IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING OR PERFORMING UPON THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY
OR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING OR PERFORMING UPON THE SAME, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
A communication from abroad by George Horstell Chinnock, of Brooklyn,
Now York, and William Winslow Bennett, of Jersey City, New Jersey, both
in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING OR PERFORMING
UPON THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS" [A communication from abroad by George Horstell
Chinnock, of Brooklyn, New York, and William Winslow Bennett, of Jersey
City, New Jersey, both in the United States of America.]
This Invention relates to musical instruments wherein a music card or tablet of
any suitable shape and style provided with projections, perforations, or indentations,
representing notes to be played, actuates mechanism to effect the operation of the
sound-producing devices.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a simple, cheap, compact, and
reliable instrument of this character, which may or may not be provided additionally
with keys for manual playing.
The said Invention comprises as one novel feature thereof, the combination in a
musical instrument of manual keys, by which the sound-producing devices may be
operated, a series of levers for effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices
independently of the keys, music card, or tablet, travelling lengthwise of the
instrument, back of or over the keys, and all arranged within the case of the
instrument, whereby a compact and tasteful instrument is produced, leaving the keys
at all times unobstructed for use. It also comprises the combination in a musical
instrument of manual keys, whereby the sound-producing devices may be operated,

page_text: a series of levers extending transversely to the keys, connected independently of
said keys with the means for effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices,
a music card or tablet for actuating said levers and means for effecting the travel of
the music card or tablet in the direction of the length of the instrument at the
back thereof transversely to the keys, whereby a simple and compact instrument is
produced, which may be played manually or mechanically at will, using the same
sound-producing devices. It also comprises the combination with a musical
instrument having manual keys and mechanism actuated by a travelling music card
or tablet for operating the sound-producing devices, of a case having two covers,
one for said keys, and the other for said mechanism, and either of which may be
operated without opening the other. It also comprises the combination in a musical
instrument of massed and preferably approximately upright levers, a music card or
tablet for acuatting the same, and rock-shafts or levers connected to said levers, and
effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices.
It also comprises novel means for feeding the music card or tablet in such an i
instrument. It also comprises a music card or tablet made of cast metal or wood,
or other soft material and metal, and having projections representing notes and
toothed racks integral therewith. It also comprises various features and combi-
nations of parts hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice, I provide reeds of the ordinary form, a
arranged in trays or in cells to produce the musical notes. These cells communicate
under control of pallet valves with a wind-chest, through which air for causing the
operation of the reeds is caused to circulato by means of a bellows actuated by a
treadle. Two such bellows may be used, and one may be made smaller than the
other, so as to make the work of both feet of the operator more uniform, and the
bellows springs may be made of different force to aid in attaining this. A receiver
may be employed as usual. Keys acting through push-pins or tracker-pins on the
pallet valves to depress and open them to cause the sounding of the reeds in a-well
known manner, provide for playing the instrument manually. The case is provided
with a cover which may be swung back to expose the said keys for use without
exhibiting other parts, and thus the instrument is afforded the appearance of an
instrument of ordinary style, to be played only manually.
A rotary shaft is arranged within the case along the front part thereof near what
is ordinarily termed the nameboard. This shaft is preferably provided with a
balance wheel, which I prefer to arrange inside the case. Usually a crank provided
for rotating the shaft by hand will be arranged on the shaft outside the case. The
shaft inay be connected by means of a crank and a pitman, or connecting rod with an
arm extending from the treadle. It will be readily understood that provision is
thus afforded for working the bellows and rotating the shaft by the haud crank,
or for working the bellows and rotating the shaft by the treadle.
Preferably a ratchet wheel and pawl are employed to prevent the rotation of the
shaft in the wrong direction. On this shaft there is a worm er screw which engages
with a worm-wheel serving to feed or impart motion to music cards or tablets,
whereby the instrument may be played mechanically. Though the music cards or
tablets may consist of perforated paper, of drums, or cylinders, either having upon
their periphery projections or indentations or perforations representing notes to be
sounded, or of discs having upon their sides projections representing such notes, it
is only deemed necessary to describe here one form consisting of a flat piece of wood,
metal, or other suitable material, provided on one face with projections of the kind
alluded to.
