IMPROVE- MENTS IN CONCERTINAS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carlo Minasi, of Camden Town, in the County
of Middlesex, Professor of Music, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONCERTINAS."
Scaled the 28th December 1853, and dated the 28th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carlo Minasi at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th June 1858.
I, CARLO MINASI, of Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONCERTINAS" to be as follows:-
Firstly, the constructing them with partitions on both sides of the
plate of the pan or note frame, which holds the notes or reeds, so as
to form chambers on both sides instead of on one side only.
Secondly, the constructing them with two or more pans or note
frames, cither at one or at both ends of the instrument, and with suitable
arrangements, whereby a key or keys played may cause a note or notes
to sound either in the inner or in the outer pan, or in both the paus
simultaneously.

page_text: Thirdly, the constructing them with levers or other suitable means
for speaking or sounding the notes or reeds disposed or arranged in
such manner that cach and every key, or only some of them (if pre-
ferred), when separately played, may cause to sound simultaneously two
or more notes or reeds cach in separate chambers.
Fourthly, the constructing them with pan or note frames having
chambers with parallel sides, or so that the transverse sectional area of
any chamber shall be uniform, or nearly so, throughout its length, and
with suitable levers or other means for actuating (by means of the keys
of the instrument) the valves of such chambers.
Fifthly, the constructing them with a damper board or plate on that
side of the pan or note frame nearest the bellows, with orifices in it
formed and disposed in such a manner as to cause (by means of the
currents of air) the several notes to sound or speak quickly, and improve
the quality of the tone.
Sixthly, the constructing them with pans or note frames having two
plates and suitable chambers, the one plate having fixed or placed
in or upon it the notes or reeds which are used in the operation, of
drawing or opening the bellows, and the other plate having fixed' in or
upon it the duplicate notes or reeds (for producing the same sound or
sounds) which are used in the operation of pressing or closing the
bellows, or part placed on one plate and part placed on the other plate,
when preferred.
Seventhly, the constructing them with double acting notes or reeds,
so that such notes or reeds shall sound by a current of air from either
side.
Eighthly, the constructing them with the studs or playing keys placed
in rows or lines in one direction, but so placed with regard to each
other crossways that they shall, instead of ranging in straight rows
or lines, be adapted to the unequal lengths of the fingers of the hand.
Lastly, the constructing them with combinations of any two or more
of the above improvements, the construction of the several parts being
modified where necessary to suit such combinations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Carlo Minasi in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 28th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CARLO MINASI, of Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex, Pro-
fessor of Music, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Carlo Minasi, Her special licence
that I, the said Carlo Minasi, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Carlo Minasi, 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
CONCERTINAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Carlo Minasi, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 calen-
dar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Carlo Minasi, 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 thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing concertinas with par-
titions on both sides of the plate of the pan or note frame which holds
the notes, so as to form chambers on both sides instead of on one side
only, and thus to constitute a double pan. The manner in which this
part of my Invention is to be performed will be the better explained by.

page_text: the following introductory observations. The pans or frames which
hold the notes of concertinas are ordinarily constructed with a series of
chambers (one to each note) formed by partitions upon and projecting
from them, but these chambers exist only on one side of the plate of
such frames, namely, the outer side. Now, since for each sound to be
produced there are two similar notes facing in opposite directions, one
to act when closing the bellows, and the other when expanding them,
and, as above stated, there are chambers only on one side of the plates
of the pans, an inequality of tone ensues between the two notes
sounded by the respective movements. My improvement in forming
chambers on both sides of the plates of the pans (instead of on one
side only) is intended to produce uniformity of tone in the two move-
ments. In Drawing No. 1, Figure 1, is a longitudinal section of one
end of a concertina constructed according to this improvement, the
keys and some other parts being omitted, to avoid indistinctness.
Besides the bellows A, which occupies the central portion of the
instrument, and the main frames or hoops B, one at each end, cach
end of the instrument consists of the three following principal por-
tions, namely: a box C, D, E, a note pan F, G, H, with chambers on
both sides, and an interior damper board K, for directing the currents
of air as hercin-after more particularly explained and referred to. The
part C, of the box C, D, E, is one of the key boards of the instru-
ment, and has perforations through it for the passage of air; and the
part D, forms an exterior damper board or cover of the outer chambers
of the note frame. Figure 2, is a view of one of the faces of this
board. D*, D, are separate openings to cach chamber of the note
frame. E, is a ring or hoop connecting the parts C, and D; and E*,
is space occupied by valves over the openings Dx, and by the me-
chanical arrangements for opening and closing them. Figures 3, and
4, are edge and side views of one of the improved note pans. F, is
the plate or central portion. G, the partitions on one side forming
chambers G and H, the partitions on the other side forming
chambers H*. I, I, are the notes fitted to openings in the plate F.
K, is the interior damper board or cover over the inner chambers of the
note frame, in which K*, K*, are separate openings to each chamber.

