A NEW AND IMPROVED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Fridrich Wilhelm Wolff at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1882.
FRIDRICH WILHELM WOLFF, of 52 London Wall, in the City of London,
Merchant, "A NEW AND IMPROVED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT,"
The object of my said invention is to improve that class of musical instruments
known as Accordians, by increasing the number and character of the tones, and
providing means for the same being greatly varied at the will of the performer.
The means whereby I effect such improvements, are as follows:-At a short
distance from the ordinary key board, and parallel therewith, I fix a sound board,
which has perforations therein for allowing the passage of the air to take place, and
which perforations are covered by lifting valves. On the inner side of this sound
board are fitted suitable channels for conveying the wind to and from the reeds or
vibrators, or other mechanism or device for producing musical sounds. The valves
which open the perforations or ports are actuated by ordinary keys, the pressure of
a key opening the valve and producing the note or notes. The keys are not in all
cases directly attached to the valves, but have levers or communicating rods leading
thereto, whereby the valves are lifted as desired.
In or upon the sound board, and intermediately between the valves and the air
channels, I fit slides or draw-stops, which are perforated in such a manner that
when a draw-stop is drawn out, as in an organ, a set of notes are capable of
sounding, when played upon, and when the stop is closed such notes are incapable
of sounding.
I fit both ends of my said musical instruments in this manner, in order that at
one end of an instrument a set of keys may be performed upon by the right hand,
and at the other end thereof another set of keys may be performed upon by the
left hand, and I prefer that the notes for the treble and alto may be at one end of
the instrument, while the tenor and bass notes may be at the other end.
I also arrange a lever in a suitable position so that one of the fingers or the
thumb may open or shut the "tremolo" box, and all the stops are so arranged that
the performer can readily alter the volume, character and harmony of the several
notes and sounds to suit his taste and ability.
I do not confine myself to the use of reeds or vibrators for producing musical
sounds, in connection with my said invention, as other means may be used, and
ID 077

page_text: various combinations of sounds and effects may be provided for, such as the
aforesaid tremolo arrangement, and shutters or mufflers in order to produce a similar
effect to that of the "swell" in an organ.
I desire to call my said invention the "Bandonion," to distinguish it from other
musical instruments.
The instrument is capable of being played while it is resting on the knees of the
performer, sitting; or sustained by the two hands, while standing up, the motion
of the air being obtained by opening out and closing the ordinary bellows, forming
the central portion thereof.
By my said invention I am enabled to produce a large volume of harmonious
sounds, analogous to those produced by small organs.