IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Joseph Sax, trading under the firm of
Adolphe Sax, of Paris, France, Musical Instrument Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
Sealed the 22nd November 1859, and dated the 24th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Joseph Sax at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th May 1859.
I, ANTOINE JOSEPH SAX, trading under the firm of Adolphe Sax, of Paris,
France, Musical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," to be
as follows:
These improvements relate to wind musical instruments of the kind called
brass instruments, and consist in :-
1°. Providing the said instruments simultaneously with piston keys, and
with ordinary lever keys.
2°. Various modes of constructing the piston keys with the object of
preventing any undue escape of air by the key, and also introduction of dust
therein, thus decreasing the liability to wear; for this object the piston of the
key is provided at top and bottom with a small rod passing nearly air-tight
through corresponding openings in the body of the key, or a hole provided in
this body is opened by the action of the piston only during the moment air

page_text: is required, or a small tube connects the air spaces above and below the
piston.
3°. Various modes of guiding the motion of the piston in the body of the
key, viz., by guide arms fixed to the spring case, or by means of the above
mentioned rods.
4°. Causing each piston key, if required, to act separately and so as to allow
of putting at the required moment its own ascending additional tube in commu-
nication with the main tube of the instrument.
5°. Providing the said brass instruments simultaneously with the just
mentioned separately acting additional tubes, and with the ordinary additional
tubes.
6°. Forming a union or connection between two brass instruments by
suitably connecting them, either as one mouth-piece or having other parts of
them common to both, so as to allow the performer of playing either simul-
taneously on the two instruments, or on each of them separately.
7. Improving the form of the trombone by causing the sliding tube
instead of being situated in front of the performer to rest underneath one of
his arms while the bell remains in front, applying a similar improvement to
the saxotromba, and various other brass instruments.
8°. Causing the bell of brass instruments to be moveable in the main tube,
thus allowing of turning the bell in any required direction in order to throw
the sound in that direction.
9°. Providing brass instruments with 6 or 7 keys descending by half notes,
thus allowing of obtaining each note of the chromatic scale by using for each
of them one piston only, and allowing, however, the possibility of making use of
several pistons simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Antoine Joseph Sax in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTOINE
JOSEPH SAX, trading under the firm of Adolphe Sax, of Paris, France, Musical
Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the

page_text: said Antoine Joseph Sax, Her special licence that I, the said Antoine Joseph
Sax, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Antoine Joseph Sax, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Antoine Joseph Sax, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Antoine Joseph Sax, 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:-
.
These improvements relate to wind musical instruments of the kind called
brass instruments, such, for instance, as horns, trombones, ophicleids, and
others of the same class, and they consist in, 1ly, providing the said instrument
simultaneously with piston keys and with ordinary lever keys; 2ly, various
modes of constructing the piston keys, with the object of preventing any
undue escape of air by these keys, or the introduction of dust in them, thus
decreasing their liability to wear out; 3ly, various modes of guiding the
motion of the piston in the body of the key; 4ly, causing each piston key, if
required, to act separately, and so as to allow of putting at the required
moment into operation its own ascending additional or side tube; 5ly, pro-
viding the said brass instruments simultaneously with the just mentioned
separately acting, and with the ordinary additional tubes; 6ly, forming a
species of twin or duplex instrument, by connecting two instruments by one
mouthpiece, or having other parts in common to both instruments, so as to
allow the performer of playing either simultaneously on both instruments, or
on each of them separately; 7ly, giving an improved form to some brass
instruments; 8ly, causing the bell of brass instruments to be moveable in
the main tube thereof, so as to allow of turning the bell at pleasure in any
required direction; 9ly, providing brass instruments with 6 or 7 keys
descending by semitones.
And in order to make the various parts of my Invention better understood,

page_text: I will, in the following description thereof, refer to the annexed Drawings.
