Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
1, WENZEL BUSCHEK, of Prague, Bohemia, Colonel in the Austrian Army do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows
The object of my invention is to effect further improvements in the description
of musical instruments, consisting of a combination of the piano and harmonium,
for which I have obtained Letters Patent No. 717489.
In carrying out my invention, I place any required number of stop handles in a
row, immediately under the key board. These are made to act as hell-crank levers,
so as to be rapidly and conveniently operated without removing the hands from
the keys; the opening of the stops being effected by merely pressing the handles
downwards.
I divide the harmonium into two main warts the highest note of the left portion
The object of my invention is to effect further improvements in the description
of musical instruments, consisting of a combination of the piano and harmonium,
for which I have obtained Letters Patent No. 717489.
In carrying out my invention, I place any required number of stop handles in a
row, immediately under the key board. These are made to act as bell-crank levers,
so as to be rapidly and conveniently operated without removing the hands from
the keys; the opening of the stops being effected by merely pressing the handles
downwards.
I divide the harmonium into two main parts the highest note of the left portion
being (preferably) A in the second space of the G clef
On
the left hand arrange one set of vibrators one octave higher than the corre-
sponding keys of the piano. Another set of vibrators are arranged to correspond
with the pitch of the piano keys to which they are attached; and a third set of
vibrators are arranged one octave below the pitch of the piano.
In a corresponding manner I arrange on the right hand, one set of vibrators in
unison with the piano keys. A second set of vibrators one octave lower than the
piano keys; and a third set of vibrators two octaves below the pitch of the piano
keys actuating the same.
Other sets of vibrators may be added, as required.
Suitable stops and combination knee lever, are arranged to open and close the
valves leading to the several sets of vibrators above mentioned.
Suitable pedals are fitted to the instrument whereby either half of the harmonium,
or the whole of the harmonium levers may be disconnected from the keys of the
piano; and, when so disconnected, the touch of the piano is correspondingly
rendered lighter. Stops are also fitted for rendering mute one half or the whole
of the piano.
In front of the harmonium levers I fit sets of spring catches, pivoted to a fixed
longitudinal bar. The upper ends of these catches are formed with hooks and
fitted with springs. The lower (tail) ends are operated by longitudinal bars in.
connection with knee levers, whereby the upper (hooked) ends are advanced*
towards or withdrawn from the harmonium levers or keys. When the knee levers
are pressed by the operator, the longitudinal bar is rotated so as to release the
tail ends of the catches; the hooked ends then move forward towards the harmonium
keys, ready to engage and hold down any of the keys of the harmonium which the
performer desires to keep down and sound, while the fingers are otherwise engaged.
By removing the knee from the knee lever the notes are immediately released.
By means of the aforesaid arrangements and mechanism, the bass may be played
upon the harmonium on the right hand and the accompaniment upon the piano on
the left hand, or vice versa. Also soprano notes may be sounded on the left hand,
while they are accompanied on the right hand by high piano notes.
Also notes and
chords may be sounded intermittently or continuously on the harmonium, while
variations, airs, and other compositions are performed upon the piano; and other
novel combinations and musical effects may be produced.
I preferably place a T shaped pedal for raising the dampers of the piano, between

page_text: the bellows pedal boards, so that the heel of either foot may be used to raise the
dampers.
Dated Bond Tune 1901
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, WENZEL BUSCHEK, of Prague, Bohemia, Colonel in the Austrian Army, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :---
The object of my invention is to effect further improvements in the description
of musical instruments, consisting of a combination of the piano and harmonium,
for which I have obtained Letters Patent No. 717489.
My improvements consist in novel arrangements for rendering one half or the
whole of the piano action mute: also for disconnecting one half or the whole of the
harmonium, and thereby rendering the touch of the piano keys lighter: also in an
improved method of fitting and actuating the stops also in improved methods of
combining the several parts of the harmonium with the piano keys and knee levers;
and in improved methods of causing the intermittent or continuous sounding of
notes and chords in the harmonium, independently of the keys of the piano, thus
leaving the performer's hands free to perform upon the piano, or upon one or more
part or parts of the piano and harmonium combined.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters
and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the combined piano and harmonium.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the instrument at right
angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section, showing the action of one of the knee levers 13.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal view of a portion of the same.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal view of some of the valves attached to the wind chest,
showing their connection with one of the knee levers 12, as seen from underneath,
Referring to Fig. 1a a are the keys, and is the front of the harmonium case.
The stops are numbered 1 to 11, but any other number of stops may be fitted. 1 is
the stop for rendering the lower half of the piano mute. 2 is the tremolo stop
to the harmonium, 3 the clarion, 4 hourdon, 5 coranglais, 6 expression, 7 clarionette.
8 barytone, 9 flageolet, 10 tremolo, and 11 the stop for rendering the upper half of
the piano mute. The knee lever 12 is so fitted that, by means of a gentle pressure
the valve in connection with the stop 5 is sounded by increasing the pressure the
valves in connection with 5 and 4 are sounded; and, by still further increasing the
pressure, the valves in connection with the stops 5, 4 and 3 are sounded. In a
corresponding manner the knee lever is opens the several valves in connection with
the stops 7, 8, and 9 in the upper half of the harmonium.
16 and 17 are the pedal boards of the bellows. 18 is the pedal for raising the
dampers of the piano by means of compound levers, its position between the pedal
boards 16 and 17 being chosen in order that the heel of either of the performer's
feet may be used to depress it, while working the bellows. 19 is a locking pedal
for disconnecting the lower half of the harmonium keys from the lower half of the
piano keys; and 20 is the corresponding pedal for disconnecting the upper half of
the harnicnium keys from the upper half of the piano keys, whereby the touch of
the piano is rendered lighter.
The means whereby the knee levers 12 and 15 are caused to open the valves
without drawing the stops, are illustrated by Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. 21 is

