An Apparatus for Correctly Noting, Transcribing, and Transposing Musical Compositions.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Apparatus for Correctly Noting, Transcribing, and Transposing
Musical Compositions.
I WILLIAM HARRINGTON LUCAS Civil Engineer 63 Sutherland Avenue London do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
An instrument for the automatic registration of musical compositions either in the
key in which they are played or transposed into any other key; that may be desired,
the music being registered and transposed into such a forin as to be capable of being
engraved, and printed in the ordinary manner; or adaptable, (without printing) to the
Pianista"
or other musical instruments capable of being played by mechanical
66
means.
The Instrument consists of
1st. A series of small circular rotating stamps each connected to its particular key
& arranged so that each impresses the note it represents in its proper position on the
musical staff the lines forming the Staff having previously been printed by means of a
roller touching the paper as it is drawn past.
These stamps are made in the form of small rollers, in order to facilitate continuous
inking and to make a clear and neat impression on the moving paper.
2nd. The stamps are connected with the keys by a number of slender, rods, one to
each, these rods are bent to an elbow at each end, one extremity touching the key,
and the other connected through levers to the stamp ; by the rod rotating on its axis,
the levers changing the direction of the vertical movement and so thrusting the
stamps on to the moving strip of Paper. Similar levers are connected with the
pedals, by which means the expression used by the player is also registered in
the emprinting by the usual signs.
3rd. There are also rollers, for winding in the paper, for printing the staff lines and
for inking the last named & also the small roller stamps or types.
4th. A train of clockwork is provided or other suitable mechanical means, such as
ir or water motors, or Electric dynamos whereby the necessary power is supplied to
Irive the above rollers at certain speeds, variable either by a metronome, the will of
he operator, or any suitable mechanical appliance.

page_text: 5th. The Rods connecting the keys with the levers, are coupled in such a manner,
as to render them capable of being lengthened or shortened at will, by means of a
Screw which causes the beam on which they are mounted to slide in either direction
parallel with the keyboard, thus effecting and registering the transposition into any
key that may be desired, for scoring or other purposes, by means of an index affixed
to the Beam.
THE USE OF THE INSTRUMENT.
To register (and transpose if necessary) any musical composition or improvisation.
Adjust the motive machinery to the speed required. Somewhat in proportion to
the rapidity of the music to be played. The first note struck will set the apparatus in
motion, then play the passage and it will be registered either in the key in which it
has been played or in any other key to which the index has been shifted.
If an error has been made in the playing of any passage or an improvement has
suggested itself, a momentary pressure on any key, will cause the paper to traverse
such a distance as to allow a margin from whence the passage can be played again
and reprinted until a satisfactory result has been obtained.
The impression thus obtained can be at once engraved and printed in the ordinary
form in which music is published or if preferred can be at once transformed and
multiplied at will, into the ordinary stencilled cards used for mechanical pianos,
organs, or other instruments of a similar nature.
Dated this 16th (Sixteenth) day of February 1888.

page_text: An Apparatus for Correctly Noting, Transcribing, and Transposing
Musical Compositions.
WILLIAM HARRINGTON LUCAS, of 63 Sutherland Avenue, London, Civil Engineer
I 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 an instrument (which I call the "Harmonigraph") for the
automatic registration of musical compositions either in the key in which they are
played or transposed into any other key that may be desired. The music being
registered and transposed in such a form as to be capable of being engraved and
printed in the ordinary manner, or adapted without reprinting to the "Pianista" or
other musical instruments capable of being played by mechanical means.
The instrument consists of a case (A fig. 2) to be affixed to a piano or other nicical
instrument actuated by a manual or manuals containing,
1st. A series of small circular rotating stamps, (B. figs. 3. 4.) each connected to its
particular key and arranged so that each impresses the note it represents on the
musical staff when that key is depressed; the lines forming such staff having been
printed by means of a grooved Roller (C. fig. 3.) on a strip of paper (D. fig. 3)
drawn past it by clockwork (E figs. 3. 4.) or other motive power. These stamps
are made in the form of small rollers, in order to facilitate continuous inking and to
make a clear and neat impression on the moving paper.
2nd. These stamps are connected with the keys by a number of rods (F figs. 1.
2. 3. 4.) one to each, these rods are bent to an elbow at each end, one extremity
touching the bottom of the key (G fig. 1) and the other connected through levers
(H. figs. 3. 4) with the roller stamps. By the rod turning on its axis and the levers
changing the direction of the vertical movement the stamps are thrust on to the
moving strip of paper supplied in Rolls (D. fig. 3.) Similar levers are connected to
the pedals by cords and Pullies (1. fig. 2.) so that the expression used by the Player
is also registered in the emprinting by simple signs.
3rd. There are also rollers (J figs. 3. 4) for giving motion to, and guiding the
paper (J figs. 3. 4) for printing the Staff lines (C fig. 3) and for inking the last
named (J fig. 3) and also the small roller stamps or types (J fig. 3).
4th. A train of clockwork (E fig. 4) or other motor is provided to drive the above
rollers at speeds variable either by a metronome or similar instrument or at the will
of the operator, this clockwork can be set in motion and arrested automatically by
means of a light bar (K. fig. 1.) extending beneath the keys for the whole length of
the key-board, so that, whilst any key is being played the bar is depressed and its
inovement communicated by a cranked rod, similar to those used in connection with
the stamps, to the clockwork which it governs, by means of a break or star-wheel and
detent (L. fig. 4).
The rods (F figs. 1. 2. 3. 4) connecting the keys with the levers can be made

