US1128923A - Means for synchronously operating musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

S. S. WATERS. MEANS FOR SYNOHRONOUSLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1907.

M 1 M U u an w H 3 d H WW QQN m 4 WN 3 ,E 82 m II 9w N. MN 63 0% a Dnm pm. AN R QN @QN I. 0 mm NW QR. M W mm. wm mm I)? \l. mm h a @m w an &N. @mww QN QQ s 2 e 4 m 1, m KN 1 S. S. WATERS.

MEANS FOR SYNOHRONOUSLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1907.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M L m m a =======mummm wi/tvwooeo S. S. WATERS. MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1007.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

atto'mwv o S. S. WATERS.

MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1907.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

SAMUEL UN 1 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S." WATERS, 0F \VASHINGTOII, DIS'I PtIC I OF OOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO AEOLIAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS;

l To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. WATERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for synchronously Operating ;Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to combined automatic musical instruments, and more particularly to means forsecuring the synchronous operation of two'or more such instruments.

Broadly considered, my present invention comprises a combined musical instrument ;embodying a self-playing mechanism, such for instance as an automatic piano con- .trolled by a moving record having note formations, as for instance, perforations representing collectively a given musical composition or selection, or an accompani- .-ment to such composition or selection; and a mechanism for reproducing recorded sounds, such for instance as a phonograph or graphophonec'ontrolled by a record differing in kind from the musical instrument.

record, said latter record having formations complementary to the formations in the first named record and representing collectively a given selection, and means forming part of the, combined instrument for causing the two records to move simultaneously and at speeds bearing a fixed relation toeach other, whereby the two different but combined instruments will be caused to play the selections represented by the companion records in .1nusical harmony and thus produce a novel and pleasing effect.

' More'specifically my invention relates to mechanism whereby a graphophone or similar instrument may be operated in unison with a self-playing piano or the like, both of said instruments being controlled by a common perforated music sheet. I v g The primary object of my invention is to provide mechanism whereby the two instruments may be started and stopped together, and preserved in perfect synchronism during the performance of any given selection. 7

The further object of my invention is to provide mechanism for accomplishing the above results, which may be attached to automatic piano players. now ,in ,use, without material alteration.

A further object ofmy invention is to pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Application filed July 26, 1937. Serial No. 385,710.

Patented Feb. 16,191".

vide mechanism which shall be simple and ieflicient, and which shall consist of few parts, not liable to become deranged.

With the above and other objects in View iny invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanydrawings in which in? 4 gure 1 1s a view showing the essential parts of a graphophone with my invention my invention as applied to an electrimg ca ly operated'plano, or similar instrument.

Fig. isa detail of some of the parts shownv in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 1s a transverse section'on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional D details hereinafter described. Fig. 7 1s a general view to illustrate the playing piano showing one manner of com- .bining my improvements therewith, certain parts of the piano casing being removed to more clearly show theoperative parts of the mechanism. V

In the above describeddrawings, I have illustrated only so much of a self-playing musical instrument as I have deemed necessary to clearlyshow its connection W1th my invention. It is to be understood however that I contemplate the employment of my invention in connection with any self-play- .ing lnstrument such as a piano, organ, or the like, which is controlled by a perforated, or otherwise treated, record element or device. lReferringto the drawing in detail and (more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, 1 represents an ordinary reader or tracker board such as is usually employed in automatic p'iano players of any ordinary type. Over this reader 1 is adapted to travel a perforated music sheet 2 provided with the usual note-controlling perforations 3. WVhile I have shown and described a perforated mu- ;sic' sheet, it is evident that my invention is equally applicable to any other type of record element, provided With note-controlling formations of any kind whatever. Referring to Figs. 3 and t it will be seen that the perforations 3 in the music sheet cooperate with the usual openings 6 in the reader 1, from which extend lengths of flexible hose 7 to the ordinary pneumatics employed for tea applied thereto, and connected witha pneu- .matmally controlled automatic piano player. F1g. 2 1s a view similar to Fig. l, but show-v controlling the individual sound producing means of the instruments. ,In the case of a piano, each of these individual pneumatics controls a hammer action. Along one edge of the record sheet I form, in addition to the note perforations 3, a series of special perforations or formations, 4:. As shown in Fig. 1, these formations consists of three rows of perforations of somewhat elongated form so disposed as to lie in oblique lines in sets of three. These three rows of perforations are disposed-immediately above the three end openings :3, in the reader 1. From these three openings it would be possible to extend three pieces of flexible hose directly to the motor, to be hereafter described. It will be found, however, often desirable to apply my invention to an ordinary type of automatic -piano player in such a manner that it may bethrown into, or out of operation at will, and the playerused with .or without the sire To this end I form the three end openings 5 with closed bottomsas shown in Fig. 4, and provide lateral ports 11, extending from said openings through the sides of thereader. Mounted in suitable brackets at the side of the reader are two slides 8 and 9, provided with ports which are adapted to register with the ports 11 in the reader. These slides are also provided with nipples 12 and 13, connecting with said ports, to which lengths of flexible hose 12 and 13* are attached. It may be observed that the two slides and ports are so arranged that when the ports in the slide 8 are in register With the ports 11, the ports in the slide 9 are out of register therewith. A lever 10 pivoted to the'slides 8 and 9 is provided, for shifting the same to one or the other of their two positions and stops 14- and 15 are mounted on said slides to limit their movement.' The flexible hose from one of the .i slides, say 9, extends, like the hose 7, to

