Improvements in and relating to American Organs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
Improvements in and relating to American Organs.
1 I
I, JAMES MORGAN, of 223 Ninth Street in the City of Brooklyn and State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 improvement relates particularly to organs of the kind which may be
played mechanically under control of a perforated music sheet or which may be
played manually:
I will describe an organ embodying my improvement and then point out the novel
features in claims.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an organ action embodying my improvement.
Figure 2 is a partial back view and partial section of certain parts.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures.
I have illustrated my improvement in an organ action which is intended to have.
suction or exhaust bellows and which is provided with two different sets of sound
producing devices, and if desirable a third set for a solo or sub bass; the sound.
producing devices being indicated as consisting of reeds.
A designates one of the main sets of sound producing devices and B designates
the other set. Each set may consist of a number of different banks of sound
producing devices. Each bank of sound producing devices will be provided with
a mute in the usual way. In the illustrated organization the set A may be played
either manually or mechanically, but the set B can only be played manually.
BI designates one of a number of valves controlling the speaking of the set of
sound producing devices B. They are fitted in a chamber B that communicates
with a wind chest C.
B³ designates one of a number of pins which pass through the block in which
the set of sound producing devices B are fitted, and at the lower ends impinge
against the valves B'. At their upper ends they impinge against levers D.
These levers D are. fulcrumed at their forward ends by pins d to brackets d'.
Springs B arranged within the chambers B² normally hold the valves B₁ up in
their closed position, and through the agency of the pins B sustain the levers D
n their upper positions. The levers D near their rear ends are guided by
ins d
E designates the manual keys. They may be supported in the usual manner.
On their under sides they are provided with projections e that conct with regulating
crews d fitted in the levers D.
When the keys E are depressed the corresponding levers D will be similarly
lepressed and thus valves B' will be opened properly for the playing of a tune.
The sound producing devices A. are controlled by valves A located in a
hamber A' which communicates with the wind chest, C.
The valves A are arranged in pairs, both valves of a pair relating to the same
ote to be played: As shown, there are two distinct valve levers A¹ for each note
nd each of these valve levers operates one or more valves. The valve levers are
upported at reverse ends upon pins a¹ and held normally by springs a in position
o keep their valves seated. The opposite or adjacent ends of.cach pair of valve
evers A are connected by rods A so constructed as to form triple cranks, one
rank a being formed at one end for one valve lever, another crank a' being

page_text: formed at the other end for the other lever and a third crank a³ midway between
the ends. The portions of the rods intermediate of the cranks are journaled in
bearings a. The cranks a³, a are fitted to holes formed in the opposite ends of
the valve levers A¹ and the crank a is connected by a link A' which is also
connected with an arm a affixed to a vertical rock shaft A'. The rock shaft A³
at its lower end is provided with a crank arm a³ and the latter is connected with a
pneumatic motor A. Whenever this pneumatic motor is collapsed the valve
levers A will be moved outwardly so as to open their valves. There will, of course,
be a rock shaft A and a pneumatic motor A for each note.
"
The pneumatic motors A communicate internally with the wind chest F under
control of valves A'. The valves A' are shown as pivoted at one end to pins a
and guided near the other end by pins a¹º.
The ducts which communicate with the motors A° not only communicate with the
wind chest F but also with the atmosphere by means of cross terminal portions..
Hence with each valve A' there must be combined a valve A8. As here shown the
valves A are connected by screws a" with the valves A so that when a valve A.
is opened the corresponding valve A8 will be closed and vice versa. When one of
the valves A is closed. and the corresponding valve A opened the corresponding
pneumatic motor A will be in communication with the atmosphere, and hence will
be expanded. When the position of the valves is reversed communication will be
established between the corresponding pneumatic motor and the wind chest F.
This will result in the collapsing of said pneumatic motor and cause the speaking of
the corresponding sound producing devices of the set A.
The valves A7, A8 are controlled by pneumatic motors G located within the wind
cbest F. These pneumatic motors communicate with tubes or ducts G¹ and the latter
communicate with tubes or ducts G³, G³, G. Preferably the ducts G¹, G will be.
made of flexible rubber tubes. Whenever the duct G₁ is opened to atmospheric.
pressure, motor G is expanded which swings valve A7 as a result. Concurrently
with this movement of the valve A', valve A³ closes communication with the
atmosphere, thus throwing. motor A into communication with the vacuum of wind
chest F. Motor A collapses, causing the speaking of the note. Lever A¹ is
actuated mechanically through the turning of the shaft A.
to
The ducts G communicate with ducts G in a block G'; the ducts G³. being
controlled by valves G' arranged upon levers G8 which are fulcrumed by pins
brackets g affixed to the forward side of the block G.
The block G is pivoted upon a pin or pins g and hence is free to rock.
Of course it will be understood that there is a duct G₁, a duct G³, a duct G..
and a duct G for each note that is to be produced by the sound producing
devices A.
The block G is rocked into one or other of its extreme positions by the hand of
the player operating, preferably through a lever or arm not shown on the drawing.
The levers G are held in a position to keep the valves G7 closed by means of
springs fitted in the block G.
Whenever it is desired to play the sound producing devices A, by means of the
manual keys the block G is rocked into such position that the levers D may operate
the levers Go to open the valves G' as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably the levers D
will be provided with regulating screws d' at the ends where they are adapted to
co-act with the levers G³ to open the valve G' either when the key is depressed or
when the block G.is rocked on its pivot by the operator.
It will, of course, be understood that when the valve G' is opened the corre-
sponding pneumatic motor G will be expanded and the corresponding pneumatic
motor A will be collapsed so as to cause the speaking of corresponding sound
producing devices A.
I will now turn to the means for playing the instrument mechanically.
The ducts G2 communicate with ducts H¹ in a tracker board H. Over the open
ends of the ducts H' a perforated music sheet I moves as usual. When playing
is to be done manually only, a cover J is moved over the open ends of the ducts H

