A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS⚫ TO BE ATTACHED TO PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND OTHER SIMILAR KEYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, FOR PRINTING THE SCORE OF ANY MUSIC PERFORMED ON THE SAID INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Beverley Fenby, of Worcester, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS⚫
TO BE ATTACHED TO PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND OTHER SIMILAR KEYED
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, FOR PRINTING THE SCORE OF ANY MUSIC PERFORMED
ON THE SAID INSTRUMENTS.”
Sealed the 3rd July 1868, and dated the 18th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1863.
I, JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY, of Worcester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APParatus
TO BE ATTACHED TO PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND OTHER SIMILAR KEYED MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS, FOR PRINTING THE SCORE OF ANY MUSIC PERFORMED ON THE SAID
INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists of the mechanical arrangements herein-after
explained actuated by the agency of electricity, by the use of which the score
of any music played upon the musical instrument to which my Invention is
attached is registered or printed.
For convenience of description I will describe the nature of my Invention
with reference to a pianoforte, but my Invention is applicable to all similar

page_text: keyed musical instruments, such as organs and harmoniums. Under the
inner ends of the keys of the pianoforte, or the parts most distant from the
points acted upon by the fingers of the performer, is placed what may be termed
an electrical intermittent bridge, consisting of small brass studs or piers bedded
in gutta percha, or other insulator. These studs are from one-third to
one-fourth of an inch square on the upper surface, and so placed that each
stud, except the end ones may lie, one half under one key, and the other half
under the next one, small pieces of thin brass made elastic by hammering are
screwed about one inch in front of the row of studs, and made of such a
length as to make good contact with the studs, but of such width as to fit
under each key without any metallic contact with contiguous springs. The
springs only require sufficient elastic tension to raise themselves when left
free to do so. They are held down in position upon the studs by the weight
of the keys lying over them, and thus from-side to side of the keyboard an
uninterrupted electric bridge is formed, but capable of being broken in any
one or more places by using the keys of the instrument as in playing. To.
the aforesaid studs are fastened the wires necessary to form an electric passage
round the helical coils of a series of electro-magnets equal in number to the
keys of the pianoforte. The said electrical passages are at all times unbroken,
but being by far the longer of the two paths open to the electric current the
shorter circuit or line of least resistence will be taken by the electricity unless
interrupted by permitting the rise of one or more of the springs aforesaid; when
thus interrupted at any point by the motion of the key the electricity passes
through the coil of the electro-magnet at that point, and the magnetism
induced effects the printing of the note struck in the manner herein-after ex-
plained. As one or more keys are struck the action of the enclosed electro-
magnets will print the note or notes and all other marks required by the action
of suitable mechanism. As the action of the magnets depends on the time in
which the piece of music is performed, the duration of each note will be
accurately marked by the continuous action of the printing or writing process.
When a note is struck upon a part of the paper requiring ledger lines, the
number of these ledger lines required will be ruled by self-acting ruling
points. The permanent staves will likewise be ruled in the machine by its
own action, the paper being put in quite blank. The ruling is performed.by
the action of an electro-magnet, and can be thus regulated as to position on
the paper. The magnets for marking the notes, as also for ruling act by
means of an armature and rod of proper length, and thus apply metallio
points to paper moving at a uniform rate, depending on the musical time,

