CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DESIGNATED FLUTES, CLARIONETS, HAUTBOYS, AND BASSOONS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
CARTE, No. 38, Southampton Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Professor of Music, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventh day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Carte, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her special licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Richard Carte, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Carte, my
exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DESIGNATED FLUTES, CLARIONETS,
HAUTBOYS, AND BASSOONS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that I, the said Richard Carte, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-.
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled.
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months.
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Carte, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say-
Firstly, up to the present time certain notes of the flute have been produced
by means of keys acted upon by the thumb and little finger of the left hand,
and those notes were produced by the following means:―
First, on some flutes, the keys of which are closed over their respective
holes by means of the ordinary springs, the required holes are opened by
pressing down the arms of the respective keys by the thumb or little finger.
By this arrangement the holes under each key remain closed when the pres-
sure is taken off, in consequence of which the notes produced by uncovering
the holes next above these keys are rendered imperfect.
Second, on other flutes these keys are kept open by their springs, and are
respectively closed by pressure of the thumb or little finger. As this is the
only action by which these keys can be closed, the consequent confinement of
the thumb and little finger cramps the action of the other fingers, and the
exécution or rapidity of fingering is impeded. Now, the first object of my
Invention is to correct both these defects. This I do by a mechanism which
acts upon the keys referred to by the action of other fingers, so that when
certain notes are given by pressing down one or other of these fingers upon
its respective hole or key, the same action may close the key upon which the
thumb or little finger has hitherto solely acted, thus leaving the thumb or
little finger, as the case may be, comparatively at liberty.
I now proceed to describe how this action is obtained.
Figure I. represents part of the exterior surface of that description of flute
commonly termed a "concert flute," supposed to be spread out flat. 1, 2, 3,
are the holes which the first, second, and third fingers of the left hand respec-
tively cover, and a is a lever attached to the outer tube of the pivot, or rod,
or axis b, b, b. When the second finger of the left hand is pressed on the
hole 2, it presses down also the ring c which surrounds that hole and com-
municates with the tube which encloses the pivot or axis b. This action
raises the lever a, and thus closes the key d, which moves upon its own pivot
or axis e. Consequently, while the second finger of the left hand presses on
the ring.c, the thumb which would otherwise be required to act on the key d
to close it is left at liberty. By the application of a similar mechanism the
key d may be made to shut by any of the other fingers of the right
or left

page_text: hand. It will be seen that the key d may be shut when required by tho
thumb of the left hand, without affecting the lever a. The little finger of the
left hand, which is used to close the key f (Figure I.) by pressing down the
arm f', is similarly released by the following means:The keys ƒ and g are
attached to the two independant portions of the tube which enclose the pivot
or axis b, b, b. The key g is closed by pressing the first finger of the right
hand upon the arm 4, which is also attached to the pivot or axis b. The
key is closed at the same time and by the same pressure by means of a
pivot or axis b, which passes within the tube attached to the key f, from the
point 6' as far as the point 62 (shewn by the dotted lines), where it presses
down the key f by means of an ordinary clasp or clutch, after described. It
will be seen that the key f"can be shut by the little finger of the left hand
when required, without shutting the key g.
The mechanism first before described for releasing the thumb may be
applied in the construction of bassoons and oboes or hautboys, and the
mechanism described for releasing the little finger of the left hand can also
be similarly employed in the construction of clarionets and oboes or hautboys.
However, in the case of the bassoon, the joint which is usually between the
hole giving the note C natural and the key the hole covered by which gives
the note C sharp must be removed, or some slight variation made in the
'mechanism to adapt it to the distance between the holes of the first finger of
the right hand and the third finger of the left. In case it should be desirable
that the key should be placed at the side of the instrument, and still that
the little finger of the left hand should be released as described, this can be
effected by the means shewn in Figure II., that is to say, by placing the
key fin a position analogous to that of the key d above described, so as to
cause it to be shut by the lever a (Figure II.) in a similar manner by the
arm 4 of the key g. The arm 4 would then be transferred to the other side
of the holes, and be connected with the pivot t, t, Figure I.; and when it
might be desirable to apply the finger to the G natural hole, instead of
shutting it by the key g, the same object of releasing the little finger may be
effected by a ring, in lieu of the key and lever, as represented in Figure III.
Or, again, supposing it should not be desirable to transfer the key 9, as in
Figure II., and still to have a ring instead of a key, the arrangement in
Figure IV. may be adopted.
Secondly, my Invention relates to a new fingering for the note designated

