Improvements in or relating to Automatic Apparatus for Playing Pianofortes or other Instruments
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
"
COMPLEIE
SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Apparatus for Playing
Pianofortes or other Instruments.”
(A communication by Edward Hollingsworth White of Meriden in the County
of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer
of organs, pianos, etc.)
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors; 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and -6, Bank Street, Manchester;
both in the County of Lancaster; 118, New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 322, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
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 organization of mechanism in a musical
instrument adapted for use as a cabinet automatic piano-playing apparatus and
operative either as a separate pneumatic organ, or as a key-board instrument
player; the object being to provide an efficient and desirable instrument of the
character described; and render such instrument convenient, compact and com-
paratively simple in its structure and operation. This invention consists in. an
instrument having mechanism constructed and arranged as illustrated; also in
certain details and combinations explained in the following description, the par-
ticular subject matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective exterior view of the instrument as it
appears when closed and not in use. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
is an end view showing the cabinet as opened at the back and ends. Fig. 4 is
Fig. 3
a plan view, portions being shown in section to reveal internal structure. Fig. 5
is a horizontal section showing the top of the pneumatic chest, the fulcrum-bar,
the finger-levers, the bellows, and pedals. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, at line xx
on Fig. 4, with dotted lines indicating the manner in which the instrument is
applied for playing a piano. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the fulcrum-bar and
adjacent parts on a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 8 is a front elevation view with
the front of the cabinet removed. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section showing one
of the stop pulls. Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section of the motor wind-chest
and pressure regulator. Fig. 11 is a front view of the fulcrum-bar and means
for raising and depressing the same. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section at the top of
the motor-wind-chest. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section through the motor wind-
chest. Fig. 14 is a vertical section showing means for retracting the piano-pedal
rockers. Fig. 15 is a detail section at the junction of the finger-lever, actuating
puppet and valve pitman; and Fig. 16 (sheet III) is a section showing the manner
of combining a removable xylophone with the finger-levers, for operation thereby.
As shown in the drawings this improved instrument comprises a cabinet A
within which the operative mechanisms are supported. said cabinet is mounted
upon casters and adapted to be conveniently moved about the room. The back of
said portable cabinet is provided with a hinged or removable fall board a¹ and

page_text: its ends are provided with sections or doors a that can be opened for admitting
the manual breast of a piano or similar key-board 'instrument; or closed to form
a neat encasement for the mechanism. The casters are preferably adjustable
for regulating the height of the playing mechanism to correspond with any
piano-key-board. B indicates ne bellows consisting of the reservoir, and
exhausters B hinged to the opposite sides of the stationary board B2 supporteil
in upright slightly inclined position. C denotes the wind-chest containing operat-
ing pneumatics F that move the wire connections i and work the lifter-puppets I
that are disposed through the top of the chest; also, containing the primary or
controlling pneumatics h that severally communicate through the tube-board
with the tracker inlet-ducts and, under control of a perforated music-sheet m
advanced across the tracker G, cnerate the valves 5 that admit or exclude air
flowing from the inlet air trunk into the pneumatics F; therely controlling
the inflation and collapse of the several operating-pneumatics in accordance with
the music-sheet perforations, in a manner heretofore practiced.
The tracker G projects above the front of the chest C; said front serving as
the tube-board within which the air-ducts are formed from the tracker orifices
to the primary pneumatics h.
A spool frame above the chest supports the winding roll m² in rear of the
tracker and the removable music-spool m¹ in front thereof.
E indicates the pedals hinged to a forwardly projecting part A of the cabinet,
and operating in conjunction with the springs e, swinging angle-levers e¹, and
bars for working the bellows exhausters 1'.
1 indicates a long wind-chest disposed in front of the bellows below the
pneumatic-chest, and having mounted thereon the motor-engine M and the air-
pressure regulators K and L. Said wind-chest has internal partitions as shown
in Fig. 13, dividing its interior into a primary exhaust compartment D' and
secondary compartments 12 and 13. The compartment D is connected direct
with the bellows by the wind-way d. The chamber of the motor M connects by
passage 6 with compartment D₁ and by passage 7 with compartment 12. The
regulator K connects by passage 8 with compartment D2 and by passage 9 with
compartment D'. The regulator L connects by passage 10 with compartment 1)³
and by passage 11 with compartment D¹.
N indicates an over-head wind-chest supported above the series of lifter-
puppets I, and having combined therewith a reed-board n, organ-reeds r, reed-
duct-valves o and mutes s'and s¹. The reed-board n is enclosed in a sound-chamber
provided with a movable swell board n2; the mutes s s¹ and swell board n¹ being
severally connected in suitable manner with stop-pulls s2, and 3 for opening
and closing the same.
