IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS A communication from abroad by George Walter Turner, of
Boston, Massachusetts United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AUTO-
MATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."-[A communication from abroad
by George Walter Turner, of Boston, Massachusetts United States of America.]
The invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments, in which
the playing is automatically effected by the passage of a strip or sheet of perforated
paper, or other suitable material.
The first part of the said invention relates more particularly to instruments,
wherein valves, leading to reeds or other sounding devices, are operated by means
of vibrating fingers actuated from, or controlled by, the said prepared music sheet
passed in contact with one of their ends. It consists first in constructing a musical
instrument with bellows, wind chest, reeds, and reed chambers having air-passages
communicating with the reeds, and with a valve adapted to be operated, and
constructed, and arranged to roll over upon its seat, and, in its movements, to open
and close the air-passage leading to the reed. Second, in constructing a mechanical
musical instrument with bellows, wind chest, reeds, and reed chambers having
air-passages communicating with the reeds and with a series of valve actuating
fingers controlled by a perforated or other suitably prepared music sheet, and
with valves hinged one to each of the said fingers, and each adapted to be
operated, and constructed and arranged to roll over upon its seat and, in its
movements, to open and close the air-passage leading to the reed pertaining to
such valve. Third, in constructing a mechanical musical instrument with bellows

page_text: wind chest, reeds, and reed chambers having air-passages communicating with
the reeds, and with a series of valve-actuating fingers controlled by a perforated
or other suitably prepared music sheet and with valves, hinged one to each of
the said fingers and flexibly connected to a stationary support, and each of the
said valves constructed and arranged to roll over upon its seat, and, in its
movements, to open and close the air-passage leading to the reed pertaining to
such valve. Fourth in constructing and arranging the parts for the operation of
the said instruments in an improved manner as will be hereinafter described.
The second part of the said invention relates to mechanical musical instruments
operated by a sheet of perforated paper or other suitable material, wherein the
roeds, or other sounding devices, are sounded by air passing to or from the same
through the perforations in the perforated music sheet. It consists first in
constructing a mechanical musical instrument with a series of spring fingers,
constructed and arranged to hold the music sheet, at and between the rows or
lines of perforations, closely in contact with the reed-block, as it passes along
over the air-passages thereof opening to the reeds. Second in constructing a
mechanical musical instrument with two or more force or exhaust bellows,
working in connection with a reservoir or other bellows, which is in communi-
cation with the air-passages through the reeds, and has springs, which are applied
to it to close or open it as the case may be, and are arranged for either one or
more of them to be readily put into and out of action, without detaching them
from their support, to adjust their power or pressure upon the bellows.-Third in
constructing a mechanical musical instrument with two or more force or exhaust
bellows, arranged to work in connection with a reservoir or other bellows, which is
in communication with air-passages through the reeds, and is located upon one side
of a board having the force or exhaust bellows upon the other side thereof, and
Fourth in
provided with passages communicating with each of the bellows.
constructing a mechanical musical instrument with force or exhaust bellows
working in connection with a reservoir or other bellows, which is in communi-
cation with air-passages through the reeds; and also providing a board which
forms one side of the several bellows and has passages communicating with each,
and a continuation of which forms the reed-board, Fifth in constructing a
mechanical musical instrument, with an air-passage which is in communication
with the bellows, and is open to the line of movement of the perforated music
sheet, in a plane between the rows of its musical perforations, but having no reed,
or other sound producing device, or other obstruction to the passage of air through
it; and in forming a perforation in the music sheet in line with the said air-passage
and situated on the music sheet in such relation to its musical perforations, that,
when the tune is completed by the then continued working of the bellows to feed
the music sheet out of the instrument, or to play another of its tunes, the air will
pass from or to the bellows as the case may be, through the said perforation and
air-passage, whereby the reeds are relieved from air pressure and consequently the
disagreeable sounds usually produced by them at such times are prevented. The
second part of the said invention also comprises various other improvements which
will be hereinafter described.
In carrying the first part of my said invention into practice I provide two
uprights or frames, between and upon which are supported and carried all the
working parts of the instrument, the whole being arranged to be placed and
secured by screws in a suitable case.-The upper front part of the said case is of
glass, and the case may be of any suitable shape or configuration and ornamented
as desired, proper openings being arranged for the passage of the perforated strip
through it and for the projection of the shafts of the feed-roller, bellows, and other
parts required for the proper operation of the instrument.
Inside the said case are fitted the bellows, the exhausters, the wind chest, and
other parts, and also a series of reed chambers, each having a reed, and an air-inlet.
