Improvements in clarionets and other wing musical instrumen
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
Improvements in clarionets and other wing musical instrumen
I, DAVID JAMES BLAIKLEY, of 13 Elsworthy Terrace, in the County of
London, Musical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to clarionets and is designed to improve the intonation
thereof.
Clarionets as now in use are so constructed that the note B-flat
can be produced by simultaneously pressing down the "speaker" key and the
A-natural key. To obtain this result, the "speaker"-hole must be made of larger
bore than is actually necessary to permit the breaking of the air-column for the
purpose of facilitating the production of twelfths. The enlargement of the
"speaker" hole for this purpose causes false or defective intonation of the twelfths
in the low register of the instrument, and the B-flat produced by this means is.
weak and poor in quality.
The main object of my present invention is the improvement of the B-flat. By
my said invention, however, I am also enabled to obviate the aforesaid false or
defective intonation of the twelfths.
According to one part of my said invention, I so construct a clarionet that the
B-flat can be produced by the simultaneous depression of the A key and the thumb
or "speaker" key without opening the "speaker hole.
i
"
In this form of my invention, I provide a separate intermediate hole for the
B-flat and a separate stop and lever for governing the said hole. This lever is so
arranged in combination with the levers of the A key and the thumb or "speaker
key that it can be operated with facility by the usual fingering, that is to say, by
the simultaneous depression of the A key aud the thumb or "speaker" key. The
B-flat lever is, in this case, pivoted at a point above the B-flat hole, and the A lever
is made with an extension so arranged that it engages with the B-flat lever and
holds down the same. The stop for the "speaker" hole is mounted upon a lever
which is pivoted to the B-flat lever at or near the free end thereof, a spring being
arranged in combination with these two levers in such a manner that it tends to
bring them together when moved apart by the "speaker" key, one end of which
extends between the said levers. By these means, when the "speaker" key is
depressed, the "speaker" hole is opened, whilst the B-flat hole is kept closed by
the pressure of the A lever upon the B-flat lever; whereas, when the A key is
depressed simultaneously with the "speaker" key, the B-flat hole is opened and the
"speaker" hole is closed by the aforesaid spring drawing the two levers towards
each other. By this arrangement, I obtain a correct intonation of the B-flat.
As the "speaker" hole, in this arrangement, does not require to be opened for
the production of the B-flat, the above mentioned improvements can be conveniently
and advantageously applied to existing clarionets. Moreover I can, in constructing
new instruments, make the "speaker" hole of the diameter most advantageous for
fulfilling its function in the production of twelfths, thus improving the intonation
of the tweliths in the low register of the instrument..

page_text: "
According to another, form or modification of my said invention, I provide a
separate intermediate hole of such diameter that the aforesaid B-flat can be
obtained by opening this hole, the "speakerhole and the A hole simultaneously.
For this purpose, the levers are so arranged that, when the A key and the "speaker
key are simultaneously depressed,. the B-flat or intermediate hole as well as the
A hole and the "speaker" hole will be opened. In this arrangement, the inter-
mediate hole improves the intonation of the B-flat, whilst the intonation of the
twelfths in the low register of the instrument is improved by making the "speaker
hole of smaller bore than heretofore.
In cases where the bore of the "speaker" hole is reduced, as above mentioned,
for the purpose of improving the intonation of the twelfths in the low register of
the instrument, I find it advantageous to make the instrument with the bore thereof
slightly enlarged in the region of the socket or barrel of the instrument; the other.
parts of the bore being practically the same as heretofore. By this means, I improve
the intonation of the twelfths in the medium register of the instrument; that is to
say, the twelfths E to Bispeaking from the fundamentals A to E.. I find that
a good result is obtained in this respect by making the enlarged section of the bore,
at its largest part, of a diameter about one-fiftieth of an inch greater than that of
the cylindrical section of the bore of the instrument; the size of the said enlarged
section of the bore will, however, be somewhat increased or diminished according
to the conditions under which the correction of the intonation has to be made.
Dated the 22nd day of May 1894
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant..

