US100009A

US100009A - briggs

Info

Publication number: US100009A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1870-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1887-02-22

Description

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JOHN C. iRlGGS, OFv ANSCNIA, CONNECTICUT.

Letters .Patent No. 100,009, lated February 22, 1870.

oRGAN on MELODEON ACTION.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.I

To all whom r't may concern:

Bo it known that I, JOHN C. BRIGGs, of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and improved Organ and Melodeon Action; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part ot' this specification.

Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved organ and melodeon action.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference "indicate corresponding parts.

This invention has for its object to so arrange the action ot' all reed or pipe 4instruments that an extra or sub-base note of the lowest key belonging to a chord of music can be played without requiring that extra note belongingv to either of the keys of which such chord is composed being played. The solos played by the left hand can therefore be kept free of bass-notes with the exception ofthe lowest, all the others being treble notes.

Any independent part of any musical composition can therefore be played upon the keyboard o t' a reed or pipe instrument. Inversely the same invention is applicable tothe playing of an extra treble note ot' the highest key belonging to the chord, without playing any more treble notes of the same chord.

The invent-ion consists in the general arrangement ot' a double or still larger set ot' levers, one pair or more for each key, and of a rotary drum bea-ring a series of cams, whereby either one of a set of levers or all at once can be thrown in action to produce the de- Cue of the levers of each key is adjusted to play on one instrument, and the other lever to another. One

may he a bass, the other a treble instrument. In this way any suitable orchestral effect can be produced by playing alternately on the different instruments or by uniting the same notes of all iu one tone.

A in the drawing is the frame of the instrument. B C are two sets of levers arranged therein.

The keys D are so set that cach can move two levers at once, one lever of each set being lower than the other, as shown.`

The levers are by springs a a held upon a rotary drum or shaft, E, which is hung transversely in the frame, and which has series of cams b b, whereby the levers can be raised. Each lever sustains a rod by which the valve of the instrument can he opened.

The levers B have the rods F,and the levers C the rods G. When by a cam a lever is raised, it will hold its rod high enough to reach the instrument to play the required note.` \Vhen, however, a lever rests on the drum, it holds the rod too low to allow of its effecting the music.

The rods F F belong to one instrument, and those, G, to another.

The cams b are arranged in pairs to act always at once upon a pair of levers of the same instrument.

The drum can be connected with suitable apparatus to be easily revolved at the option of the player.

When the two lowest rods F F of the bass row are raised, those of the treble row G are also raised, so that of the saine chord the lowest'note can be played on the bass instrument, the other on the treble instrument. If desired, the saine notes can at once be played on' all the several instruments, thereby producing an orchestral effect. Inversely when the two highest rods G are raised, those below it are all lowered and those ofthe F row detached. Instead of having two sets of levers on each key and two instruments, there may be more sets ot' levers and instrument-s.

.. Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentrlhe combination of two sets -of levers, B C, keys D, springs a a, cam-drum E b, and rods FG, all constructed and arranged as and for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 24th day of August, 1860.

l JOHN C. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

Gno W. MABEE, ALEX. F. RoBEBTs.