page_text: this flute when all the fingers are raised is C sharp; whereas by my improvement
when all the fingers are raised the note produced is D natural. The object of this
part of my Invention is to give increased facility of execution when the note
D natural is used in combination with other notes, and to improve the tone
of the note C sharp. I obtain this improvement in the following manner:
h, Figure I., is a key kept open by an independent spring of its own, which in
a concert flute made on my principle, when the fingers are all raised, gives the
note D natural. The C sharp, which is usually produced by raising all the
fingers, is produced according to my Invention by closing this key. This is
effected by pressing the first finger of the right hand on the arm 4, which, as
has been before described, is attached to the pivot or axis b. This pivot com-
municates with the key h by means of an interior point or axis b, b, b, which
passes through from the arm 4 to the clasp or clutch i, as indicated by the
dotted lines, By the aid of this clasp or clutch i the key h is closed in the
manner herein-after described. The peculiar construction of this clasp or
clutch and the other clasps after mentioned are herein-after particularly
described.
This part of my Invention is applicable to the production of the corre
sponding notes upon tenor flutes and other flutes, and also to oboes or
hautboys. By a slight variation of the mechanism, the second or third fingers
of either hand may be made to close the key h, to effect the same purpose,
though I prefer the mode I have above set out.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in imparting a finer quality of tone to the
note C natural
The usual mode of producing this note is by
pressing down the second finger of the left hand, and the first, second, and
third fingers of the right hand. Hitherto, by this mode of fingering, the
C sharp hole (1) only has been opened above the second finger, and the
C natural hole (5) closed, or the C sharp hole has been closed, and only the
C natural hole opened above the second finger, which in either case produces
a bad note, owing to the B natural hole (1), which is the hole next below
the C natural, being shut. Now, to avoid these objections, I adhere to the
same mode of fingering, but I leave the C natural hole, and the B natural
hole immediately below it, both open, which I effect by employing, in the
first place, two B natural holes, namely, one at 1 (Figure I.), and the other,
which is closed by the key d by the pressure of the thumb of the left hand, or
by the second finger on the ring c, as before described. It will be seen that
by pressing the second finger of the left hand on the ring c not only will the

page_text: thumb key d be closed, but also the key l, which covers the C sharp hole, the
key being connected with the ring c by means of the tube surrounding the
common pivot or axis b, 6, 6, and a clasp or clutch p. The same action also
closes the key h by means of a clasp or clutch n, fixed to the external tube
connected with the key h, in manner also herein-after described. Now, as
the ring m round the hole 1 is connected with the keyj (which is opened by
its own spring) by means of the bar or axis k, k, it follows that when the
first finger of the left hand is removed, that the hole under j, as well as the
first finger hole, will be open. Now, to produce the note C natural by pulling
down the second finger of the left hand, the key d, as well as land h, are
closed, while and 1, that is to say, the C natural and B natural holes
respectively, are open. In the ordinary flutes the first, second, and third
fingers of the right hand close their respective holes in sounding C natural,
while by my improvement these fingers may be pressed down or not, as
convenient.
This part of my Invention is applicable to the corresponding notes on the
tencr and other flutes, and also to oboes or hautboys. By having two
B natural holes, namely, at 1 and d, I am enabled, not only to obtain a perfect
C natural, as described, but to obtain a B natural by the usual fingering for
this note, namely, by putting down the first finger of the right hand; for
when the B natural hole 1 is closed by the first finger, I still have a B natural
hole open when the thumb of the left hand is raised from off the key d. It
will be observed that all the holes above B natural will be closed when the
first finger presses down the ring m, in consequence of an arm o attached to
the pivot or axis k, k, which acts on the key 4, the key closing the key h by
เ
means of the clasp or clutch n, before described.
Fourthly, my Iuvention consists in the application of means by which the
performer may be enabled to pass rapidly and distinctly from the notes D
natural to F natural, and from E flat to F natural
In
those flutes on which the F sharp is produced by putting down the first,
second, and third fingers of the left hand, and the first finger of the right
hand, on their respective holes, the F natural is produced by pressing the
second finger of the right hand on its proper hole, and the third finger of the
right hand upon a key similarly placed as the key r, Figure 1, to open the
F natural hole. The same note F natural is also produced by a well-known
duplicate long key, closed by its own spring, and opened by a pressure from
the little finger of the left hand. Now, by my Invention, I simpiify the
fingering of the F natural in the combination of the notes alluded to, by

