Apparatus for Recording Pieces of Music while they are being Played on Keyboard Instruments.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Recording Pieces of Music while they are being
Played on Keyboard Instruments.
I, ALBERT SIMON, Physician, of Ludwigshafen-on-the-Rhine, Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described andi ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The improved "tune-recoriler" consists of a combination of two mechanisms,
viz. the current producer, and the writing or recording mechanism proper.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 5 represent the current producer or
electric contact device, while Figs. 6 to 10 illustrate the writing mechanism.
The current producer A is located within the musical instrument (such as a
piano, harmonium, organ or the like) and it consists of a wooden bar or rail a,
equal to the key-board in length, and extending over the centre of the pivot pins
of the lower or white keys B¹ and upper or black keys B'; the ends of such
bar being locked in position between the sides of the instrument by means of set
screws b.
To the back of the said wooden bar a there are secured as many plates or
stripse of copper as there are keys in the instrument or where only part of the
keys are to be used for the purposes of this invention; the number of the said
copper strips should be equal to the number of the keys to be 'thus employed.
Below the copper strips c, on the underside of the bar a, a bent copper strip d of
less width is arranged, with its lower loop e resting on, and in frictional contact
with, the backward extensions of the keys.
In Fig: 3 there is shown 'at'g', the pivot of the lower keys B₁, and at 92, the
pivot of the upper keys B². When the keys are depressed, the two copper
strips-e and d arranged one above the other, meet and close an electrical circuit,
as illustrated in 'Fig. 2. The lower resilient copper strips d' are connected with
each other by an additional copper strip '; Figs. 4 and 5, extending to oue pole of
an electric battery.
From each of the copper strips c an insulated wire ¹², secured to such copper
strips by means of set screws, leads to a corresponding point of the writing or
recording device proper, such as D; Figs. 6 and 7.
The recording device D, Figs. 6 to 10, comprises two series of horse-shoe
magnets and 12; Figs. 6 and 7 wound with insulated wire coils: In order to
avoid too close a proximity of the said magnets, and a consequent mutual action
(induction) between them, they are arranged in such a manner, that upright
magnets alternate with magnets placed in oblique positions on the right and left.
The armatures, arranged over the magnets, and having their pivots at m.
carry small inking wheels or rollers n in their extensions; such rollers' bearing
upon the felt pad of the ink trough or groove E; Fig. 9, situated' underneath.
On leaving the electro-magnets the wires join the wire hat u; which
wire leads to the other pole of the battery.
Over the rollers or wheels n is arranged a drum or barrel G; whereon is wound
a wide paper band P, placed under the control. of clockwork U, and retained in
contact with the said barrel G by narrow rollers 010 A ribbed roller S, which
is likewise arranged in contact with the said barrel or, to be strictly correct; with
the paper band wound thereon, has ribs p', p² p³, Fig. 10, of varying width, raised
on its surface, by means of which ribs it is adapted to draw continuous lines of

page_text: different thickness, f¹ f2 f³, upon the paper strip P, Fig. 10, the thin lines
indicating the point, where (in each octave) the notes "e" and "f" meet ; the
medium lines similarly indicating the junction points of the successive octaves,
i.e. the division lines between the notes "h" and "c"; and the thickest line f³
indicating the commercement of the one-lined octave.
The inking roller H, Figs. 6 and 7, in combination with the ink groove 9 serves
to supply the ribbed roller S with black ink. The ink groove or trough E,
Figs. 7, 7, and 9, is divided into compartments in accordance with the arrangement
of the keys in the key-board; red ink, being supplied for making marks
corresponding to the lower (or white) keys B', and blue ink, s, being provided_for
producing marks corresponding to the upper (or black) keys B2. The
compartments of the receptacle E are zig-zag shaped and extend into each other
like two combs.
To enable the said ink trough E to be conveniently removed for cleaning and
refilling purposes, and replaced, it is provided with a screw threaded journal at
each end, and on to each of these journals is screwed a thumb nut t¹ t2, Fig. 7.
