Improved Recording Mechanism for Pianos and other Keyboard Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Recording Mechanism for Pianos and other Keyboard
Musical Instruments.
1 JUAN BAUTISTA CALCANO I PANIZA, Lawyer, of Mijares y Altagracia
9, Caracas, Republic of Venezuela, South America 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:-
My invention relates to a recording mechanism for musical instruments, especially
pianos and organs. The object of the invention is to provide a means whereby as
each key is pressed a predetermined mark indicating the note in music represented
by or corresponding to the key will be produced upon a strip or tape of paper or
like material, and whereby also the length or duration of sound of the notes will be
represented by graduations of said marks.
Another object of the invention is to provide a key through the medium of which
the marks produced by that portion of the device connected directly with the
instrument may be conveniently and expeditiously read and transcribed in the usual
notes employed in reading and writing music.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts of the device and their combination with the keys of a musical instrument,
as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 represents the application of the device to a grand piano, the keyboard
of which is in vertical section.
Figure 2 is a plan view of that portion of the device adapted for direct attach-
ment to the instrument.
Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the paper or material upon which the notes
are produced in cipher.
Figure 4 is an elevation of one side of the recording mechanism of which
Figure 2 is the plan.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the recording mechanism,
taken practically upon the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and
Figure 6 is an elevation of the side of the recording mechanism opposite that
shown in Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the key levers of the recording mechanism.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the rear end of said lever.
Figure 9 is a transverse section through the lever, taken practically on the
line 9-9 of Figure 8, and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the marking blocks carried by the
levers.
Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 6.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the transcribing or transposing frame.
Figure 13 is a plan view of said frame and
Figure 14 is a detail view illustrating a means for adjusting the cords of the
transcribing frame.
Figure 15 is a view illustrating the transposing frame used in conjunction with
the cipher paper, the latter being upon an easel, and
Figure 16 represents a few bars of music read from the paper.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of an easel used in connection with the transposing
frame and paper, and
Figure 18 is a plan view of the easel.
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the time lever and its pedal.

page_text: The recording mechanism is made as compact as possible in order that it may be
placed beneath the instrument, as shown in Figure, and occupy but little space,
it being preferred that said mechanism should sit upon a support beneath the
instrument. The frame of the recording mechanism consists practically of two
side pieces 10 and 11 and these two pieces are set parallel. The side pieces are
connected by rods, braces, or in any approved manner, two of the connections com-
prising a front upper bar 12 an intermediate bar 13 somewhat triangular in cross-
section, as shown in Figure 5, and a further connection, illustrated in the same
figure, consists in a rod 14 located near the upper portion and near the back. The
rod 14 constitutes a guide for the tape 15 upon which ciphers are to be produced,
said tape being wound upon a roller 16 journaled transversely in the central rear
portion of the frame and turned to wind the tape thercon by a crank 17 at one end,
as shown in Figure 6, or by any equivalent of a crank.
The tape after being carried upward over the guide rod 14 is passed downward
between two feed rollers 18 and 19, best shown in Figure 5, said rollers being
journaled in the sides of the frame near its upper rear portion, an extension being
usually provided for the purpose. The driving pulley 20 of the mechanism is
secured to one 'trunnion or one end of the shaft of one of the rollers, and the
propelling mechanism connects by a belt 21, shown in Figure 1, with the driving
pulley. The propelling mechanism may consist of any suitable motor, electricity
is however preferred as push buttons are ordinarily used to turn the current
on and off for starting and stopping the motor, said buttons being convenient of
location upon the instrument and also for manipulation. Tension is at all times
exerted upon the roll of tape, when upon its roller, through the medium of a tension
roll 22 its trunnions being passed through horizontal slots 23 in the side pieces of
the frame, as shown in Figures 5 and 11, into housings 24 secured to the outer
faces of the side pieces and exteriorly concealing the slots. Springs 25 are contained
within the housings and they exert a constant pressure upon the trunnions of the
tension roll compelling it to constantly and firmly engage with the periphery of
the tape roll, as is clearly shewn in Figure 5.