The wind-chest N is connected by a conductor or air-passage N' with the com-
partment D of the wind-chest D and thence through the regulator L with the
compartment 11 and wind-way d with the bellows reservoir. Pitman-pins J are
arranged for operating the reed-duct valves 1) from the pneumatically actuated
puppets I. The valve opens as the puppet rises.
P indicates finger-levers or key-strikers arranged in series to correspond with
the manual keys Q of a piano, and fulcrumed in a transversely grooved horizontal
bar T. Their front ends rest upon the lifter-puppet-heads and their rear ends,
which are preferably provided with adjusting buttons P, project rearward above
the bellows at such distance therefrom as will admit the manual-breast of a
piano beneath the levers, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7. These
finger-levers are made in long and short lengths to conform to the arrangement
of the white and black keys of the piano manual. The front end of each lever
is rounded, as at P on the under side where seated on the puppet I (see Fig. 15)
and a cavity P3 is formed therein from the upper side, extending well down into
the lever, for the reception of the foot of the reed-valve pitman, which thus has
its step-bearing over and near the surface of the puppet-head.
The finger-levers are centrally pivoted in the fulcrum-bar T; their heads ranged

page_text: in line on the lifter-puppets I, and their opposite ends respectively disposed for
working the piano-keys; the short levers for contact with the low white keys,
and the long levers for contact with the hegh black keys; while their respective
fulcrum pivots t and t¹ are at different positions on the fulcrum-bar, to relatively
proportion the leverage of the fingers, and their movement by the puppet move-
ment, to the drop or movement of the manual key, as required for white or black
key, at the point of finger contact; so that each lever imparts the proper force
and movement to its respective key, in accord with the potential of the operating-
pneumatic, whether giving light or strong impulse; and which is influenced for
expression by regulation of the current of air entering the trunk F¹ at the inlet
valve f³. The air being exhausted within the chest C movement for depressing
any particular key is automatically induced, as a corresponding opening of the
music-sheet passes over the tracker-duct, by the air entering said duct and
permitting inflation of the primary pneumatic h which lifts the valve 5, thereby
admitting air from the trunk F¹ to the interior of the operating pneumatic F,
The exhaust influence on the outside of said pneumatic and the atmospheric
pressure on its interior causes a quick inflative impulse that flows out the movable
face-plate of said pneumatic swinging its wire lever and giving upward movement
to the puppet I. When the tracker duct is closed by the paper of the music-
sheet the valve 5 drops and the direction of air pressure on the pneumatic Fis
reversed causing instant collapse of said operating-pneumatic and thereby dropping
the puppet I to its position of rest.
The fulcrum-bar T, carrying the finger-levers P, is arranged to have upward
and downward movement bodily, said bar being best provided with arms or ear
pieces that are hinged or pivoted, at 13, to lugs or blocks fixed to the top of the
chest C, or an equivalent support. Upwardly acting springs u are provided for
raising the fulcrum-bar and finger-levers, and a rocking depresser or shaft V is
arranged parallel with the bar and provided with roller arms or cams 14 that
force said fulcrum-bar downward, or allow it to rise by action of the springs u,
accordingly as the shaft V is rocked. Said shaft is furnished with a crank 15
which is connected, by a link 16 and rocker-lever 17, with the stop-pull 18, (see
Figs. 5 and 7) whereby the fulcrum-bar T and finger-levers P can be depressed
for putting the piano into playing operation, or raised for throwing the piano out
of playing operation, accordingly as the stop-pull 18 is pushed out or drawn in.
The springs on the reed-duct valves press the pitmans J down upon the lever
ends, and both upon the puppet-heads so as to keep said parts in proper working
contact. If in any instance preferred a special spring can be employed acting
directly upon the finger-lever for pressing its end against the puppet-head and
maintaining the contact of said parts while playing free from the manual keys.
By this construction and combination of the fulcrum-bar and finger-lever
mechanism with the pneumatic actuating devices, a very advantageous mechanism
is produced; the movement and fingering touch of the levers is rendered quite
sensitively controllable and perfect, while the piano and reeds are sounded in
instantaneous unison, and the finger-levers can, by the swing of the fulcrum bar,
be raised more or less from the piano key-board without raising their ends P¹
from the puppet heads I, or interfering with the continued operation of the
pitmans J and reed-duct valves by the action of said puppets. By elevation of
the fulcrum-bar while the pneumatics are in operation, the finger-levers P are
raised so as to work without striking the manual keys, the organ action mean-
while performing its sounding operations in regular manner; thus passages of
the music can be played by the organ alone; and the piano again put into action
without interruption in the run of the automatic action. Also, in like manner
the organ-reed sounds can be temporarily arrested and revived by closing and
Another advantage
opening the mute valves s s¹ worked by the stop-pulls s² and s³.