These music cards or tablets, of which one or more may be necessary to complete
a tune, are fed forward by means of a shaft carrying the worm-wheel, and to insure
a reliable feed, they are preferably provided with toothed racks (one or more), and
the shaft is preferably provided with gear wheels corresponding in number engaging
with said racks, and thereby impelling the music cards or tablets forward. The
racks as well as the projections representing notes may be cast integral with the
cards or tablets. The music cards or tablets travel along ways, arranged in the

page_text: back part of the case, transversely to the keys of the instrument, and may be
placed in position on said ways from above, and taken out in the same manner
after use, or they may be delivered from a door at the end of the caso. This door
may be hinged to the case at one end only, hence the music cards or tablets may
force it open automatically and pass out. The ways preferably are so supported
and secured in place that they may be readily removed to afford access to the other
parts of the instrument.
A cover hinged or otherwise connected to the front of an elevated portion of
the case, enclosing the ways so that it may be readily opened and closed, affords
access to these ways, and conceals the same and adjacent parts while it is desired
to play the iustrument manually, and when the instrument is not in use.
I provide a series of levers arranged so as to be nearly upright, though slightly
inclined located side by side in a serrated or mortised frame transversely to the keys
of the instrument, and in such close proximity with each other that they may
appropriately bo termed massed levers. They are preferably arranged about
mid way of the length of the case, and occupy such positions as to project in the
path of the music cards or tablets, and be acted upon by the projections thereof.
Preferably the upper ends of the levers are pointed, so that they may be only
swung and held aside for a length of time, corresponding to the length of the
projections. The advantage of locating these levers close together is that the music
cards or tablets may be made narrower. I provide a clamp or guide, consisting of
a roller arranged above the upper ends of these levers, and impelled downwards by
springs; this roller holds the music cards or tablets as they travel along in proper
position to actuate the levers. The levers at the lower ends are connected to rock
shafts, whereby in this example of the Invention the pallet-valves may be opened
to cause the sounding of the reeds. The levers which serve to effect the sounding
of the bass notes are connected at the lower end by means of rods or wires directly
to arms extending from the rock-shafts, the rock-shafts being of different lengths,
so that their arms will be opposite said levers. Others of the levers for causing
the sounding of the treble notes are connected at the lower end by rods or wires
with the upper ends of secondary upright levers pivoted near one end of the case,
and whose lower ends are connected by rods or wires with arms extending from the
rock-shafts, which are also of varying lengths.
The rock shafts are mounted in bearings, and at their forward ends are provided
with arms which extend over the pallet valves, and through push pins or tracker
pins open said valves when suitably oscillated. The springs closing the pallet-
valves readjust the rock shafts, and through them the levers to their normal
position. It will be understood that the rock-shafts and their arms and the other
arms in effect constitute levers.
It will be seen that by this Invention is produced a simple, compact, and
convenient musical instrument, little liable to derangement and susceptible of being
operated mechanically with excellent effects, and played manually with all the
advantage of ordinary instruments.
Stops of any desirable kind may be used, and may when the instrument is
played mechanically be operated by projections on the music cards or tablets, or
manually.
The said Invention, though only hero described in connection with reed organs,
is applicable to pipe organs, to pianofortes, and other wind and string or concussive
nstruments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REED ORGANS, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING OR PERFORMING
UPON THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:"-- A communication from abroad by George Horstell
Chinnock, of Brooklyn, New York, and William Winslow Bennett, of Jersey.
City, New Jersey, both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to musical instruments wherein a music card or tablet of
any suitable shape and style provided with projections, perforations, or indentations,
representing notes to be played, actuates mechanism to effect the operation of the
sound-producing devices.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a simple, cheap, compact, and
reliable instrument, which may or may not be provided with keys for manual
playing.