One of the ends of the ink trough, thus fitted out, is inserted into a closed in slot
of the bearing support or frame L', while the opposite end, enters an open slot
provided in the said support or frame at the other end of the music recording or
writing device.
Upon being thus inserted into the respective slots, the said ink
trough is adjusted in the desired position and on the proper level by means of the
two thumb nuts.
By depressing the keys B', B2, the copper strips c and d are brought into
contact, and an electrical circuit is closed, with the result, that the corresponding
armatures are attracted by the electro-magnets k¹ k², and the ink rollers or
wheels n are pressed against the travelling paper band P, so that, while the
electrical contact lasts, red or blue marks (F¹ or F2), as the case may be, are made
on the paper by the said ink rollers. Owing to the different colour of the marks
produced, those which correspond to the white keys are readily distinguishable
from those which correspond to the black keys. Again, the value or duration of
the notes played is indicated by the relative length or shortness of the marks
appearing. Thus, as a piece is being played on the instrument, it is immediately
taken down by the "tune-recorder," from which it may be read off with perfect
accuracy both as to the pitch and time of each note sounded..
For the purpose of making the time-bars w, there is arranged, next to the pedals,
a special electric contact-device, consisting of two boards or plates hinged together
in such a manner that, with the assistance of suitable fittings, they may be made to
open or close the electric circuit, as required, the lower board or plate being placed
on the floor, while the upper one serves as an additional pedal or foot board. This
special contact is connected with an electro-magnet and an armature ³ Fig. 9, and,
when it is closed, it causes the time bars to be marked in the same manner as the
notes played on the keys are marked, the marks in this case consisting of black
dashes w, and the corresponding division or compartment y of the ink trough E
being filled with black ink.
By providing the pedal proper with similar contact devices, each depression of
the same may be likewise marked by strokes, such as a, Fig. 10, drawn by the
small inking roller or wheel (Fig. 9), provided on the armature l*.
The results of the operation of the complete apparatus are as follows;-
(1) The paper band is ruled in such a manner, that each individual octave is
sharply marked off at the point where the notes "b" and "c" meet; besides which,
a line drawn within the octave separates the two red marks, corresponding to the
notes " e " and "f" from each other.
(2) Each note played on the piano, or like musical instrument, is reproduced.
(3) The position or arrangement of the strokes within the several octave-lines
enables the pitch of the notes to be seen at a glance.
(4) The length of the strokes or marks enables the "time' or value of the notes,
to be ascertained.

page_text: (5) The difference of colour displayed by the strokes indicates, whether these
relate to the upper or lower keys of the key-board, i.e. whether sharps or flats are
played.
(6) The time bars may be specially recorded, if required, by depressing a board
or pedal provided for the purpose, but their recurrence is generally suggested with
sufficient clearness by the uniform unwinding of the paper band itself.
66
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(7) The depressions of the pedal proper are distinctly marked by black strokes..
(8) The musical record or notes may forthwith be read off and, indeed,
played from, the usual symbols, such as "piano," "forte,” etc. being first added by
hand, wherever required; and
(9) The performer is at liberty to start, or to arrest, the operation of the tune-
recorder at any time.
The synoptic disposition of the written notes is greatly simplified, and the usual
keys, and symbols inscribed at the beginning of staves are made unnecessary.
The complete mechanism, owing to its compact arrangement, takes up little
space, and may be placed in position in any instrument of the class named, or
removed therefrom, with the greatest ease.
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. An appliance for recording pieces of music played by keyboard instruments,
said appliance having the distinctive features, that the ink receptacle is provided
with two zig-zag shaped compartments extending into each other like two combs,
and that the electro-magnets acting on the writing or printing levers are arranged
in sets out of line with each other and provided with extended cores, substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
2. A tune recorder constructed and adapted to operate substantially as
described.
Dated this 10th day of December 1894.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents.