IMPROVED INSTRU- MENTS OR APPARATUS TO AID IN TEACHING PERSONS TO PLAY UPON KEYED OR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Prittie Armstrong, of Caledonian Road,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED INSTRU-
MENTS OR APPARATUS TO AID IN TEACHING PERSONS TO PLAY UPON KEYED OR
STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS."
Sealed the 26th March 1872, and dated the 28th September 1871,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Prittie Arm-
strong at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th September 1871.
I, HENRY PRITTIE ARMSTRONG, of Caledonian Road, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS TO AID IN TEACHING PERSONS TO PLAY
UPON KEYED OR STRINGED MUSICAL IMSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:―
The Invention has for its object improved instruments or apparatus
to aid in teaching persons to play upon keyed or stringed musical
instruments.

page_text: The first part of the Invention relates to an instrument or apparatus
which is called a "dumb piano." This instrument or apparatus it is
preferred to form in three parts hinged together so as to enable it to be
folded up into the length of only one of the three parts when not required
for use, and it is provided with suitable straps and a handle, by which
an instructor or other person may readily carry it about from place to
place. Each of the three portions upon its upper surface when opened
out for use presents the appearance of a portion of a keyboard of a piano-
forte. It is preferred that the "dumb piano" thus formed should represent
five octaves, and one of the three sections or parts thereof is provided
with keys resembling those of a pianoforte more closely than the others,
inasmuch as they are acting keys, and are made capable of yielding to
the touch, and they are each caused to return into position when
relieved from pressure by means of springs, as is well understood. The
keys are all marked with ordinary letters, which serve to assist the pupil
in learning the positions of the notes represented in the scale.
Upon the under side of one of the three sections of the "dumb
piano" already explained is formed what is called a "digitorium," but
instead of arranging the keys thereof side by side parallel to each other,
as has heretofore been usual in such instruments, they are according to
the present Invention arranged radially in respect to each other,
whereby the pupil by practising upon those portions of the keys
thereof which are more divergent from each other will thus practice or
exercise upon additional intervals or spaces without augmenting the
number of keys, and in order to insure the pupil placing the fingers
correctly in position upon the keys divisions or walls formed of thin
strips of metal or wood are employed; these extend upwards to a
slight extent above the keys, and thus form guides which compel the
fingers to touch the keys correctly. These walls or strips also serve by
being suitably perforated to hold a music pen, a pencil, and a paper
knife when the instrument or apparatus is folded or out of use; and
a clip, which passes over the ends of the instrument when folded up,
receives a staple for a lock and contains a small ink holder. Upon the
insides of the under portions or sections are also formed paralleld ridges
upon which to exercise the fingers by stretching out or extending them,
and a V shaped portion is also formed with the object of affording
assistance in exercising the fingers of the pupil in a similar manner, as
is well understood.

page_text: "
The second part of the Invention relates to a "calisthenic gauntlet'
to be used with the aforesaid apparatus, and is worn by the pupil during
instruction and use of the already described instrument or apparatus.
It is constructed in the following manner :--A portion of the "gauntlet"
is formed preferably of sheet vulcanized india-rubber, which buttons
around the wrist of the pupil in a similar manner to a glove. That
part of the "gauntlet" which covers the back of the hand carries
a metal plate attached to a leathern portion of the " gauntlet,"
which passes around the hand, and serves to hold that part of the
"gauntlet" correctly in position. In the metal plate just referred to
are formed four rows of narrow slits or openings (one row opposite each
finger) through which are passed strips of india-rubber or other suitable
springs. To the outer ends of these springs are attached thimbles or
sockets, into which the pupil's fingers are placed, the action of these
springs serving to aid in straightening out the fingers. Fixed to the
leathern portion of the guuntlet which comes opposite the palm of the
hand is a socket suitably formed to receive a slight strip or bar of
metal, to which are attached other sockets or thimbles, and these serve
to receive the sockets of the finger tips already described when it is
desired to exercise the separate use or action of the fingers. Such
sockets then as contain the fingers not required for the time being to
act are bent downwards into the palm of the hand, and are passed into
the sockets attached to and carried by the slight metal bar already
described; thus such fingers which for the time being it is desired should
not move with the others are securely held while the separate action
practice takes place. There are also connected thereto discs or tubes of
india-rubber to place between the fingers of the pupil for the purpose
of aiding the pupil in spreading them out or apart from each other.
To the last-named sockets or thimbles carried by the slight metal bar
are attached other springs, which when it is desired that additional
exertion or practice of the fingers shall take place are passed around
the ends of the fingers, carrying the first-mentioned thimbles or sockets,
on the back of which they are held by means of a small catch. The
fingers will then have to resist the action of springs arranged both above
and below them or on the front and back of them. These "gauntlets" are
also formed with a projection, in which a model of the finger-board of a
violin may be inserted; the action of the fingers in fingering being
greatly improved by this description of practice of overcoming the
resisting action of the springs. Upon this board just described are

