An Improved Mechanically Played Musical Instrument.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanically Played Musical Instrument.
I, OSKAR PAUL LOCHMANN of Leipzig-Gohlis in the German Empire,
Director of the Lochmann Music Works Company, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to musical instruments having steel sounding teeth
actuated by rotating note discs. The object of the invention is to combine
together so as to form one musical instrument, a plurality of music works
with rotary note discs, in such a way that upon the rotation of the note discs the
corresponding tones of the several music works are sounded so as largely to increase
the sound effect of the instrument which may be regulated as desired by the
connection or disconnection of one or more of the works.
The simultaneous playing action of the note discs may be brought about either
by placing the several spindles carrying the note discs in connection with one
another by means of toothed wheels or by driving the note discs direct. Figs. 1
to 4 of the drawing shew different ways of attaining this end, only two music
works forming one instrument being shewn by way of example, but obviously a
larger number may be combined together.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1 the note discs N, N', are simultaneously
driven at the same speed from driving mechanism of a suitable known kind located
at T through toothed wheels a, b, c, this latter wheel engaging the two wheels d, d',
respectively fixed on spindles n, n¹, on which the note discs are carried. The two
sets &, s, of sounding teeth are carried on supports fixed to bed plates o, o¹, placed
in one box or case. By the simultaneous and regular rotation of note discs N, N¹
the corresponding teeth of both sets are simultaneously sounded.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 2 the toothed driving wheel a actuates a
pinione which in turn engages in and works a pitch chain (or an equivalent
therefor) carried on two wheels d, l, fixed on note disc spindles n, n' thus setting
the note discs N, N', in simultaneous and regular operation.
In Fig. 3 two different arrangements are shewn for the simultaneous driving of
the note discs, one in which these are provided with teeth on their outer edge to be
engaged by endless screws h, h¹ both upon the same spindle g, the other in which
similar endless screws k, k, on spindle i engage wheels d, d', on note disc spindles.
Spindle g is driven from T through toothed wheels l, m, y and spindle i through
wheels 1, p.
9
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 4, the note discs are furnished near their
outer edge with perforations, which are engaged by suitable pins projecting
from a roller w driven from mechanism at T through toothed wheels so as to actuate
the note discs simultaneously and regularly.
The arrangements of Figs. 1 to 4 are given merely by way of example to shew
how a simultaneous and regular playing action of a number of note discs may be
obtained. Obviously many other different arrangements may be employed for the
same purpose without affecting the invention the essential feature of which is the
combination of a plurality of sets of steel teeth works and rotary note discs so as
to form a single musical instrument in the manner that the note discs by their
simultaneous movement sound the corresponding tones or teeth of the different
music works and thus largely increase the fullness of sound of the instrument.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
In a musical instrument a plurality of music works with steel sounding teeth and
rotary note discs which are so combined together that the note discs simultaneously
actuate the corresponding sounding teeth of the several music works so as to play
pieces of music simultaneously, for the purpose of increasing the fullness of sound
of the instrument, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 1st day of August 1893.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.