Improvements in the Construction of Swell-organs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Swell-organs.
I, WILLIAM SWEETLAND of 4 Cleveland Place West, Bath in the County of
Somerset, organ builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to bo as
follows:-
This invention, which relates to the construction of swell-organs, consists, firstly, in
an improved arrangement for bringing the swell shutters into operation more
gradually than heretofore whereby the crescendo and decresendo effects are more
perfectly under the control of the organist than has hitherto been the case.
According to this invention the swell shutters are not, as hitherto, of uniform
breadth, but each increases in breadth from one end of the swell box successively to
" trace by arms of different lengths
the other. The shutters are connected to a
secured by bolts and centre pins to the trace.
"
The said trace is connected by a block or bracket to the trace which is in connection
with the foot pedal, and, by virtue of the arms of different lengths aforesaid, the
shutters do not open simultaneously when the foot is applied to the pedal, but
successively, and, as a result of this arrangement and of the different breadth of the
shutters, the sound is emitted from the swell box in a more gradual and automatic
manner. Similarly, the decrescendo effect is correspondingly obtained in closing the
shutters.
A still greater range of effect is obtained by duplicating the arrangement, and
when this is done, the trace which is in connection with the pedal is furnished
towards one end with a stud contained within a fork attached to the trace to which, as
A spring is
aforesaid, the shutters are connected by arms of different lengths.
attached to one of the traces and hears at one end against one side of the fork. This
spring normally tends to maintain the shutters in one of the duplicate sets closed, and
when the shutters of the other set are being partially opened to produce a crescendo
effect, the shutters in the series affected by the spring remain closed until the stud on
the pedal trace is, by the movement of the pedal trace, brought into contact with
the inner face of the inner limb of the fork.

page_text: When this occurs, the spring is counteracted and the shutters affected thereby are
likewise successively gradually opened and continue to open at the will of the organist
-to-an extent depending on the effect desired. If the pedal bo now released, tho
shutters in both series close in a manner corresponding to that in which they are
opened.
It is to be understood that the shutters may be situatod at the front, back, sides or
top of the swell box.
This invention relates, secondly, to the pivot pins on which the shutters turn.
According to this invention, the pivot pins on which the shutters turn are differently
placed in each so as to facilitate the gradual method of opening. Each pin is
furnished with a boss which at one side is made convex. The convex side of this boss
bears upon a flat metallic plate sunk into the frame of the swell box, and friction in
the bearing is reduced.
In event of the shutter becoming stiff in its bearing by expansion or swelling of the
shutter or the frame or of both, the pivot pin is turned by a turn-scrow and the
contact of the shutter with the frame is eased.
Dated this 12th day of March 1888.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: 1, WILLIAM SWEETLAND, of 4, Cleveland Place West, Bath, in the county of
Somerset, organ builder, 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 :-
This invention, which relates to the construction of swell-organs, consists, firstly,
in an improved arrangement for bringing the swell-shutters into operation more
gradually than heretofore, whereby the crescendo and decrescendo effects are. more
perfectly under the control of an organist than has hitherto been the case.
According to this invention the swell shutters are not, as hitherto, of uniform
breadth, but each increases in breadth from one end of the swell box successively
to the other. The shutters are connected to a "trace," by arms of different
lengths.
The shutters do not all open simultaneously to the same degree when the foot
is applied to the pedal, but unequally, and, as a result of this arrangement and of
the different breadth of the shutters, the sound is emitted from the swell-box in a
more gradual and automatic manner. Similarly, the decrescendo effect is corre-
spondingly obtained in closing the shutters.
A still greater range of effect is obtained by duplicating the arrangement.
This invention relates, secondly, to the pivot pins on which the shutters turn.
According to this invention each_pin has a boss formed thereon which boss is
made convex on the upper face. The convex side of this boss bears upon a flat
metallic plate fixed to the bottom of the shutter. With this form of pivot pin friction
in the bearing is lessened.
In ovent of the shutter becoming stiff in its bearing by expansion or swelling of
the shutter, or the frame, or of both, the pivot pin turned by a turn-screw and the
shutter raised out of contact with the frame.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 thereon represents a
horizontal section of two sets of swell shutters arranged for operation in accordance
with this invention. The shutters are shown closed. The shutters A, A', which
are free to turn on their pivots B B¹, are not, as heretofore, of uniform width.
The shutter which is at one end of the swell box is narrowest; that next to it is wider
and, in the case of a single set, the shutters increase in width successively throughout
the series. In the case of a duplicate set, as shown in the drawing, the shutters
increase in width from each end towards the centre.
"
By the pins p passed through the arms C C³, of different length, the shutters
are connected to the traces or levers D D which are coupled together by the
coupling trace E which is in connection with a pedal.
As will be readily understood, when the trace E is operated to open the shutters A
the latter do not all open simultaneously to the same extent when the foot is.
applied to the pedal, but unequally, and, in virtue of this arrangement and the
employment of shutters of different widths disposed as shown, the sound of the
music is, when a crescendo effect is desired, emitted from the swell box in a gradual
manner, the volume of sound increasing as the shutters open. Similarly, a
decrescendo effect is obtained as the shutters are closed.

page_text: At Fig. 2 the shutters A and A' are shown more or less open in regular
degreo.
To the coupling trace E is attached a spring F one end of which bears against
the forked bracket G through which the trace is passed. The trace is free to slide in
the apertures in the arms of the bracket through which it is passed. A stud H is
fixed to the trace. The spring normally tends to keep the shutters A¹ closed whilst
the shutters A are being opened, but when the latter are opened to a determined
extent the stud H is forced against the inside face of the inner limb of the bracket G,
the spring Fis counteracted and the shutters A' are then opened by the trace E.
Thus a greater range of effect is obtained than when one set only of shuttors is
employed.
At Fig. 3 is represented my improved method of pivotting the shutters.
The pivot pin B has a boss r the upper face of which is convex. This face of
the boss bears upon a flat plate s secured to the bottom of the shutter A, the boss
being contained in a recess provided in the rail R of the swell box. With this form
of pivot pin friction is reduced. At the lower end of the pin B, which. is screwed
into the rail R, is slotted. In event of the shutter sinking or becoming stiff in its
bearing by expansion or swelling of the shutter or the frame, or of both, or from other
cause, the pivot pin is turned by a turn-screw so as to raise the shutter and keep
it out of contact with the rail R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a swell-organ, the use of swell shutters of different widths arranged to open
each in unequal degree from one end of the swell box to the other, or from both
ends to the centre, or from the centre to the ends, the said shutters increasing in
width in regular degree from one end of the box to the other or from both ends
to the centre or from the centre to the ends, substantially as hereinbofore
described.
"
2. In a swell-organ, the use of shutters such as A, A' with arms C, C' connected
to a trace or traces" such as D, D' coupled either to the foot pedal or to a
"trace" such as E connected to the pedal, constructed, arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings.
"2
or
3. The spring F, or equivalent device, acting in conjunction with a "trace"
lever, for holding some of the shutters A' closed until, when the shutters A are
opened to a determined degree, it is counteracted by the stud Hbearing against the
bracket G, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purpose specified.
4. The pivot pin B with boss or shoulder r bearing against a plate fixed to tho
bottom of the swell shutter, the said pin being screwed into the rail of the swell
box and provided at the lower end with a niche or groove whereby by the action
of a turn-screw the pin may be turned, or otherwise arranged to raise the shutter
from contact with the rail, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown more
particularly at Fig. 3 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 7th day of December 1888.
1
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Applicant's Agent.