Improvements in the Method of Mechanically Transposing Written or Printed Music.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Mechanically Transposing Written
or Printed Music.
==
ROBERT DUNCAN BARCLAY, Engineer, residing at Number Ten Albyn Place,
Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is an application of the principle of sliding scales to the mechanical
ascertainment of the required notes in the transposing of written or printed music,
by the aid of a mechanical contrivance hereinafter described.
The contrivance consists of an oblong plate of wood or other serviceable
material, in or on the face of which three equal and similar narrow slips or slides
of wood or other serviceable material are set, and held side by side, parallel to
each other and to the long measurement of the plate, by longitudinal dovetails or
other device, so that each of them may slide backwards and forwards in the line of
the long measurement of the plate.
One of these slips, which for convenience I number "I" is placed near the
edge of the plate at the left hand of the spectator, next to it, towards the centre of
the plate is a portion of the face of the plate, equal in breadth to the breadth of
one of the slips. On the other side of this portion of the face of the plate, is set
the second slip, on the other side of which, in turn, is set as near as is mechanically.
convenient, the third slip.
The face of the contrivance is thus divided for the purposes to which it is
applied, into four equal and parallel columns, all of which are relatively moveable
along the line of their long measurement. These columns for convenience I
number 1. II. III. IV., I. III. and IV., consist of slides and II. consists of the
portion above mentioned of the face of the plate.
Transverse parallel lines are drawn at equal intervals over an equal portion
of the faces of all the four columns, dividing them into corresponding spaces or
compartments of size convenient each to hold a letter or sign hereinafter
described.
These spaces are in number, for convenience twenty-five or thirty-seven, or some
other numeric multiple of twelve with one added.
The face of column one (I) is in addition divided into two equal compartments
by a line which runs parallel to the long measurement of the column.
At the lower end of each column is a space- or compartment in which is placed
the number and title of the column.
For convenience, I entitle the columns, as. follows,-(1) Minor. scale slip.
(11) Chromatic scale column. (III) Major scale slip. (IV) Transposing slip.
In column (I) starting with the lowest space, or compartment next the title and
to the left of the longitudinal line described above, and also in the 13th, 25th,
37th, &c., space or compartment I place an asterisk. In the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th,
and 10th, space from any asterisk counting from the bottom upwards I place a
"dot." To the right of the longitudinal line in the lowest space and in the 13th,
25th, 37th, &c., space counting from the lowest upwards I place an asterisk. In
the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th, space from any asterisk counting upwards
I place a "dot." The space and dots in this latter series represent graphically
the tone intervals of the minor scale when ascending, and those on the previous
series when counted downwards represent those intervals of the minor scale when
descending.

page_text: In columns II, and IV, starting with the lowest spaces or compartments next
the titles I place the letter "C" in each column, and in the succeeding spaces in
their proper order, the letters and signs used to denote the ordinary ascending
chromatic scale. In these spaces or compartments in which the flat and sharp
signs appear, or are placed; that is in the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th, space
counting upwards from any space in which "C" is marked, for convenience I put
the sign for flat at the left top side and the sign for sharp at the right
bottom side. From this it is evident that column IV is a duplicate of
column II.
In column III starting with the lowest space or compartment next the title
I place an asterisk and in the 13th, 25th, 37th, &c., space counting from the bottom
upwards, I place an asterisk in each space. In the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th,
11th, space from any asterisk I place a "dot." This column III represents
graphically the tone intervals in the major scale.
To transpose a written or printed piece of music from one major key to another
major key place the asterisks on the major scale slip (III) opposite to the letter
or sign on the chromatic scale column (II) which represents the original key note
of the music to be transposed. Place the transposing slip (IV) so that the letters
and signs upon it may be opposite the similar letters and signs on the chromatic
scale column (II). To raise the key for transposing lower slip (IV) or to lower
the key for transposing raise slip (IV) the required semi-tones and the new key
note will now be opposite the asterisks on slip III.. The several notes of the new
scale, natural, flat or sharp are represented on the transposing slip (IV) by these
letters or signs which are opposite the several "dots
on slip III.
When sharps or flats occur in either the old or new scale and "C" or "F" on
slip II or IV is opposite a "dot" on slip III the proper note in that scale is
B sharp or E sharp.
When flats occur and B or E is similarly opposite a "dot" on slip III the
proper note in that scale is C flat or F flat.
To transpose from one minor key to another minor key the same instructions must
be observed as those stated above, but of course the minor scale slip (1) replaces
that of the major scale slip (III).
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of June Eighteen hundred and ninety-four.
Improvements in the Method of Mechanically Transposing Written
or Printed Music.
I, ROBERT DUNCAN BARCLAY, residing at Number Ten Albyn Place,
Edinburgh, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to a system or method by which written or printed music
may be transposed or altered from the original key in which it is expressed, to any
other key which may be desired, and for showing how many and which particular
sharps or flats occur in any major or minor scale. The mechanical arrangement,
by which I accomplish this object may be described as follows:-It consists
primarily of an oblong plate of boxwood or other serviceable material of suitable
size. This plate is marked in the annexed drawings "M." Into this oblong plate
by means of longitudinal dovetails are set three moveable slips of wood or metal
in position parallel to each other. These slips are of the same length as the