The said Invention comprises the combination in a musical instrument of manual
keys, by which the sound-producing devices may be operated, a series of levers for
effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices independently of the keys,
and a music card or tablet travelling lengthwise of the instrument behind or over
the keys, all arranged within the case of the instrument, whereby a compact and
tasteful instrument is produced, leaving the keys at all times unobstructed for use.
It also comprises the combination in a musical instrument of manual keys, whereby
the sound-producing devices may be operated, a series of levers extending
transversely to the keys, connected independently of the same with the means for
effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices, a music card or tablet for
actuating the said levers, and ineans for effecting the travel of the music card or
tablet in the direction of the length of the instrument at the back thereof
transversely to the keys, whereby a simple and compact instrument is produced,
which may be played at will manually or mechanically, using the same sound-
producing devices. It also comprises the combination with a musical instrument
having manual keys and mechanism actuated by a travelling music card or tablet
for operating the sound producing devices of a case having two covers, one for the
keys, and the other for the said mechanism, and either of which covers may be
operated without opening the other. It also comprises the combination in a
musical instrument of massed, and preferably approximately vertical levers, a music
card or tablet for actuating the same, and rock-shafts or levers connected to the said
levers for effecting the operation of the sound-producing devices.
It also comprises novel means for feeding the music card or tablet in such an
instrument; also a music card or tablet mude of cast metal, or of wood or other
liko material and metal, and having projections representing notes and toothed
racks integral therewith. It also comprises various features and combinations of
parts, hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a recd-organ embodying the said
Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the same close to the
back.
Figuro 3 is a plan of the same, partly in section, with the top of the case and
some of the keys removed.

page_text: Figuro is a longitudinal section showing the music card or tablet, some of the
levers operated thereby, and the rock-shafts and their appurtenances; and
Figure 5 is a perspectivo view of the music card or tablet turned upside down.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
The case A of the instrument may be of any suitable form and material. Reeds B
of the ordinary form arranged in trays or in cells C are in this example of the said
Invention employed to produce the musical notes. The cells C communicate under
control of pallet-valves D with a wind-chest E, through which air for effecting the
operation of the reeds is caused to circulate by means of a bellows F actuated by a
treadlo G. Two such bellows may be used, and the one nearest the connecting
rod J may be made smaller than the other, so as to make the work of both feet of
the operator more uniform, and the bellows-springs may be made of different force
to aid in attaining this result. A receiver H may be employed as usual. Keys I, I,
acting through push-pins or tracker-pins a on the pallet valves D to depress and
open them to cause the sounding of the reeds in a well known manner provide for
playing the instrument manually. The case A is provided with a cover A' which
may be swung back to expose the said keys for use without exhibiting other parts;
thus the said instrument presents the appearance of an instrument of ordinary
style to be played only manually.
Here a
J designates a rotary shaft arranged within the case A along the front part
thereof near what is ordinarily termed the nameboard A. This shaft is preferably
provided with a balance wheel J', which though shown in the Drawing outside of
the case is preferably arranged inside of the same. Usually a crank provided for
rotating the shaft by hand will be arranged on the shaft outside the case.
crank J is shown as mounted on the balance-wheel J¹ for such purpose. The shaft
is also shown as connected by means of a crank J³ and a pitman or connecting
rod J with a arm extending from the treadle G. It will be readily understood
that provision is thus afforded for working the bellows and rotating the shaft J by
the hand-crank J, or for working the bellows and rotating the shaft by the
treadle,
Preferably a ratchet-wheel vand pawl u are employed to prevent the rotation of
the shaft J in the wrong direction. On this shaft J there is a worm or screw J³
which engages with a worm-wheel K, serving to feed or impart motion to music
cards or tablets, whereby the instrument may be played mechanically. The music
cards or tablets may consist of perforated paper, of drums, or cylinders, having upon
their periphery projections, or indentations, or perforations representing notes to be
sounded, or of discs having upon their sides projections representing such notes. It
is however only deemed necessary to shew the said inusic-cards in ono form, viz.,
that of a flat piece L of wood, metal, or other suitable material, provided on one
face with projections b.