page_text: over a transfer roller, thus producing lines of any desired length and thickness.
When any mark requiring the use of type is required, as for printing sharps,
flats, naturals, and other characters of special form, the sudden stamp.
necessary to avoid obliteration by the sliding of the paper under the type is
achieved by the use of certain trigger and spring arrangements, which, being
struck by a projecting tooth upon the magnetic rod as the said rod passes
when drawn by the magnet, force the type by a sudden impact against the
paper. The aforesaid teeth are moveable in returning, so as to allow them to
pass over the triggers without affecting them in the return of the rod, when the
magnetic action ceases by the fall of the key and the consequent adjustment
of the spring bridge. The signature of the music is to be struck by type as
follows: Signs of the cleffs and the time signs are each to be. struck by
permanent type placed in a proper position, and with the customary bracket
attached. Moveable forms contain the sharps and flats arranged as necessary
for the different musical keys or scales, and on touching the proper stop, that
is, one out of a certain number of stops berein-after mentioned, the necessary.
sharps or flats will be fixed in "form" with the other parts of the signature,
and then struck by the action of the voltaic battery at the same time that
the ruling is applied to the paper. The type of sharps, flats, and naturals
will be adjusted all through the instrument by the movement of any one
stop, that is to say, as follows:-If the performer be about to play in the
key of A natural, a stop marked with the three sharps proper to that key is
touched, and by a suitable action the type for three sharps will be placed in
the signature, and the sharps of F, C, and G will be removed from the keys
printing those notes, so that the sharp signature may not be prefixed to these
notes in the body of the music, but only in the signature of each stave. By
the same stop the natural keys F, C, aud G will be furnished with type to
print the necessary signatures in the body of the music whenever accidental
naturals occur. The whole instrument may be made to write on sharp or
flat keys by the movement of one stop, and then the required number of
sharps or flats regulated as already described, and thus any required modulation
of key accurately denoted upon paper by the usual marks of musical notation.
If these stops are furnished with magnets they will act without strain, and the
printing can be done at any distance from the pianoforte or organ, the two
instruments being merely connected by wires, the intermittent electrical bridge
and the stops being the only addition to the musical instrument. The printing
instrument may be conveniently placed underneath a pianoforte or organ, or
on the other hand in a different room from that in which the pianoforte or

page_text: organ stands. The paper on which the music is printed is to be drawn by
clip rollers of suitable dimensions, the motion of which is regulated by a train
of toothed wheels and a pendulum that the paper may be drawn at any fixed
rate. The pendulum will have the bob in two parts, so that by sliding the
upper half of the bob up or down the rod of the pendulum, the centre of.
gravity and thence the rate of vibration of the pendulum may be altered.;
and likewise this motion of the half bob will be regulated by the stop, which
is put in to insert the time type in the signature, and the instrument thus
at all times beats correct time. The motive power employed to work the
toothed wheels may be derived from clockwork or an electro-magnetic engine.
If the engine be used the instrument will never require winding up. A knife
with parallel motion is placed just within the instrument at the opening left
for the egress of the finished score, and, when desired, this knife severs the
score from the paper within, but is so adjusted that it cannot cut the paper
at any but the right place, namely, between the signatures.. Any words, letters,
or other marks may be struck by the magnets on any part of the paper if the
suitable type be put in before the performance is commenced, and the instru-
ment as completed will contain type for all essential characters of musical
notation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed:
by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BEVERLEY FENBY, of Worcester, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, Her special licence that I, the said
Joseph Beverley Fenby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Joseph Beveley Fenby, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for.

page_text: "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE ATTACHED TO PIANOFORTES,
ORGANS, AND OTHER SIMILAR KEYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PRINTING THE
SCORE OF ANY MUSIC PERFORMED ON THE SAID INSTRUMENTS," upon the condition
(amongst others), that I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument 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 Joseph Beverley Fenby,. do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists of the mechanical arrangements herein-after
explained actuated mainly by the agency of electricity, by the use of which
the score of any music played upon the musical. instrument to which my
Invention is attached. is registered or printed.
For convenience of description I will describe the nature of my Invention
with reference to a pianoforte, but my Invention is applicable to all similar
keyed musical instruments, such as organs and harmoniums. Under tho
outer ends of the keys of the pianoforte are placed what may be termed elec-.
trical intermittent bridges, consisting of small studs or brackets bedded in
gutta percha or other insulator. One of these bridges is placed under the
white keys, and another under the black keys. The said brackets are from
one-third to one-fourth of an inch square on the upper surface, and so placed
that each bracket, except the end ones, lies wholly under one key. Small
pieces of thin brass made elastic by hammering are screwed about two or
three inches in front of the row of brackets, and made of such a length as to
make good contact with the brackets, but of such width as to fit under each
key without any metallic contact with contiguous springs. The springs only
require sufficient elastic tension to raise themselves when left free to do so.
The fixed end of each spring is connected by a wire with the bracket over the
adjacent spring. There is thus formed from side to side of the keyboard two
uninterrupted electric bridges capable of being broken in any one or more
places by using the keys of the instrument as in playing. To each of the
aforesaid brackets is fastened one end of the helical coil of an electro-magnet,.
the other end of the said coil being connected with a metallic stud underneath
the key. When the key is depressed the stud underneath it strikes the spring,