One of the great advantages brass instruments, provided with ordinary or lever
keys, offer on those with piston keys is, that the main tube is not interrupted,
and that no side or additional tube being added, the tones quicker melt
together, and thus allow of giving much more softness to the trillers than in
other instruments. From this I inferred that by providing the main tube
near the bell or pavillon with one or more lever keys for giving either one,
two, or three successive semitone ascending intervals, this would greatly
increase the perfection of the instrument, while, at the other hand, these lever
keys would, in addition to the pistons, have for effect to increase the pitch of
the instrument for a semitone, a tone, and so on, by keeping these lever keys
open, and by this combination of the lever keys and the pistons on the same
instrument, some musical parts may be executed with less difficulty, and new
effects produced.
In the annexed Drawings, the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8, show various forms
of instruments provided simultaneously with pistons and with the ordinary
keys. Some of the old instruments with lever or ordinary keys, such, for
instance, as the bugle, allowed of rising higher in tone as those now provided
with pistons; by combining the ordinary keys with the pistons, a still better
effect is produced, and by combinations between the size of these key holes,
and the distance at which they are situated from the bell, I am enabled still
further to increase the effects. In the Figs. 1 to 8, the various portions of
these lever, or ordinary, or additional keys, as they may be called, are shown.
In Figs. 9 & 10 are shown respectively a front and a side view of an instru-
ment provided with two additional or compensating pistons. Since 1843 I
had provided some instruments with one transverse piston, being the 4th
piston; I now add another transverse piston, or 5th one; the object of these
transverse pistons is to allow of increasing instantaneous part of the main
tube by each of the additional or side tubes of a length equivalent to the
interval of a tone, semitone, &c. By the 5th transverse piston the pitch is
lowered for one-fourth, and the performer consequently only wants to put his
finger on the same pistons which served for playing one-fourth higher pitch;
thus the fingering is not altered, and he will play, for instance, in G in the
same manner as he played in C without this piston. Fig. 11 is a separate
view, showing this 5th piston at rest, whereas Fig. 12 shows the same in
working position. a represent the shortest additional or side tubes, and b, the
longest ones. When the 5th piston is at rest the tubes a are open, while, on
the contrary, when this piston is acting, the tubes 6 are open. Fig. 13 shows
the additional or side tubes of the piston, No. 2, in sectional view; the shortest

page_text: tube, a, is open, the piston No. 5 being at rest; Fig. 14, on the contrary,
shows the longest additional tube, b, of the piston No. 2 open, the piston
No. 5 being in acting position. The 5th piston may also perform the duties
of the 4th one, by causing it to pass through the additional tube that increases
the pitch by one-fourth, which may also be done by the pistons 4 and 5 acting
simultaneously. The Figs. 15 and 16 represent this arrangement in front
and in side view. I have arrived nearly to the same point, but with less
perfection, by opening the keys that shorten the tube for one-fourth, for one-
fifth, &c., and so on, in the manner as shown in Fig. 17. With the fonda-
mental or first low notes of each of the keys A, B, C, and the combinations of
the pistons, the same notes as by means of the 4th piston will be obtained;
in this latter case it will be required, for facilitating the low notes, to increase
the diameter of the tube.
The above described improvement may be made use of either separately or
simultaneously on all brass instruments, allowing such improvements to be
adapted to them; thus I may employ lever keys with the ordinary pistons, or.
an instrument may be provided with the improvements indicated for the
pistons, without using at the same time the lever keys; or an instrument may.
have one or more lever keys adapted towards the bell in order to allow the easier
performance of the trills, or of certain difficult parts, and to give a better
tone. The lever keys being added, the higher notes are easier obtained, as
without their aid, the said keys may also be left open, and the 5th piston.
might serve for opening the longest side tubes instead of the shortest, and by
the combination of these means, results hitherto unknown may be obtained.
Another part of my improvements consists in preventing the escape of air
by the pistons, by which a longer duration is ensured to them.