A marking lever A. is employed in connection with every key B of the instrument,
whether sharp, flat, 'or natural, black or white, and in order to economize in space
these levers are made to converge at their rear ends, as shewn in Figure 2. The
levers are located horizontally upon and longitudinally of the upper or top portion
of the frame. The levers are of like construction and are made up of a number of
sections comprising preferably three pivotally-connected links 26 27 and 28 and a
marking tip 29 carried by the rear link. The forward link 26 of each key lever
is fulcrumed somewhere near its centre upon a projection of the front bar 12 of the
frame and each intermediate link 27 rests upon the intermediate triangular bar 13
of the frame, as shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, and 6, the pivotal connection of the lever
links being shown in detail in Figure 7. The forward end of each forward lever
link is united with the rear extremity of a key B of the keyboard of the instrument
by a connecting wire a, as is illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, when a key is pressed,
the front end of the forward link of the lever connected with that particular key is
raised and its inner or rear end lowered; a reverse movement is communicated to
the intermediate link but the same movement is transmitted to the rear link, that
is its rear end is depressed and the marking tip is carried downward in a manner
forcing the block or crayon 30 of pigment attached to the tip in engagement with
the tape and the tip will continue to mark upon the 'tape during the entire time the
key is under pressure. It is evident that as the tape is at this time in constant
motion the length of a mark upon the tape will indicate the value of the note of
music played and to be afterwards translated. All the music will be indicated in
the treble clef, but the translator will write in both the treble and 'bass clefs the
corresponding notes.
I employ pigment of different colors, one color for
white keys to facilitate reading the marks or ciphers.
prefer to make rectangular, as shown in Figure 10, but
the black and one for the
The blocks of pigment I
they may be given other

page_text: shapes. The marking tip 29 at the under side of its forward end has a recess 32.
produced therein to expose the pigment block or crayon when introduced into the,
tip, as particularly shewn in Figure 8. It will be observed that the marking tips,
are firmly attached to the key levers and that the block of pigment.is supported at.
its rear end by a link 33, but other fastening devices may be substituted, this.
particular construction having been adopted owing to the ease with which the;
pigments may be adjusted. As the key levers are somewhat lengthy, they are liable
to have lateral play as well as lateral movement. A lateral movement is very,
objectionable as the markers would not then at all times mark the tape in the same
manner. I prevent the possibility of lateral movement by extending across the
marking tips of all the key levers, a keeper or guide bar 34, as shown in Figures 2
and 5, provided with a series of downwardly-extending pins 35 one of which enters
the space between each contiguous marking tip. By reference to Figures 4 and 5
it will be noticed that a rod 36 which extends from side to side of the frame
and through all the rear links of the key levers and marking tips, serves as
a fulcrum for the links and also as a connecting medium between the links
and tips.
In Figure 31 have illustrated a transverse section of the tape. It is ruled
with a series of longitudinal parallel lines 37 arranged somewhat close together and.
a series of spaced heavy longitudinal lines 38. Each of the heavy lines 38 is of a
different color as they divide the tape into panels, cach panel representing an octave,
and the number of spaces between the lines in each panel corresponds to the
number of keys, black and white, comprising an octave in the keyboard of the
instrument. At one side edge of the tape a marginal space 39 is provided in which
the time is to be indicated and the spaces under the heavy lines. 38 nearest this
margin, represent the highest octave and the color of the line in practice is
preferably yellow. The time lever D is shown in detail in Figure 19 and in position
in Figure 1, said lever being fulcrummed at one side of the row of key levers and in.
construction consists of two members, namely a single link 40 and a marking.
tip 29 as heretofore described, secured to the link. The tip is located in alignment
with the tips of the key levers and engages with the tape in like manner.
The
time lever is not operated from the key but by means of the right foot acting upon
the lever 41 preferably located alongside and to the right of the treadle harp 42 of
a piano, as illustrated in Figure 1, and is united to the lever through the medium
of a suitable connecting rod 43.
After composing or extemporizing, by the manipulation of the keys of the
instrument, the marks or ciphers upon the tape must be read off and written in.
the usual musical characters, as shown in Figure 16 and the time and signature
added to the score. For accomplishing this end, a transcribing or transposing
frame is employed in connection with an easel F. The body portion of the
transcribing or transposing frame is rectangular and in skeleton form, as shewn
in Figure 12, and upon one upright member of the frame a scale 44 is produced,
the spaces whereof correspond in width to the spaces intervening the lines 37 of the
tape and in number to the keys of the instrument. In each space of the scale the
name of the note represented by the key occupying a like position on the key
board is produced, the names of the white or natural keys being in letter or syllable
as for instance "A ог La and the black keys are represented by arbitrarily
selected characters and may be read either a flat or a sharp at the pleasure of
the composer or according to the signature already indicated. Sixteen cords 44",
preferably of silk, are arranged at equi-distances apart extending from top to
bottom of the frame and at a right angle to the scale representing the keyboard.