page_text: and depressing it diverts the electrical current from its path, and directs it
through the coil of the electro-magnet belonging to the depressed key. Any
number of keys being depressed the current suffers as many changes of path,
that is, by the depressing of each key the current is at that point directed
through the coil of the electro-magnet. The magnetism induced in the
electro-magnet effects the printing of the note struck in the manner herein-after
explained. As one or more keys are struck, the action of the enclosed electro-
magnets will print the note or notes and all other marks required by the
action of suitable mechanism. As the action of the magnets depends on the
time in which the piece of music is performed, the duration of each note will
be accurately marked by the continuous action of the printing or writing
process. The permanent staves are likewise ruled in the machine by its own
action, the paper being put in quite blank. The magnets for marking the
notes act by means of an armature and rod of proper length, and thus apply
inetallic points to paper moving at a uniform rate, depending on the musical
time, over a transfer roller, thus producing lines of any desired length and
thickness. When any mark requiring the use of type is required, as for
printing sharps, flats, naturals, and other characters of special form, the sudden
stamp necessary to avoid obliteration by the sliding of the paper under the
type is achieved by the use of a certain trigger and spring arrangement, which,
being struck by a sliding rod acted upon by the armature of the magnet, forces
the type by a sudden impact against the paper. The whole instrument may
be made to write on sharp or flat keys by the movement of a pedal, and thus
any required modulation of key accurately denoted upon paper by the usual
marks of musical notation. The printing instrument may be conveniently
placed underneath a pianoforte or organ, or on the other hand in a different
room from that in which the pianoforte or organ stands. The paper on which
the music is printed is drawn by clip rollers of suitable dimensions, the motion
of which is regulated by a train of toothed wheels and a pendulum, or by a
worm and worm wheel. The motive power employed to work the toothed
wheels may be derived from an electro-magnetic engine.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents my Invention in front elevation, and Figure 2 repre-
sents the same in back elevation; Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section,
and Figure 4 an end elevation of the same. The other Figures represent
detached portions of the same, as herein-after explained. The same letters

page_text: are employed to indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawings.
The paper upon which the music performed is to be printed is coiled on a
shaft or drum a, and is marked b. The said paper in its passage through the
apparatus passes over the roller c, and is printed while supported on the said
roller c.
The motion of the paper b is effected by the clip rollers d, d. The
motion of the rollers d, d, is effected by a worm on the shaft e gearing with a
worm wheel on the axis of one of the said rollers d, d. The roller c is covered
with black tracing paper, or covered with any black composition which will
readily leave it by percussion or pressure. The stave is printed upon the
paper 6 after the notes have been impressed thereon by means of the roller f,
having upon it two series of projecting threads of five each series, as best seen
in Figure 2. The roller f is pressed against the roller c by means of the
india-rubber bands g, as seen in Figure 4, or by any other kind of spring. A
slow uniform motion is given to the paper b, during which motion the tracers,
herein-after described, are made to press upon the said paper and cause it to
take up the black matter on the roller c, at the same time a shuttle, herein-
after described, is made to play rapidly backwards and forwards over the
highest point of the roller c and near the line in which the ends of the said
tracers act, the said shuttle carrying through the whole range of the tracers
accidental sharps, flats, and naturals, to be impressed when necessary at or
near the mark made by any one or more of the tracers.
The fixed end
in the manner
Figure 5 represents in elevation, and Figure 6 in plan, the arrangement of
parts constituting the intermittent electrical bridges. is the key of the
pianoforte carrying a metallic stud i, connected with one end of the electro-
magnetic coil k.l, of the electro-magnet m; n is a spring underneath the key h,
the free end of which in its normal position presses against the under side of
the bracket o connected to the end of the magnetic coil k; l.
of one spring n is connected to the bracket o of the next spring
which will be best understood by an examination of Figure 6. The arrange-
ment represented in Figure 5 is repeated under every key of the pianoforte.
When none of the keys are pressed down; the electrical current passes
through the springs and brackets o without passing through any of the
electro-magnets m. When, however, one of the keys h is pressed down, the
stud striking the spring n breaks communication between the said spring
and bracket, and the current passes from the spring n through the stud ;
wire k, coil of the electro-magnet m, and wire to the bracket. Magnetism is.
thus induced in the electro-magnet m, the armature m² is drawn down upon