page_text: represented the positions of the notes of the violin, which enables pupils
more easily to learn the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Prittie Armstrong in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PRITTIE ARMSTRONG, of Caledonian Road, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in
the thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Prittie Armstrong,
Her special licence that I, the said Henry Prittie Armstrong, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Prittie Armstrong, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS TO
AID IN TEACHING PERSONS TO PLAY UPON KEYED OR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRU-
MENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Prittie Armstrong, 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 Henry Prittie Armstrong, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: and
Is to be performed, to be partially deserve
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:
This Invention has for its object improved instruments or apparatus
to aid in teaching persons to play upon keyed or string musical instru-
ments.
The first part of the Invention relates to an instrument or apparatus
which is called a “dumb piano." This part of the Invention is shown
at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, of which Figures 1 and are two opposite
side views of the instruments or apparatus when fully extended.
Figure 2 is an edge view thereof. Figure 4 is a view of the same
when folded up, but omitting the divergent keys; and Figure 5 is a
cross section of part thereof.
This instrument or apparatus it is preferred to form in three
parts, A, B, C, hinged together, the part A being hinged at a to the
part B, the part B being hinged at 6¹ to an end or distance piece b, and
the part C being hinged at 62 also to the piece b, whilst the part C has
also hinged thereto the parts c, c¹, and c², which when the instrument or
apparatus is folded up, as shown at Figure 4, enclose it on the sides and
ends. By these means the instrument or apparatus may be folded up
into the length of only one of the three parts A, B, C. When not
required for use, and by means of suitable straps passed around the
instrument or apparatus and a handle applied thereto, an instructor or
other person may readily carry it about from place to place. The
instrument or apparatus when opened out, as shown at Figure 3, for use
presents the appearance of a portion of a keyboard of a pianoforte or
other instrument having a similar keyboard. It is preferred that the
"dumb piano" thus formed should represent five octaves, and one of
the three sections or parts thereof (the part A by preference) is pro-
vided with keys resembling those of a pianoforte more closely than
the others, inasmuch as they are acting keys, being hinged at a¹ to the
part A, and are made capable of yielding to the touch, and they are
each caused to return into position when relieved from pressure by
means of springs a³, as shewn by the section Figure 5, or by other
suitable means. The keys are all marked with ordinary letters, which
serve to assist the pupil in learning the positions of the notes represented
in the scale.
:

page_text: €6
Upon the under side of one of the three sections (preferably the
section A) is formed what is called a digitorium" A', but instead of
arranging the keys thereof side by side parallel to each other, as has
heretofore been usual in such instruments, they are according to the
present Invention arranged radially in respect to each other, as shown at
Figure 1, whereby the pupil by practising upon those portions of the
keys thereof which are more divergent from each other will thus
practice or exercise upon additional intervals or spaces without aug-
menting the number of keys, and in order to insure the pupil placing
the fingers correctly in position upon the keys, divisions or walls d
formed of thin strips of metal, wood, or other suitable material are
employed; these extend upwards to a slight extent above the keys, and
thus form guides which compel the fingers to touch the keys correctly.
These walls or strips d also serve by being suitably perforated, as shown
at Figure 5, to hold when the instrument is folded or out of use a music
pen, a pencil, and a paper knife, as shewn in red lines in Figure 1.
A clip e passing over the ends of the instrument when folded up, as
shewn at Figure 4, has a hole formed therein to receive a staple f¹,
carried by a projection f. from the portion B. This clip e contains a
small ink holder e¹, and is when required fastened to the instrument by
means of a lock passing through the staple f¹, or by other suitable
means. Upon the insides of the portions or sections B, b, and C, are
also formed parallel ridges upon which to exercise the fingers by
stretching out or extending them, and a V shaped portion or projection h
is also formed or fixed on the section B with the object of affording
assistance in exercising the fingers of the pupil by spreading them out
or apart from each other, as is well understood.
"
"
The second part of the Invention relates to a calisthenic gauntlet"
to be used with the aforesaid apparatus, or separately if desired.
Figure 6 is a back view and Figure 7 is a front or palm view of a
"gauntlet' constructed according to this part of the Invention, and
Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of parts thereof. That part of the
gauntlet which passes around the wrist may be made of sheet vul-
canized india-rubber, and may be buttoned around the wrist in a similar.
manner to a glove, but in Figures 6 and 7 I have shown the body or
foundation a of the gauntlet to be made of leather and to be provided.
with straps and buckles 61, 62, to fasten it around the wrist and around
the back and palm of the hand and provide for adjustment. That part

