Improvements in Musical Toys.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Toys.
I, ANTON RICHARD BREINL, Manufacturer of Children's Musical Toys,
Graslitz, Bohemia, Empire of Austria, 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 following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved musical toy for providing a simple and
inexpensive musical instrument, on which entire melodies and songs can be played
without any effort, mental or physical. It suffices simply to draw a flexible
perforated note-card through the instrument by hand or other suitable means whereby
the tone-tongues are caused to vibrate in the openings.
This musical toy is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the instrument, with the perforated note-card
inserted;
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section thereof;
Figure 4 is a plan of the musical toy with the cover removed;
Figure 5 shows a front elevation of the tongues and tongue-carrying plate and
Figure 6 is a view of the perforated music sheet or note-card.
In the box or case A the two openings O¹ and O' are arranged exactly similarly
placed in the opposite sides of the box, through which the note-card B is drawn by
hand. The opening O' is fitted with the tongue carrying plate C which is rivetted
or nailed to the inner surface of that side of the box.
A slot e in the plate C (Figure 5) allows the passage of the note-card. The
tongues secured at their lower ends to the plate C in vertical slots provided
therefor, project in front of the slot e whereby on the introduction of the forward
or pointed end of the note-card B the tongues are bent outwards as shown in
Figures 1 and 3.
When, therefore, an orifice o in the note-card is drawn over the end of one of
the tongues, the latter is set free and vibrates until, as the note-card is drawn
further, it comes in contact with the other end of the orifice and is again bent
outwards, as before. By the arranged and predetermined succession of the orifices o
during the steadily prolonged passage of the note-card through the plate C and
over the tongues, a series of tones is produced, one after another, which may vary
in length and be consecutive or simultaneous, so that any melody or an entire song
or piece may thus be reproduced. The box A serves to give resonance, i.e., strength
and volume, to the musical sounds.
In the upper part of the box A a guide is provided for the note-card B by the
boards or ledges a and partition b supported and stiffened by the cross-bearer c
and supplemented by the guide-piece adjacent to the tongue plate orifice or
slot e.
The musical toy may be fitted simply with 8, 12, 14, 16 or other desired number
of single tongues, or with double-toned tongues, as well as in octaves or with tremolo
action.
The box A itself may advantageously be constructed of card-board; but various
materials may be used therefor, as well as for the note-card, which must be flexible
as well as durable.
Any suitable form can be given to the musical toy as desired, e.g., that of a
pianino, or of a barrel-organ.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A musical toy comprising a box or body upon which by means of a note-card
or band B drawn through the same tunes can be played by tongues such as being
drawn over by the note-card in its passage and released when orifices o in the
note-card pass over them so that they are thereby allowed to vibrate and emit tones
or musical sounds substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The combination with tongues capable of vibrating so as to emit musical
sounds of a perforated note card or band which as it travels causes the tongues to
vibrate substantially as described.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.