In the pistons
hitherto made use of the lower lid or cap of the cylinder has a hole through
which the air contained between the lower part of the piston and this cap may
escape on lowering the piston; the hole in the upper cap through which passes
the piston rod is of such a diameter as to allow the air, which, on lowering the.
piston, has entered above this latter, to escape by the annular open space left
between the rod and cap hole, and a washer of cork is situated on the top of
the piston for the purpose of preventing the noise which otherwise would be
produced when the piston, driven by the spring under it, would strike against
the cap. My Invention consists in making this washer at the same time serve
for intercepting any undue escape of air, and in having another washer.
interposed between the lower end of the piston and the lower cap of the
cylinder; both washers must be made to fit as air tight as possible, as will be
explained hereafter, for which purpose they are made of very sound cork,

page_text: india-rubber, gutta percha, or any other suitable material; and in order also
to avoid the undue escape of air by the holes in the caps, I have a similar
washer interposed between the top of the upper cap and the knob of the piston
rod, and a similar one is seated on the outer surface of the lower cap, and I have
fixed to the lower part of the piston a rod and knob similar to that existing at
the upper part, by which means consequently the openings in the caps will be
closed by the knobs of the upper and lower rods of the piston whenever this
latter is arrived at the end of its upward or downward stroke, while, during the
actual working of the piston, the air will be permitted to escape freely. This
part of my improvements is illustrated in the Figs. 18 & 19, showing two
vertical sectional views of a piston provided with my arrangements, the piston
being represented in Fig. 18 in the lowest and in Fig. 19 in the highest part
of its stroke. In these Figs., A represents the body of the piston, and B the
body of the cylinder; C the upper, and C' the lower cap; D the upper and
D' the lower rods of the piston, with their respective knobs E and E, each of
them provided with a small cup F and F', which are to apply themselves at
the required moments with their rims against the washers G and G', fitted in
small hollow seats formed in the caps C and C, the inner surfaces of which
caps are also provided with cups H and H¹; the washer I on the top of the
piston will be pressed against the upper cup II when the piston is at the
highest point of its stroke, whereas a washer I', fitted in a seat of sufficient
height fixed to the under face of the piston, will be pressed against the cup H',
when the piston is at the lowest end of its stroke. The spring is fitted in the
ordinary manner under the piston. In the Figs. 20, 21, 22, and 23, is shown
another arrangement for preventing undue escape of air; the same consists in
putting the opening under the cap on the side of the cylinder and giving it the
oval shape shown by a; a round hole b, of about the same size as that which
existed in the lower cap, is formed towards the lower end of the piston, so that
when the piston will be arrived at the lowest or at the highest points of its
stroke the hole b will no more correspond with the opening a, whereas when
the piston will be at work the holes a and b will correspond. Fig. 21 shows a
vertical sectional view of the piston and cylinder; Fig. 20 is an elevation view
of the same, the piston being at the lowest point of its stroke, whereas Fig. 22
shows the same with the piston at the highest point of its stroke; Fig. 23 is a
separate view of what is more particularly called the piston; Fig. 24 shows
the piston while working, in which position the holes a and b correspond;
Fig. 25 shows a vertical sectional view of another arrangement, in which a small
outside tube c, of the same diameter as the hole in the lower cap of ordinary
pistons, allows the air situated either in a or in 6 above or below the piston to

page_text: pass from one to the other by the lowering or by the lifting of the piston. This
and the other means described is much better, as was hitherto possible, to
prevent the dust from entering by the piston in the interior of the instrument.
