IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL TOPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN WHITELEY of 23 Croasdale Street, Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MUSICAL TOPS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in that class of Musical Tops which are
intended for the production of notes, chords, melodies, or scored pieces by the mere
act of spinning, whether such spinning be accomplished with a string, spring, or
other means,
The said improvements have regard, firstly, to the manner in which the currents
of air are created for the sounding of the reeds whereby the said notes, chords,
melodies or scored pieces are produced; secondly, to the mechanism whereby the
slotted plate or plates is or are caused to move over, or respectively over and under,
the reed plate or plates, for the production of the said notes, chords, melodies,
or scored pieces; thirdly, to the way in which the reeds and reed orifices are
respectively arranged on and made in the said reed plate or plates; and, fourthly,
to the mode in which the slots in the said slotted plate or plates are disposed and
made to permit the air to pass to the said reeds, for the production of the said
notes, chords, melodies, or scored pieces.
The body of my spinning-top is hollow; constructed of sheet-metal; and divided
transversely into two halves or parts which are joined together in the usual way
by making a flange on the edge of one part or half; bulging out the edge of the
other part so that its diameter will be greater than that of the former part minus
the flange, and less than that of the said former part plus the flange, to prevent
slipping inside; and then bending the said flange under the said bulging edge. In
what may be called the equator of the top, in the said hollow body, apertures are
made all round, which allow the exit or egress of the air which sounds the reeds,
and around what may be termed the poles of the top, apertures or holes are made,
in the said hollow body, which permit the entrance or ingress of the said air for
the sounding of the said reeds. Passing from pole to pole through the center of
the said body, and projecting above and below beyond it, is a spindle made of iron,
steel, or other suitable substance, the lower projecting portion being rounded and
serving as the part on which the top rotates. This spindle is made solid with the
said hollow body, and its upper projecting part serves for the spinning of the top.
.. 7774

page_text: Between the equatorial apertures or holes and the polar apertures afore-mentioned
are placed two horizontal circular reed plates, one above with the reeds on the
upper side, and one below with the reeds on the under side. These reed plates
have each a hole in them, in the middle, to permit the said spindle to pass through
them, and are fastened by being "sprung" into or soldered to the body of the top.
Or they may as well, when the case will admit of it, be soldered to the spindle, the
solder in all instances also preventing the waste of air. Between the two said
reed plates on a horizontal line with the said equatorial apertures, two or more
perpendicular blades made of tin or other suitable substance, radiate from the center
to the circumference. If only two blades be used they may be made in one piece
and have the two ends soldered to the body of the top, one on each side, the middle
being bent around the central spindle and the tube or sleeve over it hereafter
described. If more than two blades be employed they are all fastened at one end
to a ring or rings concentric with and as close as possible to the tube or sleeve
over the central spindle and at the other end to the said hollow body of the top.
These blades are curved as Appold curved his in the centrifugal pump, the convex
side being in the direction of rotation; are evenly distributed and properly
balance the top; and, lastly, fill the whole space longitudinally between the two
slotted plates hereafter described. Now when the top is spun, these curved
transverse blades drive the air out through the equatorial apertures, the partial
vacuum causing the ingress of air through the polar apertures or holes, the orifices
or perforations of the said reed plates, and the slots of the slotted plates, and the
shape of the body of the top is such that the section of air driven out gradually
decreases from the center of the top to the circumference.
