IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE NOTES AND KEYS OF VIBRATING REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dawkins, of Charter House Street, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Importer and Manufacturer of Musical Instruments, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE NOTES AND
KEYS OF VIBRATING REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 12th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dawkins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1879.
THOMAS DAWKINS, of Charter House Street, London, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Importer and Manufacturer of Musical Instruments. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE NOTES AND KEYS OF VIBRATING REED MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS.'
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of the notes and keys
of vibrating reed musical instruments acting on the principle of the accordion,
concertina, harmonium, and other like musical instruments.
The general arrangement of this improved musical instrument consists of a key
board with keys arranged in rows and divided into sections to form chords.
The action consists of levers with springs and pallets similar to those of the
harmonium and other like musical instruments.
A sounding board is arranged with reed s or vibrator attached thereto combined
with bellows suitably arranged, and having a suitable lever handle to actuate the
same, in some cases formed by two levers combined.
The form and compass of the instrument may be considerably varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said-Thomas-Dawkins.in.the_Great_Seal Patent Office on the 18th Novem-
ber 1879.
THOMAS DAWKINS, of Charter House Street, London, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Importer and Manufacturer of Musical Instruments. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE NOTES AND KEYS OF VIBRATING REED MUSICAL
-INSTRUMENTS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of the notes and keys
of vibrating reed musical instruments acting on the principle of the accordion,
concertina, harmonium, and other like musical instruments, which improved instru-
ment I propose to call the "polichord."
The general arrangement of this improved musical instrument consists of a key
board with keys arranged in rows and divided into sections or groups to form
chords.
The action consists of levers with springs and pallets similar to those of the har-
monium and other like musical instruments.
A sounding board is arranged with reed or vibrators attached thereto combined
with bellows suitably arranged, and having a suitable lever handle to actuate the
same, in some cases formed by two levers combined.
The form and compass of the instrument may be considerably varied.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed, which shew
several views of a musical instrument arranged and constructed in accordance with
my improvements.
A, A, in all the Figures is the keyboard arranged with keys a, a, b, b¹, c, c¹, in
parallel lines divided into groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (or it may be more or less in number),
which groups contain full chords in the "tonic dominant" and "subdominant" of
each major and minor key, the major being placed at the side of its relative minor.
The longitudinal and transverse sections, Figures 2 and 4, shew the arrangement
and construction of the notes, keys, and bellows, d being the lever arm and handle
by which the bellows are actuated, and d another lever (shewn in dotted lines),
and moving on the pin d², which lever can be connected to the handle d for greater
convenience when required.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim any of the
parts separately, which are well known and in common use, but what I claim
is,-
The improved arrangement and combination of the notes and keys of vibrating
reed musical instruments in which the keys are arranged upon a key board in
parallel lines divided-into-sections-or_groups which contain full chords in the tonic
dominant and sub-dominant of each major and minor key, substantially in the
manner herein before described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dawkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.