page_text: My Invention consists, secondly, in constructing concertinas with
two or more pans or note frames, either at one or at both ends of the
instrument, and in suitable arrangements, whereby a key played may
cause a note to sound either in the inner or in the outer pan, or in
both the pans simultaneously. In Drawing No. 2, Figure 5, is a
longitudinal section of one end of a concertinia constructed with this
improvement. The former improvement is not embodied, as together
with this it would render the instrument cumbrous, but, if desired, they
may be used together. Besides the bellows A, and hoops B, as before,
cach end of the instrument consists of the three following principal
portions, namely: a box C, D, E, an outer note pan O, P, and an
inner note pan F, G, and some few other parts hereafter mentioned.
Figure 6, is a side view of part of the exterior damper board or face D,
of one of the boxes C, D, E, which is similar to that previously
described, except that, in addition to the openings D*, which communi-
cate with the chambers of the outer note pan, it has also openings D**;
which communicate with those of the inner note pan. Figure 7, is a
side view of part of one of the outer note pans enclosed in a box Q,
and this also enclosed in its hoop B, the box and hoop holding it in its
proper position when the parts are framed together; O, is the plate of
this pan; P, its partitions, and Px, its chambers. The hoop Q, has
grooves Q, formed along its outer surfaces, which correspond with the
openings D**, and the respective chambers of the inner note pan.
Figure 8, is a side view of part of one of the inner note pans enclosed
in its hoop B; F, is the plate of this pan; G, its partitions, and G*,
its chambers. From the foregoing description it is evident that if the
keys be made to act on valves which shall simultaneously open or close
the corresponding openings D*, and D**, two notes may be made to
sound for each key used, that is to say, provided the current of air be
not stopped at other points of the passage. The Drawing shews an
arrangement whereby either or both may be made to sound together.
In the Figure 5, S, is a cover forming a chamber S*, between itself and
the inner side of the inner note pan, into which the openings to which
the reeds of this plate are fixed open or lead. S**, is a valve in the
S, opening to the bellows; T, a tube communicating with the reeds

page_text: in the outer note pan; and Tx, a valve covering its opening into
the bellows. The valves S**, and T*, may be open both together, or
either of them be closed while the other is open, being acted upon by
an arrangement of cranks marked U, shewn most distinctly in the plan
and end views, Figures 9, and 10. In Figure 5, V, is a key for
actunting the cranks by means of a rod W. The Figure 5, and the
supplementary view, Figure 5*, shew the valves S**, and T*, in two
different positions.
Thirdly, the constructing them with levers or other suitable means
for speaking or sounding the notes disposed or arranged in such
manner that each and every key, or only some of them (if preferred),
when separately played, may cause to sound simultaneously two or more
notes, each in separate chambers of the same pan or note frame. In
Drawing No. 3, Figure 11, is a top or plan view of a series of levers
for a concertina arranged according to this improvement. a, a, a, are
two series of levers working on two rods b, b; each lever consists of a
flat strip of brass or other metal made with two angles or bends,
and with a hole at each end through which one of the rods b, b, passes,
and on which it works, and is separated from the lever next to it by a
small collar or washer, also placed on the rod b. The rods b, b, arc
fixed at each end to small studs, so as to leave room for the levers to
work. Above these two series of levers at the distance of about one
eighth of an inch two other series of similar levers c, c, c, and rods d, d,
are placed, but at right angles thereto. To each one of the lower series
of levers a, a, a, the end of an ordinary valve lever is secured, as shown
by the dotted lines in the Figure, and again over the upper series of
levers the fingering keys or studs are so arranged as that each lever
may be acted on by one of the fingering keys or studs, as shewn by the
small circles f. ff. The action of these levers is as follows: any one
of the upper levers being depressed by incans of one of the fingering
keys or studs, it would bear upon and, unless prevented, depress the
whole of the lower scries of levers, and so cause the whole of the notes
to speak or sound; but as only certain notes are required to be sounded,
this is accomplished by means of small studs (which are capable of being
shifted or removed at pleasure) affixed to the under side of the upper