Conveniently between the said reed plates a hole is made in the central spindle,
into which a shouldered pin or screw fits, which passes through an aperture in one
end of a helical or watch spring, the other end of the said spring being similarly
secured to the circumference of a spring-box which has a hole in its center and fits
loosely on the spindle. Or the two ends of the said spring may be fastened by
making them more narrow for a short distance, and bending the narrowed ends
into the holes of the spindle and spring-box respectively. To the under side of the
said spring-box is soldered a tube or sleeve of brass or other suitable substance,
which fits loosely on the spindle, the said tube being soldered at its lower end to
the lower slotted plate which is of about the same size and shape as the lower reed
plate and moves over it. To this tube or sleeve are fastened two eyes, of brass,
iron or other suitable substance, in two different horizontal planes, to each of which
is attached the end of a piece of catgut, rawhide, silk cord or other suitable string,
the two said pieces of catgut being intended to wind on and off the said tube,
sleeve or barrel without interfering with each other. The other ends of the said
catgut pieces are each secured to two weights of iron, lead, or other suitable
substance, which slide in opposite directions from the center to the circumference,
and vice versa, in the same perpendicular plane, and in the horizontal planes in
which the aforesaid eyes are fixed, along a stout wire or rod which extends across
the body of the top to which it is fastened on each side. This rod which is square
or otherwise shaped to prevent the weights, whose holes are correspondingly
formed from turning round, is bent in the middle to avoid the central spindle and
tube, and also similarly manipulated to cause the weights to slide in the different
horizontal planes, and to limit the distance in which the said weights may travel.
Or solder may be used for this last purpose. Instead of the wire or rod, a pipe or
two separate pipes may be employed for the weights to slide in. In that case each
cord will be fastened right through the center of its weight, while, in the other
instance, the said cord may be divided near the weight, so as to have two or more
points of attachment. To the cover or lid of the spring-box which fits loosely like
the box on the central spindle and which is "sprung" into its position in the usual
way, and soldered, if necessary, is fastened a tube, barrel, or sleeve like the one
below, the said tube being soldered at its other end to the upper slotted plate,
which moves under the upper reed plate. The two slotted plates, the two tubes,

page_text: spring-box, and the said lid or cover are thus practically all one piece, and work
round, to and fro, on the central spindle to which they are connected as aforesaid
by means of the helical spring. It will be understood that the aforementioned
transverse blades are cut where necessary to accommodate this mechanism. Now
the various parts are so arranged that when the top is spun, the weights fly out
from the center to the circumference and wind up the spring in the spring-box by
pulling the said catgut pieces off the said sleeve, barrel or tube which is moved
round on the spindle along with the spring-box, its cover, upper tube, and both
slotted plates. As the top rotates, its speed diminishes and the spring which is so
constructed as to decrease in power at the same rate as the centrifugal force of the
weights, gradually pulls the aforementioned spring-box, lid or cover, upper and
lower tube, both slotted plates, said two weights and their cords, all back to their
former position, and thereby produces with the help of aforesaid currents of air,
the said notes, chords, melodies or scored pieces. The spring, however is never
allowed to run completely down, for before the top ceases to spin, the notes will
stop playing, through lack of wind, and there must be sufficient strength of spring
left to overcome the centrifugal force of the two weights and keep them at the
ends of their journeys inward. Moreover, if the spring were attached to the
central spindle with the shouldered pin or narrowed end not bent after passing
through the spindle hole the said spring would leave its position, and such would be
the case, under the condition named, between the spring and its box if the former
were wound too high. Again, if the spring used be of the same power all the time,
it will be necessary to make the parts of the tube on which the aforesaid catgut
pieces wind, of gradually decreasing diameter which will be least where the centri-
fugal force of the weights is greatest. Where a tune or scored piece is played the
distance which the weights are permitted to travel and the length of cord allowed to
wind on and off the tube, are sufficient to cause one complete revolution or less of the
slotted plates. It is necessary that the top should be spun upon a porcelain plate or
similar surface that the degree of friction may be the same all the time in order
to ensure regularity in the said tune or scored piece. The greater this friction, the
more quickly will the top cease to spin, and the more quickly will the tune or
scored piece he played. Or the speed at which the notes, chords, melodies or
scored pieces are performed may be regulated by increasing or diminishing the size
of the weights or the power of the spring or again in another manner hereafter
specified.