At the upper surface of a recd-block is a raceway or table for supporting or guiding
the perforated music sheet, as it is fed through the instrument by means of a

page_text: feed-roller, and a presser-roller for holding the music sheet in contact with tho
said feed roller. The shaft of the said feed roller carries a gear-wheel, which
engages with another gear-wheel mounted on a shaft, (to which the bellows are
connected for operation), the latter being the driving shaft which is operated by a
crank-handle or in any suitable manner.-Vibrating fingers or levers are provided
for operating a series of valves to open and close the air-passages to the reeds.
Each valve consists of a cylindrical block, and the several valve-blocks are
placed, end to end, in a row, along and so as to rest upon the upper surface of the
reed block, the said surface being of a shape corresponding to that of the valves.―
Each block is of sufficient width to cover and close an air-passage in the reed-block
and it is attached by a flexible strip of leather, cloth, or like material, to a common
rail forming a part of the said reed-block, it also has a rod which, at one end, is
hinged to it, and at the other end is connected to the upper end of one of the
aforesaid vibrating fingers or levers.-Each valve-block rests against the horizontal
rail, which is common to the series of valve-blocks, and in moving, to cover and
uncover its air-inlet, by the action of its finger or lever, it rolls upon and over the
upper concave surface of the reed-block
When over its air-inlet, the valve closes the same to the passage of air, and, when
moved off the said inlet, it opens it to the passage of air; and preferably that part
of each valve-block, making a seat upon the upper concave surface of the reed
block, is covered with leather or cloth to ensure the closing of its air-inlet, and to
prevent noise in its movement, and this covering may be a continuation of the strip
forming the aforesaid flexible connection.
A concave surface of the reed-block is preferable as it gives a bearing for the
convex side of each valve-block along the whole length of the air-inlet, which it is
to close, and again, it affords a better surface for the rolling movement of the
blocks, but obviously it is not absolutely essential either to the roll of the valve-
blocks or to their other operations herein described. The flexible connection of the
valve-blocks is desirable, but may be dispensed with.
As hereinbefore described, the valve-blocks are preferably cylinders, but all that
is essential is that they should have a round or convex surface at that part of each
valve, forming the working surface thereof in the roll of the valve, to and fro, upon
its seat on the reed-block.
The hinging of each valve-block, to the rod which connects it to the finger or
lever, is preferably effected by means of a hole, which is eccentric to the convex
valve-face and runs from end to end of the block, and two peripheral slots, both
opening into the said hole, but at right angles to each other, the one extending
from end to end, and the other in a parallel plane with the ends of the block; a
cross-head, at one end of the rod has a thickness in one direction suitable for it to
be passed freely through the slot running from end to end of the block, and thus
entered into the hole in the said block; and in the other direction it has a width
greater than that of the said slot, and the said rod is of suitable size to lie within
the slot in the block parallel with its ends.
According to a modification, the valve is connected to a spring finger by means
of a flexible attachment consisting of leather, cloth, or like material, and of such
length that it can loop or buckle when the valve is closed.
Air-passages are arranged vertically within each frame at each end of the instru-
ment, their lower ends opening into a horizontal chamber running from one side to
the other, which chamber communicates by a passage of the length of the said
chamber with the bellows, the upper ends of these air-passages opening into the
wind chest of the reed chambers at each end.
The aforesaid presser-roller at each end has a bearing in a vertical slot in two
stationary brackets, and rests and is supported upon the upper side of the lower
arms of levers, one at each end, which levers each turn upon a fulcrum and are
arranged so that their upper arms will be operated upon by cams, one to each lever,
but both attached to a common horizontal operating shaft, and all arranged in such
a manner that, by turning the said shaft and cams, the said levers are swung, as

page_text: the case may be, either in a direction to place the presser-roller in contact with the
feed-roller, or to leave the said presser-roller free to drop, in the aforesaid vertical
slotted bearings, from the feed-roller and thus from the music sheet.
The cams are also shaped and hung so as to hold the presser-roller in its working
position, when turned sufficiently therefor, and their common operating shaft has
separate and similar crank arms, and is arranged in such a position that, when
turned in one direction, it will be brought against the series of valve-fingers or
levers and lift them out of the plane of movement of the music sheet through the
instrument, while, at the same time, the presser-roller is freed from contact with
the feed-roller; and when, turned in the other direction, it will release the said
valve-fingers or levers and allow then to come into position for operation from the
travel of the musie sheet, and at the same time place the presser-roller against the
feed-roller, or, in other words, in its operating position upon the music sheet and
there hold it.
If desired the valves hereinbefore described can be used in connection with air-
passages leading to pipes or other sounding devices.
In a modification of the connection between the valve and the finger, the air-
inlet is at the side of the reed chamber, the seat for the valve being slightly inclined
from a vertical position; the valve is flat and hinged to the front of the reed-
block. The upper end of the finger extends slightly above the valve, and is bent
downward, and extends into a slot in the free end of the valve; by means of this
connection, as the finger is lowered or raised, the valve will be accordingly opened
or closed.
