TODOWEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Davis, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey,
Band Master to the Civil Service Rifle Volunteers, for the Invention of
"TODOWEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Davis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
March 1862.
I, JOHN DAVIS, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, Band Master
to the Civil Service Rifle Volunteers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to cornets and other wind instruments, and
consists,―
First, in improved modes of working the valve: The shaft or plug which
works the valve passes through a tube projecting from the face plate, which
tube has two transverse slots for allowing a pin which passes through the
shaft to work forwards and backwards, a head being placed on the shaft
1

page_text: forming an additional means of keeping it steady, and the pin which passes
through the shaft is jointed to the piston rod. By these arrangements I
obtain a steady working of the centre and perpendicular action of the piston
rod perfectly free from oscillation.
Another mode of enabling the valve to be worked with steadiness consists
in causing the shaft of the valve to pass through a collar fixed to the face
plate, and turning down the end of the shaft so that it may work in a recess
or bearing in the outer cap..
Secondly, I construct a chamber on the face plate, within the circumference
of which chamber the aforesaid action is made to work. On this chamber, and
immediately attached to it, I fix the spring box, the whole action being
capable of being enclosed by a cap.
In one arrangement I convey the wind from the lower chamber of one
valve through the upper chamber of the next, or vice versâ. These chambers
are immediately attached to each other, but not at equal distances apart, nor
yet in the same line, for the purpose of bringing the finger plates central with
the spring boxes and at equal and convenient distances apart. Or, the aforesaid
advantages may be obtained by causing the chambers containing the valves
to be placed in an oblique position, and the wind. passages arranged
accordingly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DAVIS, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, Band Master to the Civil
Service Rifle Volunteers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Davis, Her special licence that I, the said John
Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, 'from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
...

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain. and.
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Davis, 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 John Davis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say): - .
This Invention relates to cornets and other wind instruments, and
consists,...
First, in an improved mode of working the valve. The shaft or plug which
works, the valve passes into a tube projecting from the face plate, which shaft.
has a part cut away so that its end may enter a slot in a short plug projecting
from the valve. The shaft is provided with a shoulder, and there is a cap
over its outer end to keep it steady.. To the bottom of the piston rod is
jointed a pin which passes through a hole in the shaft, and acts as a lever for
working the shaft and valve. By these arrangements I obtain a steady
working of the centre and perpendicular action of the piston rod perfectly free
from oscillation.
.:Secondly, I construct a chamber on the face plate, within which chamber.
the aforesaid action is made to work, the whole action being enclosed by
a cap.
..
In one arrangement I convey the wind from the lower chamber of one
valve through the upper chamber of the next, or vice versa. These chambers
are immediately attached to each other, but not at equal distances apart, nor
yet in the same line, for the purpose of bringing the finger plates central with
the spring boxes, and at equal and convenient distances apart; or I obtain the
same advantages by causing the chambers containing the valves to be placed
in an oblique direction, and having the wind passages arranged: accordingly..
5. To regulate the position of the valve so that the apertures may be opposite
the wind passages in action, I employ a circular plate having upon it another
plate partly circular, or with a portion cut away, and cause the plate to be
held to the chamber. At the end of the valve there is a pin or, projection

page_text: which comes in contact with the edges of the plate, and prevents the valve
from being turned too far."
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side
view of a cornet having one arrangement of my improvements; Fig. 2, a side
view of the spring boxes, 'piston rods, and chambers with the caps removed;
Fig. 3, a transverse view of the same, with the chamber in section; Fig. 4,
an end view of the face plate and valve; Figs. 5, 6, and 7, views of the valve';
and Fig. 8, a view of another arrangement of valve chambers.
In the aforesaid Figures a represents the spring boxes; b, the finger plates;
c, the piston rods; d, the face plates; e, one of the valve chambers; f, the
valve; 9, the chambers containing the actions for working the valves; and
h, caps screwed to their ends. The shaft or plug which works the valve is
shewn at i; it passes into a tube j projecting from the face plate, and has part
of its inner end cut away, as at k, Figs. 3 and 4, so that it may enter a slot l'
in a short plug m projecting from t the valve f, Figs. 5 and 6. The shaft i has
a shoulder,, and is turned down at its outer' end to fit a recess in the cap h
in order that it may be held and turned with perfect steadiness. At the bottom
of each piston rod is jointed the pin o, which passes through a hole in the
shaft, and causes it and the valve to turn when the finger plate is depressed'
and raised up.
1. tuij
To'
In one arrangement of valve chambers one chamber is placed below the
others, as in Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose of bringing the finger plates central
with the spring boxes, and at convenient distances apart, or I obtain the
same effect by placing the chambers in an oblique direction, as shewn in
Fig. 8. In order to prevent the valve from turning too far I employ a plate'q,
Figs. 6 and 7, held to the valve chamber by means of a pin and recess.
this plate is attached by means of screws anotlier plater, partly circular or
with a portion cut away, and between the two plates there is a piece of india-
rubber projecting at the ends, as at s. At the end of the valve or upon a plug
there is a pin or projection t, which when the valve is turned comes in contact
with the projecting piece of india-rubber s, and prevents the turning of the
valve beyond the required distance.
Another mode of working the valve is as follows:-The shaft or plug which
works the valve passes through a tube projecting from the face plate, which
tube has two transverse slots for allowing a pin which passes through the shaft
to work forwards and backwards, a head being placed on the shaft forming an
additional means of keeping it steady, and the pin which passes through the

page_text: shaft is jointed to the piston rod. By this arrangement I also obtain a steady
working of the centre, and perpendicular action of the piston rod perfectly free
from oscillation.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I
claim the improvements in wind musical instruments, as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
E. T. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
London.
JOHN DAVIS. (L.S.)