Improvements in or relating to American Organs and like Instru- ments Operating on the Exhaust Principle.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899
Complete Connifination Loft 10th Ann 1000 Annanted 20th June 1000
Improvements in or relating to American Organs and like Instru-
ments Operating on the Exhaust Principle.
I, SAMUEL HOWARD, of 2 and 4, Swan Street, Manchester, Musical Instrument
Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to American organs and like musical instruments operating
on the exhaust principle, and consists in an improved construction whereby the
melody or bass of a tune played on such instrument may be readily emphasized
without any special skill on the part of the player.
..
To this end my invention consists in the formation of the reed box or cavity
board with at least two banks" of reeds in the treble and bass or treble only,
containing or representing one, two or more sets of reeds. My invention fur-
ther consists in the application or two sets of pallets to such reeds and of an
arrangement of levers within the well of the organ or beneath the cavity board
whereby the action of any one of the pallets of one set of reeds serves to raise
the pallet of the other set of reeds representing the next lower note in the case
of the treble, and the next higher note in the case of the bass, and so cover the
cavity belonging to such pallet.
By the addition of certain other parts or fingers the action of one pallet is also
transmitted to all the other pallets of the other set representing all the lower treble
notes or higher bass notes, and consequently by muting such notes allow only
the highest (treble) or lowest (bass) note to be sounded and the melody or bass
of a tune to be emphasized. The sets of pallets may over-lap each other or a lever
or stem may be placed below each pallet of one set supported by a spring and
serving to support one of the pallets of the other set.
Suitable regulating screws may be used for nicety of adjustment or contact.
Improvements in or relating to American Organs and like Instru-
ments Operating on the Exhaust Principle.
I, SAMUEL HOWARD, of 2 and 4, Swan Street, Manchester, Musical Instrument
Dealer, 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 followng statement: -
My invention relates to American organs and like musical instruments operating

page_text: "
on the exhaust principle, and consists in an improved construction whereby the
melody" or bass of a tune played on such instruments may be readily
emphasized without any special skill on the part of the player.
To this end my invention consists in the formation of the reed box or cavity
board with at least two "banks" of reeds in the treble and bass or treble only,
or bass only, containing or representing one, two or more sets of reeds, and in the
application of two sets of pallets to such reeds, also of an arrangement of levers
within the "well" of the organ, or beneath the cavity-board, whereby the action
(depression) of any one of the pallets of one set of reeds serves to raise the pallet
of the other set of reeds representing the next lower note in the case of the treble,
and the next higher note in the case of the bass, and so cover the cavity belonging
to such pallet.
By the addition of certain other parts or fingers the action of one pallet is
also transmitted to all the other pallets of the other set representing all the
lower treble notes or higher bass notes of each chord and consequently by muting
such notes allow only. the highest (treble) or lowest (bass) note to be sounded and
the "melody" or "bass" of a tune to be emphasized.
The sets of pallets may over-lap each other, or a lever or stem may be placed
below each pallet or one set, supported by a spring and serving to support one of
the pallets of the other set. Suitable regulating screws may be used for nicety of
adjustment or contact.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood I have hereunto
annexed 2 sheets of drawings and will now proceed to describe the same with
the aid of the various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
On Sheet One.
Fig. 1 represents a transverse section through the cavity-board and "well"
of an American organ constructed and fitted with reed and pallets in accordance
with my invention:
Fig. 2 represents an inverted plan.
On Sheet Two.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent like views to Figs. 1 and 2, but embodying a modifica-
tion.
All the views shew the arrangement for the "treble."
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the cavity-board (A) is provided with two "banks"
or sets of reeds (B) and (C). The reeds (B) are provided with pallets (D) and the
reeds (C) with pallets (E). The two sets of pallets at their free ends overlap as
illustrated and the one set of springs (F) for holding up the pallets (D) against
the reed cavities, serve also for holding the pallets (E).
The contact between the pallets is regulated by a small screw (E).
Below the said pallets is a set of levers (G) mounted upon a fulcrum or axis (H)
and such levers are so arranged upon their fulcrum that as one end of each lever
lies directly beneath one of the pallets (D) the other end lies directly beneath one
of the pallets (E) representing the next lower treble note of the set of reeds (C).
The said levers are also so poised or weighted that the end beneath the pallets (D)
tends to rise. At such end is a small wire regulating screw (I) fitted with a
small disc or "pip" (J) and on the pallet (D) is a small piece of india-rubber (K).
The said screw screws through the lever and the disc (J) lies against the rubber (K)
which acts as a cushion for the lever to lie against.
The pallets (E) are each provided with a regulating screw (L) carrying a
"pip" (M) immediately above (but clear of) the levers (G). At the same end of
each lever is a small wire finger (N) which extends across the next adjoining
lever representing the next higher treble note.
The action of the several pallets and levers in the playing of the organ is as
follows; Immediately the keys (0) are depressed the pallets (D) are in turn
pushed down by their respective plungers (1) and uncover the reeds (B). The
pallet (1) representing the highest treble note of the reeds (C) losing its support
is simultaneously lowered and the uppermost note of the chord in both sets of

