Improvements in Organs.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Organs.
I, ARTHUR HENRY WHINFIELD, trading as Nicholson and Company, of Palace
Yard, in the City of Worcester, Organ Builder, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts 1ereinafter
described for facilitating the attainment of any combination of stops which the
organist desires to employ at the different stages of his performance.
I will describe my invention in connection with an organ having two manuals
but the mechanism constituting my invention is applicable to organs having any
number of manuals, the mechanism hereinafter described being applied to each
nianual.
'
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange at a short distance above the
upper manual a horizontal series of levers the front ends of which project through
slots in the organ case and terminate in vertical stop keys capable of vertical
motion through about half an inch. The levers, described turn upon horizontal
pivots or centres at or about the middle of the length of the said levers. Each
of the stop keys has a ledge or projection by which it may be pressed into its
lowered position or raised by the finger of the performer. The vertical or inclined
face of the stop key bears the name of the stop on which the lever operates. The
lever is retained in the position brought about by the lowering or raising of its
stop key by a snap spring.
Above the stop keys described is a corresponding number of horizontally slid-
ing rods the front ends projecting through a series of heles in the organ case and
terminating in knobs hereinafter called the "combination knobs."
دو
The hori
zontally sliding rods described have motion through about an inch and are retained
in their "in ol' out" position by a snap spring preferably situated at the inner
ends of the said rods.
Connection is established between each of the series of stop key levers described
and the sliding rod immediately over it by a vertical lever hereinafter called a
"composition" lever, the said vertical lever being pivoted at or near its lower
end to the stop key lever at a point about midway between the stop key and the
The composition lever has a
horizontal pivot on which the stop key lever turns.
slot in its upper end with which a pin on the sliding rod situated immediately
over the stop key lever engages. The composition lever has projections at its
opposite edges which respectively engage, when the said lever is in its forward or
backward position, (dependent on the
out position of the combination
on" or
knob of the sliding rod with which the said lever is engaged) with "
off" composition fans which fans are connected together in the ordinary way.
The composition fans described may be connected to a foot pedal or to a special
piston which brings them into play by pneumatic action.
"
in or
The rear ends of the stop key levers are arranged to be operated by fixed
combination fans to draw and take in stops in the ordinary way by means of studs

page_text: on the stop keys and these fans may be worked by mechanical or pneumatic
action.
By the improvements described the condition of the organ as to stops in or
out can be seen at a glance, and even without looking directly at the stop keys,
for the strongly marked outline presented by the position of the stop keys in
consequence of their motion being in a vertical plane makes it possible to ascer
tain what stops are drawn whilst looking at the music.
The special combination knobs enable the organist to select stops before or
during his performance of a piece of music such selection not interfering with
alterations of the stops by hand or composition action. When the organist is
ready for the special combination of stops previously selected as described he has
only to press the special pedal or piston and the action of this instantly changes
the stop keys to correspond with the position of the knobs above at that moment.
In other words, whenever the pedal or piston is pressed the stops fly to the posi-
tion as shown by the knobs. but at all other times they are available for change
in the ordinary manner, and the organ always "speaks" as shown by them.
Dated this Nineteenth day of July 1899
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Organs.
I, ARTHUR HENRY WHINFIELD, trading as Nicholson and Company, of Falace
Yard, in the City of Worcester, Organ Builder, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
;--
My invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
described for facilitating the attainment of any combination of stops which the
organist desires to employ at the different stages of his performance.
I will describe my invention in connection with an organ having two manuals
but the mechanism constituting my invention is applicable to organs having any
number of manuals the mechanism hereinafter described being applied to all the
stops of the organ.
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange at a short distance above the
upper manual a series of horizontal levers the front ends of which project through
slots in the organ case and terminate in stop keys capable of vertical
motion through about half an inch The levers described turn upon horizontal
piyots or centres at or about the middle of their length. Each of the stop keys has a
ledge or projection by which it may be depressed into its lowered position or
raised by the finger of the performer to its upper position.
The vertical cr
inclined face of the stop key bears the name of the stop on which the lever
operates. The lever may be more certainly retained in the position brought
about by the lowering or raising of its stop key by a snap spring.
Above the stop keys described is a corresponding number of horizontally slid-
ing rods the front ends projecting through a series of holes in the organ case and
terminating in knobs hereinafter called the "combination knobs." The hori
zontally sliding rods described have motion through about an inch and may be
retained in their "in" Or "out" position by a snap spring preferably situated at
the inner ends of the said rods.
Connection is established between each of the series of stop key levers described
and the sliding rod immediately over it by a vertical lever hereinafter called a