page_text: plate, and by virtue of the dovetail, may be moved up and down and are mutuany
interchangeable.
The oblong plate is grooved with three longitudinal dovetailed grooves (of
equal cross section), from end to end of the plate and parallel with the sides for the
reception of the said slips, which are to be described hereafter. Two of these
grooves are placed one as near as possible to each edge of the plate, while the third
is placed in such a manner that it is separated from one of the other grooves by a
strip of plate, broad enough to give strength for dovetailing, and from the other
outside groove by a strip of plate of equal breadth on which the chromatic scale is
embossed. The face of the plate is therefore divided into four distinct and separate
parts, which may be numbered I, II, II and IV, beginning at the top of the left
hand side of the plate. These four separate parts are marked I, II, III and IV
on the accompanying drawings. Numbers I, III and IV are grooved, and into the
grooves thereof are introduced wooden or metal slips, which dovetail along the
whole length of the plate. Number II is part of the solid plate and is grooved at
both sides along the whole length, for the purpose of receiving slips, Numbers I
and III. Upon Number Il is embossed, printed or engraved the chromatic scale
as already stated. Number II is called "the chromatic scale slip," and is divided
into any numeric multiple of twelve equal spaces and one equal space more; and
on these spaces are printed or embossed in their order the letters and signs used to
denote the tones and semi-tones of the ordinary chromatic scale, beginning
with "C" at the bottom.
On the face of the slip IV, which is called "the transposing slip," an equal
number of similar divisions to those on the chromatic scale column II, are marked
off, and the tone and semi-tone signatories printed or embossed in the same manner
and position, as those in column Number 11. Each division in slip IV being equal
in size to those in column II.
On the face of another dovetailed slip, which is marked III in the accompanying
drawings, and is called "the major scale_slip," twenty-five divisions each being
equal in size to the divisions on column II, are marked off; the middle space in
that column III being opposite "C" in the chromatic scale column II. On the
1st., 13th., and 25th. spaces, an asterisk is printed or embossed, and on the 2nd.,
4th., 5th., 7th., 9th., and 11th. counting from any asterisk upwards, a "dot" is
printed or embossed. On the face of the remaining dovetailed slip, Number I,
which is called "the minor scale slip" is printed or embossed a similar number of
similarly placed spaces to those on "the major scale slip," Number III, described
above, but each of the spaces on "the minor scale slip" is divided into two equal
parts by a longitudinal line. One series of these parts is printed or embossed
"ascending" and the other "descending." On the "ascending" series, an asterisk
is printed or embossed on the 1st., 13th., and 25th. spaces or divisions, and a series
of dots on the 2nd., 3rd., 5th., 7th., 9th., and 11th. spaces from any asterisk in the
same manner as is described with reference to the major scale slip. On the
"descending" series counting from the bottom upwards, there is printed or
embossed an asterisk on the 1st., 13th. and 25th. spaces or divisions, and a series
of dots on the 2nd., 3rd., 5th., 7th., 8th., and 10th. spaces from any asterisk.
In connection with the method of using my invention, the position of the different
slips in their relation to each other should be as follows: -The letters and signs on
slip IV should be placed in direct opposition to the similar letters and signs on
column II, and this being done, the transposition from one scale to another may be
effected. For example to transpose a written or printed piece of music, which may
be written or expressed upon the key of "C" major, to the key of "D" major, it
is required to place the asterisk on the major scale slip 111, opposite the letter "C"
on the chromatic scale column II, and then to move the transposing scale slip IV.
the necessary number of semi-tones, till the letter "D" comes opposite the asterisk
on the major scale slip 1II, and the letter "C" on the chromatic scale column II.
The third and fourth columns or slips, that is the major scale slip and the
transposing slip being thus placed as described, the music which was formerly

page_text: expressed in the key of "C" major, is transposed or transferred on these two. slips
taken in conjunction to the key of "D" major, and it may therefore be committed
to paper or printed from these two, slips..
To transpose in, the minor scales, the same instructions may be observed as those
stated above in regard to the major scale, but the minor scale slip. I, must be used.
To find when sharps or flats occur in any major scale: if the second dot from any
asterisk, counting upwards, be opposite a letter-except "B" or "E"-the key is
flat if opposite a sharp and flat signatory, the key is sharp. In sharp keys,
when a dot is opposite "C or "F" and none opposite "B"
"E" read "B
In flat keys, when a dot is opposite "B" or "E" and none opposite "C"
or "F," read "Cb" or "Fb."
or "E"
In the accompanying drawings,
or
Figure I, represents a plan and section of a slip, either of slips. 1, III or IV.
Figure II, represents a side view of the plate "M."
"
Figure III, marked "M" represents a plan and section of the oblong plate, with
the three different slips therein and column II, finished and complete; and
Figure IV, represents a like plan and section, as Figure III, but with the major
scale slip III, and the transposing slip IV, set for transposing from "D" to "E"
in the major key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
A system or method by which written or printed music may be transposed or
altered from the original key in which it is expressed to any other key which may
be desired, and for showing how many and which particular sharps or flats occur
in any major or minor scale and that by means of a mechanical device, construction
or arrangement substantially as above described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March Eighteen hundred and ninety-five