Another part of the Invention, relating to arrangements for insuring the
vertical working of the pistons; the same is represented in Fig. 26 in vertical
section, whereas the Fig. 27, 27bis, 28, 29, 29bis, 30, 30, and 30 big, show
detached parts thereof, the same letters indicate corresponding parts in these
Figs. 28 to 30bis. a is the cylinder, and 6 the piston body extending to the top
of the cylinder a; the piston rod c passes through the spring box d, which
latter is solidly fixed by means of two small projections e to the top of the
cylinder a, and is situated in the interior of the piston body b; to the outside
of the spring box are fixed two gudgeons f, Fig. 28, gliding in corresponding
vertical furrows g formed in the body b, but without perforating the sides of
this latter, which furrows 9 serve as guides for the gudgeons f, and conse-
quently for the vertical working of the piston body b. Another arrangement
is represented in Figs. 31, 31bis, and 32, in which the vertical working of the
piston body is ensured by means of a vertical slit g formed in the upper part of
the piston rod c, in which slit glides a transverse pin f. The same effect may
also be obtained by the arrangement represented in the Figs. 33, 33bis, 37, 38,
and 39, differing of that shown in the Figs. 31, 31bis, and 32, only by the
slit being situated towards the lower end of the piston rod. The Figs. 34,
34bis, 34ter, and 35, show another disposition in which the slit of the piston rod
is replaced by two slits g formed in the spring box, in which slits glide two
gudgeons belonging to the plate pressing on the spring. The same result
may be obtained, as shown in the Figs. 36, 36 bis, and 36ter, by means of a
gudgeon fixed in the interior of the spring box, and entering in a slot formed
in the lower part of the piston rod. Instead of having the sides of the spring
box perforated by the slit (as shown in Figs. 34 and 35) a slotted tube may be
situated in the centre thereof, as represented in the Figs. 40, 40bis, and 40 ter,
and serving also as a guide for the piston body; or the ordinary height only
may be given to the piston body, as shown in the Figs. 37, 38, 39. The
above described modes for regulating the vertical working of the piston body
may be combined together.
Another part of my Invention relates to certain improvements in the appli-
cation of the ascending pistons or cylinders to the instruments of the class
called saxotrombas or saxotubas. Fig. 42 represents an instrument of the
saxotromba class, with 7 ascending pistons of my system; this instrument has
about the proportions of an ordinary trombone. The piston No. 1 gives the
note C and its harmonics; No. 2, those of B; No. 3, those of B flat; No. 4,

page_text: those of A; No. 5, those of A flat; No. 6, those of G; No. 7, those of G flat;
whereas F is given by all the pistons at rest. By this means all the positions
of the sliding trombone are given as for this last, and none of the positions of
the pistons increases the number of crooks of the tube, and none of the pistons
requires the working of one or more other pistons to give the harmonics, each
of the pistons acting for itself and separately.
In the Drawings, the pistons and their respective side tubes are numbered
from No. 1 to 7, whereas the main tube is marked a, showing, consequently,
the progress of the air column through the instrument, all the pistons being at
rest, whereas, each time one of the pistons is put into work, a part of the main
tube is intercepted and replaced by the side tube, corresponding with the said
piston. b, b, is the tuning or pitch slide of the main tube; each of the side
tubes ought to be provided with a similar tuning slide, in order to allow of
putting the side tubes in tune with the pitch of the main tube. Fig. 43
represents the same instrument shown from the opposite side as Fig. 42,
whereas Fig. 44 shows the instrument provided only with six pistons; these
six pistons give to the instrument the extend, an instrument with three pistons,
and their combinations would have, but as has been said in respect to the
Figs. 42 and 43, each of the pistons does not require to be adjusted otherwise
as for producing by itself one tone or its harmonics, and none of the pistons
being used in combination with one of the others, perfect exactness in tone
is ensured. All the intervals of the gammut, from F sharp below the staff,
(supposing the G scale, without having regard to the tonality of the instru-
ment) may be given in a chromatic scale up to the highest notes attainable by
the lips. The 7th piston of the Fig. 42 and 43 serve only for obtaining the
natural F, and consequently by providing the saxotromba with the 7 positions
of the slide trombone, this will allow of performing thereon the trombone part
with great facility. Another arrangement of instrument, shown in Fig. 44, is
provided with 6 pistons, and supposing the piston No. 1 to give C and its
harmonics, then No. 2 will give those of B, No. 3 those of B flat, No. 4 those
of A, No. 5 those of A flat, No. 6 those of G, and F sharp or G flat will be
obtained with the several pistons at rest.