Instead of the spring-box and spring being placed as shown, they may be situate
below the lower reed plate, and the two slotted plates connected by a continuous tube
or sleeve which will be extended right through the lower slotted plate to which it
will be attached, and through the lower reed plate to the spring-box to which it will
be fastened as before. The cover or lid of the spring-box will then preferably be
underneath. The said spring-box, however, should be so placed as not to interfere
with the ingress of air through the lower polar apertures to the reeds. The box, with
its spring, could, of course, be put between the upper reed plate and the upper polar
apertures, and then the lid or cover would preferably be on the upper side of the
box instead of underneath, but it is desirable to place everything as low down in
the toy as possible to ensure steadiness in spinning. With this object in view the
lower half or part of the aforesaid hollow body is weighted by "springing" into
it a ring of iron, or by other means. Instead of a helical or watch spring being
used, above or below, as just related, a spiral spring may be placed round the
spindle, one end of the said spring being passed through a hole in the said spindle
and bent, and the other end secured to the tube connected with the slotted plates.
In this case, however, a shoulder must be made on the spindle for the tube to rest
and run on, the tension of the spring being sufficient to keep the tube to its place.
Again, the said spiral spring may be constructed to unwind from the spindle when
the top is spun, or the opposite may take place. In the former case, the coils of
the spring will be without tension when close to the spindle, and in the latter,
when away from the said spinile. Furthermore, a spiral spring may be used in

page_text: the middle of the top instead of the helical or watch spring, one end of the spring
being fastened to the spindle as before, and the other to the tube or sleeve con-
necting the slotted plates, but the said tube will have to enclose the said spring, as
the spring-box, which was virtually an enlarged part of one continuous tube
connecting the slotted plates, did the watch spring, and be of increased diameter
for the purpose.
As before, a shoulder on the spindle, above or below, will be
necessary, according as the spring is placed downwards or upwards from its point
of attachment to the spindle.
When my spinning-top is small I employ as many reeds as there are notes to be
played. In other words, every reed is only played once during each spinning. If
only one reed plate and one slotted plate be used, these are preferably placed
below, and the aforesaid transverse blades then fill the whole space longitudinally
between the slotted plate and the hollow body of the top, the upper polar apertures
being dispensed with. The reeds are disposed radially round the plate, as close
together as possible, in the order in which they are to be played and at the same
distance from each other where the notes are of the same length, the vibrating
end of each reed pointing towards the center of the reed plate. Now as the speed
of the top gradually diminishes after spinning, the pressure of air to blow the
notes will decrease in the same ratio. Therefore, the orifices in the reed plate
opposite the reeds will have to be largest where the pressure of air is least and
vice versa. On the side of the reed plate opposite that the reeds are ou,
I paste,
glue or fasten a piece of soft paper, cardboard, felt, leather or other suitable
substance which serves the additional purpose of decreasing the waste of air, and
opposite each reed I make a hole or orifice of the requisite size. If the notes to be
played are all of the same duration, each orifice will be of the same width but of
gradually increasing length. In the slotted plate is a single slot which is as long
as the length of any orifice in the reed plate and which passes over each orifice
and its reed in succession. This slot is so wide that when one reed has ceased to
play the next immediately commences, and, moreover, the said slot is of the same
shape as the transverse or cross section of a truncated wedge, the widest part
being the greatest distance from the center of the slotted plate, as the speed is
greatest at that point. In order to make one note longer than another, the width
and length of the reed orifice on the reed plate must vary and the distanco to the
next reed augmented to the saine extent as the width of the said reed orifice is
diminished. Suppose, for instance, the slotted plate is moving from left to right,
it being understood that a reed cannot sound till the slot has opened completely its
orifice, and that it is required to lengthen a note, then the width of its reed orifice
must be lessened and the length correspondingly increased, but this decrease in
width must be on the left of the said reed orifice otherwise the said note will
commence to play before previous one has ceased. Now as the slot will have
further to move in order to shut off the first-mentioned note, the next reed and its
orifice will have to be placed correspondingly further to the right, and the differenco
in the length of two notes played will be determined by the difference in the
widths of their two reed orifices. If two reed and two slotted plates be employed,
or one reed and one slotted plate with two rows of reeds, the distance which the
slotted plate or plates have to travel to produce a series of notes may be lessened by
placing part of the reed on one reed plate, or in one row, and the remainder on the
other reed plate, or in the other row. The reeds allotted to each reed plate when
there are two, may be further divided into two rows, every succeeding note being
played in a different row from that of the said note's immediate predecessor.