The raceway before referred to is pivoted at each end to the uprights.-On its
underside near the front, at each end, is a slot, in which is arranged a crank-arm
extending across the instrument and turning in bearings in the uprights.
In carrying the second part of my said invention into practice I provide a
vertical board, supported at its lower part between two foot-boards or pieces one
at each end. Two force or feed-bellows are both placed at one and the same side
of the said vertical board, and each one at its lower end is separately hinged to the
said board, both being connected at their upper ends by separate rods to separate
crank-arms which are in opposite directions upon a common horizonal shaft
arranged to turn in bearings in end pieces attached to the upper part of each end
of the said vertical board.-Air passages are formed through the vertical board,
opening to each of the feed-bellows and to a reservoir-bellows, which is arranged
upon the vertical board at the side opposite to that carrying the feed-bellows and
has a passage leading therefrom, which passage at each end connects with vertical
air-passages in the vertical board extending to the upper surface of the reed-block;
in this reed-block are reed chambers having reeds, and to the said chambers air-
inlets open from the race-way on the surface of the reed block.
The reed-block is a continuation of the said vertical board, which board forms one
side of each of the aforesaid bellows.-The reservoir-bellows are made to close by
springs, one located at each end thereof.-These springs, at their lower ends, are
each fastened to the vertical board, and at their upper ends rest against and lic
within recesses in separate abutments, which are fastened to the upper part of the
bellows and are each located so that the end of the spring resting thereon can be
taken off and placed to rest against the vertical board.
A feed-roller and presser roller together form the feeding device of the
instrument. The upper and feed-roller at one end, is geared to the operating shaft
for the feeders and is operated thereby.-The lower and presser roller, at each end,
rests upon a spring support attached to the vertical board, and is held in position
by such spring supports, and by lying within the hooked ends of arms fixed to the
vertical board.
The aforesaid end-pieces carry both the operating shaft for the feeders and the
feed-roller of the feeding device, and they are attached by screws to the vertical
board so as to be readily attached thereto and detached therefrom,-A number of

page_text: spring fingers are attached in a row to a common horizontal rail secured to and
between the said end pieces.
The free ends of the several fingers project from the said rail and bear upon the
perforated music sheet, between the rows of perforations, and at, and between, the
air passages to the reed chambers.
A cap is provided for covering the spring fingers, the upper surface of the reed
block, and the perforated music sheet passing over the latter.-This cap rests upon
a raised surface at each end of the reed-block, and is chambered out on the
underside.
The said cap, at each end, and the inside face of each end-piece are provided
with a vertical tongue and groove fitting each other, to guide the cap in placing it
in position, and to hold it against lateral displacement.-There are passages in the
end pieces of the cap, which, when the cap is in its position on the instrument,
form continuations of vertical air-passages, and the aforesaid passages turn therein
at right angles and terminate in an enlarged V-shaped opening in the inner side
of the end-pieces of the cap, which are open to the chamber of the said cap. The
front and rear lower edges of the cap project below the rests so as to have close
contact with the music sheet to prevent the air escaping at such edges and thus
interfere with the sounding of the reeds.
In lieu of force or feed-bellows as described it is obvious that exhaust bellows
may be employed.
An air passage, communicating with the bellows, opens directly to the series of
reed-chambers, which at their upper ends open to the raceway at the upper surface
of the reed-block for the perforated sheet, each chamber is provided with a reed,
except the central one, which is without a reed or other obstruction to the passage
of air from the bellows through it.--The aforesaid cap has perforations for the escape
of the sound of the reeds, and the edges of the cap do not project below the rests
provided for it.
The perforated music sheet has a perforation between two rows of its musical
perforations, which is at the centre line of the sheet, and corresponds in its position,
in the travel of the music sheet through the instrument, to the central air passage
of the reed-block leading to the bellows, which passage has no reed or other
obstruction to the passage of air through it.
A rail is hinged to the raceway at each end outside of the line of travel of the
music sheet, and has a wire bearing by its middle portion upon it, the wire being
secured at each end to a rest and serving as a spring to hold the rail and the
fingers to their positions on the reed-block for the purposes herein before described.
When desired, by pressing down on a thumb piece of the said rail the rail is
swung upward on its pivot against the aforesaid spring, enabling the music sheet
to be readily inserted in, or removed from the instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AUTO-
A communication from abroad
MATIC OR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
"
by George Walter Turner, of Boston, Massachusetts United States of America
This invention relates to that class of mechanical musical instruments in which
the playing is automatically effected by the passage of a strip or sheet of
perforated paper or other suitable material.
