IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS OF THE HARMONIUM CLASS, SAID IMPROVEMENTS ALSO FORMING IN COMBINATION A SMALL INSTRUMENT OF A NOVEL CONSTRUCTION,
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Tolhausen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th October
1865. A communication from Alexandre François Debain, Knight of
the Legion of Honour, residing at 116 and 118, Place Lafayette,
Paris.
I, FREDERICK TOLHAUSEN, of 149, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS OF THE HARMONIUM CLASS, SAID IMPROVEMENTS
ALSO FORMING IN COMBINATION A SMALL INSTRUMENT OF A NOVEL CONSTRUCTION," a
communication to me from Alexandre François Debain, Knight of the Légion
of Honour, a person resident at 116 and 118, Place Lafayette, Paris, to be as
follows:-
These improvements are fully shewn on the annexed Sheet of Drawings as
being embodied in the small reed instrument mentioned in the title. It is to
be observed, however, that several of these improvements are applicable to
other forms of musical instruments than the one shewn.
This instrument is chiefly intended for performing the cantabile part with
the accompaniment of the pianoforte, the right hand of the performer playing
on the keyboard of the instrument whilst the left hand works the bellows. (see
Fig. 1).
This instrument may be played either standing, the instrument being placed
on a table, or the performer may work it on his knees. It may also be

page_text: played with both hands, and in that case the instrument must be mounted on
a stand, or else secured to a piano, as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 1 represents the instrument in a working state; Fig. 2, at rest, viewed
endways.; Fig. 3 shews the instrument boxed up; Fig. 4 shews the same
instrument mounted on a stand of any suitable fancy design; Fig. 5 shews the
position in which the instrument may be fixed in front of a, piano by any
suitable device.; Fig. 6-is-a-full-size-transverse-section-with-the-bellows-and-
reservoir or regulator both expanded, shewing the peculiar mechanical
arrangements, several of which are novel, and by which the volume of the
instrument is greatly reduced, whilst the same width is allowed for the keys
as in a pianoforte. The keyboard may be carried to any suitable number of
octaves.
On the annexed Sheet of Drawings the same letters of reference indicate
similar parts.
A, A, are the lines between which the bellows and reservoir are contained
whilst the sinstrument is at rest; B, soundboard, which is the same as for
other reed instruments; 'C, bell-crank levers binged at the back of the instru-
ment in the. grooves of a conib, in which they are confined by the action
of a springg. These levers .in .combination with the keyboard, and the
method of fixing them by pivots in the comb, constitute novel arrangements.
.D, slots forming a comb, which is grooved at the back so as to receive the
pivots of the levers C, and to serve as guides for the division of -the keys of
the board.; E, F, are the white and -black-keys stuck on the upper part of the
Jevers C. The screw. in the levers, is for regulating the level of the keys
by inflecting the part to which the valve G is fixed. G, valves for regulating
the issue of wind; they cover several stops in a way similar to common
harmoniums or harmonicas; H, bellows which are operated by the left hand,
whilst the right hand-is travelling on the keyboard. This kind of bellows, and
its reservoir L have never before been used in this kind of instrument.
I, elastic spring. inside. the bellows for opening them after compression; this
spring may also be made on the twist or torsion principle, the same as M,
Fig. 6. J, floating suction valves; K, wind channel for conducting the air
from the bellows to the reservoir across the soundboard, through the part
Jeft vacant by the reeds; L, reservoir or wind regulator; M, twisted spring
for compressing the wind gradually as it enters the reservoir or air vessel L;
N, valves for introducing the wind into the chamber O of the soundboard B;
O, chamber which contains the ordinary reeds P; Q, opening for the escape
of sound whilst the valves, G are opened; R, motion for changing the stops;
S, interior board of the bellows H, which covers the whole mechanism of the
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page_text: bell-crank levers C and valves G ; T, interior board of the reservoir Lenclosing
the set of reeds.; U, hinges, by means of which the whole apparatus may be
opened and the mechanism laid bare for inspection; V, bolts and hooks for
keeping the boards S, T, shut; X, handles for carrying the instrument and
putting the same into its case; Y, pedal motion for operating the bellows,
Figs. 4 and 5; Z, bracket for fixing the instrument on to a pianoforte,
h, catch for closing the bellows when the instrument is not being played.