IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL BOXES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Onésime Aristide Hébert, of New Millman Street,
in the County of Middlesex, Watch Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL BOXES."
Sealed the 16th June 1868, and dated the 18th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Onésime Aristide Hébert
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
18th December 1867.
I, ONESIME ARISTIDE HÉBERT, of New Millman Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Watch Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSICAL BOXES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to enable persons who use musical boxes to
ascertain when the music is stopping, changing, or otherwise, and when the
works require rewinding, and how to move the levers for those purposes, so
that persons can, employ the box with facility and without fear of injuring it.
Heretofore persons using musical boxes have had no means of ascertaining
in which direction they should work the levers in order to vary the tune or to
repeat it; nor when the music is stopped could they know whether the tune
were ended or the works required rewinding. In consequence the works were
frequently. damaged or impaired.
Whereas according to my Invention the lever which effects the changes and
the repeats carries a plate sliding on another plate or surface bearing the

page_text: words "change" or "same," so that when the lever is moved to change the
tune it brings the sliding plate over the word "same," and exposes to view
the word " change;" and when the lever is moved to repeat the tune the
word "change" is covered, and the word "same" exposed. The lever which
stops or starts the music also carries a plate which travels on a surface
bearing the words "stopping," "going," and "finished." This lever works
another lever, pusher, or contrivance which carries a plate or slide, and also
actuates a rod or other appliance which acts on the parts which set the barrel
in motion or stop it. The last-named plate slides on the portion of the surface
which carries the words "finished," "stopping." When the tune is finished
a stop on the rod or appliance falls into a notch on the barrel wheel, which
action causes the lever carrying the last-named plate to move and expose the
word "finished." When the going lever is moved to work the barrel it lifts
the stop free from the wheel, and the lever shifts and exposes the word
going." Instead of the words "changed," "same," "going," "finished,"
stopping," words of similar import may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Onésime Aristide Hébert in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ONÉSIME
ARISTIDE HÉBERT, formerly of New Millman Street, in the County of
Middlesex, and now of 18, Pakenham Street, in the said County, and also at
Mr. Jules Woogs' Manufactory, 10, Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn, in the
City of London, Watch Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Onésime Aristide Hébert, Her special licence that I, the said Onésime
Aristide Hébert, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Onésime Aristide Hébert, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MUSICAL BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said

page_text: Onésime Aristide Hébert, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Onésime Aristide Hébert, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to enable persons who use musical boxes to
ascertain when the music is stopping, changing, or otherwise, and when the
works require rewinding, and how to move the levers, pusbers (or finger
pieces) so that persons inay employ the box with facility and without fear of
injuring it. Heretofore persons using musical boxes have had no means of
ascertaining in which direction they should work the levers in order to vary
the tune or to repeat it, nor when the music is stopped, nor could they know
whether the tune were ended or the works required rewinding.
quence the works were frequently damaged or impaired.
"
In conse
Whereas according to my Invention the lever pusher or finger piece which
effects the changes and the repeats carries a plate sliding on another plate or
or
change
surface bearing the words "
"saine,"
," so that when the lever,
pusher, or finger piece is moved to change the tune it brings the sliding plate
over the word "same" and exposes to view the word "change." And when
the lever is moved to repeat the tune the word "change" is covered and the
word "sanie". exposed. The lever, pusher, or finger piece which stops or
starts the music also carries a plate which travels on a surface bearing the
words "stopping," "going," and "finished." This lever works another lever,
pusher bar or piece herein-after called the intermediate piece or bar, which
carries a plate or slide, and also actuates a rod, bar, or other contrivance which
acts on the parts which permit the barrel to be set in motion and stop it.
The last-named plate slides on the portion of the surface which carries the
words "finished," "stopping." When the tune is finished and a stop on an
appliance falls as usual into a notch on the barrel wheel, this action causes
the lever or intermediate piece carrying the last named plate to move and
expose the word "finished." When the going lever is moved to work the
barrel it nets on the intermediate piece, and thus lifts the stop free from
the hole in the wheel and when lever shifts it exposes the word "going."