The sixteen cords and the inside edge of the left side of the frame produce sixteen
spaces and each space represents one-sixteenth of a beat; thus if a mark on the
tape should cross all of the spaces between the cords it would be given the entire
time of a beat. In time for example it would be written a quarter note. If the
mark however crossed but half the space it would be given half the time of a beat

page_text: and written in time a one-eighth note and if the mark crossed but one space it
would be read a sixteenth, or it is to be played in the time of one-sixteenth of a
beat. The cords are preferably strung upon transverse cords or wires 45 located
on the back of the frame at the top and bottom and the longitudinal cords are
preferably made movable upon the transverse cords, or the transverse cords may
be of elastic, as shown at 46 in Figure 14 and provided with a series of rings 47
in this event one end of the elastic cord is not permanently attached to the frame
and a stud is secured to the frame at one side over which any one of the rings may
be placed. This will enable the operator to carry the reading cords 44ª to the
centre or opposite side of the frame.
The casel is illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 and may be of any desired pattern.
Preferably the body 48 is held and supported in an inclined position by a rear
base and brace section 49. A.n upper and lower arm are projected from one side
of the body 48 the upper arm 50 being at an angle to the body and the lower
arm 51 parallel therewith. In the upper arm one end of a reel 52 is held to turn.
said end being provided with a polygonal extremity 53 to facilitate the turning of
the reel and the lower end of the reel turns in a support formed on or secured to the
lower arm of the easel. The outer face of the easel at its lower end is provided
with a shelf or ledge 54.
In the operation of the device, the motor attached to the recording mechanism is
set in motion and the operator while pressing the keys in the act of playing, makes
long or short marks upon the tape according as the keys are held down a long or a
short time. The marked paper coils upon the floor or a receptacle may be placed
to receive it. The first time beat of the first bar may also be recorded by pressing
the pedal and holding it in that position the duration of said beat.
If the regular
time be interrupted, whenever it is resumed the time pedal is operated to again
indicate time. After the performer has ceased playing, the printed portion of the
tape is cut off and rolled upon the reel of the easel in such a manner that the tape
will unroll with the time margin uppermost. The first portion of the tape to be read
is unwound and carried over the easel and the transcribing frame is laid upon it, as
shown in Figure 15 which figure is read as shewn in Figure 16. The first note struck
was A and the value of the note is the duration of one beat, as the mark covers
the entire sixteen spaces of the transcribing frame when, as shown in dotted lines,
the next reading is had, it is found that two notes were struck in the time of one
beat namely B and C sharp (since the composer elected to make it C sharp instead
of D flat in transcribing) and the next reading develops two more notes struck in
the time of one beat, which are D and E. time is elected by the artist, therefore
the first note is written a quarter note and each couplet after, eighth notes,
completing a bar. In this manner the further reading of the tape is conducted.
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-
1. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
apparatus consisting of a series of levers having link connection with the keys,
markers carried by the levers, a tape held to revolve beneath the markers, and an
actuating mechanism for the tape, substantially as specified.
2. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
apparatus consisting of a series of levers having link connection with the keys,
markers carried by the levers, a time lever, a foot lever connected with the time
lever, a marker carried by the time lever, a tape held to revolve beneath the
markers and all the levers, and an actuating mechanism for the tape, as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
apparatus consisting of a series of levers connected with the keys, markers carried
by the levers, a reel of tape held to revolve beneath the markers, tension rollers

page_text: between which the tape passes, a friction device having constant bearing upon the
roll of tape, and means, substantially as described, for actuating the tape, as and
for the purpose specified.
4. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys thereof, of a recording
apparatus consisting of a series of levers constructed with a series of pivoted
members one end member of each lever being connected with a key the other end
member being provided with a marking device, a tape held to revolve beneath the
marking devices of the levers, and means, substantially as described, for reeling
the tape and drawing the same from the reel, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. A recording mechanism for musical instruments, consisting of a frame, a series
of levers fulcrumed upon the frame and adapted for attachment at one end to the
keys of an instrument, marking blocks or crayons removably attached to each of
the levers,
a tape held to revolve beneath the marking blocks cr crayons, and
an actuating mechanism connected with the tape, as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a musical instrument, a recording mechanism consisting of a series of levers
fulcrumed upon a frame one end of the levers adapted for attachment to the keys
of the instrument, the opposite ends carrying marking blocks or crayons, and a
tape held to revolve beneath the marking blocks or crayons, the said tape being
provided with a series of lines arranged in groups and representing octaves, as
and for the purpose specified.
7. A recording apparatus for musical instruments, consisting of a series of levers
mounted in a frame one end of which levers is adapted for attachment to the keys
of an instrument, the other end being provided with marking blocks or crayons, a
tape held to revolve beneath the marking blocks or crayons of the levers, the
said tape being provided with a series of lines, which lines are divided by lines of
contrasting color into spaces representing octaves, and an actuating mechanism
connected with the tape, as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
mechanism consisting of a series of levers having link connection with the keys
and provided with marking blocks or crayons, a spacing or guide bar extending
over the levers and provided with downwardly-extending fingers located between
the levers, a tape held to revolve beneath the marking blocks or crayons and
contiguous thereto, and tension devices applied to the tape, as and for the purpose
set forth.
