GB573912A - Improvements in chromatic harmonicas - Google Patents

Abstract

573,912. Harmonicas. MAGNUS, F. H. June 25, 1943, No. 10336. Convention date, June 25, 1942. [Class 88 (ii)] A harmonica comprising a reed plate, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on the plate, each pair comprising a blow reed and a draw reed, and a body having separate wind cells on one side of the,plate for each pair of reeds is characterized in that each pair of reeds comprises a blow reed and a draw reed arranged in longitudinal alignment with each other. In one construction the harmonica comprises a reed plate A, Fig. 6, which is secured between two body sections D and E, Figs. 7 and 5, by screws 5, Fig. 1, to which assembly is secured a sound chamber 10 and mouthpiece 8. To plate A are secured by rivets 4 pairs of reeds 1, 2, the pairs B being tuned to the notes of the diatonic scale and pairs C to the half tones. Each pair is disposed above one groove 6 or wind cell of section D and below a groove 7 of section E. Grooves C communicate with holes 9 in the mouth piece while grooves 7 communicate with the sound chamber 10. The holes 9 each register with two adjacent grooves 6 and the selection of the desired notes to be played is obtained by a spring-controlled apertured slide valve 16 formed with a fingerpiece or handle 19. In a modification, Fig. 14, two reed plates F, G, are provided on either side of a wind cell block or plate H and between upper and lower casing sections K, T. These sections have grooves 23, 22 forming sound cells leading to a common sound chamber L, and the block H has slots forming wind cells 20 each communicating with upper and lower pairs of reeds. The upper and lower reeds for each slot are in harmony. The harmonica is fitted with a valve, similar to the valve 16, and is also fitted in the sound chamber with a valve which can be moved to prevent the playing of the reeds of one plate. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 describes also a modification in which the reeds are not arranged end to end, the blow and draw reeds being arranged side by side and each having its own wind and sound cell. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.