sound-controlling pneumatics of the instrument, while the pieces of hose attached to the slide 8 extend'to the motor device now to be described. It is evident that by throwing the lever 10, the openings 5 in the reader, may be used either to control the motor device, or to cooperate with the openings 6 in controlling the sound producing means of the instrument.

A form of motor device suitable for my purpose is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and is designated in its entirety, by the reference numeral 16. It consists of an exhaust box or Wind chest 16 from which extends. a pipe 17 leading to any suitable air pump. Into the bottom of this exhaust box tap the three pieces of hose 12*, above described. Immediately over the end of each of these pieces ofhose is fixed a diaphragm 18 to which is attached a valve rod 19. These valve rodscarry at their upper end, valves, which con- (graphophone attachment as may be deconnection with the motor 16, and

trol openings leading from said wind chest 7 connected by pitman rods 21 with a crank shaft 22. This crank shaft has three cranks formed therein at substantially 120 degrees apart, as is usual in such devices; in fact, the entire motor device is very similar to that employed in ordinary pneumatically controlled piano 'players, for driving the' take-up roll. The shaft 22 carries on its end a bevel gear 23, which meshes with a similar gear 24 fixed to the lower end of a shaft 26, carrying at its upper end the circular bed 27 of a graphophone. Mounted on the shaft 26 also, is a brake wheel 25, which may be of any suitable construction, but, as shown, is provided around its periphery with teeth. A. brake shoe 33, suitably supported, is adapted to cooperate with said brake wheel, and is'normally held in engagement there with by means of a spring 3%. Attached to said brake shoe 33 is a power pneumatic 35 of any usual or desired construction, and from t is pneumatic extends a hose 86, to the exhaust box 16, above described.

The general lay-out will be best understood by reference to Fig. 7. in this figure, 51 represents the usual foot bellows or any desired form of exhaust pump, communi- "cating with a receiver 50. From the re nected, by means of a rod 52, with a lever 53, which corresponds to, or may be con nected with the tempo-lever. From one of the chambers in the valve box 45 extends a pipe 44 to a pneumatic motor 43 which may be of any suitable or desirable type. It

consists, as shown, of an arrangement substantially similar to that above described in comprises three pneumatics 42, which are connected with a crank shaft 41, carrying on its end pinion 40. .This pinion 4 0 meshes with another pinion 39, carried on the shaft which supports the take-up roll 38, for the record sheet From the other chamber of the valve chest 45, extends a pipe 48, to a second valve chest 54, ,in which is mounted a slide valve 55, adapted .to be controlled by means of a rod 56, extending to any suitable point. From the valve chest 54 extends the pipe 1'7, above referred to, and connects with the ex 'haust .box .16.. It will thus be seen-thatwhen the-waitress? are opened-'bythrowing the lever 53,- air pressure will bet communicated its edge insuch a position that the needle 29 may contact therewith, and

on the perforated record sheet-I provide a distinguishing mark (indicated at 38) with the word Be/gin? or-some similar expression, associated therewith. I: prefer to employ a series of notches or'indentations 28 in the graphophone record in order that they may be readily distinguished from a single accidentally occuring scratch or indentation and also in order-to give the operator warning of the approachofthe starting position of the record as it is beingturned toward such position, this warning resulting from the sounds successively produced as the needle 29 enters the notches or'indentations 28 during movement of the record toward the starting position, the exact the last notch of the series. the table 27 is mounted a position being In the edge of thumb nut 32,

fixed to a shaft provided at its inner end' with means for engaging the under side-of the graphophone record. As shown in Fig.