Each row of reeds has a slot on the slotted plates, the slots being of the saine
shape as that already described. Every reed oritice is of the same width, in the
several rows, where the notes are of the same duration, but of gradually increasing
length, as the wind pressure decreases, and notes of the same duration are placed,
as far as possible, in rows to themselves, the width and corresponding length of the
reed orifice, and the width of the slot together with the speed at which the said
slot travels determining the length of the note played in any row. As every part

page_text: of the slotted plates travels at a greater speed the greater the distance from the
center, the slots, where the reed orifices are of the same breadth, on the outer rows
of reeds, will be wider for the same length of note than on the inner rows, but
each individual slot will not have to move completely off a reed orifice and on to
the next before another note can be sounded, as the next reeds in the other rows
are arranged to play successively before the first slot is required to play again, or
its next reed. The tune may thus be played more quickly or more slowly, other
things being the same, by allotting a less or greater distance for the slots in the
slotted plates to travel for each note played, the said distance being determined by
the number of rows, the width and corresponding length of the reed orifice and
the space in a row between one reed orince and the next. It is not, however,
indispensable that every fourth note should be played in the same row if the said
distance allotted for each note be great enough to allow the slot to pass off one
reed orifice and on to the next while only one or two notes in the other rows
intervene. In this way a piece partially or wholly scored may be performed by
arranging for two or more reeds to play at the same time. When my tops are
larger I use only as many reeds as there are different kinds of notes of the musical
scale employed, except where two or more notes, alike in pitch, occur together and
these reeds I place in as many different rows. For instance, in the tune "Old
Hundred," there are eight different kinds of notes, but the first two, which are G
in the key of G Major, are alike. Again, at the end of the first phrase and the
commencement of the second, there are four B's in succession, in the key mentioned.
Instead of eight reeds, then, I shall require ten, the extra two being G and B, and
ten rows, five on each reed plate, it not being necessary to have all these four B's
played in different rows, if the distance, supposing the notes to be played by slots
moving at the same speed, through which a note has to play be nearly as great as
or greater than the width of the reed orifice plus the distance between one slot
and the next, for, in that case, the third B note may be played by the first B reed
and the fourth B note by the second B reed, each slot having had time to move
completely off its reed orifice and the next succeeding slot on to the said reed
orifice by the time each reed is required to sound a second time. In the two
slotted plates I have ten rows of slots, one row for each reed, the said slots varying
in width according to the length of note required, and in size as the wind pressure
decreases, and the notes, chords, melody, or scored piece proceeds, the narrower the
reed-orifice for the same width of slot in a row, the longer the note played. More-
over those reeds which are used the least are placed nearest the center of their
respective reed plates. In some instances it may be necessary to decrease the
length of the reed orifices in order to make the different rows, the part of the
orifice near the base of the reed, as it is not of much avail in causing the reed to
vibrate, being closed by the soft paper, cardboard, felt, leather or other suitable
substance aforementioned.
Dated thin
1007

page_text: Improvementsial ps
*
I, JOHN WHITELEY of 23 Croasdale Street, Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN MUSICAL TOPS" 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 improvements in that class of Musical Tops which are
intended for the production of notes, chords, melodies, or scored pieces by the mere
act of spinning whether such spinning be accomplished with a string, spring or
other means.
The objects of my invention are, firstly, to provide a stronger current of air for
the reeds; secondly, to secure an improved and simple mechanism for the movement
of the slotted disks whereby a continuous and regular motion may be had, and in
consequence a melody or scored piece not played in a jerking or imperfect manner;
and thirdly, to provide a system of arranging reed-plates, reeds and slots whereby
fewer reeds will suffice; a longer tune or scored piece may be played in the same
size of top, and continuity secured amongst notes played in succession.
is a
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1. is an elevation of the top with part of body a
removed showing end view of sliding weights f. Fig. 2. is a transverse section
of the top, exhibiting side view of weights f. Fig. 3 is a section through the
line A A showing upper surface of reed-plate j. Fig. 4 is a section through
the line B B showing upper surface of slotted disk l. Fig. 5 is a section
through the line C C, showing upper surface of slotted disk n. Fig.