page_text: a rod passing through the front of the case and into the wind chest, as shown.
The inner end of this rod is pivoted at 22 to the lever 23, which lever is pivoted at 24
to the board 25. 26 is a flap hinged to the upper board of the wind chest. 27 is a
pin projecting downwards, attached to the hinged flap 26. The rods 3ª 4ª and 5″
have pins 28, 29 and 30 attached thereto, projecting upwards. When the lever 12
is slightly pressed by the performer's knee, the lever 23 drives the hinged flap 26
towards the performer. The flap 26 first presses the rod 5" by contact with the
pin 30, whereby the valve 33 is opened. On further pressing the lever 12,
the hinged flap 26, by contact with the pin 29 on the rod 4", opens also the
valve 31 in addition to 33. On still further pressing the lever 12, the hinged
flap 26, by contact with the pin 28, on the rod 3, opens the valve 35, in addition
to 31 and 33 already opened. 2 is a rod connected with the stop 2, for opening
the tremolo valve 32. The valve 33 may be fitted with a finger 34, for the purpose
of opening the valve 33 simultaneously with 32. The valve may be opened
independently of the knee levers, by means of the stops, as shown in Fig. 2; in
which figure a bell-crank lever 5. pivoted at 36, is shown. On pressing down the
knob 5, the rod 37 is driven backwards, whereby another bell-crank lever 38,
pivoted at 41, is caused to depress the bolt 39. This actuates the bell-crank
lever 40 in connection with the rod 5" (Fig. 5) whereby the valve 33 is opened,
independently of the valve 32. In a similar manner the whole of the valves may
be opened.
The usual springs are added to the valves and levers, but are omitted in the
drawings for the sake of clearness.
As one example of my method of construction, I arrange the notes of the
harmonium as follows:-One of the stops on the left hand is used to admit the
wind to notes one octave higher than the corresponding notes of the piano.
Another stop admits the wind to notes of the same pitch as the corresponding notes
of the piano. And a third stop admits the wind to notes one octave below the
corresponding notes of the piano. Also, on the right hand, one of the stops admits
the wind to notes of the same pitch as the corresponding notes of the piano.
Another stop admits the wind to notes one octave lower than the corresponding
notes of the piano; and a third stop admits wind to notes two octaves below the
corresponding notes of the piano.
divide the instrument into two main parts, the highest note of the left hand
portion being (preferably) A in the second space of the G clef
These parts may be severally and respectively disconnected and rendered mute.
The stop is used to render mute the lower half, and the stop 11 the upper half of

page_text: :-
The knee levers 13, 14, operate on the two parts of the instrument as follows:-
52 is one of a set of hooked levers, pivoted at 53. The tail ends of these levers are
held in the required position by means of the bar 54. When this bar is turned
downwards upon its hinges 55, as shown in Fig. 2, the hooks 52 are retained out of
range of the levers 47.
When the performer's knee is pressed against the knee
lever 13, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rod 56 acts upon the bell crank lever 57,
which lever, by means of the bent bar 58, raises the bar 54 to the position shown in
Fig. 3. In this position the upper ends of the hooked levers 52 are pressed
towards the levers 47 by springs 60. The spring 59 returns the mechanism to its
normal position, when the knee is removed from the lever 13.
When the performer has placed this mechanism in the position shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, the depression of any one or more of the levers 47, causes the same
to be held down by the hooks 52, and such levers may be so held as long as
requisite, without the further aid of the performer's hands, which are thus left at
liberty to perform upon the piano or otherwise. The notes so held open may be
caused to sound intermittently or continuously, as required; and such notes may
be instantly released by removing the knee from the lever 13.
The pedal 18 is connected by means of suitable rods and compound levers with
the frame for raising the dampers in the piano. The improvement being the con-
venient position between the two bellows boards, whereby the heel of either foot
may be employed to depress the pedal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a combined piano and harmonium, operated by one manual, the improved
method of operating the stops by means of bell crank levers placed immediately
under the manual, whereby they may be opened and closed, without removing the
hands from the keys, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated by
the drawings.
2. In a combined piano and harmonium, operated by one manual, the improved
method of opening and closing groups of vibrators by means of knee levers 12 and 15,
operating rods 21, levers 33, hinged flaps 26, rods 3" 4" 5"; having contact
pins 28, 29, 30, placed at graduated positions for opening valves one after another;
or equivalent devices for operating the same, substantially as herein before
described, and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In a combined piano and harmonium, operated by one manual, the improved
method of opening and closing any required number of notes in the harmonium by
means of knee levers 13 and 14, connected by rods 56 with bell cranks 57, bars 54,
and levers 52, whereby any number of levers 47 may be held down, for the purpose
of sounding the notes intermittently or continuously, and releasing the same at will,
substantially as herein before described, and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In a combined piano and harmonium, operated by one manual, the improved
position of the pedal 18 for raising the dampers in the piano, substantially as herein
before described, and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The general construction, arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts, together constituting my invention of improvements in musical
instruments, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
Datod 7th Anvil 180°
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.