IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATED SHEETS FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORATED SHEETS FOR MECHANICAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS communicated to him from abroad by Mamert Hock,
of Saarlouis, in the Empire of Germany
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PERFORATED SHEETS FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," a communication
to me from abroad by Mamert Hock, of Saarlouis, in the Empire of Germany,.
This invention has for its object to produce perforated sheets for mechanical
musical instruments adapted to represent a larger number of music pieces and
which are at the same time not subject to the variations of the temperature which
often prevents the uniform feeding of the strips of perforated sheets over the.
rollers of musical instruments.
For this purpose I use sheets of perforated paper out in spiral shape and placed
in a circle round a vertical axle suitably situated and connected with the crank by
means of which the instrument is operated.
One end of the spiral shaped sheet is fixed to a disk mounted on the said axle
and provided with a series of pins which engage in a series of special perforations
situated round the centre of the spiral sheet.
When the crank is turned for the purpose of operating the instrument the pins
of the disk take hold of the spiral sheet and cause it to be conducted in the
manner of a spiral past the pins of the levers connected with the wind chest of the
instrument thereby allowing these pins to engage in the perforations representing
the various notes, whereby the melodies are played by the instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Patent Office on the 19th March
1884.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
PERFORATED SHEETS FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," a communication
to me from abroad by Mamert Hock, of Saarlouis, in the Empire of Germany,
Mechanical musical instruments, with perforated sheets, as hitherto known, have
the drawbacks that the perforated sheets are not adapted to represent long music
pieces and that the uniform feeding of the perforated sheets over two rollers is
effected with difficulty, owing to the influence of variations of temperature.
The present invention has for its object to obviate these two drawbacks by using
a system of perforated sheets constructed and arranged as illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, Figs 1 to 8, to which reference will be made in the further
description of this invention.
The feed of the perforated sheet is simple, and the sheet may be of a great
length so as not only to represent long music pieces, but also a whole series of
music pieces forming a regular programme of concert.
The arrangement is as follows:
The music sheet A. consists of a strip of paper cut out in the shape of a screw
thread and provided with perforations corresponding to the notes to be played and
serving to engage the noses or projections s of the levers h.
The levers h are connected with corresponding valves v, which arrangement in
combination with a supply of air produced by suction or pressure, causes the
reproduction of the music piece.
The music sheet, piled up helically, has a circular outline and forms in the centre
a hole through which passes the axle b. In addition to the hole the sheet is
provided with a series of small apertures i serving to receive the pins m, m, which
operate the sheet, when the disc M is turned on its axis, said pins being attached
to the disc M.
During this rotation the lowest convolution of the music sheet A passes first over
the plate E into the slit F of the latter, in the centre of which are situated the
noses of the levers h which are thus operated by the perforations of the music
sheet.
After passing the noses 8, the whole length of the sheet arrives gradually below
the plate E to pile itself up helically in the receptacle below in proportion as it is
fed from above.
The perforated music sheet arranged like a screw thread may also be used
without the levers h, in which case the air passes directly through the apertures
and the sounds are produced when the perforations of the sheet pass over the
apertures of the corresponding valve or air chambers or tubes.
⚫CLAIMS.
1. A perforated music sheet arranged or piled up in the shape of a screw thread
and adapted to be gradually turned over or across projections connected with
valve levers or over or across the apertures of valve chambers or air tubes.
2. Securing the helical music sheet to axle b and disc M by means of pins i.
The whole substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
th: 10th 1-
Mah AD 1004
.CLAIMS.
1. A perforated music sheet arranged or piled up in the shape of a screw thread
and adapted to be gradually turned over or across projections connected with
valve levers or over or across the apertures of valve chambers or air tubes.
2. Securing the helical music sheet to axle b and disc M. by means of pins i.
The whole substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 10th day of March, A.D. 1994.
H T HANDAN