Another arrangement of instrument, shown in Fig. 45, has but 5 pistons;
the D flat and the F sharp do not exist on the scale of this instrument, but this
being only in the lowest part of the instrument, this will not offer much incon-
venience. Supposing the instrument to be in C, the piston No. I will serve
for C, No. 2 for B, No. 3 for B flat, No. 4 for A, No. 5 for A flat, and all the
pistons at rest will give G. Fig. 46 shows the same instrument, seen from the
opposite side. The instrument represented in Fig 47 is with 5 pistons, viz.,

page_text: 2 of the ordinary and 3 of my improved system; these latter offer the same
advantage as those of Fig. 42, only instead of being ascending they are
descending pistons, and each of them is only made use of either separately or
in combination with one of the 2 pistons of the ordinary system. This
arrangement allows of giving, by means of the pistons marked No. 1, 2, and
3, on the Drawings, the chromatic intervals from F sharp up to the highest
notes. Supposing the instrument to be in C, with all the pistons at rest, so it'
is possible to bave G by means of the 1st and 3rd pistons, or by the 5th alone;
E flat and its harmonies by the 2rd and 3rd, or by the 4th piston alone; or the
natural E, as with the ordinary pistons, with the 1st and 2nd, or with the 3rd
piston of my system alone. The same as in the preceding Figures, the side
tubes are marked by the same numbers as their corresponding pistons. a is
the main tube, and b, its slide; the part of the main tube immediately below
the 5th piston is acting only when the pistons No. 1 and 2 do, but the same is
replaced by the side tubes 3, 4, 5, whenever the pistons No. 3, 4, 5, are made
use of. This instrument offers the advantage, that no preliminary study of the
same is required with the piston No. 1, 2, and 3, and that the working of
those, No. 4 and 5, may be learned by little and little. The instrument repre-
sented in Fig. 48 is provided with 6 ascending pistons, 3 of which are situated
according to my Invention. Supposing the instrument to be on the C scale,
this note will be given with the 6 pistons at rest, whereas B will be had by
No. 1, B flat by No. 2, A by No. 3, A flat by No. 4, G by No. 5, G flat or
F sharp by No. 6. The part a of the main tube, immediately below the
piston No. 6, is done away with each time at the height of the piston put into
operation, that is to say, when causing, for instance, the piston No. 1 to act,
the portion of the main tube passing through the five other pistons is done
away with, in order to call into operation the side or additional tube belonging
to this piston No. 1, after which the main tube resumes its functions at the same
height. Thus, for instance, if the piston No. 6 is made to act, that part of the
main tube passing through the five other pistons, and extending into the 6th
piston, is put into operation. Fig. 49 represents an instrument with 6 de-
scending pistons, but in which the main tube passes only through three of
them. If C be obtained with the 6 pistons at rest, B will be had with piston
No. 1, B flat with No. 2, A with No. 3; the side tube of the piston No. 3
passes through the three remaining pistons, and when one of these latter is to
be made use of, the piston No. 3 must remain lowered, in order to keep up
the communication with them, and then the same operation continues, viz., A
flat is obtained by No. 4, G by No. 5, and G flat or F sharp by No. 6. The
pistons No, 4, 5, and 6 must be made use of simultaneously with the piston

page_text: No. 3, whereas by leaving this latter out of action, the communication with
the No. 4, 5, 6, will be intercepted. This arrangement allows consequently
of obtaining the same results as in Fig. 48, but with less tubing. In the
Drawing of Fig. 49 the entire instrument is not shown, but more specialy the
parts relating to the pistons. The letters a, a, at the side of the piston No. 1,
show the entrance and exit of the main tube. The part marked a after the
piston No. 3 forms part of the main tube, and is put out of action at each
time one of the pistons is working. The tube No. 3 fulfils with the pistons
No. 4 and 5, the same duty the tube a does with the pistons 1, 2, 3. In
several instances I have sought to increase the extend of the instrument,
and render more easy the emitting of the high and low notes. This and other
advantages I obtain by another part of my improvements, which consists in
uniting two instruments on the same branch or mouthpiece, the one giving
the lower and the other the higher notes, thus forming what may be called a
duplex instrument. This is represented in Fig. 50, in which a contre-alto
instrument in B flat is united to an alto instrument in E flat. a is the branch
tube of the mouthpiece, on which branch tube fit the pistons; the slide of this
tube serves for giving the pitch to the B flat instrument; the pistons No. 1, 2, 3,
serve when this latter instrument is made use of, whereas the piston, No. 0,
serves to carry the air column in the second instrument, and when this piston
is at rest the air passes through the entire length of the tube b. The contrary
might be done also; that is to say, leave the piston, No. 0, at rest in the F
flat instrument; when the piston, No. 0, is working the air column in the
tube c of the E flat instrument will vibrate. By this arrangement the left
hand has the required facility for operating on the pistons f, g, h. The 4th
piston, No. 0, might also be situated in any other suitable part of the instru-
The additional tubes of the various pistons are marked with the same
No. as their respective pistons; d is the pitch slide of the E flat instrument.