The first part of this invention relates more particularly to instruments wherein
valves, leading to reeds or other sounding devices, are operated by means of
vibrating fingers, actuated from or controlled by the said prepared music sheet
passed in contact with one of their ends. It consists first in constructing a musical
instrument with bellows, wind chest, reeds and reed chambers having air passages
communicating with the reeds, and with a valve adapted to be operated and
constructed and arranged to roll over upon its seat and in its movements to open
and close the air passage leading to the reed.
Second in constructing a mechanical musical instrument with bellows, wind
chest, reeds and reed chambers having air passages communicating with the reeds,
and with a series of valve-actuating fingers controlled by a perforated or other
suitably prepared music sheet and with valves hinged one to each of the said
fingers, and each adapted to be operated and constructed and arranged to roll over
upon its seat in its movements to open and close the air passage leading to the
reed pertaining to such valve.
Third in constructing a mechanical musical instrument with bellows wind chest
reeds and reed chambers having air passages communicating with the reeds and
with a series of valve-actuating fingers, controlled by a perforated or other suitably
prepared music sheet, and with valves, hinged one to each of the said fingers and
flexibly connected to a stationary support and each of the said valves constructed
and arranged to roll over upon its seat and in its movements to open and close the
air passage leading to the reed pertaining to such valve.
Fourth. In constructing and arranging the parts for the operation of the
instruments, hereinafter described.
The second part of the said invention relates to mechanical musical instruments
operated by a sheet of perforated paper or other suitable material wherein the
reeds or other sounding devices are sounded by air passing to or from the same
through the perforations in the perforated music sheet and consists.
First in constructing a mechanical musical instrument with a series of spring
fingers, constructed and arranged to hold the music sheet, at and between its rows
or lines of perforations, closely in contact with the reed block as it passes along
over the air passages thereof opening to the reeds.
Second in constructing a mechanical musical instrument with two or more force
or exhaust bellows, working in connection with. a reservoir, or other bellows, which
is in communication with the air-passages through the reeds and has springs which
are applied to close or open it as the case may be and are arranged for either one
or more of them to be readily put into and out of action, without detaching them
from their support to adjust their power or pressure upon the bellows.
Third in constructing a mechanical musical instrument, with two or more force
or exhaust bellows, arranged to work in connection with a reservoir or other
bellows, which is in communication with air passages through the reeds, and is

page_text: Inside the said case are fitted the bellows G the exhausters H H the wind-chest J
a series of reed chambers c c each having a reed d and an air inlet e at the upper
surface of a reed-block K. A raceway or table L supports or guides the per-
forated music sheet M as it is fed through the instrument by means of two feed
rollers g and h the latter serving for holding the said music sheet in contact with
the feed roller g The shaft of the feed roller g carries a gear wheel which
engages with another gear wheel Q2 mounted on the shaft Q3 (to which the bellows
are connected for operation) the latter shaft is also the driving shaft and is operated
by the crank handle i or by any suitable means.
Vibrating fingers or levers N are provided for operating the valves Ọ one of
which is connected with each finger to open and close the air passages e to the
reeds d the said fingers being actuated by the movement of the perforated music
sheet.
Each valve consists of a cylindrical block and the several valve-blocks are
placed end to end in a row, along, and so as to rest upon the upper surface f of the
reed-block K the said surface being of a shape corresponding to that of the valves.
Each valve is of sufficient width to cover and close an air passage e in the reed-
block, and is attached by a flexible strip of leather, cloth or like material which
forms a part of the reed-block K to a rail m each valve also has a rod n which at
one end is hinged to it, and at the other end, is connected to the upper end of its
corresponding vibrating finger or lever N.
Each valve block when covering its air inlet or opening e rests against the
horizontal rail m which is common to the series of valve-blocks and in moving to
uncover its air-inlet by the action of its finger or lever N it rolls upon and over
the upper surface f of the reed-block K.
When over its air inlet e the valve closes the same to the passage of air, and
when moved off the said inlet it allows the air to pass that part of each valve-
block which comes into contact with the surface f of the reed-block, is preferably
covered with leather or cloth, to ensure the closing of the inlet and to prevent
noise in the movement of the said valve, this covering may be a continuation of
the strip forming the flexible connection hereinbefore described.
A concave surface f of the reed-block is preferable, as it gives a bearing for the
convex side of each valve-block, along the whole length of the air-inlet which it is
to close and again it affords a better surface for the rolling movement of the blocks,
but obviously it is not absolutely essential, either to the roll of the valve-blocks or
to their other operations. The flexible connection of the valve-blocks, is also
desirable but it may be dispensed with.
As hereinbefore described the valve-blocks are cylindrical but all that is essential
is that they should have a round or convex surface at that part which rolls, to and
fro, upon its seat on the reed-block.