page_text: telescopic so as to render them capable of being lengthened or shortened at will
by means of a screw, which causes the Platform (M. figs. 1. 2.) on which they
are mounted, to slide in either direction parallel with the key board, the lateral
movement of this platform causes the elbow next the keyboard, of each connecting
rod, to rest against a different key, to that which it imprints on the musical staff,
thus effecting and registering the transposition into any key that may be desired for
scoring or other purposes. The interval between the key in which the composition is
to be played and that in which it is to be registered is denoted by an index. This
transposition can also be effected by so constructing the grooved printing roller
(C. fig. 3.) that it can be shifted longitudinally in either direction thus altering the
position of the stave with regard to the keys and roller stamps.
The Platform supporting the whole machine is suspended from the bottom of the
key-board by several links similar to those connecting the parts of a parallel ruler, so
that, the entire apparatus can be detached at will from the keys by simply allowing
the platform to drop, and returned to its proper position for registering by thrusting
the case towards the piano, thus raising the platform through the are described by
the links.
The spaces between the staff and Ledger lines, as printed on the moving paper by
the grooved roller, are unequal, so as to admit of the sharps and flats being specially
noted in their proper position with regard to the said lines without prefixes or special
signs being required. For example; the interval between the staff lines G natural
&B natural containing four semitones is printed wider than that between E natural
and G natural which contains only three semitones.
USE OF THE INSTRUMENT.
To register and transpose if necessary any musical composition or improvisation.
Adjust the motive machinery to the speed required, somewhat in proportion to the
rapidity of the music to be played, then set the apparatus in motion either auto-
matically or otherwise & it will register in the key in which the music is played
or in any other key to which the index has been shifted. If an error has been
made in playing any passage, or an improvement has suggested itself a continuous
pressure on any key will cause the paper to traverse such a distance, as to allow
a margin from whence the passage can be played again and registered until a satis-
factory result has been obtained.
The impression thus obtained can be engraved and printed in the ordinary form in
which music is published, or, if preferred can be directly transformed and multiplied
at will into the ordinary stencilled cards used for mechanical pianos, organs or other
instruments of a similar nature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that, what I
claim is―
1st. An apparatus for noting, transcribing, transposing and registering music
substantially as previously described capable of being attached to any horizontal or
upright piano, or other instrument with a manual or manuals.
2nd. The arrangements hereinbefore described for effecting the transposition of the
music into any key that may be desired.
3rd. The arrangement of the stave in such a manner that the musical notes printed
being of lengths varying with their duration and at intervals according to their
Rhythmic progression can be at once stencilled by punching or otherwise & thus
rendered applicable for the actuation of mechanical instruments as previously
described.
4th. The printing by circular revolving stamps (B. figs. 3. 4.) of metal, ebonite or
other suitable sustance. Such stamps being continually except when actually printing,
in contact with a roller (J. fig. 3.) revolving in an ink trough (N. fig. 3.) thus being
constantly replenished with ink

page_text: 5th. The printing of the staves and ledger lines on the moving paper by means of a
roller engraved with projecting lines (C. fig. 3.) at the intervals required so as to
avoid the necessity of tedious and uncertain adjustment, attendant in the use of
paper previously ruled. Also the longitudinal movement of the said roller for
transposition.
6th. The connection between the keys and Pedals and their respective stamps, by
balanced rods cranked at each end and free to turn on their axis, capable also of
being varied telescopically in length.
7th. The connection between each individual key and the detent or break, auto-
matically starting, regulating & arresting the clockwork & therefore the movement of
the paper.
8th. The method of suspending the apparatus, from the keyboard by parallel
links, so as to admit of its being readily thrown out of gear when not required to be
used.
9th. The special arrangement of the staff and ledger lines adaptable either for
ordinary engraving or for stencilling direct into a form at once applicable to a
mechanical instrument.
10th. The special division of the Staff and Ledger lines whereby the sharps and
flats may be registered in their places without prefixes or special signs.
Dated this 13th day of November 1888.
WILLIAM HARRINGTON LUCAS.