page_text: in the tracker board H. The cover J may be made of two side pieces fastened
together by rods. Within the frame thus formed a pad of leather or
similar material is made by taking a strip and forming it into a belt extending,
around the rods *,j.
The rod is at the ends linked to a cross rod 1. Arms are pivotally connected
to the latter. These arms extend across the sides of the tracker board. They
are affixed to the rock shaft j' which is journaled in the check pieces at the sides
of the tracker board.
A crank arm jo affixed to the rock shaft serves to oscillate the latter and
hence to slide the cover J, which normally rests upon the upper side of the tracker
board. When pushed forward it may move the music sheet away from the end of
the tracker board, and then drop down over the end of the tracker board so that
its pad will close the ends of the ducts H'. The music sheet may be rewound
while the cover is in place at the end of the tracker board. The reverse movement
of the rock shaft will shift the cover to a position above the tracker board, thus
opening the ducts H'.
The armor rock shaft may be connected to the means which are employed
for reversing the music sheet so that the cover will always close the ducts H',
except when the music sheet is driven in the direction to play a tune.
It will be obvious that while the manual keys E are not being used the valves G'
will close the ducts G³ and keep them closed. If during such time air is admitted
through perforations in the music sheet to the ducts G the pneumatic motors G¹
will be operated in the manner and with the result before described while
explaining the operation of the manual keys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of sound producing
devices, a tracker board comprised in mechanism for controlling said sound
producing devices, a music sheet for traveling over the end of the tracker board,
mechanism for rewinding the music sheet after playing, and a cover or stop for said
tracker board operated by said rewinding mechanism, independently of the music
sheet, substantially as specified.
2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of sound producing
devices, a tracker board comprised in mechanism for controlling said sound producing
devices, a music sheet for traveling over the end of the tracker board, means for
propelling the music sheet, in one direction for playing, and in another direction
for rewinding, and a cover or stop shifted at the commencement of the rewinding
of the music sheet to close or stop air ducts of the said tracker board, the said
cover or stop being constructed to slide adjacent to one side of the tracker board
and to drop over the end of the tracker board, substantially as specified.
3. In an organ, the combination of manual keys, sound producing devices con-
trolled by said keys, an independent set of sound producing devices, valves for
controlling the independent set of sound producing devices, and a rocking bar
provided with valve seats and supporting the valves for the independent set of sound
producing devices, substantially as described, whereby the independent set of sound
producing devices may be put out of or under control of the said keys.
4. In an organ, the combination of manual keys, sound producing devices con-
trolled by said keys, an independent set of sound producing devices, valves for
controlling the independent set of sound producing devices, a rocking bar provided
with valve seats and supporting the valves for the independent set of sound
producing devices, substantially as described, and adjustable ducts leading from the
valve seats, and, by their adjustability, permitting the movement of the said
rocking bar.
5. In an organ, the combination of manual keys, sound producing devices con-
trolled by said keys, an independent set of sound producing devices, valves for

page_text: controlling the independent set of sound producing devices, a rocking bar provided.
with valve seats, and flexible tubes communicating with the valve seats and
extending from said rocking bar, substantially as specified.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.