page_text: 6
composition lever" the said vertical lever being pivoted at or near its lower
end to the stop key lever at a point about midway between the stop key and the
horizontal pivot on which the stop key turns. The composition lever has a
slot in its upper end with which a pin on the sliding rod situated immediately
over the stop key lever engages. The composition lever has projections at its
opposite edges which respectively engage when the said lever is in its forward or
backward position, (dependent on the in or out position of the combination
knob of the sliding rod with which the said lever is engaged) with
66
"
on" and
off composition fans, which fans are connected together in the ordinary way.
The composition fans described may be connected to a foot pedal or to a special
piston which brings them into play by pneumatic action.
The rear ends of the stop key levers are arranged to be operated by "fixed"
combination fans to draw and take in stops in the ordinary way by means of studs
on the stop keys and these fans may be worked by mechanical or pneumatic
action.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing represent respectively in front
elevation and vertical section, a portion of a two manual organ containing my.
improvements.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures of the
drawing.
25
a, a are the manual keys of the organ and b (Figure 2) is one of the series of
levers terminating at front in the stop keys & the levers turning in vertical
planes on centres at 12. In Figure 1 some of the stop keys are shown in their
raised or
"off" position and others are shown in their pressed down or "on
position. In Figure 2 the stop key lever bis represented in its "off" position
in full lines and indicated in its
" on position in dotted lines. The front flat
face of each stop key c bears the name and description of the stop or coupler.
The stop keys may be raised or pressed down by hand by the action of the finger
on the ledge of each stop key and a snap spring may be employed to carry the
stop key into its full " on or "off" position when once started and to retain it
in either position (Figure 2) is one of the series of horizontal sliding rods
terminating at front in the "combination knobs immediately over its corre-
sponding stop key. These rods & and their knobs are capable of taking three
positions namely their "in" or out" position and a mid-way or neutral position
(see the dotted line positions of the knob in Figure 2). The rods d, d may be
moved from their "in" or "out" position into their mid or neutral position by
arms e, e, commonly called fans, the said fans acting on blocks on the
underside of the rods d. The said fans c, e operate in opposite directions and are
worked by a second foot pedal or piston, used for like purposes in ordinary
organs, which in the case of a piston brings them into play by pneumatic action.
It is by the position or arrangement of the rods d and their knobs that the
change in the stop keys may be readily effected when required. Each of the
rods is connected to its corresponding stop key lever by the vertical compo-
sition lever f (see Figure 2) which is pivoted at its lower end to the stop key
lever bits upper end being forked and engaging with a pin on the rod d the
said lever being moved into its forward or dotted position when the combina-
tion knobs are fully drawn out. The mid-position of the lever f is not shown.
The vertical levers f are actuated, that is, are raised and lowered by composition
fans g. thereby operating the stop key levers. The vertical levers f when in
their mid-position are out of the range of both the composition fans g,g.
hand are
"fixed" combination fans connected together and acting in the
ordinary manner. The said fans act on studs at the rear of the stop kev levers
and raise or lower the said stop key levers according to the position of the studs
thus causing the stops to speak or not as the case may be. These fans may be
worked by mechanical or pneumatic action and operate on the stop keys e inde-
pendently of the rods and composition levers f.
The stop keys e and combination knobs & are used as follows, Before a per-

page_text: formance the organist operates or presses down by hand the stop keys e with
which he intends to commence a piece and either before or during the performance
prepares a special combination of stops which he intends to use later by drawing
When the
out or pushing in such combination knobs as he may require.
organist is ready for the special combination prepared he presses the pedal or
piston controlling the fans g. when the operation of the said fans immediately
raises into their "off" position all the stop keys the combination knobs of
which were "in" and presses down into their position all the stop keys
the combination knobs (2 of which were out. If however the organist does not
require to change all the stops that were previously speaking but only to add or
take off a few, he can if he pleases, before handling the knobs, operate the
second pedal or piston connected with the fans e, c. This operation brings all the
knobs to their half or mid-position and he need then only, make such changes
in the stops as he requires by handling the knobs d².
on
"
The operation of the pedal or piston connected with the fans gg then only
affects those stop keys of which the corresponding knobs have been moved.
All the other stop keys remain as before because neither of the fans g, g can reach
the projections on the composition levers f in consequence of the knobs being
left in their mid-position.
By the improvements hereinbefore described and illustrated the condition of
the organ as to the stops being in or out can be seen at a glance, and even with-
out looking directly at the stop keys through the strongly marked outline pre-
sented by the position of the stop keys and combination knobs.
The special combination knobs enable the organist to select stops before or
during his performance of a piece of music such selection not interfering with
alterations of the stops by hand or by the fixed composition action meanwhile
When the organist is ready for the special combination of stops previously
selected as described he has only to press the special pedal or piston and the
action of this instantly changes the stop keys to correspond with the position
of the knobs above at that moment. In other words, whenever the pedal or piston
is pressed, the stop keys fly to the position as shown by the knobs, but at all
other times they are available for change in the ordinary manner, and the organ
always speaks as shown by them.
32
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that I claim as my
invention:
The improvements in organs hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawing, the said improvements consisting of a series of levers
turning on a horizontal axis the said levers terminating at front in vertical stop
keys and the combination with the said stop key levers of a corresponding series
of horizontal sliding combination rods, vertical composition levers (jointed to
the stop key levers at their lower ends and engaging at their upper ends with
the sliding rods) and fans for acting on the composition levers the said fans being
worked by pedals or by pistons substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
1
1-1
1900
ARTHUR HENRY WHINFIELD,