page_text: Instead of the words "change,"
words of similar import may be used.
same,
""going," "finished," "stopping,"
Thus according to this Invention. it will be observed that instead of the
starting and stopping lever, pusher, or finger piece being immediately
connected with or acting directly on the arrangements which stop the barrel
as usual, it first acts on the intermediate lever bar or piece, which itself
acts upon those arrangements; and these last when they stop the barrel move
such intermediate bar or piece so that it shews the required indications, the
aforesaid lever or pusher moving the intermediate bar or piece in one direc-
tion and the stopping arrangements move it in the reverse direction.
I proceed to describe with reference to the Drawings the best mode of
carrying the Invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a side or end view
of a portion of the works of a musical box, shewing sufficient of the arrange-
ments to explain the Invention. The woodwork of the case is removed. .A,
is the base plate; B, barrel; C, comb; D, changing bar; E, train of wheels and
pinions which drive the barrel, and R, stopping piece acting on the barrel
wheel, all of which are of usual construction. Figure 4 is a side view (in
section) of the end of the box in which the starting and stopping lever, finger
piece or pusher F, and the changing and repeating lever finger piece or
pusher G are fitted and work, and Figures 5 and 6 are plans of- this portion
which consists as usual of a partition H with an additional thickness of wood
Hand a lédge I, the levers or pushers respectively working in slots in the
ledge on pins or centres f, g, attached to the partition H, H*; J, K, are
plates attached to the ledge I and surrounding the slots in which the finger
pieces work. On the plate J are inscribed the words "going," "stopping,"
"finished." On the plate K are the words "same,"
""change." L is a plate
carried by and moveable with the pusher or finger piece F, and L* a similar
plate carried by and moveable with the pusher G;.each plate is slipt over its
pusher and the plates L, L*, when moved thereby slide on the plates J, K.
1, 1, are pins on F, G, for keeping the plates L, L*, in position. M is a bent
lever, pusher, or bar, herein called the intermediate bar or piece, and working
on a screw pin m fixed to the partition H*. It is shown in side or edge view
Figure 7. At its upper end it is bent horizontally so as to work or slide on
the plate L. Its lower end is forked and one branch thereof n is made thin
and springy. The partition H, H*, is cut away at bottom so that the bars G,
M, may act upon the works. The branch n of the bar M engages in a hole
p formed in a lever or bar P connected with the lever R, which as usual
carries a stud or stop r working in a groove s formed on the barrel wheel E

page_text: (wheel on the barrel axis) and having as usual a stop hole in it. Instead
of the lever or pusher F acting directly on the stopping arrangements R, s, r,
of the barrel wheel as is usual, it first acts on the intermediate bar M which
acts through the bar P on the bar R and thence on the barrel wheel, and
when the barrel is stopped the bars R, P, move such bar M so that it shews
the required indications, the lever or pusher F moving the bar in one
direction and the stopping arrangements R, P, moving it in the reverse
direction. When the pusher F. is pushed in the direction of the arrow
Figure 5 to set the barrel in motion it moves its plate L with it and exposes
the word "going" and covers the word "stopping." By this motion it
pushes the bar M in the direction of the arrow so as to cover the word
"finish" as shown in Figure 5. The bar M being connected with the bar
P pushes it in such direction that it acts on the bar or lever R so as to move
the stop r from the hole in the groove s and allow the barrel to revolve and
the music to play. But when it is desired to stop the music the pusher F is
moved in the reverse direction and the plate L moving with it covers the
word "going" and exhibits the word "stopping" as shown in Figure 5*, and
the barrel stops when the stud falls into the hole in the grooves, the spring
t regulating or controlling this action as usual. When the barrel reaches the
end of its travel at the termination of the tune and the stud r drops into the
hole the lever R in stopping the fly wheel moves the bar or lever P, and
thereby the pusher or lever M causing it to move towards the plate Land
uncover the word "finished" as shown in Figure 6, the pusher F being
moved as above described to stop the tune allows the bar M to move in this
manner when actuated as explained above. When the pusher G is moved
to repeat the tune it moves the plate L* with. it, and thereby uncovers the
word "same" and conceals the word "change" as in Figure 5, but when the
pusher G is pushed in the reverse direction to change the tune it moves the
plate L with it so as to cover the word "same". and expose to view the
word "change" as in Figure 6.
I sometimes modify this arrangement, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11,
and 12. Figure 8 is a side view of the portion containing the levers, pushers,
or finger pieces, X, Y, Z, employed as usual for operating on the barrel to
start, stop, change, or repeat the tune, H, H, being the partition, and
I the slotted ledge in which the. levers or pushers work. Figure 9 is a
bottom or under side plan view thereof; Figure 10 is a front view, and
Figure 12 another front view of part of. the box (both partly in section.). X
is the lever or pusher for starting and stopping; Y, the lever for changing
aud repeating, and Z, the lever for stopping the fly wheel and barrel suddenly

