Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
1, FREDERICK WILLIAM GOLBY, of 36 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by Uhlig,
Schwerin and Company, of Leipzig-Gohlis, Germany, Manufacturers of
Mechanical Musical Instruments for Children, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The subject of the present invention is a striking apparatus for metallic, stringed,
or similar mechanical musical instruments, which can be played with sheets of music
either perforated or furnished with note signs as desired, the striking apparatus
coming into operation by means of the perforations or note signs as the case may be.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shews a mechanical musical instrument made in accordance with this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section shewing the striking lever raised and Fig. 3 is a cross
section shewing the striking lever at the moment of striking.
In the example shown in the drawing a bell chime is represented in a lyre a
whose metallic notes b can be fastened in the usual manner. The whole is held by
means of a handle f and is provided with an open box n in which two rollers and m
are rotatably mounted the former being furnished with a crank-handle k by which
it is operated. The sheet of music 9 is passed between the rollers and m and
when the crank-handle is revolved to the right the music-sheet 9 is by the friction
of the rollers caused to travel in the direction shewn by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3.
The music-sheet has a number of perforations g' of predetermined size and distances
apart as will be well understood.
Each striking-lever c is secured at its lower end to a hinged block p which is
under the influence of a spring o which tends to keep it and consequently the
striking-lever c in the position shewn in Fig. 3. As the music sheet travels over
the open top of the box n the lower end c¹ of each striking-lever c slides thereon
until it enters one of the perforations 9 when the influence of the spring o on the
hinged block p causes the hammer d of the lever c to strike the metallic or similar
string or plate b. By the further travel of the music-sheet in the direction of the
arrows shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower end c' of the lever c is raised and
the hammer withdrawn from the string or plate b to the position Fig. 2.
The rollers and m and the ridge i can be fixed in a suitable box or frame which
is movable on a ledge r to facilitate the removal of the sheet of music and its
replacement by another when so desired.
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. Striking apparatus for metallic, stringed or similar mechanical musical instru-
ments distinguished by a sheet of music caused to travel by a roller and which
raises the striking-lever the lower end of which slides on the said travelling
music sheets and is freed by the perforations therein and thus allows the hammer to
strike substantially as described.
2. In a striking apparatus of the kind indicated in the preceding claim the

page_text: movability of the box or frame carrying the music-sheet and its operating mechanism
in order to attain an easy means of changing the sheet of music substantially as
described.
Dated this 28th dow of Mar 1906
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.