page_text: having a duplicate F natural hole 5, Figure 1, which remains open whilst the
other at is shut, the holes of F sharp (as after described) and all above
being closed (as before mentioned). To effect this object I use the following
mechanism-t, t, is a pivot or axis similar to b, b, before described; u is a
key which is kept open by its spring in a similar manner to the key d, which
key u covers the F sharp hole. When the second or third fingers of the right
hand are pressed on the rings or y respectively (which rings are also
attached to the same pivot or axis), the hole F sharp is shut by the lever v
attached to the pivot or axis t. The rings x and y work in a similar manner
to the action of the ring c upon the lever a, as before described. This key u
can also be closed by the little finger of the left hand pressing down the arm
18
(which is kept raised by its own spring), and communicates by means of the
pivot or axist with the arm z, which shuts the key u in a manner similar
to the action of the arm o upon the key / before described. From the above
description it will be seen that when the first, second, and third fingers of the
left hand are pressed upon their respective holes 1, 2, and 3, the first finger
of the right hand on the arm 4 closing the keys 9 and (as before described),
and. the little finger of the left hand is pressed on the arm s, shutting the key
u, which closes the F sharp hole, the note F natural will be produced, leaving
the second and third fingers of the right hand disengaged. The same improve-
ment is applicable to the corresponding notes of the tenor flute and other flutes.
It remains now. to describe how the clasps or clutches, before referred to,
may be constructed so as to close two keys by one motion of the finger, while
one of the two keys may at the same time have an independent motion from
the other. The mode which I have found it most convenient to adopt is the
following: Take, for example, the construction of the flute represented in
Figure 1. By pressing the arm 4 both the keys 9 and f will be closed; but
when the arm is pressed the key f only is affected, so as to close the G
sharp hole. By reference to the Drawings, Figure 1, and more particularly
to the detached pieces below Figure 1, bearing corresponding figures and
letters, it will be readily seen how this motion is obtained. The arm 4 and
the key g are on one solid piece of the pivot b, b, b. The projection be,
Figure 1, is a flat piece of metal attached to the same pivot or bar to which
the key g is attached (passing through the interior of the tube to which
the key f, Figure 1b, is attached), and is made to lap over a similar piece of
metal attached to the tube of the key f at b", Figure 1b, so that when the
arm 4 is pressed down, the lap 62, Figure 1, presses on the lap 6s of the key f
Figure 1b, and shuts the key f, while, on the contrary, when the arm f¹ is
pressed down the motion or power is not communicated to the key g, as the
lap of the tube of the key f (Figure 1b) is placed under the lap of the pivot

page_text: ,attached to the key g at 6, Figure 1, or at 6, Figure 1. Again, in like
manner, it will be seen that by pressing down the arm 4, Figure 1 and
Figure 1, the motion or power is carried along the rod b, b, b (the dotted
,lines shewing the rod, which passes through the interior of the other parts of
the tubes attached to the ring c and keys land h, Figures 1°, 14, and 1°, as
far as the clasp or clutch i in Figures 1 and 1º). i, Figure 1*, is a similar
piece of metal as before described at 63 and 63, which laps over the corre
-sponding piece at i, in Figure 1°, which is attached to the tube belonging to
the key h, so that when motion is given to the arm 4 the force is commu-
nicated to the upper end of the pivot b, and presses down the lap i, Figure 1*,
on the corresponding piece of Figure 1°, and thereby closes the key h, while
the key h can be closed without affecting the pivot b, Figure 1*, or the arm 4,
as the lap i, Figure 1°, is placed under lap i, Figure 1°. In like manner,
when the key 1, Figure 1, is closed, the key h is also closed by means of the
clasp or clutch at n. The lap n, Figure 1, is attached to the tube of the
key 7, and laps over that attached to the key h at n', Figure 1°; but the key
h, when closed by the arm 4, as before described, does not close the key l, as
the lap n¹ is placed under the lap n, Figure 1ª; and so also when the ring c
(Figures 1 and 1°) is pressed down, the lap p, Figure 1°, presses upon the
.corresponding lap p², Figure 14, and thereby closes the hole at 1, while the
key may be pressed down either by the arm o or the lever o² (Figure 1),
after described, because the lap p¹, Figure 1ª, passes under the lap p, Figure 1°.
If it should be convenient to place the clasp p on the outside, instead of
placing it on the side where the bar or axis k is placed, in consequence of the
too close proximity of the axis k, then the action must be reversed, and the
lap p¹ must pass over the lap p. The laps are, however, best placed under
the bar or pivot b, so as to be out of sight. I have placed them in the
Drawings on the side, so as to be seen and more readily understood. o,
Figure 1, is an arm which, being pressed by the thumb of the right hand, the
other end of which passes under the foot of the key 1, closes the latter, as also,
by means of the clasp n, the key h. By this I obtain another mode to that
:
before described of fingering C natural
The respective pivots
or bars are supported, in the usual manner, by pillars fixed to the body of the
instrument.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I make no claim
to any of the particular parts or mechanical contrivances herein-before
described, as and by itself separately considered, or to the use of the whole

page_text: in combination together, as there are various parts of my Invention which
may be employed without the others in different instruments. For instance,
the first part of my Invention might be dispensed with, and the ordinary
B flat and G sharp keys may be used to accommodate such performers as do
not wish to learn a new fingering on the instrument, but wish to avail them-
selves of the other advantages which my Invention offers, and so also with
other parts; and although I have been. particular in shewing all the parts in
detail, according to what I consider the best mode of carrying out my
Invention, there may be variations made without departing materially from
my improvements; wherefore I do not confine myself to the precise arrange-
ment shewn and described, so long as the general principle of my Invention
is retained. But what I do claim as my Invention is,―
Firstly, the employment of the modes herein described of shutting the keys
d and g respectively represented in Figures I., II., III., and IV., and before
described, and for the purposes described.
Secondly, I claim the mode herein described of producing the notes D natural
RICHARD (L.S.) CARTE.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Richard Carte came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.