US8587A - ferris - Google Patents

Description

R. M. FBRRIS. FLUTE AND VIOL DARMOUR ATTACHMENT.

Patented Dec. 16, 1851.

UNITED STATES PA:1ENT ()FFICE.

RICHARD M. FERRIS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINING ORGANS AND PIANOFORTES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,587. dated December 16. 1851.

reference being had to the accompanying 1 drawings, forming part of this specification.

The nature of my invention which relates to the combination of certain or all of the tubes of the organ with the pianoforte, consists, not in the said combination, but in the manner of efiecting it, so that either the pianoforte, or organ can be played separately, both at the same time by the same set of keys, or one by one hand, and the otherby the other hand of the player, each being provided with a separate set of keys, and either set being capable of being coupled with the other set so as to be operated at the same time.

It also consists in the employment of a set of pedals for operating on certain or all of the piano-strings and organ pallets; the said pedals are capable of being coupled with either the organ or piano keys, or both. or uncoupled altogether.

The objects desired to be obtained in my improved attachment are that of uniting moreof the power of the two instruments than has been done in any former combination of the pianoforte and organ, also that of bringing both more perfectly under the control of the player.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed, with the aid of the drawings to describe fully its construction and operation.

Figure 1, in the drawings represents a transverse vertical section of an upright pianoforte, in which my attachment is fitted, all the parts are shown uncoupled, that is the pianoforte and organ keys are independent of each other and the pedal uncoupled from both. Fig. 2, exhibits all the playing parts shown in Fig. 1, but the pianofort-e and organ keys are coupled so that both are played by the pianoforte keys. Fig. 3, is a similar view to Fig. 2, but the two sets of keys are coupled so as to be both played by the organ keys. Fig. 4, is a similar view to Figs. 2, and 3, but showing all .the couplings in action those of the'pedal as well as those of the two sets of keys.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures.

A, shown only in Fig. 1, represents the sounding board of the pianoforte, and B, one of the strings.

C, D, and E, represent one of each of three different sets of organpipes.

F, is the wind chest; Gris one of the pallets and 9, its closing spring.

H, is the bellows, I, its feeder and J, the passage leading to the wind chest.

K, is one of the striking hammers of the pianoforte; L the key, M, the rod communieating between the hammer and key, and k, the spring for drawing back the hammer I after striking.

N, is one of the organ keys, it communicates with the pallet G, by means of rods a, 7), 0, (Z, a lever e, and squares f.

P, is one of the pianoforte and organ couplers for connecting the organ keys with the pianoforte keys in such a manner that both the pianoforte and organ can be played by i the pianoforte keys. It consists of a small bar or rod hung on a pin at the back end of the pianoforte key and provided with a catch at its lower end which catches under the end i of the organ key as shown in Figs. 2, and 4, .and causes it to be raised with the pianoforte key, it is provided with a small spring (1, at the back to keep it in connection, and is thrown back or uncoupled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when not required to be used,

' by a small eccentric bar h, which turns on a pin 11; this bar and pin extend the whole width of the instrument to allow all the couplers P, to be thrown back at once.

0, is one of the organ and pianoforte couplers for connecting the pianoforte keys with the organ keys in such a manner that both the pianoforte and organ can be played by the organ keys. It consists of a small upright lifter attached by a pin to a butt p, secured on the upper side of the back end of the organ key; its upper end or point bears as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, under a projection Z, on the lower side of the pianoforte key, and lifts it when the organ key is actuated.

An eccentric bar 7', on a pin is, similar to h, i, is placed in front of the lifter to throw it back clear of the projection l, or uncouple it when not in use as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A spring m, is placed at the back of O, to throw it in position for operating when the pressure of the eccentric bar is removed.

Q, is one of the pedals for operating the keys by the feet, connecting by a rod n, to the front end of a lever B, termed a backfall, hung on a pin 0. Below the pedal is a spring S, which raises it after the pressure of the foot is removed.

T, is one of the edals and pianoforte couplers for connecting the pianoforte or certain notes of it with the pedals. It consists of an upright lifter attached by a pin to the back end of the lever or back fall R, and passes through a slot 1-, seen in Figs. 3 and 4, in the or an key which is large enough to admit 0 its working, its upper end bears when in use as shown in Fig. 4, under a projection 8, under the pianoforte key, and raises it so as to actuate the hammer when the pedal is depressed. It is thrown back clear of the projection when not in use as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, by an eccentric bar t, turning on a pin a, and is thrown and kept up to the bar or to its work by a small spring a.

V, is one of the pedal and piano-couplers for connecting the organ or certain keys or notes of it with the pedals. It consists of a small lifter attached to the lever B, and bears when in use under the organ key as shown in Fig. 4, and raises it to open the allet G, every time the pedal is depressed.

t is thrown back when not in use, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, by an eccentric bar w, turning on a pin a, so that when the pedal is worked the coupler passes into the slot 4". It is kept to its place b a spring y.

The most distinguis ed characteristic of this attachment is, that the melody may be played on either part of the instrument and the accompaniment to produce the harmony on the other part, by having the keys uncoupled and playing on one set with each hand. The pedals may be also brought into action at the same time to produce any of the notes in either or both parts of the instrument, at the same time that they are being layed separately by the two hands.

Bot parts of the instrument may be played at once by either set of keys, and in 'of an organ with a that case certain of the notes on either or both parts may be played as an accompaniment by the pedals.

It is not absolutely necessary that the two couplers O, and P, should be used in the same instrument, as either connects the two sets of keys, but if there are two couplers, either set of keys may be used, at the option of the player.

The striking action employed for the pianoforte, may be any that may be considered best by the manufacturer. The arrangement of the organ herein shown and the manner of connectin the keys with the pallets may be varied, ut the manner of aranging and connecting shown is such as will confine the instrument in the smallest space; and it may be seen that the whole ex ternal dimensions will be but little more than those of a common upright pianoforte,

'its depth being only slightly increased and its other dimensions not being at all exceeded.

I do not claim combining the organ and pianoforte irrespective of the manner in which the combination is formed, but

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- ,1. The whole or an number of the tubes istinct set of keys, in combination with a pianoforte having its own proper set of keys in such a manner that either the pianoforte or organ can be played separately or both at the same time by the two sets of keys, or both coupled and played by one set of keys, by means of couplers P, or O, and eccentric bars h, j, or

other equivalent devices, substantiallyv as herein described.

2. Coupling either or both the organ and piano with a pedal action, R, n, Q, and uncoupling them from it by means of couplers T, V, acting on the keys, and eccentric bars t, w, or their equivalents so that either the organ or pianoforte or both, can be played upon by the pedals substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses this 11th day of June, 1851.

RICHARD M. F ERRIS. Witnesses:

O. D. MUNN, R. W. FENWICK.

Images