9. In a recording device for musical instruments, a tape adapted to receive
symbols representing notes of music, the said tape being provided with a series of
lines, the lines being divided into groups representing octaves, as and for the
purpose specified.
10. In a recording device for musical instruments, a tape adapted to receive
symbols representing notes of music, said tape being provided with a series of
lines arranged in groups representing octaves and with a marginal space to receive
a record of time, as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination, with the keys of a musical instrument, a recording device
operated by the keys, a foot lever operating a time lever on the recording device,
and a tape adapted to receive symbols representing notes impressed thereon by
the levers and located adjacent to the levers, of a transposing or transcribing frame
provided with a series of strands and a scale representing the key-board of the
instrument and an easel adapted to receive the tape and the frame, substantially as
shewn and described.
12. The combination, with a musical instrument, its keys, and a recording
mechanism provided with a series of marking levers operated by the keys, a time
lever operated independently of the keys and a tape acted upon by the levers
and adapted to receive symbols representing notes of music, of an easel provided
with a reel adapted to receive the tape and a transposing or transcribing frame
provided with a series of strands or spacing devices and a scale adjacent to the
spacing devices and representing the keyboard of the instrument, as and for the
purpose specified.

page_text: 13. In a musical instrument, a recording mechanism consisting of a series of
levers fulcrumed upon a frame one end of the levers being adapted for attachment
to the instrument the opposite ends being formed as sockets, marking blocks or
crayons held in the sockets of the levers, a tape, held to revolve beneath the
marking blocks or crayons, said tape being provided with a series of lines arranged
in groups representing octaves the defining line of each grouping being of a different
color, substantially as shown and described.
14. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
mechanism consisting of a series of levers having connection with the keys and
having one end provided with a socket, marking blocks or crayons adjustably located
in the sockets of the levers, a guide bar extending over the levers, a tape held to
revolve beneath the marking blocks or crayons provided with lines arranged in
groups representing octaves, tension devices applied to the tape, and a propelling
mechanism for the tape substantially as shown and described.
15. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the keys, of a recording
mechanism consisting of a series of levers connected with the keys and comprising
a series of pivotally-connected sections, marking blocks or crayons adjustably
carried by the levers, a spacing or guide bar extending over the levers and provided
with downwardly-extending fingers located between the levers, a tape held to
revolve beneath the marking blocks or crayons, tension devices applied to the tape,
and a propelling mechanism for the tape, substantially as described.
16. The combination, with the keys of a musical instrument, a recording device
operated by the keys, a lever adapted to indicate time carried by the recording
mechanism, and a tape adapted to receive symbols representing notes impressed
thereon by the levers and provided with a series of lines grouped to represent
octaves, of a transposing or transcribing frame provided with a series of strands
and a scale representing the keyboard of the instrument and an easel adapted to
receive the frame and provided with a reel to receive. the tape, substantially as
shewn and described.
17. In a musical instrument, the combination, with a recording mechanism
operated by the keys of the instrument and a tape receiving symbols representing
notes impressed thereon by the recording mechanism, of a transposing or trans-
cribing device operated in conjunction with the tape and a support provided with
a reeling mechanism receiving the transcribing device and tape, substantially as
described.
18. In a music-recording attachment for pianos and other musical instruments,
a transposing or transcribing frame provided with a series of strands arranged
substantially as described and provided with a scale representing the key board
of the instrument in connection with which it is used, as and for the purpose
specified.
19. In a music-recording attachment for pianos and other musical instruments,
the combination, with a tape having symbols representing notes of music produced
thereon, of a transposing or transcribing frame provided with a series of strands
and a scale representing the key board of an instrument whereby the symbols upon
the tape may be read, substantially as described.
20. In a music-recording attachment for pianos and other musical instruments,
the combination, with a tape having symbols representing notes of music produced
thereon, of a transposing or transcribing device provided with a series of strands
and a scale representing the keyboard of an instrument and an easel adapted to
receive the transcribing device and provided with a reeling mechanism to receive
the tape, substantially as described.
21. In a music-recording attachment for pianos and other musical instruments,
an easel and. a reeling mechanism. carried by the easel, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
22. A tape adapted to receive symbols representing notes of music, said tape
being provided with a series of lines arranged in groups, each group being clearly
defined and representing an octave, substantially as shown and described:,"

page_text: 23. A tape adapted to receive symbols representing notes of music, said tape
being provided with a series of lines arranged in groups representing octaves, the
terminal line of each group being of different color, the said tape being also
provided with a marginal space to receive a record of time, as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated th. 06th day of la 1200
J. B. CALCAÑO 1 PANIZA,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.