in the arrangement of the mechanism as shown is the accessibility to the reeds
while the instrument is in position for playing the key-board; enabling a tuner
to conveniently draw and tune the reeds r to correspond with the particular piano,
"A

page_text: and while the automatic player is at the situation of use; this too without dis-
mantling the instrument otherwise than by removal or opening of the swell-
board n². *
The power and motion from the shaft of the motor M is transmitted to the
winding-roll m2 by the pulleys and belts M and the top shaft 20, which latter is
provided with a pinion 21 that meshes with the gear upon the winding-roll, and
a pulley 22 that is belted to the re-winding spool bearing m³; thereby respectively
operating said winding roll for advancing the music-sheet m over the tracker G,
and said spool for rewinding the same, in the manner heretofore employed in
some kinds of mechanical musical instruments. Z indicates a balance wheel
for steadying the motion of the motor-engine.
The gearing for operating the winding and rewinding of the music-sheet is
thrown into and out of action by endwise movement of the shaft 20 effected by
the connections 23 with the pull 24; and at the same time the throttle valve 25
controlling the wind-way from the pneumatic chest C to the bellows B is operated,
closing said passages when the rewinding is put into operation, and vice versa.
While playing, the motor air-current is drawn through the small pass 7 and
regulator K which gives a regular pressure for the power-pneumatics which work
the revoluble motor-shaft; but when rewinding the music-sheet the motor-valve is
shifted by means of the stop-pull 26, connections 27 and 28, and lever 29, and
the motor air-current is then direct through the passage 6 and compartment D
to the bellows, giving rapid action for the rewind of the music-sheet upon its
spool. The interior of the pneumatic chest connects with the bellows through
the wind-way C².
W and Windicate rocker-shafts arranged at the lower part of the cabinet
and having offsetting portions 31 for depressing the regular piano-pedals 32 for
soft and loud expression; each of said rocker-shafts is provided with a crank
arm 33 at the fore end, from which an upright endwise movable rod 34 extends
up through suitable bearings and is engaged at its upper end by a lever or means
for operating the same by hand, as at Y and Y. Said levers are preferably
centrally fulcrumed to the chest C or frame, and have forwardly projecting ends
that extend through the front of the cabinet, at convenient position, as illustrated.
The rocker-shafts W and W₁ necessarily project at the rear of the cabinet when
in use, but may, if in any instance desired, be made retractable into the cabinet
so as to allow it to stand close to the base of the room when not in use. For this
the rocker-shafts can be formed of two telescoping parts to be drawn out and
retracted; or again and preferably, as indicated in Fig. 14, to have endwise motion
in their bearings; also having combined therewith a fixed collar 36, and a
shifting lever 37 for effecting the retraction and projection of the same over
the pedals 32 from the front of the instrument. Said shifting levers 37 are pre-
ferably arranged in the division board between the blow-pedals E.
In practice, in some instances, this improved instrument may be made for use
as a portable piano-player only; in such cases the over-head reed-board, reeds,
mutes, reed-duct valves, valve-pitmans J and wind-chest N, can be omitted; the
other portions of the mechanism being employed in the same construction and
relations as herein specified. It is intended to include such a construction within
the scope of the invention claimed.
In some instances this portable-cabinet piano-player may be provided with a
supplementary sound-producing mechanism comprising a displacable or removable
bar or frame 40 carrying a xylophone scale, series of bells, or equivalent vibratory
sound-producing devices 41; said frame adapted to be readily placed within and
removed from the space beneath the finger-levers P when not occupied by the
piano breast; the xylophone being adapted to be played or to receive sounding
action by or from the finger-levers which are arranged to work the manual-keys.
This removable frame with its sounding devices can readily be shifted or taken
out of the space when the instrument is wheeled up to the front of a piano for
playing its key-board; and again inserted in the space for employment with the

page_text: automatic and organ-action when the cabinet-piano-player is used as an indepen-
dent instrument; thus affording a very complete and servicable automatic instru-
ment, and one which can be marketed either with or without this supplementary
appliance, as desired by the purchaser.