section through D D, showing upper surface of cover o which is attached to
reed-plate p. Fig. 7 is a section through CC, showing the curved wind-plate d',
and a modified arrangement of weights sliding in tubes e¹. Fig. 8 is an end
view of weights f¹ and tubes e¹. Fig. 9 is side view and plan of helical spring 1
attached to L-shaped piece c¹ of the tube c, and spindle b. Fig. 10 is a plan
of a modified arrangement of cross-bar and sliding weights. Fig. 11 is an end
view of same. Fig. 12 is a plan of clip g. drawn to enlarged scale. Fig. 13 is a
side view of clip g drawn to enlarged scale, showing string wound on tube c.
Fig. 14 is upper surface of cover k. Fig. 15 is upper surface of slotted disk n, and
collar m. Fig. 16 is upper surface of reed-plate p, & Figs. 17, 18 and 19, are
respectively upper surfaces of reed-plate, cover, and slotted disk, illustrating part
of my system of arranging reeds and slots. Similar letters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views.
The body of the top a. is constructed of sheet-metal and consists of two parts
joined together at a¹. In the said body a which is weighted with an iron ring w.
apertures and t. are made for the entrance and exit of the air which blows the
reeds i and q. as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Passing through the body a
to which it is soldered above and below, is the spindle b, made of iron or steel and
pointed at the bottom to enable the toy to spin. In the said spindle b is a hole
through which one end of the spiral spring 7. passes, the said end being bent to
secure it, as shown in plan in Fig. 3. This hole, however, may be dispensed with,

page_text: $
and the end of the spring soldered to the spindle b. This spiral spring may
be sinistrorsal or dextrorsal and its coils which usually number eight or nine of a
quarter-inch diameter, may be slightly open and made from No. 11 steel pianoforte
wire. The other end of the spring is soldered to the tube c, which is made of brass
or other suitable substance and works round on the spindle b. In the arrangement
shown the spring r winds up from left to right. Its coils which are rather wider
than the spindle b thereby become slightly less in diameter, and the whole spring
longer. And the tube c would then go lower down, but it is prevented by the
washer 8, which is made of leather, wood, or metal and pressed tight on or soldered
to the spindle b. If the spring r were made with the coils running in the opposite
direction and the tube c worked round on the spindle b. in the same direction as
before, then the coils of the spring, which might be close to the spindle at the start
would unwind and become larger in diameter, while the whole spring would grow
shorter in length. The washer 8 would then have to be put against the upper en 1
of the brass tube c. to prevent it from rising but as this would be inconvenient
the arrangement shown is preferred. To the tube c, which may work in either
direction on the spindle b when the top is spun, if the reeds and slotted disks are
correspondingly arranged, are fastened two collars m and m', preferably made of haid
wood and pressed tight on the tube c. To these collars the slotted disks and n,
made of cardboard or other suitable substance, are glued or attached, but if they
are made of strong enough material, the collars may be dispensed with, and the
slotted disks pressed tight on the tube c. The disk . works under the reed-platoj,
which has its reeds i on the upper side, and just clears the disk l, while the slotted
disk works over and near the reed-plate p, which has its reeds on the under
side. These two reed-plates are fastened to the body a by being sprung" into
grooves made for their reception. To the body a. also is soldered a cross-bar e,
carrying stops u, made of wood, metal or other suitable substance and pressed
tight on, or soldered to, the bar e which is preferably square in section, and shown
in plan in Fig. 5, in a side view in Fig. 2, and in an end view in Fig. 1. This bar,
made of brass or other suitable substance which will not corrode, is bent round the
tube c and serves for the weights f to slide on, also made of brass or other suitable
substance and each weighing about forty grains. The holes in the weights ƒ for
the bar are of the same shape as the bar itself as shown in Fig. 1, and as near as
possible to the holes for the string h, and the distance which these weights f can
slide from the center outwards in the arrangement shown is the circumference of
the tube c, the said distance being limited by the stops u. In the middle of each
weight is a small hole shown in Fig. 1, for the two ends of a piece of string or
catgut h, which are threaded through and knotted, after one end of the said catgut
has been passed, with a tight fit, through the small loop g¹ forming a raised part
of the clip g, which is made of iron, steel or other suitable substance and pressed
tight down on to the tube c. This elastic clip, however, may be soldered to the
said tube, and in that case made of lighter metal. To the body a is soldered a
straight piece of tin d, shown in section in Fig. 1 and in a side view in Fig. 2.
