IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Baillie Hamilton, of University College,
Oxford, Esquire, and Jules Gouverneur, of 24, Stebbington Street,
Oakley Square, in the County of Middlesex, Reed Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Baillie Hamilton
and Jules Gouverneur at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th February 1874.
We, JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON, of University College, Oxford,
Esquire, and JULES GOUVERNEUR, of 24, Stebbington Street, Oakley
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Reed Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of a new mode of combining a reed and string
in which the contact of reed and string is intermittent instead of
constant.

page_text: In the previous Patent of me the said James Baillie Hamilton and
John Farmer, 1873, No. 1008, there was described a combination of reed
and string in which the pin which transmits the vibrations of the reed
to the string is in constant contact with it.
In the present case the pin is closely approximated to the string, but
free from it and is modified so as to act as a hammer.
The modes of working the reed and the relation of the reed to the
string are similar to those described in the herein-before mentioned
Patent, that is, the wind passes towards the socket of the reed when the
usual means are employed or out from it when a cavity is employed
which by its resonance reverses the usual action of a reed. The string
passes over the reed at a convenient distance; the reed is controlled in
the usual way.
A damper can be employed at a node as in the previous Patent. The
surface of the hammer is covered with a substance sufficiently soft to
prevent offensive jarring.
'
Where we employ the word string we include under that term a wire,
rod, band, or coil; where a rod is employed one extremity may be free.
The reed need not be directly underneath the string but the face of the
hammer can be made oblique so as to strike the string in the side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Baillie Hamilton and Jules Gouverneur in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
BAILLIE HAMILTON, of University College, Oxford, Esquire, and JULES 2
GOUVERNEUR, of 24, Stebbington Street, Oakley Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Reed Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty- a
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said James Baillie Hamilton and Juleş

page_text: Gouverneur, Her special licence that we, the said James Baillie Hamilton
and Jules Gouverneur, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said James Baillie Hamilton and Jules Gouverneur,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Baillie Hamilton
and Jules Gouverneur, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause.
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Baillie Hamilton and Jules
Gouverneur, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:—
Our Invention consists of a new mode of combining a reed and
string in which the contact of reed and string is intermittent instead of
constant.
In the previous Patent of me the said James Baillie Hamilton and
John Farmer, 1873, No. 1008, there was described a combination of reed
and string in which the pin which transmits the vibrations of the reed
to the string is in constant contact with it.
In the present case the string is closely approximated to it but free
from it and is modified so as to act as a hammer.
:
The modes of working the reed and the relation of the reed to the
string are similar to those described in the said herein-before mentioned
Patent, that is to say, the wind passes towards the socket of the reed
when the usual means are employed, or out from it where a cavity is
employed which by its resonance reverses the usual action of a reed.
The string passes over the reed at a convenient distance. The reed is

page_text: controlled in the usual way and a damper can be employed at a node, as
described in the said previous Patent.
The surface of the hammer is covered with a substance sufficiently
soft to prevent offensive jarring. The reed need not be directly under
the string, but the face of the hammer can be made oblique so as to t
strike the string on the side. Or the hammer can be made to strike the
string above instead of below, or both above and below.
Where we have above used the word string we include under that
term a string, wire, rod, band, or coil. Where a rod is employed one
extremity may be free.
In the Drawing accompanying this Specification Figure 1 shews in
section the combination of reed and string with the hammer below the
string; Figure 2 shews the combination with the head of the hammer
oblique so as to strike the string in the side; and Figure 3 shews the
hammer above, and Figure 4 shows a hammer above and below the 1
string. In all the above Figures A is the reed tongue; B, the pin
attached to the free part of the reed to act as a hammer%3B C is the
hammer which comes in contact with the string, and D is the section of
the string.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and in what 2
manner the same is to be carried out, we claim the combination of a
reed and string where the contact is intermittent instead of constant,
substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Baillie Hamilton, on behalf
of myself and the said Jules Gouverneur, have hereunto set my 2
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of
1
the string.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and in what 20
manner the same is to be carried out, we claim the combination of a
reed and string where the contact is intermittent instead of constant,
substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Baillie Hamilton, on behalf
of myself and the said Jules Gouverneur, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
25
JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON. (L.S.)
Witness,
G. ELLISON COLLETTE,
23, Lincoln's Inn Fields.