page_text: the poles of the magnet, and the said armature made to act upon the tracers
in the manner herein-after described. The action last described takes place
with respect to any number of keys that may be depressed either in succession
or simultaneously. The continuity of the electrical current never being inter-
rupted, the depression of the keys only deflects the current through the electro-
magnets. I do not think it necessary either to describe or to represent the
voltaic battery employed. The manner in which the armature m² acts upon
the tracers is best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The armature m², Figure 5, is
connected by a wire or cord p to a horizontal lever g. The said lever q is
connected by another wire or cord r to the tracer s, and as the armature m³
descends, the upper end of the tracer s presses upon the paper b near the
highest point of the roller c, the pressure of the said tracer upon the paper
being maintained so long as the finger of the performer presses down the key
of the pianoforte. The face or acting end of the tracers is nearly flat, being
rounded at its edges to prevent abrasion of the paper.
I will now proceed to describe that part of the instrument which I have
herein-before called the shuttle, and which has for its object the printing of
any required accidental sharps, flats, and naturals. The said shuttle consists
of a metallic box t containing the parts herein-after described, which said box
slides in the race u. The motion of the said box t is effected through the
rod v fixed thereto. The rod v carries a link w, in which a crank pin x
engages. Motion being given to the axis carrying the crank on which the
pina is fixed, a horizontal reciprocating motion is given to the rod v and
shuttle t. I have not thought it necessary to represent the axis and crank by
which motion is given to the crank pin x.
The shuttle t is represented, in part, in front elevation in Figure 7, and on
a larger scale, and complete, in Figure 12; Figure 8 is an elevation of the
shuttle with the front plate removed; Figure 9 is a plan with the top
removed; and Figure 10 is an end elevation of the same. In the box or
shuttle t are three steel disks 1, 2, 3, of equal size. On the periphery of one
of the disks four or other number of types proper to produce the sign used to
indicate "flat" are fixed, and the other two disks carry "natural" and
"sharp" types respectively. Through holes in the disks 1 and 8 a number
of pins slide equal to the number of the types on the peripheries of the said
disks 1 and 3. These pins are marked 1 and 3* respectively. These pins
are made fast to steel disks marked respectively 1 and 3b, capable of a sliding
motion on the axes of the disks 1 and 3. When an accidental flat has to be
printed the disk 1 is to be brought into gear, when an accidental sharp has

page_text: to be printed the disk 3, and when an accidental natural the disk 2. The
disks 1 and 3 are thrown into and out of gear in 'the following manner':―
A lever pedal, on either end of which the foot of the performer can be
placed, is made to connect the electrical bridge of the black keys with the
voltaic battery, and at the same time to throw the large electro-magnet 4 into
the circuit. The armature of the electro-magnet 4 draws down the connecting
rod 5 and lever 6, and thereby opens the door 7 at the back of the race, and
partially closes the door 8. The shuttle t carries an arm 10 turning freely
upon its axis, and carrying at its outer end a roller 11. As the shuttle slides
in the race the roller 11 bears against the back of the slot 12 (see Figure 3),
and the arm 10 is depressed, but when the roller 11 comes opposite the open
door 7, the roller 11 is liberated. Within the shuttle t are two other arms 13
and 14, turning upon the same centre as the arm 10, and the said arm 10 is
made to press on one or other of the arms 13, 14, by the pressure of the
roller 11 against the slot 12. The arms 18, 14, are furnished with elongated
holes, through which the spindles of the type wheels 1 and 3 pass, and
when the arm 10 presses upon either of the arms 13 or 14, the sliding pins
1 or 3 are pressed outwards. In Figure 9 the pins 1ª are represented
pressed outwards, and the shuttle is prepared to print a flat. When the
door 7 is closed and the door 8 opened the arm 10 (Figure 9) will be thrown
to the right and made to press upon the arm 14, and the machine will then
be ready to print a sharp. The lever 6 may be made to close the door 7 and
open the door 8, either by being so weighted that when the electro-magnet 4 is
not in action it assumes that position, or by the use of a second electro-magnet.
The manner in which the projection of the pins 1ª causes the machine
to print flats is as follows:-When the key of the pianoforte acts upon a
lever and causes a tracers to print, the hooked end of the lever q being
raised out of the notch in the finger 15, the said finger is urged forward
horizontally by the spring 16, and when the shuttle passes from left to right
the end of the finger 15 is struck by one of the projecting pins 1º, there is
thereby produced a partial rotation of the type disk, and one of the types
carried by the disk is brought to the lowest point of the circumference of the
disc, as seen at 17, Figure 8. The said type in assuming this position comes
in contact with the paper, and by its pressure prints a flat. The motion of the
shuttle immediately produces a little further rotation of the disk, and the type
retires within the shuttle. The manner in which the type disks are retained
in their position with the requisite amount of force by means of T pieces and
springs will be understood by an examination of Figure 8. The middle type