The proportions of such instruments may be those of two saxotrombas or of a
saxhorn and a saxotromba, or others.
ment.
I must observe here that I do not claim the uniting of any two brass instru-
ments on the same mouthpiece, but of two of such instruments of the same
class, and differing only from each other by the transverse proportions of their
main or side tubes. Thus, for instance, I join together two instruments of a
fifth difference in pitch, the object of my Invention being to produce in the
scale of an alto instrument, for instance, all the higher notes (which, for the
alto, would offer great difficulty) by this twin instrument, say the contre-alto
at a fifth below the relative scale of the alto. Thus, for instance, the F sharp,
G and A above the staff of the alto are obtained with difficulty, and I con-

page_text: sequently take the corresponding notes on the B flat contre-alto, viz., B flat,
B and D on the staff, which notes are obtained with facility.
Fig. 50 shows another view of the duplex instrument, viz., the contralto in
front and the alto behind, whereas Fig. 51 shows a side view, and Fig. 52 a
top view of the same. In Fig. 53 is shown an instrument with 3 ascending
pistons (No. 1, 2, 3,) for the left, and 3 descending ones (No. 4, 5, 6,) for the
right hand. Thus, if the instrument be of the F scale, the piston, No. 1, will
be for C, No. 2 for B, and No. 3 for B flat, No. 4 for A flat, No. 5 for G,
and No. 6 for F sharp. a is the main tube, and the side or additional tubes
are indicated by the numbers of their corresponding pistons. It mush be
observed in this instrument, that according to my system the part of the main
tube, marked in the Drawings with the letter a, immediately under the
3rd piston, is set out of action each time one of the pistons No. 1, 2, 3, is
made use of; whereas the same takes place for the portion marked a imme-
diately below the piston, No. 6, when the pistons 4, 4, 6, are put into operation.
Fig. 54 is a side view of the same instrument; whereas Fig. 55 shows the
working of the right-hand. pistons, No. 4, 5, 6, which, by its analogy with the
old fingering, may offer some facility to persons accustomed to this latter.
Supposing the instrument on the A scale, and the pistons No. 4, 5, 6, employed
by the right hand, the piston, No. 4, will give G instead of A flat, No. 5 gives
A flat, and No. 6 F sharp. Supposing the instrument represented in Fig. 56
to be, when all its pistons at rest, in the A scale, it would then offer the same
advantages as that of Figs. 53 & 54, and besides the same can, by means of
the piston No. 0, be transposed from the A to the C pitch, with the bell b,
instead of that a, whereas by their respective slides the several side tubes may
be brought exactly in tune. a is the main tube, when the instrument is at
the A scale, with the exception of the parts next to pistons, No. 3 and 0,
which parts are suppressed each time one of the pistons 1, 2, 3, or of those 4,
5, 6, and 0 are at work. The bell dependant of the piston 0, serves for
transposing the instrument in C, and altering its harmonic tone accordingly.
c, c, show the slides and screws for fixing the bells.