page_text: '
of the gauntlet which covers the back of the hand carries a plate c
of metal or other suitable material in which are formed four narrow.
slits or openings c¹, or rows of narrow slits or openings (one slit or
opening or one row of slits or openings opposite each finger). Through
these slits or openings c' are passed strips of india-rubber or other.
suitable springs d, the inner ends of which are formed round and are
passed through and held in holes c² formed in the plate c, whilst to the
outer ends of the springs d are attached thimbles or sockets e, into which
the pupil's fingers are placed. The action of these springs serves to aid
in straightening the fingers. Fixed to the part a of the gauntlet which
comes opposite the palm of the hand is a socket or guide f, suitably
formed to receive a slight bar of metal g, as shown more clearly in
Figures 8 and 9, to which bar g are attached other sockets or thimbles h,
and these serve to receive the sockets of the finger tips already described
when it is desired to exercise the separate use or action of the fingers.
The bar g with the sockets or thimbles h may be moved endwise in the
guide to facilitate adjustment to any peculiarity in the shape of the
fingers. Such sockets e then as contain the fingers not required for the
time being to act are bent downwards into the palm of the hand, and
are passed into the sockets or thimbles h; thus such fingers which for
the time being it is desired should not move with the others arc
securely held while the separate action practice takes place. Also
connected to the plate c or to other suitable part of the gauntlet, or
separate therefrom if desired, are discs, tubes, or cylinders i of india-
rubber or other suitable material, as shown at Figure 6*, to place
between the fingers of the pupil for the purpose of aiding the pupil in
spreading them out or apart from each other. These discs or tubes i are
connected by cords to a plate, which when in use may be passed
under the plate c, Figure 6, or under the strap 6**, Figure 12. To the
sockets or thimbles is fixed a wire or rod h¹, to which are attached
other springs j, which when it is desired that additional exertion or
practice of the fingers shall take place are, as shown at Figure 7, passed
around the ends of the fingers carrying the thimbles or sockets e, on the
back of which they are held by means of small catches or clips e',
suitable notches e² being formed in the outer ends of the thimbles or
sockets e to retain the springs j in correct position. Or if desired, instead
of passing the springs j around the ends of the fingers, they may be
brought over one or other side of the fingers, as shown in Figure 6.

page_text: By these arrangements the fingers will have to resist the action of
springs arranged both above and below them, or on the front and back
of them, or separately, as may be desired.
For exercising the thumb I provide a stall or socket e* of india-rubber,
connected to the part a by a cord e**, and when required I connect one
end of a spring d* thereto, the other end of which is connected to the
buckle b².
.
When it is desired to exercise the separate use or action of the fourth
finger a cord is employed, which passes through the buckle 6, one end
of which is hooked to the socket or thimble e of the fourth finger and
the other to the thumb stall or socket ex; thus, by moving the thumb
outwards the fourth finger is doubled towards the palm of the hand, and
by moving the thumb towards the palm of the hand the fourth finger is
permitted to be extended.
Figures 10 represent a model of the finger board of a violin, which may
be mounted in the socket / opposite the forefinger, or in other suitable
socket mounted in the guide f, the action of the fingers in fingering
being greatly improved by this description of practice of overcoming the
resisting action of the springs. Upon this finger board are represented
the positions of the notes of the violin (not shown in the Drawings)
which enables pupils more easily to learn the same.
כי
At Figures 11 and 12 I have shown modifications in the construction
of the gauntlet, similar parts being marked with similar letters of
reference to those employed in Figures 6 and 7. It will be seen by
reference to Figures 11 and 12 that instead of the foundation a of the
gauntlet being in one piece, as in Figures 6 and 7, it is formed in two
parts, a¹, a², and the straps 6*, 6**, instead of forming a continuous band
from the wrist to the palm of the hand are used separately from each
other; the one to fasten securely around the wrist, the other to fasten
around the back and palm of the hand. In this case the part a¹ of the
gauntlet is made of india-rubber, and is fastened by hooks and eyes, as
shown (or by buttons), and the part a² is formed
suitable material, whilst the sockets or thimbles
and the sockets or thimbles e are replaced by
fingers e, connected by cords e** to the part a.
fixed a stud or button 68, to which an india-rubber
the other end of which is fastened to the strap 6*.
of leather or other
are dispensed with;
india-rubber stalls or
To the strap 6** is
spring d* is attached,
To the strap 6** are

page_text: also fixed other buttons or studs 6', to which and to the stud 63 one end
of each of the springs m is attached. These springs m then pass between
the fingers and over the palm of the hand to the part a¹, where they are
connected by hooks, as shown, or by other suitable means to the strap bx.
On the insides of the finger stalls ex are placed steel springs n, one end
of each of which is fixed to a stud n¹ fixed to the stalls ex, whilst the,
other is free to slide in guides formed in a piece of wood or other material
carried by the part a². By the employment of this form of gauntlet the
hand is held in the proper position for practice, whilst the fingers have
to resist the action of the springs n on the insides thereof, and of the
anuda xxx and nont al on the book as also of the finger stalls ex

page_text: enabling the separate action practice of any finger or fingers to take
place whilst the others are securely held, in manner substantially as
herein shown and described.
Sixthly. I claim the peculiar combinations and arrangements of the
parts of calisthenic gauntlets, in manner and for the purpose substantially
as herein shown and described.
Seventhly. I claim the employment of discs or tubes i of india-rubber
to place between the fingers of the pupil for the purpose of aiding the
pupil in spreading them out or apart from each other, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Eighthly. I claim the employment of a model of the finger board of a
violin in combination with calisthenic gauntlets, in manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Prittie Armstrong, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.