This plate d extends upwards and downwards from one slotted disk to the other,
just clearing them, and serves for driving the air out of the top when it is spun,
through the apertures t, and creating a current of air for blowing the reeds when
slots in the disks and n are opposite them. Now the string his so wound on the
tube c. that when the top is spun on a smooth surface as a tin plate, the weights f. fly
out by centrifugal force, and pulling the catgut off the tube c. wind up the spiral
spring r, which may be placed below with the washer 8 at the top, and turn once
round the disks and n. The speed of the top gradually diminishing the spring "
pulls back the tube c with its slotted disks in the direction indicated by the arrow
in Fig. 4, and winds on the catgut h attached to the weights f, which gradually
approach the center. The slots in the disks and n passing over the reeds a tune
or scored piece is produced. The tension of the spring r must be sufficient to pull
the weights fully back before the air-current is too weak to play a reed, or which
is the same thing the weights must be sufficiently light for this purpose and in

page_text: order that the tune may be properly played, the spring and weights must increase
and decrease in power in a regular ratio. It is quite evident that instead of the
clip g, two metal eyes may be soldered to the tube c for the string h, but I prefer
the construction described. Instead of the two ends of the catgut h. being
respectively above and below the cross-bar e, the longer sides of the weights f. may
be in horizontal planes, and the two ends of the catgut h. level with the cross-bar,
which will then be higher on one side than the metal clip g. and lower on the
other, or the two ends of the string will not wind on the tube c in their proper
places. Care must always be taken that each hole in the weights f. for the string h.
must be directly opposite the side of the tube c its catgut has to wind on and off.
Instead of a cross-bar e squared or otherwise shaped to prevent the weights from
turning round, a double cross-bar e may be used, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
The holes in the sliding weights f' for the bar may then be round, while the
section of the cross-bar e² is the saine. It is evident that in this modified arrange-
ment one arm of the cross-bar e may be above the other instead of beside it.
Again, instead of a cross-bar, two tubes e', preferably square, may be used, as shown
in Figs. 7 and 8. The weights, f, in this case also preferably square, slide inside
the tubes e, which are connected together by bent bridge pieces es, and partially
closed at the ends to prevent the weights, f', coming out or travelling too far.
The tube, e, on one side is in a higher plane than that on the other, as shown in
Fig. 8.
When I employ these tubes I use a curved or S-shaped wind plate d¹
which produces a stronger current of air. This plate, d', is soldered to the body a
and bent as nearly as possible into the shape Appold bent his blades in the
centrifugal pump. The tubes el pass right through the plate d¹ and may be
soldered to it as well as to the body a. I use the straight wind-plated in the
other arrangements, because it is not necessary to cut it to allow the weights to slide.
When the curved plate d¹, however is employed, the top must be spun in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, instead of in either direction. In place
of the spiral spring . a helical spring, , shown in Fig. 9, may beuse 1. One end
of this spring is soldered, riveted or screwed to the spind'e b, and the other
similarly fastened to the L-shaped piece, c¹, which is a projection from the tube c.
As in the case of the spiral, the helical spring may be sinistrorsal or dextrorsal. In
the arrangement shown the top plays the tune known as the "Old Hundred." The
upper reed-plate j, has eight reeds i, as shown in Fig. 3, all pointing towards the
center except the reed E. To the under side of this reed-plate is glued or fastened,
preferably a piece of smooth paper, with slots as shown in Fig. 14.
are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and as the air-current gradually decreases
during the playing of the tune, they grow gradually larger, the increase being made
in the direction of their length. The size, however, may be otherwise increased,
provided the reeds i are placed in their proper positions. By the use of this cover k,
which prevents loss of air-current I am enabled to make two rows of reeds, as
the wind directed towards the base of a reed has little influence in sounding it.