Fig. 57 shows a combination of my system of pistons with those of the old
system. The pistons No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are all descending ones; those,
No. 1, 2, 3, are of my system, and those 4, 5, 6, of the old system. Supposing
the instrument in A with all the pistons at rest, the right hand plays as for the
ordinary horn (cornet). By means of the piston No. 0, the instrument is
transposed in C, and then B is given by No. 1, B flat by No. 2, and A by
No. 3. When the bell b is made use of, the bell a and the part of the main
tube behind the piston, No. 0,.are suppressed; or employing the pistons 1,

page_text: 2, 3, the part of the main tube immediately behind the piston No. 3 is
suppressed; d are the tuning slides. Fig. 58 shows a horn in A, with the
pistons at rest, and in C with that No. O in action; it might also be con-
structed in C, and transposed in A by the piston, No. 0. The pistons 1, 2, 3,
are for the C instrument, and those 4, 5, 6, for the A instrument; the bell a
is for the instrument when in A, that b, when the same is in C. For the
higher notes the C scale will be serviceable, and for the lower ones the
A scale. Fig. 59, represents the same instrument as the preceding one, only the
transposition does not take place by a second bell, but by means of a tube b of
a smaller length than the part of the tube a that exceeds it; the same bell
serves for playing in A and in C; d is the tuning slide. When the piston No. 0
is operating, the air instead of passing through the tube a, passes through b,
and the instrument is transposed in C.
Fig. 60 shows an instrument with 6 pistons No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 0, in the
same conditions as those represented in the Figs. 58 & 59, with the exception
only of the one piston less (for the left hand) when performing with the main
tube in C; but the gaps of this latter will be easily filled up by the instrument
with the main tube in A. A third piston might be given for the left hand,
and the working of the left hand pistons be passed to the right hand; or the
piston, No. 4 of the right hand may be put for the left hand, and so on.
Fig. 61 is also a double instrument, advantageous particularly when the
largest main tube is to be made use of in A flat, and the second one in B,
though the same may also be in A and in C. The pistons for the largest
main tube, and the piston, No. 0, are for the left hand, and those of the smallest
main tube for the right hand. The letter b shows the tube and bell to be
employed for the instrument in C or in B; a shows the longest main tube.
It will be understood that according to the principles laid down and shown
by the above examples of instruments, many variations may be made thereon,
which it would be impossible to describe all.
Another part of the Invention consists in certain improved forms and
arrangements given to various classes of brass instruments, and represented in
the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16*,
17, 18, 19, 20%. Fig. 1 shows a new form of trombone, in which the
tube, which, in the ancient trombone corresponds with the slide, is curved
downward, in order to assume the same position as the saxotromba, which
position gives to this latter instrument so much facility in carrying and handling.
The pistons are situated immediately behind the mouth-piece; the portion of
the main tube on which the bell is situated, is exactly the same as that of the
slide trombone, or of the piston trombone of the old form. In the form of

page_text: trombone shown in Fig. 2*, the pistons sit on the second branch of the main
tube, and consequently at a greater distance from the mouthpiece, as in
Fig. 1, thus allowing of giving a larger diameter to the side tubes of the
pistons. The portion of the main tube towards the bell is similar to that of
Fig. 1.
In the Drawing this portion is shown in both Figs. as detached
from the remainder of the instrument, in order better to show that the said
portions are identical to the corresponding parts in ordinary slide trombones.
Fig. 3 shows an arrangement with an increased length of main tube, and
with the pistons at a greater distance from the mouthpiece, and nearer
to the bell. The same as in the preceeding Figures, the bell part of the
main tube is represented detached from the rest of the instrument, allowing
greater ease in folding up these instruments. In Fig. 4 my improved forms
are applied to a brass saxborn, and in Fig. 5*, with some modifications
in the crooks, whereas Fig. 6* shows the same applied to counter-base
brass instruments; and it is evident from the above that the same may
be applied to various other classes of brass instruments, whereas the bell may
be turned in the contrary direction, as shown in the Drawings, in the same
manner that was formerly done for trombones. The same instrument may
also be arranged in the manner shown in the Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
and 18, all which forms have for their object to render the handling and
carrying of the instrument, and the musical performing on the same, more
easy and accurate.