page_text: disk for printing accidental naturals has no sliding pins similar to those of the
outer disks, the pins acting on the middle disk being fixed in a disk 18 imme-
diately over the disc 2, and projecting through the top of the shuttle. The
disk or wheel 18 gears with a wheel fixed at the back of the type disk 2, and.
of the same size as the said disk or wheel 18. It is necessary that the flats,
sharps, and naturals should be printed only during the motion of the shuttle
from left to right, or towards the crank pin x, and also that each type
should print but once, however long the key may be held down. This is
effected in the following manner-Upon the frame 19, through which the
fingers 15 work, is supported a horizontal rod 20, upon which rod a double
cam 21 slides. This rod and cam are shewn separately in Figure 11.
The cam 21 turns upon a centre 22, and may assume any of the positions.
upon the said centre represented in Figure 11.
. The said compound cam consists essentially of two inclined faces situated
at right angles to one another; the prominent end of each incline being pre-
sented to the prominent end of the other, one of the said inclines however makes
a greater angle with the face plate of the cam than the other, and its highest.
end consequently projects more than that of the other, as best seen at 21 in
Figure 3. Whenever the cam 21 moves from right to left it assumes the
position represented at 21, Figure 11, and when the said cam moves from
left to right it assumes the position represented at 21b, Figure 11; 21° repre-
sents the position of the cam at either end of its stroke. The action of the
cam 21 upon the shuttle t is as follows:-Supposing the shuttle to be moving
from right to left, that is, from the crank pin a, and that the door 8 is open,
the type disk 3 will be in action, the tappet 23 (Figure 12) will likewise be in
action, being thrown in by the action of the roller 11, which put the type disk
in action. The throwing into action of the tappets 23 and 24 is effected by
the mechanism marked 25; the tappets 23 and 24 are represented separately.
in Figure 13. As the shuttle moves from right to left the cam 21 will move
between the tappets 23 and 26, being directly propelled by the tappet 26, the
position of the cam being such during the continuance of the motion from right
to left as precisely to cover the centre of the sharp disc 3 and prevent the
action of the printing by partially pushing back any projecting finger. On the
passage of the cam from the finger thus temporarily forced back, the said
finger not having been pressed back sufficiently far to be retained by the
lever g or pall 28 will resume its projected position by the pressure of the
spring 16, but on the reversal of the motion of the shuttle, supposing the same
door 8 to be opened, the cam 21 will be brought back by the tappet 23, and