The binging of each valve-block to a rod n which connects it to a finger or
lever N is preferably effected by means of a hole o which is eccentric with the
convex valve face and runs from end to end of the block O, and by two peripheral
slots pq both opening into the said hole o but at right angles to each other, the
one P extends from end to end of the valve block and the other hole q in a
parallel plane with the ends of the said block. A cross head r at one end of the
rod n has a thickness suitable for it to be passed freely through the slot p and
thus entered into the hole o and a width greater than that of the said slot; the
said rod n is also of suitable size to lie within the slot q parallel with the ends of
the block.
This construction of hinge enables a rod n to be readily attached to, and detached
from its valve block and when attached to be secure against accidental detachment,
and to allow a free rolling movement of the valve-block in its operations to open
and close its air inlet.
According to a modification a valve O is connected to its spring finger N by
means of a flexible attachment 8 consisting of leather, cloth, or like material as
shown in Figures 9 and 10 and of such length, that it can loop or buckle when the

page_text: valve O is closed. The movement of a finger or lever N is slightly greater than
the movement of the valve so that in operation the straightening of the flexible
attachments 8 will snap or jerk the valve from its seat with a quick rolling action,
thereby overcoming any tendency to stick down by reason of the suction of the
bellows, and rendering the action of the said valves easy sharp and positive, whilst
the touch of the fingers N upon the the music sheet is light and sensitive.
I do not limit myself to the arrangement of valve block herein described as a
suitable connection of the finger with the valve may be made in other ways
without departing from the nature of this invention.
Air passages t t are arranged vertically within each frame A at each end of the
instrument their lower ends opening into a horizontal chamber P running from
one side to the other, the said chamber communicates by a passage u of the same
length as the chamber P with the bellows G the upper ends of these air passages
opening into the wind chest J of the reed chambers c at each end as shown in
Figure 3.
The air passages tt are for the passage of air from the wind chest J to the
bellows chamber.
The presser roller h at its ends, has bearings in vertical slots in two stationary
brackets w and rests and is supported upon the upper side of the lower arms of
levers x one at each end, which levers move upon pivots y and are arranged, so that
their upper arms 2 will be operated upon by cams R one to each lever x but both
attached to a common operating shaft S and arranged in such a manner that by
turning the said shaft and cams the said levers are all swung either in a direction,
to place the pressers roller in contact with the feed roller g as shown in Figures 5
and 6 or to leave the said presser roller free to drop in the vertical slotted
bearings from the feed roller, and thus from the music sheet as shown in
Figures 2 and 7. The cams R are also shaped and hung so as to hold the presser
roller h in its working position, when turned sufficiently therefor; the common
operating shaft S is provided with separate crank-arms T arranged in such a
position thereon that when turned in one direction they will be brought against
the series of valve fingers or levers N as shewn in Figure 7 and hold them out of
contact with the music sheet passing through the instrument, while at the same
time, the presser-roller is freed from contact with the feed-roller; and when turned
in the opposite direction the said arms will release said valve-fingers or levers and
allow them to come into position for operation, through the travel of the music
sheet, and at the same time place the presser roller against the feed-roller, or in
other words in its operating position upon the music sheet and there hold it."
If desired the valves O can be used in connection with air passages leading to
pipes or other sounding devices.
A modification of the connection between the valve and the finger N is shown
in Figure 11 the air inlet e is at the side of the reed chamber c the seal U for the
valve being slightly inclined from a vertical position, the valve O is flat and hinged
at V to the front of the reed-block K.
The upper end W of a finger N extends slightly above the valve and is bent
downwards and extends into a slot X in the free end of the said valve; by means
of this connection, as the finger is lowered or raised, the valve will be accordingly
opened or closed.
The raceway L before referred to is pivoted at each end to the uprights A at a¹.
On its under side at each end near the front is a slot b' in which is arranged to
slide a crank arm c¹ extending across the instrument and turning in bearings d' in
the uprights.
The crank arm c¹ in its upright position, supports the front of the raceway but
in its downward movement it carries with it the raceway which turns upon its
pivots as shown in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 6. When the raceway is in its
lowest position and the presser roller h has been lowered as described, the music
sheet can be freely passed through the instrument without interfering with the
fingers, which otherwise might injure them or the music sheet M; this is desirable

page_text: when the music sheet is to be changed or removed and another inserted. The
raising of the fingers N by means of the crank arms T is also for the same
purpose.
