Musical Instruments.
Year: 1887

page_text: Musical Instruments.
We JOHANN MATHÄUS GROB, ANTON VINCENZ NIEMCZIк and ALFRED OSCAR
SCHUTTZE of Eutritzsch-Leipzig in the German Empire, Merchants do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "AN IMPROVED MEANS FOR THE AUTOMATIC PLAYING
OF KEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
"
This invention has reference to mechanism for application between key musical
instruments generally and apparatus for mechanically playing the same so as to form
one apparatus. Hitherto it has not always been practicable to bring the musical
instrument into connection with the mechanical playing apparatus owing to the
varying heights of the key board and keys, this having for effect either that the
hammers for striking the keys are placed too far off to bring them into sufficient
contact with the same or that they are too low down and operate too soon. It has
been attempted to remedy these disadvantages by lengthening or shortening the rod
connecting the mechanical playing apparatus with the instrument, so as to bring the
hammers to their proper position with regard to the keys but this method gives much
trouble.
The object of this invention is to provide a means by which one mechanical playing
apparatus may be made to serve for the automatic playing of key instruments
generally.
Referring to the accompanying drawing:-
A is a casing containing mechanical playing mechanism, B being a friction roller,
b one of a series of roller segments, c a lever the pointed end c² of which takes into
the perforations of a note sheet n. a¹ is one of a series of levers or hammers for
striking the keys T, and is a draw rod or connecting rod for communicating the
movement of roller segments 6 and lever c to levers or haminers a' and keys T. The
apparatus is carried on the instrument ate by the side plates d and fixed by the screw f.
When the apparatus is removed from one instrument and is to be used for playing
another having a keyboard of a different height, the levers or hammers a¹ will take
up the position 1 or 3. In order to be able to bring them at any time into say, the

page_text: position 2, the levers or hammers a¹ are mounted so as to oscillate upon a cross slide
bar h which may be moved up and down between the two side plates d (one of which
only is shewn) over a prismatic or V guiding surface. The cross slide bar is
provided at each end with a projecting part and each of the two side plates d with
similar part 2, an adjusting screw working in the two parts h³, 2 so as to turn
freely and be held in this latter by a fixed pin i and screw into the other part. When
it is desired to change the position of the levers a¹ say, from the position 1 or 3 to
the position 2 this is effected by turning the screws g to the right or left as the case
may be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is:
An arrangement for rendering apparatus serving for the mechanical playing of a
key instrument suitable for the playing of key instruments generally consisting of the
levers or hammers a¹ which may be adjusted vertically by means of a slide bar
operated by two screws or a similar arrangement substantially as described and
shewn.
A
1
1
1007
CAPITAINE & VON HERLTING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Inventors.