Moving under this reed-plate with its cover k, in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Fig. 4, is the slotted disk l, shown with its two rows of slots in the
position it occupies when the top begins the tune.
These slots
These slots are of the shape of a transverse section of a truncated wedge, the
widest part being towards the circumference of the disk, and the two outer slots
vary in size as do the slots, in the inner row of the paper k and for the same
reason.
The slot in the inner row in the disk l, is as long as the longest of the slots in
the corresponding row, in the cover k, but the reed-plate j must be of sufficient
thickness to prevent the paper cover k from interfering with the vibration of the
reeds. The under plate, p, has four reeds, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.
These reeds q are so arranged that when the cover o, made of the same material
ask, is glued or fastened to the upper side of the reed-plate p there are four
distinct rows of slots in the cover o, but these slots are all of the same size and as
long as the longest in the disk 2 whose slots vary in size as those in the outer row

page_text: in the disk l. Moreover, these slots in the disk n vary in width in the different
rows for the same length of note, as the speed of the disk varies as the diameter.
The two slots in the innermost row, shown in Fig. 5 and 15, partly by dotted lines,
are partially covered by the collar m¹, which has two V-shaped grooves made in
it from the side, which extend about balf way up.
These two grooves correspond with the two slots aforementioned and are as long
inwards as the slots are under the collar, m¹, which is continuous all round on
the top.
The slotted disk n in the different figures is shown in the position it occupies
when the tune commences, and it then moves round in the direction indicated by
the arrow. It will be seen that the reeds and slot in the inner row in Fig. 3
and 4, are arranged differently from the other five rows.
16
This is necessitated by the small diameter of the top, for if sufficient rows with
only one reed each cannot be had those notes which occur the least number of
times are produced in a row to themselves. In the Old Hundred" there are
eight different kinds of notes. If the tune be in the key of G Major, as shown,
they range from 1 to D. In the arrangement described twelve reeds are used, the
four additional being G, F and two B's. The note Fonly occurs twice in the
tune, but as they are both played by one slot, an additional reed is necessary.
The same is the case with the B in Fig. 3, two B reeds being required. But as
there is a B reed by itself in the reed-plate p, these two additional B reeds are
rendered necessary for another reason hereafter given. At the commencement of
the tune there are two notes alike together, G, and at the end of the first phrase
and the beginning of the second there are four B's together. Now if the continuity
amongst the notes is to be preserved, an additional G and a B reed are necessary,
as a slot must move completely off an aperture in a cover, and another come on
before the same reed can be sounded a second time. Consequently two extra
reeds G and B must be employed, but as the fourth B note cannot be played in
the inner row on the reed-plate without an additional reed, three B reeds
altogether are required. In the tune there are thirty-two notes, and as they are
all of equal length, one thirty-second of the circumference of the slotted disks is
allotted to each note. If the one thirty-second be so short, that a slot that plays
a reed cannot move completely off its aperture in the cover and another come on
by the time that reed is required to play again, then an additional reed is required.
In other words, the space in the disks allotted to a note must be determined by
the distance between two notes of the same pitch. It will be understood that for
a given width of slot in a disk, the length of the note will depend upon the wind-
pressure, the size of slot in the cover, and the speed the slot in the disk is
travelling at.
As the tune begins with the same kind of note it ends with G, the last note in
the tune is played by a different reed from that the first is, for the slotted disks
might be arranged to travel twice round instead of once.
In this case a greater length of wire in the spring would be required to preserve
its form and elasticity, and the weights would have to fly out double the distance
or the tube c would have to be one-half the circuinference, but as the slots might
be arranged for a higher wind-pressure than would subsist when the tune was
played the second time, the continuity in the notes would not be preserved.
In the arrangement shown, the first note in the tune is that played by the
Greed in Fig. 3, and the last that played by the disk n.
