Improvements in American or Reed Organs.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in American or Reed Organs.
1, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
munication to me from abroad by Andrew Jackson Reynolds, Organ Builder, and
John Summerfield Williams, Manufacturer, both of Chicago, in the County of Cook
and State of Illinois, in the United States of America, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a
part of this Specification, in which :-
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an organ embodying the features
of the invention.
Figure 2 is a like view of a modification of said invention.
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view in detail, of a portion of the reed chest
showing the improved manner of attaching the same to the organ frame, and
Figure 4 is a like view showing a modification of said construction.
Like letters of reference in the different figures, indicate like parts.
The primary object of the invention is to so connect the reed chest of an organ by
means of an elastic connection to the frame, that while it is free to vibrate, it may at
the same time be insulated from said frame.
A further object is to connect the case or shell of said reed chest by means of a
positive connection to one or more resonating shells, so that the sound vibrations may
he mechanically transmitted from the reed chest to said resonators in a manner
analogous to the transmission of vibrations in a mechanical telephone. Moreover it
is desired to so hinge or suspend said resonator or resonators from the frame of the
instrument that they may be free to respond to the fullest vibration of the reed chest,
all of which is hereinafter more fully described and definitely claimed.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the case of an ordinary cabinet organ,
the reed chest, the bellows, and d the treadle, all of which may be constructed in
the usual way. Instead of rigidly bolting or otherwise attaching the reed chest to the
frame or bed piece e, a series of elastic insulators preferably made of rubber or other
equivalent material are provided, which are interposed between the bottom of the
reed chest and the bed piece e, and between said reed chest and the head of the bolty,
which is preferably passed through the side pieces of the reed chest and into the
bel piece, to retain said reed chest in a normal position, It is preferred to use only
four of said bolts, one at each corner. Instead of passing said bolts entirely through
the side pieces of the reed chest, the bottom of said chest may be allowed to project
as shown at 2, Figure 4, when the bolt may be inserted through said projecting
portion in the manner there shown.
It has been found in practice that the mere insulating of said reed chest in the
manner described, serves to soften and improve the tone of the instrument and permits
the reed chest to vibrate in a manner which it could not do were it rigidly attached to
the bed piece. This latter feature has been found of great importance in connection
with the improved resonator described in United States Letters Patent No. 405,323,
issued June 18, 1889. By attaching one or more of said resonators to an organ and
forming a positive connection between the same and said reed chest, the sound of the
instrument is greatly amplified and improved. Said result is accomplished as
follows:
--
Within the organ case, and preferably hinged thereto, as shown at / Figure 2,
is placed a resonating shell h, the forward part of which rests upon a soft rubber
block or insulator 2. Connected with the shell of said resonator and reed chest, is
one or more light wooden bars by which the vibrations of the reed chest are

page_text: positively conveyed to the resonator. Above said reed chest and partially enclosed
within the organ case is placed a secondary resonator k, the rear of which is suspended
from the case preferably by means of a strap or wire k¹, while a bar k² is also attached
to said resonator and reed chest, forming a positive connection between the two. In
order to permit the sound vibrations from the resonator to escape in the air, there is
attached to that portion of the resonator k, which protrudes from the case, a series of
pipes, which are closed at the top and supported in place by means of springs m, or
other resilient connections, so that the vibratory movement of the resonator k may
not be prevented or restricted by said pipes. Careful tests have proven that the pipes
themselves serve as additional resonators. At the back of the organ case, and
supported thereby by means of brackets n, n, is provided a still larger resonator o, the
inner side of the shell of which is attached to the resonator by means of a short
bar o', so that the vibrations of the resonator are thereby positively communicated
to the resonator o. It will thus be seen that a positive connection is established
between the reed chest and the series of resonators attached to the organ, while the
reed chest itself being free to dance or vibrate upon the elastic cushions by which it is
attached to the frame, exerts a much more powerful influence upon the resonators, the
result of which is a vast increase in the volume of sound with a corresponding
improvement in the tone of the instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of an organ frame, a reed chest secured thereto by means of
resilient connections, a resonator loosely secured in position, and a positive connection,
such as a bar of wood, between the shell of the reed chest and that of said resonator,
to transmit the vibrations positively from one to the other, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination of an organ frame, a reed chest secured thereto by means of a
resilient connection, and a series of resonators having positive connections with said
reed chest and loosely secured in position, whereby they are free to vibrate in unison
with said reed chest, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with an organ, of a reed chest insulated from the frame by
means of an elastic cushion, the resonators h, k, having one side loosely connected
with the frame, and connecting hars j, k, substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination with an organ, of the cushioned reed chest b, resonators h, k, o,
and intermediate connections j, k, o, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with an organ, of the cushioned reed chest b, resonators h, k,
intermediate connections j, k², pipes 1, and spring connections m, substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 10
SAT 1
ovember 1000.
1000
PATCH ULT
COLL R
LOUVO
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.