Another part of the improvement consists in an arrangement of the bell
part of brass instruments, with the object of allowing to send the sound of
the instrument in any required direction, which may be either done by having
affixed to the bell a reflector or sound guide, or simply by allowing to have
the bell suitably moveable. Fig. 17* shows the reflector fixed to the bell, and
allowing, by means of a screw or other suitable arrangement, of putting the
same in any required direction; but I prefer having the bell arranged so as
to allow of suitably turning the same in any required sense. Fig. 13 shows
the ordinary bell of an instrument, whereas Fig. 14 and 15* show my improved
bell provided with a ring or socket for applying the same on the end of the
main tube, and thus allowing to turn the bell round on this latter part of
the instrument. Fig. 14 shows my saxophone form of bell; in Fig. 15* the
same is less curved than in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is the German form of bell.
In the instruments hitherto in use, the pistons lowered the tone by regular
intervals between them; thus, the first piston lowered a semitone; the 2nd
a full note, the 3d a full note and semitone, and by the combination of
the pistons the various notes are obtained, though not always perfectly true.

page_text: My improvement consists in having one or more of the pistons not at the
same intervals from each other; thus, for instance, on an instrument with
6 pistons one might have one piston of a semitone, one of a full note, one of
a full note and semitone, one of two notes, one of two notes and a semitone,
and one of three notes, by which not only the chromatic scale, but each tone
might be obtained by one piston only, and without being obliged to call 2 or
more pistons simultaneously into operation. The Figs. 19* and 20* show such
pistons with different intervals between each other, which method may be
applied to any system of pistons, and form or class of brass instruments.
Fig. 1 shows a trombone with 5 pistons, constructed according to the above-
described arrangements; the 1st piston, as with the ordinary pistons, descends
1 note, the 2nd a semitone, and the 3rd a note and semitone; but the 4th
ascends 2 notes, and the 5th 2 notes and 1 semitone. Fig. 1B shows a
trombone with 4 pistons, with the arrangement and lengths of the vide tubes
as for the Sax horn bass with 4 pistons; Fig. 1°, detached part of a trombone
with 4 pistons, the 4th one ascending for 1 note; the others are the ordinary
descending pistons. Fig. 1º, detached part of a trombone with 6 ascending
pistons. Fig. 24, cornet arranged according to the saxotromba, from resting
between the arm and the left side of the body of the performer, with the bell
part situated horizontally. Fig. 3A, Fig. 3, Fig. 3°, show various dispositions
of trombones constructed according to the arrangement of Fig. 24, while
Fig. 4 shows a trumpet constructed according to the same arrangement,
offering the advantage of having the hand that performs entirely free, and
with the bell below the same, thus allowing of having the keys situated next
to the pistons. Fig. 5ª, cornet with 3 pistons and 3 keys; the finger plates
of the keys are situated near the lower end of the piston rods. Fig. 6A Sax
horn with 3 pistons and 5 keys, answering more fully the means above
described; the key mechanism may give the C above the staff. Keys may
be added to all these and other classes of brass instruments, according to the
arrangements and forms described. In certain musical parts the fingering
often becomes difficult because of the continued employ of one finger, and the
quick motion of others; in order to obviate this difficulty, I have provided a
finger-plate arrangement for working the pistons by the hand holding the
instrument. Fig. 7 shows means for working the pistons by either of the
hands. The finger plate may be situated more or less high on the rod b, and
as this latter works in two guides c, c', the same may serve instead of the other
means hitherto made use of for guiding the piston. Fig. 7 shows the same
rod b, passing through a box d containing a spring e, which may replace the
spring of the piston; Fig. 7° shows this spring e and rod b.without the finger-

page_text: plate a. Fig. 84, cornet; the 1st piston descending 1 note, the 2nd a semi-
tone, and the 3rd ascending 1 note. Figs. 8B, 80, 80, show detached parts of
this instrument. Fig. 94, 9B, 9°, other dispositions of a cornet with 3 des-
cending pistons, the 2d one of which offers a new disposition by its great
length of side tubing. According to the same principle instruments with 4 or
more pistons may be constructed.
Having thus described the 'nature of my Invention, and the manner of
putting the same into practical effect, I claim the various forms, arrange-
ments, and combinations of brass instruments above described, and the appli-
cation to such instruments of the principles laid down in the above description.
In witness whereof, I, the said Antoine Joseph Sax, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine..
Witness,
J. SOUTH.
A. J. SAX. (L.S.)