page_text: ´the A-natural key and the thumb or “ speaker ” key without opening the “
"speaker
hole.
According to another part of my said invention, I provide for enabling the afore-
said B-flat to be produced by the simultaneous opening of the "speaker" hole, the
A-natural hole and an intermediate hole.
My said invention also comprises means for improving the intonation of the
twelfths in the medium register of the instrument.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice
Figure 1 is a front view, and
Figure 2 a side view of the upper portion of a clarionet having my improvements
applied thereto.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views with the mouthpiece and socket removed,
illustrating another modification of my invention.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views to Figures 3 and 4, showing a portion of
another form of clarionet constructed as hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a separate intermediate hole is
provided for the B-flat and a separate stop and lever a for governing the said hole.
This lever is so arranged in combination with the lever b of the A-natural key and
the lever c of the thumb or speaker key, that it can be operated with facility by the
usual fingering, that is to say, by the simultaneous depression of the A-natural key
and the thumb or speaker key . The B-flat lever a is, in this case, pivoted at a
point a above the B-flat hole, and the lever b of the A-natural key is made with
an extension d which engages with the B-flat lever a and holds down the same.
The lever c of the stop governing the speaker hole is pivoted at cl to the B-flat
lever a at or near the free end thereof, a spring e being arranged in combination
with these two levers in such a manner that it tends to bring them together after
they have been moved apart by the action of the speaker key f, f, one end of
which extends between the said levers. By these means, when the speaker key is
depressed, the speaker hole S is opened, whilst the intermediate or B-flat hole is
kept closed by the pressure of the extension d of the lever b upon the B-flat lever a;
whereas, when the A-natural key is depressed simultaneously with the speaker
key, the B-flat hole is opened and the speaker hole is closed by the said spring e
drawing the two levers a and c towards each other. By this arrangement, I obtain
a correct intonation of the B-flat.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown another arrangement whereby I attain the
results above described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The B-flat lever ais,
in this case, pivoted at a point a² between the B-flat hole and the speaker hole S,
and is provided with an arm or extension a³ extending over the stop of the speaker
hole, and with a spring which tends to raise the said lever and open the Bb hole.
The lever of this stop is mounted on a tube or barrel f' which is free to turn
either about the pivot-pin of the speaker key, or about an independent pivot-pin
conveniently placed, and the said lever is provided with a spring of sufficient
strength to lift it and uncover the speaker hole S when the stop thereof is released
as hereinafter described. The speaker key f is provided with two arms or
claws which hold down the cups or stops of the speaker and B-flat holes
respectively. When the thumb or speaker key is depressed, the arms or claws f³, f
are raised, thus permitting the lever f¹ to rise and uncover the speaker hole S,
the B-flat hole being kept closed by the pressure of the extension d of the lever b
on the B-flat lever a. When, however, the A-natural key is depressed simul-
taneously with the speaker key, the B-flat hole is opened by the spring of its
lever a simultaneously with the A-natural hole, whilst the speaker hole S is
closed by the arm or extension as of the lever a pressing down the stop which
governs the said hole, the spring of the lever a being sufficiently strong for this
purpose.
As the speaker hole S, in these arrangements, does not require to be opened for

page_text: the production of the B-flat, the above mentioned improvements can be con-
veniently and advantageously applied to existing clarionets. Moreover I can,
in constructing new instruments, make the speaker hole of the diameter most
advantageous for fulfilling its function in the production of twelfths, thus improving
the intonation of the twelfths in the low register of the instrument.
The clarionet illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, is provided with a separate inter-
mediate or B-flat hole of such diameter that the aforesaid note B-flat can be
obtained by opening this hole, the speaker hole and the A-natural hole simul-
taneously. For this purpose, the B-flat lever a is pivoted at a like that shown in
Figures 1 and 2, and is provided with a spring & for raising it. The said lever is
held down by an arm or claw attached to the speaker key, which is provided
with a stronger spring.
When the speaker key is depressed, the speaker hole S alone is opened, the
B-flat hole being kept closed by means of the extension d of the lever b. When
the A-natural key and the thumb or speaker key are depressed together, the
A-natural hole, the B-flat hole and the speaker hole S are all opened simul-
taneously, the arm permitting the lever a to rise and open the B-flat hole;
and when the A-natural key only is depressed the lever a is held down by the said
arm f³.
In this arrangement, the intermediate hole improves the intonation of the B-flat,
whilst the intonation of the twelfths in the low register of the instrument is
improved by making the speaker hole of smaller bore than heretofore.
In cases where the bore of the speaker hole is reduced, as above mentioned, for
the purpose of improving the intonation of the twelfths in the low register of the
instrument, I find it advantageous to make the instrument with the bore thereof
slightly enlarged in the region of the socket or barrel of the instrument, as shown
on an exaggerated scale between the lines a, y, Figures 1 and 2, the other parts
of the bore being practically the same as heretofore. The said enlargement of the
bore should gradually increase from to about the middle of the socket or barrel
and should then gradually diminish to the point y. By this means I improve the
intonation of the twelfths in the medium register of the instrument, that is to say,
the twelfths E to B speaking from the fundamentals A to E. I find that a
good result is obtained in this respect by making the enlarged section of the bore,
at its largest part, of a diameter about one-fiftieth of an inch greater than that of
the cylindrical section of the bore of the instrument; the size of the said enlarged
section of the bore will, however, be somewhat increased or diminished according
to the conditions under which the correction of the intonation has to be made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A clarionet or similar musical instrument constructed in such a manner that
the note B-flat hereinbefore referred to can be produced by simultaneously pressing
down the A-natural key and the thumb or "speaker" key without opening the
speaker" hole.
$6
2nd. The employment, in a clarionet or similar musical instrument, of an inter-
mediate hole between the A-natural hole and the "speaker"hole, and a stop or
lever governing such intermediate hole and so combined with the A-natural key
and the "speaker" key, that, when the latter are simultaneously depressed, the
intermediate hole will be opened, for the purpose specified.
3rd. A clarionet or similar musical instrument which is so constructed that the
note B-flat herein before referred to can be produced by the simultaneous opening
of the A-natural hule, the "speaker" hole and an intermediate hole.
4th. A clarionet having my improvements embodied therein or incorporated
therewith substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to
Figures 3 and 4 or to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing.
5th. A clarionet or simila musical instrument in which the bore of the

page_text: "speaker" hole is reduced as above described, and in which the bore of the
instrument is slightly enlarged in the region of the socket or barrel, the enlarge-
ment gradually increasing and diminishing as above set forth, for the purpose
specified.
Dated the 22nd day of February 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.