page_text: series of levers, and so arranged as to be over the lower levers intended
to be acted upon, so that any one of the upper levers may be made to
depress any one or more of the lower levers, according to the number
and position of the depressing studs so affixed to the upper levers.
Fourthly, the constructing them with pan or note chambers having
parallel sides, or so that the transverse sectional area of any chamber
shall be uniform, or nearly so, throughout its length, and with suitable
levers or other micans of actuating (by means of the keys of the instru-
ment) the valves of such chambers. In Drawing No. 3, Figure 12, is
a plan or top view of a note pan arranged according to this part of my:
Invention.,,g, are the reed or note chambers, and h, h, h, are the
divisions between them, and which are on both sides of the note frame,
although not capable of being shewn in the Drawing. The reeds or
notes are fixed in the same manner as in ordinary concertinas, and the
lovers for opening the valves are also similar to ordinary levers, but
their position and shape must be varied, wlień necessary, to suit the
alteration in the position of each particular chamber.
Fifthly, the constructing them with a damper board or plate on that
side of the pan or note frame nearest the bellows, with orifices in it
formed and disposed in such a manner as to cause (by means of the
currents of air) the several notes to sound or speak quickly. The
manner in which this part of my Invention is carried into effect is
shewn in Figure 1, (Sheet 1,) before described, in which K, is the
damper board or plate placed on that side of the pan or note frame
nearest the bellows, and which is provided with suitable openings or
holes over or opposite to each note or reed, in the same manner as an
ordinary damper plate or board placed on the upper or outer side of
the pan or note frame.
Sixthly, the constructing then with pans or note frames having two
plates and suitable chambers, the one plate having fixed or placed in or
upon it the notes which are used in the operation of drawing or open-
ing the bellows, and the other plate having fixed in or upon it the
duplicate notes (for producing the same sound or sounds), which are
used in the operation of pressing or closing the bellows. With
reference to this part of my Invention it is only necessary to observe,

page_text: that the two plates or note pans are to be placed at any suitable
distance apart, and are to be constructed with divisions in the ordinary
manner, or the divisions may be fitted into and between them as pre-
ferred, and the divisions may be of the ordinary construction or with
sides parallel, or nearly so, as preferred.
Seventhly, the constructing them with double acting notes, so that
such notes shall sound by a current of air from either side. This part
of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 15, which are
three views of a double acting reed or note constructed according to
Invention. 1, is the frame of the note or reed, which is formed
with a bevil on each side so as to cause the air to impinge on either
side of the sounding tongue m, and which frame is to be secured to the
pan or general note frame in any convenient manner.
mny
Eighthly, the constructing them with the studs or playing keys
placed in rows or lines in one direction, but the individual studs or
keys of the several rows being so placed that crossways they shall, in-
stead of ranging in straight rows or lines, be adapted to the unequal
lengths of the fingers of the hand. The Figure 16, in Drawing No. 3,
will render any further explanation of this part of my Invention unne-
cessary. n,, are the studs or keys; o, the strap for the thumb;
and p, the receptacle for the little finger. This arrangement is for the
right hand, and must be reversed for the left.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carlo Minasi, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three