Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 5th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Aug., 1887.
RESERV
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to wind-instruments in which any desired tune is auto-
matically played by means of a perforated sheet of paper or cardboard the perforations
in which correspond with the particular tune which is to be played.
The improved instrument which forms the subject of the present invention consists
of a box or case, the upper part of which is formed by a vertical paper or cardboard
cylinder, properly perforated.
In the base, or lower part of the case, is arranged a horizontal axle revolving in
bearings and having an external handle at one end by which it can be turned. Upon
the axle is fixed a toothed wheel gearing with a second smaller toothed wheel or
pinion upon the axis of a wormwheel above, which worm wheel gears with internal
teeth upon a horizontal ring of considerable diameter, upon which is fitted and fixed
with screws or pins the lower edge of the perforated paper or cardboard cylinder,
each perforation upon which represents one note of the music.
Inside the base of the case, are also arranged two pairs of bellows of the usual kind
working vertically, and operated by means of crank pins upon the lower or main axle
first described, which engage in forks at the end of forked levers connected to the
lower side of the bellows. A supplementary bellows is arranged above into which
the air is forced so that it serves as a reservoir, a spiral spring being arranged
above it so that a sufficiently even and uniform supply of air to the instrument is
obtained.
A box or chest is also arranged above the base and contains the several sounding
pipes or reeds, the openings to which are closed by suitable valves upon corresponding
levers, which levers consist of a wire one end of which presses down the valve, whilst its

page_text: other end is fitted to a sheet metal joint having two studs or pins fitting in corre-
sponding holes in a fixed fulcrum piece. These levers are provided with small
projections or detents which enter corresponding holes in a metal plate fixed opposite
to them; and the number and position of the levers correspond both with a vertical
row of holes in the plate and with a similar number of circumferential grooves or
channels round a vertical wooden or other cylinder which revolves in bearings in a
wooden support, the bearings being fitted with springs by which the grooved cylinder
is pressed against the perforated plate and against the outer side of the perforated
paper or cardboard cylinder.
By turning the handle, the perforated tune cylinder is made to revolve at the
proper speed. As long as the part of it which passes between the channelled cylinder
and the vertical perforated plate is without perforations, the several detents or
projections upon the levers are held down and the valves are kept closed, but as soon
as the cylinder presents a perforation, the detent upon the corresponding lever enters
it and allows the valve connected with the lever to open and the corresponding note
to sound. The perforation may be of any length, to correspond with the duration of
the note sounded, and its end then presses back the detent upon the lever, closing the
valve and stopping the musical note.
The support for the channelled cylinder is held at its lower end by a horizontal
hinge, and its upper end by a lever hinged at one end to the wind chest and having a
hole or notch at its outer end which fits over and holds the axle of the channelled
cylinder or the upper end of the support. When the upper lever is turned back, a
shoulder upon it presses back a separate hinged plate which forces back all the valve
levers, withdrawing their detents so that when the support carrying the channelled
cylinder is turned down the perforated paper or cardboard cylinder can be readily
removed and a different one substituted.
Instead of the perforated cylinder revolving and the levers, valves, tune pipes
or reeds, and bellows being fixed the latter may revolve and the former remain
fixed.
Dated this 5th day of October 1886.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Musical Wind-instruments.
'
A communication to me from abroad by OTTO MEINHardt, of Gera, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex 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, and
accompanying drawings (that is to say):-
This invention relates to wind-instruments in which any desired tune is auto-
matically played by means of a perforated sheet of paper or cardboard the perforations
in which correspond with the particular tune which is to be played.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 being a
vertical section, figure 2 a plan from above, figure 3 a front view of the driving
mechanism, and figures 4 and 5 views shewing the arrangement of the valve levers or
keys acting upon the openings of the sounding pipes or reeds.
The improved instrument which forms the subject of the present invention consists
of a box or case, the upper part of which is formed by a changeable vertical paper or
cardboard cylinder, properly perforated.
In the base or lower part of the case A, of the instrument is arranged a horizontal
axle a revolving in bearings and having an external handle at one end by which it
can be turned. Upon this axle is fixed a toothed wheel b gearing with a second
smaller toothed wheel or pinion c upon the axis of a worm wheel above, which
worm wheel gears with internal teeth upon a horizontal ring e of considerable
diameter, upon which is fitted and fixed with screws or pins the lower edge of the
perforated paper or cardboard cylinder, each perforation upon which represents one
note of the music. The ring e is provided with a groove which fits and works upon a
stationary ring u, by which it is supported and guided.
Inside the base A of the case, are also arranged two pairs of bellows h of the usual
kind working vertically, and operated by means of crank pins a¹, a', upon the lower
or main axle first described, which engage in forks at the end of the bent and forked
levers m connected to the lower side of the bellows h.
A supplementary bellows his arranged above into which the air is forced so that
it serves as a reservoir, a spiral spring being arranged above it so that a sufficiently
even and uniform supply of air to the instrument is obtained.
A box or chest B is also arranged above the base and contains the several sounding
pipes or reeds, the openings o' to which are closed by suitable valves o¹ upon corre-
sponding levers o which levers consist of a wire one end of which presses down the
valve, whilst its other end is fitted to a sheet metal joint having two studs or pins
fitting in corresponding holes in a fixed fulcrum piece k. These levers o are provided

page_text: with small projections or detents k¹ which enter corresponding holes in a metal
plate.p
fixed opposite to them; and the number and position of the levers correspond
both with a vertical row of holes in the plate p and with a similar number of circum-
ferential grooves or channels round a vertical wooden or other cylinder m which
revolves in bearings in a wooden support 1, the bearings being fitted with springs n
by which the grooved cylinder is pressed against the perforated plate p and against
the outer side of the perforated paper or cardboard cylinder f.
By turning the external handle upon the axle a the perforated tune cylinder is
made to revolve at the proper speed.
As long as the part of it which passes between the channelled cylinder m and the
vertical perforated plate p is without perforations, the several detents or projections k³
upon the levers are held down (as shewn in figure 2) and the valves are kept closed,
but as soon as the cylinder f presents a perforation, the detent upon the corresponding
lever enters it and allows the valve connected with the lever to open and the
corresponding note to sound. The perforation may be of any length, to correspond
with the duration of the note sounded, and its end then presses back the detent k¹
the lever, closing the valve of the opening o' and stopping the musical note.
upon
The support for the channelled cylinder is held at its lower end by a horizontal
hinge q, and at its upper end by a lever hinged at one end to the wind chest
and having a hole or notch at its outer end which fits over and holds the axle of
the channelled cylinder or the upper end of the support.
When the upper lever is turned back, a shoulder r' upon it presses back a separate
hinged plate t which forces back all the valve levers o withdrawing their detents so
that when the support carrying the channelled cylinder is turned down the perforated
paper or cardboard cylinder can be readily removed and a different one substituted.
Instead of the perforated cylinder f revolving, and the levers, valves, tune pipes
or reeds, and bellows being fixed the latter may revolve and the former remain
fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In barrel organs and other musical instruments of the like kind, the use of a
cylindrical perforated sheet, either revolving or stationary, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. For the purpose of imparting a rotary movement to a perforated sheet ƒ, the crank,
endless screw d, rim e having inside teeth, and groove fitting and working upon a
stationary ring u, substantially as described and shewn.
3. The combination of the channelled roller or cylinder m, with the slotted plate p,
and keys or valve levers o, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The combination in an organ or other instrument of the like kind, of the
several parts described and shewn, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 5th day of July 1887
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Patentee.