In carrying the second part of the said invention into practice I provide a vertical
board A supported at its lower part between two foot boards or pieces B'. Two
force or feed bellows C' C¹ are both placed upon one and the same side of the said
vertical board A¹ and each one at its lower end is separately hinged to the said
board, both being connected at their upper ends, by separate rods el to separate
crank arms f which are in opposite directions upon a common horizontal shaft D¹
which is arranged to turn in bearings in end pieces E¹ attached to the upper part
of each end of the vertical board A¹. Air passages g' g' are formed through the
vertical board, and open to each of the feed bellows and to the reservoir bellows F¹
which are arranged upon the vertical board at the side opposite to that, carrying
the feed bellows, a passage Q¹ leads therefrom, which passage at each end connects
with vertical air passages t t in the vertical board A' extending to the upper surface
of the reed block G'; in this reed block are the reed chambers ce having reeds d d
to the said chambers the air inlets e e open from the raceway L on the surface of
the reed-block G¹.
The reed-block G¹ is a continuation of the vertical board A' which board forms
one side of each of the aforesaid bellows. The reservoir bellows F¹ are made to
close by springs o¹ one located at each end thereof. These springs o' at their lower
ends are each fastened to the vertical board A' and at their upper ends rest against
and lie within a recess P³ of separate abutments q¹ which are fastened to the upper
part of the bellows, and are each located so that the end of the spring resting
thereon can be taken off and placed to rest against the vertical board as shewn in
dotted lines Figure 14. Otherwise theso springs are arranged as usual on bellows
adapted to force air.
The arrangement of the bellows springs o¹ above described obviously enables
either to be taken off and placed out of action and thus regulate the pressure or
force of the wind as desired in order to suit the requirements of the music being
played, which if to be slow in movement would require but one spring whilst both
would be required if its movement were quick. The rollers H' and L' together
form the feeding device of the instrument.
The upper and feed-roller H¹ is geared at one end to the shaft D¹ which
operates the bellows.
The lower and presser roller L' at each end rests within the bent ends of a spring
support M attached to the central vertical board A¹ and is held in position against
the feed-roller by such spring supports.
The end pieces E¹ carry both the operating shaft for the feed bellows, and the
feed roller H¹ of the feeding device, and are attached by screws t¹ to the vertical
board A' so as to be readily detached therefrom. A number of spring fingers N¹N¹
are attached in a row to a common horizontal rail O¹ secured to and between the
said end pieces E¹.
The free ends u¹ of the several fingers project from the said rail O¹ and bear upon
the perforated music sheet between the rows of perforations and at and between
the air passages to the reed-chambers and thus the music sheet is held firmly and
closely to its seat at the upper surface and the open ends of the reed-chambers,
while at the same time it can be freely moved over the same by the rotation of the
feed and presser rollers.
A cap P¹ is provided for covering the spring fingers N₁ the upper surface of the
reed block, and the perforated music sheet passing over the latter. This cap rests
upon a raised surface v' at each end of the reed block and has a chamber w³ formed
on its underside as shown in Figure 21.
The cap Pat each end and the inside face of each end piece E¹ have a vertical
tongue y and groove z¹ fitting each other to guide the cap in placing it in position,
and to hold it against lateral displacement. There are passages d in the end
pieces of the cap P¹ which when the said cap is in its position on the instrument

page_text: form continuations of the vertical air passages t the said passages d³ turn therein
at right angles and terminate in an enlarged shaped opening g' on the inner side
of the end pieces f which latter are open to the chamber w' of the said cap.
The air as it enters the openings g2 is condensed somewhat by the inclined sides
of the said openings thus giving more force to the same. The air from the bellows
passes up through the air passage t into the chamber w¹ of the cap P' through the
perforations in the perforated music sheet that are over the air passages e in the
board A through the said air passages to the reeds which it sounds thence passing
into the open air.
The front and rear lower edges 3 of the cap P¹ project below the rests v₁ so as
to be in close contact with the music sheet to prevent the air escaping and thus
interfere with the sounding of the reeds
The central vertical board A¹ the foot pieces B¹ and the upper end pieces E¹
constitute the supporting frame work, and of themselves furnish all the requisites
for carrying the several operating parts of the instrument.
In the operation of the instrument the left hand is placed on the cap P¹ and not
only serves to steady the instrument while operating it, but also to hold the cap
in place during such operation, otherwise the air from the bellows would raise it
and escaping thereat prevent the reeds from sounding, in lieu of force or feed
bellows as described it is obvious that exhaust bellows may be employed.
An air passage h¹ communicating with the bellows and opening directly to the
series of reed chambers c is shown in Figures 21 and 22 the said reed chambers
at their upper ends e open to the raceway L, at the upper surface of the reed block
for the perforated sheet M; each chamber is provided with a reed d except the
central one n¹ which is without a reed, or other obstruction to the passage of air
to the bellows through it. The cap P¹ has perforations x for the escape of
the sound of the reeds and the edges 2 of the cap do not project below the
rests V¹
In Figure 23, a is the end of a perforated music sheet M, having the perforations
which end the tune of the sheet. The end as has a perforation be between two
rows of its musical perforations which is at the centre line of the sheet, and
corresponds in its position in the travel of the music sheet through the instrument,
to the central air-passage n¹ of the reed-block G' leading to the bellows, which
has no reed.