page_text: reeds is sounded. The lower notes of the chord in the set of reeds (B) are also
sounded, but owing to the levers (G) which tilt up under the depression of the
pallets (I)) and come against the pips (M) the lower notes of the chord in the set
of reeds (C) are not sounded.
It will thus be seen that whatever key is depressed it is only the highest note
of each chord in the set of reeds (C) that can be sounded, and that such is brought
about, or caused by the diagonal setting of the levers (G) and the fingers (N),
which latter impart the action of the lever which is tilted by the pallet identified
with the highest note of the chord to all the other levers identified with the
pallets of the lower notes. Thus, if the pallets (D) be numbered 1, 2, 3, 4,
the levers (G) be numbered 5, 6, 7, 8, and the pallets (E) be numbered 9, 10,
11, 12, 13 the depression of pallet I will cause the lever 5 to close or raise the
pallet 10 and, by the fingers (N), simultaneously raise the levers 6, 7, and 9,
and pallets 11, and 12. If the pallet 2 be depressed it will act on the lever 6
and cause it to raise pallet 11 and, by the fingers (N), simultaneously raise
the levers 7 and 8 and the pallets 12 and 13 and so on for each other key
depressed, the highest note of the chord in the set of reeds (C) alone being sounded
and the accompaniment being provided by the set of reeds (B).
For the purpose of conveniently regulating the adjustment of the levers (G)
in relation to the pallets (E) without disturbing the cavity-board the regulating
screws (L) are each caused to pass up through an opening in the cavity board,
wide enough to allow of the movements of the pallets opening out on the topside
of the cavity-board and after the adjustment of the screw covered in by a strip
of wood (Q).
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 and to organs which do not conveniently allow of
the pallets (D) and (E) overlapping, I employ a set of levers (R) one lever for
each pallet (D), and I mount such levers on a fulcrum (S). I also employ two
further sets of levers (T) and (U) fulcrumed on rods or axes (T*) and (U³). The
pallets (D) are held against their cavities by springs (D*) and the pallets (E)
are held against their cavities by springs (1) acting through the levers (T).
The levers (R) lie in contact at one end with the pallets (D) and through
regulating screws (R) in contact with levers (T) as shewn. The levers (U) are
each provided with a small cushion of rubber (V) which rest upon pips (W) on
the ends of regulating screws (W) carried by the levers (R). The pallets (E)
are each provided with regulating screws (L) fitted with pips (X) which normally
lie directly above (but clear of) the levers (U) as shewn. These levers also carry
the small overlapping wire fingers (Y).
With these levers (U) set diagonally as illustrated the tilting of the levers (R)
under the depression of pallets (D) causes the pallets (E) identified with the
lower notes of the reeds (C) to be held against their cavities in like manner to
the pallets (E) shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
This modification is of considerable advantage where the sets of reeds lie a
considerable distance apart as in the larger make of organs.
As a further modification I may elongate the levers (T), hinge them to the rear
side of the organ well, support them by a spring, and cause them in turn to
support the pallets (E) and under-lap the pallets (D), whilst the levers (U) are
also elongated and arranged to tilt under the depression of the pallets (D) and act
directly against the pallets (E).
In applying my invention to a set, or sets of reeds in the "bass," so that the
bass of a tune may be emphasized, it will be obvious that the levers (G) and (U)
only require to be arranged with their rear ends below the pallets of the higher
instead of the lower notes of reeds (C), and the fingers (N) and (Y) to be reversed
so as to overlap the levers identified with lower, instead of the higher, notes.
In lieu of the extensions (N) and (Y) being above the levers (G) and (T) they
may be at the opposite ends of and below such levers.
By muting the reeds (B) by the ordinary mute (Z), (or by removing such reeds)
and adjusting the regulating screws (L) of the pallets (E) so as to cause such

page_text: pallets to only partially close or cover their cavities under the action of levers (G)
or (U), the emphasis of the "melody" or "bass" of a tune may be obtained on a
single row of reeds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not restrict myself to the exact form, proportions and arrangement of
the several parts, since the same may be varied without departing from my inven-
tion, and what I claim is:
1: In American organs and like musical instruments operating on the exhaust.
principle, a cavity-board comprising a set, or sets of reeds in the treble and (or)
bass, and two sets of pallets, in combination with levers mounted axially and
diagonally below the pallets and within the "well" of the organ, or space beneath
the cavity-board, a lateral extension on each of the said levers, and means for
regulating the action of the said levers in relation to the pallets, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
2: In American organs and like musical instruments acting on the exhaust
principle, a set, or sets, of primary and auxiliary reeds in the treble and (or)
bass, in combination with two sets of pallets, one for the primary set, or sets
of reeds and the other for the auxiliary set, or sets, and the latter operating
permissively under the action of the former, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
3: In American organs and like musical instruments acting on the exhaust
principle, the arrangement and combination of parts herein described and illus-
trated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
4: In American organs and like musical instruments acting on the exhaust
principle, the arrangement and combination of parts herein described and illus-
trated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
1
1
ቦ
+1 2000
SAMUEL HOWARD.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.,
Manchester,