These music cards or tablets L, of which one or more may be necessary to
complete a tune, are fed forward by means of a shaft K carrying the worm-wheel K,
and to ensure the required regularity or accuracy of the feed-movement they are
preferably provided with toothed racks c, one or more, and the shaft K' is preferably
provided with gear-wheels K* engaging with the said racks, and thereby impelling
the music cards or tablets forward. The racks as well as the projections representing
notes may be cast integral with the cards or tablets. The music cards or tablets
travel along ways K³ arranged in the back part of the case A transversely to the
keys of the instrument, and may be placed in position on said ways from above,
and taken out in the same manner after use; or they may be delivered from a
door A³ at the end of the case A. This door is shown as hinged to the case at one
end only, hence the music cards or tablets may force it open automatically and
pass out. The ways K³ are preferably so supported and secured in place that they
may be readily removed to afford access to the other parts of the instrument.
A cover As hinged or otherwise connected to the front of an elevated portion of
the case A enclosing the ways K³, and so arranged that it may be readily opened
and closed, affords access to these ways, and conceals the same and adjacent parts

page_text: while it is desired to play the instrument manually, and when the instrument is
not in use.
M designates a series of approximately vertical levers located side by side in a
serrated or mortised frame transversely to the keys of the instrument, and in such
close proximity to each other that they may appropriately be termed massed levers.
They are preferably arranged about midway of the length of the case A, and occupy
such positions as to project in the path of the music cards or tablets L, and to be
acted upon by the projections thereof. Preferably the upper ends of the lovers
are pointed so that they may be only swung and held aside for a length of time
corresponding to the length of the projections b. The advantage of locating these
levers close together is that the music cards or tablets may be made narrow.
N designates a clamp or guide consisting of a roller arranged above the upper ends
of these levers M, and impelled downwards by springs d, here shown as consisting
of rods fastened rigidly in place at one end, extending under pins e, and at the other
"end-passing-over and bearing upon the journals of the roller; this roller holds the
music cards or tablets as they travel along in proper position to actuate the levers M.
The levers M at the lower ends are connected to rock-shafts O, O', whereby the
pallet-valves D may be opened to cause the sounding of the reeds B. As here
shown, the levers M which serve to effect the sounding of the bass notes are con-
nected at the lower end by means of rods or wires P directly to arms f extending
from the rock-shafts O, the rock-shafts being of different lengths, so that their
arms f will be opposite said levers. Other of the levers M for causing the sounding
of the treble notes are connected at the lower end by rods or wires P¹ with the
upper ends of secondary upright levers M¹ pivoted near one end of the case A,
and whose lower ends are connected by rods or wires P with arms f¹ extending
from the rock-shafts O', which are also of varying lengths.
The rock-shafts-0, 0', are mounted in bearings g, and at their forward ends are
provided with arms and h¹ which extend over the pallet-valves D, and through
push-pins or tracker pins Q open said valves when suitably oscillated. The
springs D closing the pallet-valves readjust the rock-shafts, and through them the
levers M, to their normal position. It will be understood that the rock-shafts O, O¹,
and their arms f, f', and the arms h, h¹, in effect constitute levers.
It will be seen that by this Invention is produced a simple, compact, and con-
venient musical instrument, little liable to derangement, and susceptible of being
operated mechanically with excellent effects, and played manually with all the
advantage of ordinary instruments. Stops of any desirable kind inay be used, and
may, when the instrument is played meclianically, be operated by projections on the
music cards or tablets, or manually.
The said Invention, though herein illustrated only in connection with reed-organs,
is applicable to pipe-organs, to piano-fortes, and other wind and string or concussive
instruments.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination in a musical instrument of manual keys by which the
sound-producing devices may be operated, a series of levers for effecting the opera-
tion of the sound-producing devices independently of the keys, and a music card or
tablet travelling lengthwise of the instrument behind or over the keys, and all
arranged within the case of the said instrument, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a musical instrument without manual keys the combination with the
sound-producing devices of the said scries of levers, and a music card or tablet
travelling lengthwise of the instrument, all arranged within the case of the same,
substantially as set forth.