page_text: the edge of the cam will immediately follow the centre of the sharp disk 3,
thus allowing any projecting finger to strike the projecting pin of the said
sharp disk 3, which being done, the cam will immediately put back the finger
far enough for the pall 28 to retain it by engaging in the second notch in the
finger 15. If the door 7 be now opened and the door 8 closed, the tappet 23
will be drawn back by the action of the spring 29, and on the first motion of.
the shuttle from left to right, as the tappet no longer projects to engage the
cam it will remain stationary upon the bar 20 till the shuttle arrives so far as to
bring the cam between the tappets 24 and 27. In order that the roller, having
changed from sharp disk 3 to flat disk 1; may also be accompanied by the
cam, the following arrangement is necessary:-The tappet 24 is inclined on
the face as shewn at Figure 13. The said tappet 24 has the spindle 32 attached
at the back, the end furthest from the tappet sliding freely in a hole in the
back of the shuttle. The forward motion of the tappet 24 is produced by
means of the bar 25, Figure 12, pushed forward by the arm 13, and turning
on the pin 31, there being in the bar 25 an elongated hole admitting the
spindle 32. The return motion of the tappet 24 is produced by the spring 29.
The coiled spring 83 permits of the yielding of the tappet when any pressure.
is applied to its inclined face. The object of this yielding is, that if the small
roller 11 project the tappet, when the cam is not between the tappets 24 and
27, the cam may gain admittance by pressure on the inclined face of the
tappet 24. The tappet 23 is the exact counterpart of the tappet 24. The
tappets 28 and 27 are at equal distances to the left of their respective type
disks, and the same agreement of distance exists between the tappets 24" and
26 to the right of their respective type disks. Between the palls 28 a series:
fine lines or wires 28 is situated. The said lines or wires are tightened by.
the roller 28%, and serve as guides to keep the palls over their respective
fingers. The roller 28 is fixed by the screw 28°. The arrangement of the
levers q, fingers 15, springs 16, and palls 28, together with all the accessory
parts, is repeated in a horizontal plane at such a distance above those repre-
sented as will bring the ends of the said second series of fingers 15 opposite
the pins of the disc 18, by which the printing of accidental naturals is effected.
The cam acting upon the fingers of the top frame is a counterpart of the cam
already described, and is acted upon by the tappets 33, 34, carried by the
brackets 35 and 36. The brackets 35 and 36 must be flush with the face of
the disk 18, and the tappets 33 and 34 must project sufficiently from the
brackets 85 and 36 to have their faces in the same vertical plane as the tappets
23 and 24 when in action. The two principal shafts of the machine may either

page_text: take their motion from the same motive power, or they may be moved by
power from independent sources, the rates of motion must however be uniform.
I have found in practice that the following rates of motion are convenient,
namely, fifteen inches per minute in the paper, and from fifty to one hundred
backward and forward motions of the shuttle per minute. I ordinarily
employ only thirty-seven tracers and fingers connected with a corresponding
number of keys in the middle of the keyboard of the pianoforte. In order to
print higher or lower notes I connect the six lowest notes in the bass with the
magnets of the keys an octave higher, and in the treble the thirteen highest
notes are connected with magnets of the keys an octave lower. In order to
indicate when the notes printed should be read an octave higher or lower I
connect a separate electro-magnet with the group of keys at either end, thus
printing an octave too high or too low, which electro-magnets being brought
into action by any one of the said keys produce marks over or under the note
printed, indicating that it must be read an octave higher or lower, as the case
may be. Although in playing in any key the flats, sharps, and naturals belong
to the notes in the body of the music, it is very desirable to make the
signatures as usual, and to stop out the said flats, sharps, and naturals except
where accidental. This may easily be achieved in two ways, first, by putting
additional notches in the fingers and making seven combs, each with teeth to
stop all the fingers of one name, that is, all the octaves, the said combs being
put into a sliding frame. The plan however that I prefer is as follows:-
Two rollers of hard wood of about an inch in diameter are suitably divided,
and rows of pins corresponding to the notes to be stopped out are fixed in
the said rollers as in the toothed rollers of musical boxes. The said rollers
are rotated by means of a magnet, the contact of which magnet is made and
broken by means of a spring pressing on an ivory or hard wooden disk having
metal studs turned down flush with the surface. Each stud makes contact
with the spring in passing, and thereby causes the magnet to put the rollers
one pin forward for every contact made, and the contacts being made of
corresponding number with the keys required, any key may be regulated by
one movement of an index.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself. to the precise details herein described and represented, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention, but I
claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the instrument

page_text: or apparatus for printing the score of any music performed on a pianoforte,
organ, or other similar keyed musical instrument, herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the arrangement of parts constituting what I have herein-before
called the shuttle, together with the accessory parts, herein-before described
and separately represented in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY. (L.S.)