With the perforation 62 of the music sheet and the said air passage n' leading
to the bellows means are afforded for the passage of the air during the continued
feed of the said music sheet after a tune is completed, (in order to pass the said
sheet out of the instrument or to play another tune) the bellows then working
independently of the air passages through the reed chambers thus the sounding
of the reeds being thus prevented, and as a consequence all the disagreeable
sounds so common to mechanical musical instruments at such times is completely
obviated.
A mode of attaching the rail O' to the instrument so that it can be swung up
and thereby move its spring fingers N¹ from contact with the reed block and
music sheet when desired is shown in Figures 25 and 26.
The rail O¹ is hinged to the raceway at each end at n³ outside of the line of
travel of the music sheet and has a wire 2 with its middle portion m³ bearing
upon it the said wire being secured at each end to the rests and serving as a
spring to hold the said rail and the fingers N¹ to their positions on the reed block
for the purposes herein before described.
When desired, by pressing down on the thumb piece P2 of the rail O' the rail
is swung upward on its pivot (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 26) against the
spring enabling the music sheet to be readily inserted in or removed from the
instrument.
The spring is of sufficient power to overcome the combined power of the
spring fingers N¹ when bearing on the music sheet, to ensure their pressing upon

page_text: the music sheet in the operation of the instrument for the purposes herein before
described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I Claim.
First. In a musical instrument provided with a wind-chest, reeds, and reed
chambers having air passages to the reeds, a valve constructed, arranged and
adapted to be operated to roll upon its seat to open and close the air passage to the
reed belonging to it, all substantially as described.
Second. In a mechanical musical instrument provided with a wind-chest, reeds,
and reed-chambers having air passages to the reeds, a series of valve-actuating
fingers controlled by the music sheet in combination with valves hinged one to
each of the said fingers and each constructed and arranged to roll upon its seat to
open and close the air passage to the reed belonging to it, all substantially as
described.
Third. In a mechanical musical instrument provided with a wind-chest, reeds,
and reed-chambers having air passages to the reeds, a series of valve-actuating
fingers controlled by the music sheet, in combination with valves hinged one to
each of the said fingers and flexibly connected to a stationary support and each
constructed and arranged to roll upon its seat to open and close the air passage to
the reed belonging to it, all substantially as described.
Fourth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with an air
passage e opening to a reed chamber c, and an actuating finger or lever N, of a
valve O hinged to the said finger and constructed and arranged to roll upon its
seat to open and close its said air passage, all substantially as described.
Fifth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with an air passage e
opening to a reed-chamber c, and an actuating finger or lever N, of a valve O
hinged to the said finger and constructed and arranged to roll upon its seat to open
and close its said air passage and connected by a flexible strip to a stationary
support, all substantially as described.
Sixth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with an air-passage e
opening to a reed-chamber c, and an actuating finger or lever N, of a valve O
having the slot and the hole o, and a rod n connecting the said valve to the
said finger and having the cross-head r, all substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
Seventh. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with an air
passage e opening to a reed-chamber c, and an actuating finger or lever N of a
valve O hinged to the said finger and constructed and arranged to roll upon a
concave seat to open and close its said air passage, substantially as described.
Eighth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a feed-
roller and presser roller h, of slotted brackets w and angular levers x both
supporting the presser roller and arranged and combined therewith to operate
upon and allow the presser roller to move, all substantially as described for the
purposes specified.
Ninth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a feed-
roller g and presser roller h, of slotted brackets w and angular levers x both
supporting the presser roller, and cams R attached to an operating shaft, S all
substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Tenth. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the reed
valve, of an actuating finger or lever controlled by a travelling music sheet in such
manner that the said lever will have a play or movement before it commences
to act upon the reed valve to remove it from its seat, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Eleventh-In a mechanical musical instrument provided with the wind-chest,
reeds, and reed-chambers having inlet-passages, the rolling valves, hinged as
described, in combination with the said inlet-passages, and a series of actuating

page_text: fingers controlled by the music sheet for operating the said valves, substantially as
set forth.
Twelfth In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the air-
inlet passage e and, actuating finger or lever N, of a valve hinged to its seat, as
described, to have a rolling or swinging action, and connected to the said actuating
finger by a flexible attachment, substantially as herein before set forth.
Thirteenth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of the rolling
or hinged valves for closing the air-inlets the actuating-fingers governed by the
travelling music sheet, and arranged as described, to have a swinging movement
greater than the swing of the valves, and the flexible attachments or bands
connecting the said valves with the said fingers and adapted to be slackened when
the valves are closed, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourteenth In a mechanical musical instrument adapted to be operated by a
travelling perforated music sheet, the combination of a bellows, mechanism for
operating the valves of the reed chambers arranged above the said bellows and
separated therefrom by an intervening space, and a bed or raceway for the music
sheet arranged between the bellows and the reed-chamber, all substantially as, and
for the purpose, described.
