as heretofore by the
plucking of the strings.
According to this invention the numerous pedals and complicated mechanism now
usually employed in harps are dispensed with, and instead thereof five extra strings
can be employed in each octave for the semi-tones, thereby including the sharps and
flats, whereby the twelve notes can be completed in each octave and corresponding
with the twelve keys of the keyboard.
A pedal for damping or modifying the tones of the harp may, if desired, be
employed.
A convenient manner of constructing the action of this new or improved musical
instrument is as follows; and the invention will be best understood by reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective front view shewing the general appearance of an
instrument constructed according to this invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross
section of a similar instrument to that shewn at Fig. 1 and taken about the line x. y.
of this latter figure, the section Figure 2 only differing in the arrangement of
the sound board.
Figure 3 shews in back elevation and in cross section, drawn to a larger scale
than the previous figures, a portion of the cross bar and apparatus for supporting the
end of the plucker slides.
Figure 4 shews in front elevation and in cross section, a portion of the crossbar
and, apparatus for supporting and guiding the front ends of the plucker slides.
Figure 5 is a perspective view about full size, of one of the keys and apparatus
composing the action constructed according to this invention. Figure 6 is an
elevation of the plucker mechanism detached; Figure 7 is a plan of same, and
Figure 8 is a similar view but shewing the plucker in its acting position.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
The inner extremities of the keys A, the length of which may vary according
to the instrument, are furnished with vertical hoppers B, the lengths of which may,
or may not, increase towards the treble and the bass, all according to the arrangement

page_text: and construction of the instrument, and two rails CD are placed parallel with one
another and longitudinally with the plane of the harp strings E Figures 1, 2 and 5,
one upon each side of same. These rails CD are provided with metal forks or
guides F G to each string, covered with cloth or other suitable material, which
act as guides to brass wire or other suitable frames H passing between the strings E.
A plate or plucker rotates or is pivotted on to each of these frames H and is provided
on one side with a finger J' which is preferably covered with leather, felt, or other
suitable material, for plucking the string E. Upon the opposite side of said metal
or other suitable plate or plucker J there is a wire or connecting rod J' which
actuates the plucker plate or finger J¹, and this wire J has a travel of about
1 centimetre actuated by a second brass or other wire J, which latter is guided
by loop K fixed to the frame H, the loop and fork being preferably covered with
cloth or other suitable material. The frame H may be made from a plate of metal
a portion of such frame being shewn at Figure 3. The forks or guides F and G may
also be cut out of sheet metal and in one continuous length.
The movement or travel of this second wire J³ together with the wire or connecting
rod J* aforesaid moves the plucker J' towards or away from the harp string E which
movement produces the plucking of the string.
To regulate the distance of the movement or travel of this wire J' it is provided
with a convenient device such for example as a screw around which two distancing
washers formed of say small pieces of leather J are placed; these washers J* come
against discs of cloth, felt or of any other suitable and elastic material thus making
a kind of cushion. The cushions act against the loop K above mentioned and
regulate the travel of the wire J' actuating the plucker J.
When a key A is struck the upper end of the vertical hopper B is brought over
towards the player, and this hopper B being connected to aforesaid actuating wire J³
by a hook Jax or other suitable attachment, also pulls such wire towards the player.
This action causes the plucker plate J₁ to partly rotate about its axis H¹ as shewn
by Figure 8 and to present its plucker finger behind the harp string E, at this time
the washer J on the rod J' comes against the loop K fixed on the frame H; the
frame H is then carried towards the player in the direction indicated by the arrow
and causes the string to be plucked. On releasing the key its own weight, and
it may be assisted by a spring, brings the hopper to its normal position, and in
so doing the plucker J' returns to its original position passing between two strings
viz. by the side of the harp string so as to be ready to pluck again. The return
of the hopper B moves the rod J until the plucker is turned so as to enable it
to go back between the strings, the washer J then comes against the loop K and
carries it and the frame H back and the key is again in position for operation
as before.
Instead of the forks F F being made separately they may be cast or formed out
of a continuous metal strip extending across the whole width of the instrument, and
thus materially reducing the number of the parts, and providing a good and simple
fitting. Or the guides may be formed by constructing the aforesaid rails CD with
a series of slots therein or in any other suitable and convenient manner.
An important feature in this invention is that loud or soft tones can be produced
at will by the player according to the strength or lightness of touch upon the keys;
the two pieces of leather or distancing washers J J*, which regulate the passage
or travel of the wire J³ as aforesaid being each fitted with a cushion as herein
described it follows that when the key A is heavily struck the cushions are greatly
compressed and cause the plucker J¹ to press upon the string E more closely and thus
to produce a louder vibration than when the key is lightly struck and the string acted
upon with less pressure..
This very important feature for obtaining the different degrees of strength needed
in music constitutes the essential difference between the mechanisın herein described
and that of the old spinet, the strings of which were plucked but always produced
the same degree of strength, although the pressure on the keys varied.
instrument may be strung with metal strings throughout or partially if desired.
The

page_text: The sound board can be of various shapes and in various positions the object being
to resist the great tension of the strings and to develop the sound of the cords. For
example it may be in the form of a solid block or section where the strings are fixed
on a centre line, or it may be a plain board placed on edge in the same direction
as the strings so that these come along it and just in front in the same manner as
in a pianoforte.
Even with the most perfect harp known as yet and used by the best harpists
it often happens that music of the most celebrated composers cannot be performed
on it owing to the impossibility of obtaining any accidental (sharp, flat, or natural)
on such harp without a single or double movement of one of the seven pedals.
It is physically impossible to move more than two at a time whilst for many passages
it would be necessary to move three, four or more, owing to the frequent and
complicated modulations met with in modern music. These difficulties disappear when
the same music is performed on the pianoforte and consequently on the harp
constructed according to this invention the keyboard of which lends itself with ease
to the performance of the most complicated and extraordinary successions of chords.
It will be easily understood, therefore that if a harp had as many strings as keys
of a keyboard and a mechanism could be made causing strings to be plucked as
by the fingers of a harpist by simply bearing on the keys all difficulty would
disappear.
The ordinary harp does not, nor can it have dampers as this would interfere
with the clearness of every change of chord; whereas the keyboard harp constructed
according to this invention may be provided with a pedal for damping the strings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare I am aware that prior
to the date of my application for Patent attempts had been made to apply keys
to harp strings for operating the same, and claws or fingers have been used instead
of hammers; what have been called plectrums have also been used which have
generally been operated through a revolving motion but no provision has heretofore
been made in such instruments for obtaining different degrees of strength in the
plucking of the strings and a greater or lesser vibration thereof. Without such
appliance or appliances the mere plucking of the strings will not produce loud
or soft tones but only tones such as those produced by the old spinet, whereas by this
invention a greater or lesser vibration of the string or strings can be produced
according to the will of the performer, but what I claim is :-
1st. The special mechanism consisting of rails C, D, guides F G, or their
equivalents; frames H, pivotted plucker finger or plate J¹ with wire connection Js
to hopper B operated by key A all constructed and acting substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The mode and means for regulating the distance of the travel of the wire J³
and the extent of movement of the plucker finger by the washers or elastic discs J*
the compression of which latter is regulated by the force with which the keys are
struck so producing a greater or lesser movement or action of the plucker finger
on the string substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The general construction, arrangement and action of a new or improved
musical instrument combining harp with piano action, in combination with the special
mechanism as set forth for plucking the strings all substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1887.