New and Improved Valved Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Valved Musical Instruments.
I, FONTAINE BESSON of the Firm of F. Besson & Co. of 198 Euston Road, in the
County of London, Musical Instrument Makers do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention refers to the adaptation of "New Registre" to wind valved musical
instruments, to improvements in valves, and application of a lever for working
valves, slides and koys of such instruments and my invention has for its object to give
a perfect chromatic scale, to all valved wind instruments. I obtain this object with a
new system of valves, with "Registre "combination giving my instruments two
distinct internal sets of air passages, as well as two internal effects as hereafter
explained. These improved valvos and new "Registre" are applicable to all wind
valved instruments, and can be played without change of fingering.
The levor gives rapidity to the action and is applicable to all valves and slides of
any system whatever. In the usual mode of constructing wind piston or valve
instruments, the combinational valve notes (especially the lower ones) are more or less
sharp. Attempts or researches have been made to obviate and rectify this, but the
remedies hitherto applied, destroying the proportionate ratio and not being strictly
clear bore, that is, not being constructed so that every passage is of the same area
throughout, either muffle the tone or affect the upper notes, or sacrifice air-tightness,
or necessitate a change of fingering. My invention rectifies the chromatic scale
throughout gives equality and great brilliancy to the tone, facilitates the emission of
sound while proserving the usual fingering, and my instruments being true clear bore,
are therefore perfectly air-tight.
My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
as hereafter described.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent an instrument constructed according to one modifica-
tion of my invention.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a lever for actuating or giving rapidity to the movement
kind of valves, "Registres" slides, keys, etc.
of any
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show arrangements of instrument by way of examplo whereby
different arrangements may be effected.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 1, 2 AND 3.
Figure 1 represents my valve "Registre" attached to an instrument which valve
system has two distinct air passages and two distinct effects the "Registro" being the
third valve and regulating the two others.
For this purpose I employ three cylinders marked 1, 2, 3. The main air passages
connecting these cylinders are indicated by the letters a, b, c. The letters d, e, j'
indicate the main air passage when the third valve hereafter called "Registre" is in
use. The letters 9 h, i indicate the continuation of the main passage when the third
valve is pressed down or in use. The letters k, l, m indicate the continuation of the
main passage to connect it with the lengthening slides of the registre valve.
The second valve 2 is a half tone; the valve 1 a full tone, and the valve 3 one
tone and a half. Slides are provided on each of the cylinders for the purpose of
tuning these notes. thus a. o represent a slide for the third valve, p. q represents one
of the slides for the valve 2; and rs represent the other slide for the valve 2, pg
being put into action by the valve 3. tu and v. ware the slides for valve 1, t u being
put into action by the valve 3, and we simultaneously cut off.
The 1st effect is produced without using the valves; the open air passage or

page_text: "
corps sonore ab, e passes through the first piston or valve 1. The 2nd effect is
obtained by lowering the first piston or valve 1; the first effect is thereby done away
with and the passage or 18
"
corps sonore is through de, through the 3rd valve or
piston and on through the bell. There are thus two effects produced but not simul-
ianeously since there are two distinct air columns or passages and the third valve
acts for two purposes, as a slide to lengthen the tubing and as
of columne d'air" or
main air passago.
My Registro" as before described may be placed after any number of valves more
or less in any position horizontal, vertical, or otherwise and applied to any size or
kind of wind vulvod musical instrument.
1.
Figure 2 represents a simplified arrangement of valve action with double air passages
and two effects. The passages d, e, faro dispensed with. The slides p, q, r, & are not
shown in this drawing.
Figure 3 represonts an arrangement on the same principle as the preceding but
in which there is a fourth valve to extend the compass of the instrument to show that
my "Registre" may he applied to any other valvo, also any number of "Registres
according to the instrument, either horizontally, vertically or otherwise, may be
used.
"
Figure represents a lever, adaptable to valves "Registros" slides or keys, to give
rapidity to the movement of either, which I may place in any position, vertical,
horizontal, or otherwise.
DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO FIGURE 1. AN INSTRUMENT WITH THREE
VALVES AND DOUBLE AIR-PASSAGES.
As will be observed by reference to Figure 1 this instrument has air-passiges, that
is to say, two distinct air passages as before described.
The first set of slidesr, tr, anil of the open air passage is marked in dotted lines.
By lowering each valve separately, there is obtained as in the usual cornet as
follows:
Bb exactly by the 1st valve
B exactly
and Aexactly
2nd vulvo
"}
3rd valve.
"
The second set of slides p, y and tuis brought into action by the third valve 3
which forms my "Registre." When this is lowered, it creates thus for the sound
waves a now direction, represented by the black line. This now direction has for its
object, to remely the faulty notes, which exist on the usual valved instruments, oach
time that the player lowers more than one valve. These defects and want of
nially noticeable
instossa
?!
Ara
in the low D and G
Cand
1st and 3rd valves.
1st. 2nd and 3rd unleas
in the low D and G
1st and 3rd valves.
Cand
1st. 2nd and 3rd valens
Eb and Ab 2nd and 3rd valves.
und their harmonies, which are out of tuno, in the usual three valved instruments but
are rendered perfect by my invention herein described. It will be understood that
if, previously, I arrange the slides of the second set proportionately longer than those
of the first sut, 1 obtain an Eb a D₁ and a Cabsolutely correct, as well as the
corresponding harmonics.
1st Set. I obtain therefore with the 1st sot the following notos perfectly

page_text: N.B. The starting and ending points of the two air passages (marked in chain and
black lines) are respectively indicated by the letters A and B.
2ND ARRANGEMENT.
This arrangement (Figure 2) embraces the arrangement Figure 1 of which it is
the simplification.
Remark: The slide of the third valve may be arranged in such manner that there
may be added a small molditional valve, such as is shown at Fig. 3, marked 4, which
increases the length to obtain (by the simultaneous lowering of the 3rd valve and
also of the small additional valve. By lowering the third valve of the instrument, and
this small additional valve, there is obtained low 15. The player therefore can
obtain at will by my invention the following enharmonies.
X small additional valve.
This arrangement of instrument with four valves, has also for object (Figure 3) to
show that my Registre" can be employed at will to compensate or transpose in
conjunction with any number of valves that may be used on the instrument, either by
increasing or diminishing their unmbar Thus in an instrument having two valves,
one of which, being a “Registre” valve, is employed to regulate the other.
one of which, being a “Registro" valve, is employed to regulate the other.
BASS INSTRUMENTS.
66
As an extension of the preceding I reserve to myself the right to the following
arrangement, which consists in tulding to any desired number of ordinary valves,
one of my Registre" that is making one of the ordinary valves a Registre
with the object of giving extension to the descending scale. Thus to a bass
instrument constructed according to my invention having three valves, I may also
add a fourth valve, in this case the third valve being the "Registre," whereby
can be obtained a chromatic descent absolutely in tune down to the pedal.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 4, 5 & 6.
Which shew a lever, working one of my "Registres" placed across the instru-
ment. I reserve to myself the sole right to this lover for working all valves,
slides, keys or rotary cylinders. Figure 5 shows one side of an instrument with
this valve lever applied and Figure 6 shews the other side of the same instrument
with the same valve lever applied.

page_text: substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings together with any more modification or
modifications thereof.
Dt. 2011 CA: 1800
FONTAINE BESSON.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lano, London.