Fifteenth In a mechanical musical instrument adapted to be operated by a
travelling perforated music sheet, the combination of a bellows, the mechanism for
operating the valves of the reed-chamber arranged above the said bellows and
separated therefrom by an intervening space, and a bed or raceway for the music-
sheet, arranged between the bellows and the reed-chamber, and pivoted or hinged
at one end, whereby it may swing downward through the space between the
bellows and reed-chamber all substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Sixteenth-In a mechanical musical instrument adapted to be operated by a
travelling perforated music sheet, a bed or raceway for the said sheet arranged
below the reed and valve chambers, and hinged or pivoted at one end, substantially
as described, whereby it may be swung downward from the reed and valve chambers
independently of the bellows for the ready introduction of the music-sheet, as set
forth.
Seventeenth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a bed
or raceway for the perforated music-sheet, pivoted or hinged at one end to the
frame, and provided at the other end with a slot or slots 6¹, of a swinging crank c¹
for engaging with the said slot or slots, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Eighteenth-In a mechanical musical instrument, a raceway or rest for the
operating music sheet, in combination with a passage at either or both sides of the
Faid raceway serving as conductors for the air around and outside of the operating
music sheet, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Nineteenth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the
wind-chest and the bellows, of an air-passage forming a communication between
the bellows and the wind chest outside of and around the bed or raceway of the
perforated sheet, as herein shewn and described.
Twentieth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the
wind-chest, and the bellows; of the air-passages t, t, forming communications
between the bellows and the wind-chest, which extend outside of and around the
bed or raceway of the perforated sheet, as herein shown and described.
Twenty first: In a mechanical musical instrument, a lever N adapted to be
operated upon by a travelling perforated music sheet, having its upper end bent
and connected to a valve of a reed, substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Twenty second:-In a mechanical musical instrument, the spring fingers N'
arranged to press upon the perforated music sheet between its rows of perforations
and to hold it in close contact with the reed-board at and between the reed-
chambers c, all substantially as described.
Twenty third: In a mechanical musical instrument, the spring fingers N¹

page_text: attached in common to a rail O¹ and arranged to press upon the perforated music
sheet between its rows of perforations and to hold it in close contact with
the reed-board at and between the reed chambers c, all substantially as
described.
Twenty fourth-In a mechanical musical instrument, a bellows F¹ having
springs of applied to it, each secured at one part to a stationary support and at the
other part to a moving part of the bellows and arranged to be placed upon and
removed from its bearing at pleasure, all substantially as described, for the purpose
specified.
Twenty fifth-In a mechanical musical instrument, a bellows F¹ having
springa o' applied to it, each secured at one part to a stationary support and at the
other part to a moving part of the bellows and arranged to be placed upon and
removed from its bearing consisting of an abutment q¹ having a recess p³ all
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
Twenty sixth-In a mechanical musical instrument, a vertical board A¹
carrying the bellows upon one side and the feeding bellows C, C, upon the other
side and forming one side of each and having communicating passages g' with each,
all substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
Twenty seventh:-In a mechanical musical instrument, a vertical board A¹
carrying the bellows F¹ upon one side and feeding bellows C¹ C¹ upon the other
side and forming one side of each and having communicating passages gl and the
continuation of the said vertical board forming the reed-block G', all substantially
as described, for the purposes specified.
Twenty eighth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the operating shaft Di
for the feeding bellows C', C¹, the bellows F¹ and the feed roller H¹, in
combination with the detachable end-pieces E' of the vertical board A¹, all
substantially as described.
Twenty ninth-In a mechanical musical instrument, the cap P¹, in combination
with the reed-block G¹ and spring fingers N', all substantially as described, for the
purpose specified.
Thirtieth-A mechanical musical instrument composed of a vertical board A¹
having bellows F1 and feeding bellows C¹, C¹, upon each side thereof and supported
by foot pieces B¹, in combination with the reed-block G³, spring fingers N¹,
operating shaft D₁ for the bellows, and feed and presser rollers H¹ L' arranged
together substantially as, and for the several purposes, described.
Thirty first: In a mechanical musical instrument, a reed-block G¹ having
reed-chambers c and an intermediate air passage n' having no reed, in combination
with a perforated music sheet having a perforation 62, all substantially as described,
for the purpose specified.
Thirty second-In a mechanical musical instrument, the rail O' provided with
spring fingers N' and adapted to be swung upward, in combination with the
spring, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirteenth, day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.