Third. In a musical instrument the combination of manual keys whereby the
sound-producing devices may be operated, a series of levers extending transversely
to the keys connected independently of the said keys, with means for effecting tho
operation of the sound-producing devices, a musical card or tablet for actuating the

page_text: said levers, and means for effecting the travel or movement of the music card or
tablet in the direction of the length of the instrument, and at the back thereof
transversely to the keys, all substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a musical instrument having manual keys and
mechanism actuated by a travelling music card or tablet for operating the sound-
producing devices, of a case having two covers, one for the keys and the other for
the said mechanism, and either of which may be operated without opening the
other.
Fifth. In a musical instrument the combination of valves whereby the operation
of wind sound-producing devices is controlled, rock-shafts whereby the said valves
may be opened, levers connected with the said rock-shafts so as to actuate the same,
and a music card or tablet for operating the said levers in passing over the upper
ends thereof, all substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a musical instrument the combination of the rock-shafts whereby the
operation of the sound-producing devices is effected, the massed levers connected by
rods or wires or equivalent means with arms extending from the rock-shafts, and a
music card or tablet for actuating the said levers, all substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a musical instrument the combination of the rock-shafts whereby
the operation of the sound-producing devices is effected, the inassed levers, a music
card or tablet for actuating the latter, the secondary upright levers and connections
between the said levers, and the arms extending from the rock-shafts, all su¹tially
as set forth.
Eighth. In a musical instrument the combination of the massed levers, the music
card or tablet for actuating the said levers, and the rock-shafts of varying lengths
connected to the said levers and controlling the operation of the sound-producing
devices, all substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In a musical instrument the combination of the massed levers, the music
card or tablet for operating these levers, and the rock-shafts connected to the said
levers, and extending forward under the manual keys of the instrument and acting
on push-pins or tracker-pins, to open pallet-valves controlling the operation of tho
sound-producing devices, all substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In a musical instrument the combination with levers for controlling the
operation of the sound-producing devices, and a music card or tablet provided with
a toothed rack for feeding it along of guides for the said music card or tablet, a
gear-wheel for engaging with the rack, a worm and worm-wheel for imparting
motion to the said gear-wheel, and preferably a balance-wheel and pawl and ratchet
wheel applied to the driving shaft or equivalent device to prevent reversed action,
all substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. In a musical instrument the combination with levers for controlling
the operation of the sound-producing devices, and a music card or tablet provided
with a toothed rack for feeding it along of guides for the said music card or tablet,
a gear-wheel for engaging with the rack, a worm and worm wheel for imparting
motion to the said gear-wheel, and a roller clamp or guide for holding the said
music card or tablet in contact with the ends of said levers, all substantially as set
forth.
Twelfth. In a musical instrument the combination with levers for controlling the
operation of the sound-producing devices, a music card or tablet for actuating the
said levers, and means for feeding the said music card or tablet along of a door in
the case of the instrument capable of being opened by the music card or tablet to
permit the exit of the saine from the instrument.
Thirteenth. In a musical instrument the combination of manual keys whereby
the sound-producing devices may be operated, a series of levers extending trans-
versely to the keys connected independently of the said keys with the means for
effecting the operation of the sound producing devices, a music card or tablet for
actuating the said levers travelling in the direction of the length of the instrument
at the back thereof transversely to the keys, a rotary shaft employed in feeding the

page_text: said music card or tablet along, and a treadle for operating tho said shaft, all
substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. A music card or tablet made of cast metal or a combination of wood
and metal, and having projections representing notes and toothed racks integral
therewith.
Fifteenth. In a musical instrument the combination of the massed levers M and
the recessed or serrated fraine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, 1, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
1774 DADT TAFR