While the inner slot in the disk is passing from the reed G to the reed Fin
Fig. 3, the second G is played in the other reed-plate p, and so on till the melody
is finished. By this means a much greater number of notes can be played with
the same length round of disk. Generally speaking, that reed which is used the
least is placed in the innermost row, and so on. If it is required to make one note
longer than another, the slot for the longer note can be made wider, but if long
and short notes are to be played in a row with only one slot, this is accomplished
by the method shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19. Supposing that the sensitiveness of

page_text: the reeds is such that one will not play till the slot in its cover is fully open, the
slot in the disk is nearly as wide as the widths of the reeds x and x¹ added
together plus the distance between them, so that when one reed is shut off the
next immediately begins to play; and its length is that of the slot y².
In order to lengthen a note the slot y2 is made more narrow and correspondingly
longer than the others, so that the slot z will have further to travel in the direction
indicated by the arrow, before it begins to shut off the reed x². If the reed ³
were placed at the same distance froin c³ as x is from x¹, then the reed 2³ would
begin to play before was shut off, but the distance between 2 and 3 is increased
by the difference in the widths of the slots y¹ and y², and the reed 23 will play
longer by this same difference. It will be seen that notes played on this plan will
be of longer duration than those in the other arrangement as no note intervenes
while the slot is passing from one reed to the next.
When a tune like the "Spanish Chant" ends with the same strain it begins
with, the concluding part may be played with the same slots in the disks that
played the said strain the first time over, but the continuity in the notes the
second time over will not be preserved. The tune will then be so arranged that
all except the concluding strain will be played with one revolution of the slotted
disks which will be made to travel more than once round to play the whole tune.
It will be evident that if a tune can be played with one reed-plate it will be, and
that a scored piece as well as a melody can be arranged on the system described.
If the top be large in circumference and the tune short enough it may be played
twice in one revolution of the slotted disks. In the arrangement of the "Old
Hundred" shown when the top is spun, and the weights fully out the first note G
will play till the speed of the top allows the spring to pull back the weights, but
if the slotted disks and n, and the reed-plate ; be divided circumferentially into
33 parts instead of thirty-two, a blank may be left, and no note produced till the
tune commences.
I do not claim in a musical top the principle of winding up a spring by the
centrifugal action of weights for the purpose of playing a tune, nor do I claim
broadly in a musical top the use of more than one row of reeds, or more than
one row of slots in a moving disk, but having now particularly described and
ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. In a musical top, the application of a curved wind-plate substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the wind-plate d' with the body a and the tubes e¹,
substantially as described.
3. The cross-bar e or e² and the tubes e¹, carrying stops u, and having sliding
weights substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4. The tubes c having clip g and string & substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
5. The spiral spring, the projection c¹ and the washers, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of the body a with the spindle b, the spiral spring ?, the
tube c, the clip g, the washer 8, and the string h, all substantially as described.
7. The combination of the body a with the spindle b, the helical spring 1, the
projection c¹, the tube c, the clip g and the string / substantially as described.
S. The combination of the body a with the cross-bar e or e² or tubes c¹, the
stops u, the sliding weights f, for f¹, and the string h, all substantially as
described.
9. A double musical top, having two reed-plates, two slotted disks, and two sets
of apertures for the entrance of air, for the purpose set forth.
10. A cover for a reed-plate of the kinds described, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: 11. In a musical top, a reed-plate having two or more rows of reeds, substan-
tially as described and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a musical, a reed-plate having reeds arranged in opposite directions
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a musical top, a slot in a moving disk, of the shape described substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
14. In a musical top, a grooved collar such as m', for the purpose set forth.
15. The combination of the tube c, with the collar m, a collar such as m², and
slotted disks of the kinds described, substantially as set forth.
16. The combination of the tube c, with slotted disks of the kinds described,
substantially as set forth.
17. In a musical top, the method of making notes of different lengths in one row,
with one moving slot, substantially as described.
18. In a musical top, the methods of producing tunes and scored pieces by the
use of such reed-plates, reed-plate covers, and slotted disks as have been described,
and the mechanism set forth for driving the slotted disks, substantially as
specified.
19. The combination of the body a with reed-plates, reed-plate covers, and slotted
disks, of the kinds described.
20. The combination of a reed-plate with a cover, of the kinds described.
21. In a musical top, a slotted disk with one or more rows of slots of the shape
described, substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.