The bars in the xylophone scale, or vibratory sound devices, are best disposed
at different levels to accommodate the varied finger-levers as arranged for the
black keys and white keys of a manual key-board; and said fingers can impinge
directly upon the vibrators; or preferably, upon suitable intervening strikers
having resilient action, by recoil springs combined therewith, as illustrated in
Fig. 16, for normally supporting said strikers free from their respective sounding
devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said'
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. An automatic piano-player, constructed as described, comprising a portable
cabinet provided with the bellows and bellows-operating pedals, the pneumatic
actuating mechanism, a tracker therefor adapted for the use of a perforated music-
sheet as a valve, the pneumatic motor-engine and winding-roll-mechanism for
propelling said music-sheet, and the series of finger-levers operated by said
pneumatic actuating-mechanism, projecting at position to overhang the key-
board of a piano, said parts arranged for operating in combination substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In a cabinet automatic piano-player, the cabinet provided with the end
doors a and fall boards a', in combination with the over-head reed-board, the
finger-levers beneath said reed-board, the spool-frame and music-winding-roll,
the pneumatic-action and its chest, and the bellows arranged as described, with
the space for the reception of the manual-breast of a piano between the reed-
board and bellows top.
3. In an instrument for the purpose specified, the combination with the pneumatic
actuating-mechanism provided with puppets, the finger-levers resting at one end
upon said puppets, the other ends thereof adapted for overlying and engaging
the manual keys on a piano, of an overhead reed-board with reed-duct valves,
and the pitman-pins standing on said finger-levers, and engaging beneath the
reed-duct valves, substantially as set forth.
4. An automatic key-board-player, provided with the reed-organ action, and the
pneumatic actuating-mechanism having reciprocating puppets; the movable
fulcrum-bar having the series of finger-levers centrally fulcrumed thereon, the
ends of said levers resting on the puppet heads, the valve-operating pitmans
respectively standing on said finger-levers over the puppets, and means for raising
and depressing said fulcrum-bar to shift said finger-levers from and into engage-
ment with the manual-keys, without changing the relation of the pitmans and
lever-ends upon the puppet-heads.
5. A portable automatic piano-player, comprising in combination as described,
the pneumatic chest containing the series of controlling pneumatics and operating
pneumatics, and puppets actuated thereby, the tracker having ducts leading to
said controlling pneumatics, the music-sheet winding-roll, the motor wind-chest,
the motor-engine and its connections for operating said winding-roll from said
engine, the motor regulator, the wind-inducing bellows connected with said wind-
chest, the bellows-actuating pedals, the series of finger-levers projecting over said
bellows, their fore ends resting on said puppets, the movable fulcrum-bar support-
ing said levers, the superimposed reed-board and wind-chest with organ-reeds,
reed-duct-valves and mutes, the valve-pitmans actuated with the finger-levers from
said puppets, and means for shifting the music-winding-rolls, finger-levers, and
reed-sets severally into and out of action, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
C. In an automatic piano-player, the combination of the actuating puppets I,

page_text: the movable fulcrum-bar T, the bar-supporting springs u, the finger-levers P
fulcrumed on said bar, the cranked rock-shaft V having arms or cams 14 for
depressing said fulcrum-bar, and the stop-pull 18 and connections for operating
said rock-shaft, for the purpose set forth.
7. The finger-lever having the under-rounded head with a cavity in the
upper side thereof extending towards the bottom of said head; in combination
with the lifter-puppet, the valve-operating pitman stepped in said cavity, and the
fulcrum support for said finger-lever, for the purpose set forth.
8. An automatic piano-player having its motor wind-chest internally divided
to form the primary exhaust compartment D¹ and secondary compartments I)²
and D³, in combination with the exhaust bellows, the air motor-engine, the reed-
chest passage and regulators K and L, for the purposes set forth.
9. A cabinet automatic piano-player, provided with the pedal depressing
rockers WW, connection-rods for moving said rockers, and the stops or tilt-
levers Y Y¹ for manipulating said rockers, substantially as set forth.
10. In a cabinet automatic piano-player having, at its rear side, the rockers
or levers for depressing the piano-pedals, said rockers adapted for retraction and
projection into and from the cabinet; the combination with said. rockers and
the means for operating the same, of a lever or means accessible at the front of
the cabinet for effecting the retraction, and projection of said rocker, substantially
as set forth.
11. A cabinet automatic piano-player provided with a removable xylophone
or set of sounding devices adapted for adjustment within the cabinet for operation
in combination with the strikers or finger-levers, and the automatic actuating
devices; and to be detached from the cabinet when the instrument is applied
to a piano-key-board, as set forth.
12. In a cabinet automatic piano-player having a reed-organ action and a series
of finger-levers adapted for playing the manual-keys of a piano, and pneumatic
actuating-mechanism controlled by a perforated music-sheet for automatically
imparting motion to said finger-levers and reed-organ-action; the combination
with said playing mechanism and its cabinet case, of the removable frame 40,
the xylophone or set of vibratory sounding devices 41 carried upon said frame,
and a series of independent resiliently acting strikers arranged for operating
in intervening conjunction with id vibratory sounding devices and finger-levers,
and adapted for receiving motion by impingement thereon of the finger-levers,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
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