An Improved Ear Appliance for the use of Musical Teachers and Perforiners, Elocutionists, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1801
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ear Appliance for the use of Musical Teachers and
Perforiners, Elocutionists, and the like.
I GEORGE MELLOR of Number Seventy-eight Heaton Park Road in the City
and County of Newcastle upon Tyne Professor of Music do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus to enable instrumentalists, vocalists and
teachers of singing, voice production or clocution to hear the identical sound and
effect, as heard in the auditorium, simultaneously with the production of the
sound.
The apparatus, as I now propose to construct it, consists of two ear pads of some
good sound conducting material, or combination of materials, attached to some
resonant metallic substance such as tempered steel, aluminium or other metal or alloy
of metals the ear pads being of cork or other wood, leather, vulcanite or other good
sound conducting material either separately or in combination and the apparatus
may be covered with, or partially covered with, leather, silk, parchment or other
suitable material or combination of materials.
The apparatus may conveniently be applied as a circlet round the back of the
head, the pads covering the apertures of the ears, and kept in position by the spring
action of the circlet, thus excluding all external noises whilst conveying to the cars
the identical sound and effect produced by the performer, either vocally or instru-
mentally as heard in the auditorium.
Dated this 25th day of February 1891.
T. J. DANSON,
By L. W., per F. B..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ear Appliance for the use of Musical Teachers and
Performers, Elocutionists, and the like.
I, GEORGE MELLOR, of 78 Heaton Park Road, in the City and County of
Newcastle upon Tyne, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of said
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 apparatus to enable instrumentalists, vocalists and
teachers of singing, voice production or elocution to hear the identical sounds and
effect, as heard in the auditorium simultaneously with the production of the
sound.
The apparatus as 1.now propose to construct it, consists of two ear pads of some
good sound-conducting material, or combination of materials, attached to some
resonant metallic substance such as tempered steel, aluminium or other metal or
alloy of metals the car pads being of cork or other wood, leather, vulcanite or other
good sound-conducting material either separately or in combination and the
apparatus may be covered with, or partially covered with, leather, silk, parchment
or other suitable material or combination of materials.
The apparatus may conveniently be applied as a circlet round the back of the
head, the pads covering the apertures of the ears, and kept in position by the spring
action of the circlet, thus excluding all external noises whilst conveying to the ears
the identical sound and effect produced by the performer, either vocally or instru-
mentally as heard in the auditorium.

page_text: DESCRIPTION
OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings my invention is shewn as I propose to
carry it into practical application.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew two views to about the actual size of the instrument which I
propose to call Mellor's "Portophone."
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 shew respectively front side and back views of the head of a
person wearing the instrument.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 A. is the band or circlet, made of a thin strip of
some resonant metal or other suitable material and preferably covered with silk or
other soft substance. At the ends are fixed to it the ear pads B of cork, leather or
other good sound conducting material or combination of such materials and may be
covered, or partially covered, with silk or other soft material to protect the cars.
When in position the two pads cover the apertures of the ears, against which they
are pressed by the elasticity of the band or circlet A, so as to exclude all external
disturbing noises and convey to the ears, by the resonance of the material of the
connecting band or circlet, the identical sound or effect produced by the voice or
instrument of the performer as it is heard by the audience, simultaneously with its
production.
Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 it will be seen that when in use the instrument is
scarcely visible on Fig. 3 when the performer is facing the audience and that in
Fig. 4 one of the ear pads B can be seen covering the aperture of one car whilst in
Fig. 5 the circlet A is seen embracing the back of the head the two pads B closing
the apertures of the cars.
By the aid of this instrument the performer or teacher will be able to detect and
correct faults in accent, phrasing, punctuation, breathing, and all other points which
must necessarily be attended to, by all who wish to achieve success in the arts of
music or public speaking.
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 :-
An instrument consisting of two pads to fit over and close the apertures of the
ears, made of some good sound-conducting material, or combination of materials,
connected by some resonant material by which vocal or instrumental sounds produced
by the performer are gathered and conveyed to the car of the wearer simultaneously
with their production and identically as they are heard by the audience all external
disturbing noises being excluded from the ears.
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.,
Chartered Patent Agent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.