page_text: or instanter by means of its usual curved pin z; Q is a bar lever or pusher,
which I call the intermediate bar or piece; it is used instead of and acts
substantially like and for the same purpose as the bar or pusher M, Figures 1,
2, 8, 4. This bar or lever Q, shown in front view, Figure 11, and edge view,
Figure 12, is centered on a pin q fixed to the inside of one end of the case T
of the musical box, and it actuates and is actuated by a bar or lever P
attached to and operating on a lever R, which acts as described with reference
to the preceding Figures to permit the barrel to move and cause it to stop.
The bar is forked at bottom, and instead of taking into a hole in the bar P
like M, Figure 1, it grips the bar P between its limbs, see Figure 11. The
pusher X carries a pin x, which presses against and acts on the bar Q. In
this modification the indications instead of being in the ledge I are shewn as
marked on a plate O fixed to the inner side of the end of the box opposite the
partition H.
These indications are, for example, "change,"
" repeat,"
'stopping," "going," "take care," "finish," "let go," "stop short." Fig. 18
is a front view or plan of this plate O. The pushers may carry plates for
covering or uncovering these indications, or instead of plates they may carry
pins 9", g, g, to point to the corresponding indications as the levers are
pushed in the required directions. The top of the bar Q is in the form of a
plate, and it covers or uncovers the indications "fiuished" and "take care,"
according to the direction in which it is moved. The operation of the bar Q
is similar to that of the bar M before described. When the pusher X is
moved to start the barrel its pin x impinges against the bar Q, causing it to
move and work or move with it the bars P and R, so as to liberate the stud r
from the stop hole in the grooves of the barrel wheel, and thereby allow the
barrel to revolve at the same time it uncovers the indication "take care."
When the pusher X is moved to stop the tune, it moves the pin & away from
the bar Q, and when the stud r on the bar R drops into the hole in the
grooves in the barrel wheel, the bar R acts on the bar P, causing the bar Q
to move in such direction that it covers the words "take care," and exposes to
view the word "finished." is a guide wire for the pin g to travel in.
These arrangements may be applied or adapted in like manner to what are
called flute musical boxes, also to clock musical boxes, that is, to musical
boxes combined with clocks. In this case the lever or piece which is usually
acted on by the clock or striking movement and employed to work or stop
the barrel, acts on the bar R, in the usual manner, but the latter being,
according to my arrangements, connected by means of the bar P with the
bar Q causes the latter to work as above described, so as to cover or uncover
the words "take care" or "finished," as described.

page_text: Of course other words or indications than those mentioned may be used, and
they may be placed elsewhere than on the inside of the end of the box; also
I do not confine myself to any particular number of levers. I wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact mechanical details shewn
for causing the bar F or X to act on the bar M or Q, or for connecting the
bar M or Q with the bar P, or for causing the one to act on the other, nor do
I confine myself to the exact means of connecting the bars P and R together,
as these may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention ;
and of course I do not confine myself to the arrangements R, s, for stopping
the barrel, as these are well known.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment of plates or surfaces sliding or moving on another
plate or surface, or other plates or surfaces when actuated by levers, pushers,
or finger pieces, so as to exhibit or cover words or indications relating to
the barrel or the music, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Second. The employment of a lever bar or piece, herein-before called the
intermediate bar or piece, which is acted on by the starting and stopping
lever, pusher, or finger piece, and which itself acts on and is also acted on by
the arrangements for stopping the barrel, and which shews the required
indications, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Third. The general arrangement and combination of parts whereby the
necessary indications are effected, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Onésime Aristide Hébert, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
O. A. HÉBERT. (L.S.).