5, this means consists simply of a spur wheel 37- adapted to engage the under surface of the record, by friction only, while as shown in Fig. (5, it comprises asmall pinion 37 adapted to engage a circular rack molded in the record. Either of these types, or any similar arrangement, may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. In starting, the record is placed upon the table 27, and the thumb piece 32 turned until the needle 29 enters or contacts with the last one of the series of notches 28. This indicatesthe begin-point of the graphophone record, and the begin point of the perforated sheet record is placed opposite some given mark or point on the piano player, as for instance, the front or rear edge of the tracker. Thus it will be seen that the perforated sheet record and the graphophone record may beso placed in relation to each other that they will both begin to play any given selection at the same instant.

Although I have shown. and described vices, of the instrument.

my invention' thusfar as used in connection with. a pneumatically operated automatic player, it is evident that it is equally applicable to an electrically operated instrument.- In Fig. 2 I have shown one method of applying; my invention to an electrically operated automatic piano player. Referrin to Fig. 2, I employ a perforated sheet 2 similanto that shown in Fig. 1. Instead of the tracker board 1, however, I employ a metal cylinder 61, with which a plurality ofcontact fingers 66 are adapted to cooperate to complete the circuit from a ba tery-such-as 72, through individual magnets adapted to control the sound producing de- From the three end fingers 66*, extend three wires 67 to a three-pole switch 68. This switch is .pro' vided with one set of contacts from which lead wires 67 to the usual sound controlling magnets, and with another set of con- -tacts from which extend wires 69 to the motor device now to be described. Any suitable form of electric motor may be employed which can be caused to run by means of a succession of electrical impulses imparted thereto, but as shown, the motor employed may comprise three solenoids 73, connected to the three cranks of a crank shaft 22, and connected also with springs 5 7 k arranged above said shaft, and secured to any fixed support. The brake shoe 33 in this instance, instead of being attached to a power pneumatic, is secured to the core of a solenoid 75, which solenoid is connected in the common return 70, from the solenoids 73, and is connected by means of a wire 71 containing a switch 73 with the battery 72.

Ila-will be evident that by suitably proportioning and positioning the apertures i in the music sheet always one of the magnets of the motor 73 will be energized and hence the brake magnet 75 will be continuously energized and the brake 33 continuously held away from the, disk 25 during the operation of the instrument.

The operation of my invention, as above described, taken as a whole, is as follows: A graphophone record, containing for instance a vocal selection, is placed on the bed 27 and adjusted to the starting point as above described. A perforated music sheet containing for instance the accompaniment for said vocal selection, is placed in position over the reader 1, and accurately adjusted by means of the begin indication thereon. The lever 10 is thrown into the position shown in Fig. 3, connecting the openings 5, in the reader, with the exhaust box 16 by means of the 125 pieces of flexible hose 12. The valve 55 is also opened. Then upon opening the valves 47, by means of the lever 53 both the motors 43 and 16 begin to move as the perforations 4 in the record sheet successively'lso the starting point pass the openings 5 in the reader, air is suc cessively exhausted from the pneumatics 20 and rotation is thereby imparted to the shaft 22 and thence to the graphophone record. It will be observed that as soon as the valves 47 are opened, the pneumatic 35 is caused to collapse and thus withdraw the brake shoe 33 from the brake wheel 25,.and the shoe will be held withdrawn as long as the box 16 is kept exhausted. It will be seen that the perforations4 in the record sheet are arranged so that they slightly overlap in passing the reader, and in this way a continuous and smooth rotation'is'imparted to the shaft 22. As each perforation passes the reader, an impulse is imparted to the motor, and for each set of three perforations that assesthe reader, one complete revolution is imparted to the shaft 22, and it is evident therefore, that the speed of the shaft 22, and hence of the graphophone, is always directly proportionate to the speed of travel of the record sheet 2. It is therefore apparent that'the graphophone record and the record sheet will be caused to move in absolute synchronism, thus preservin the proper relation between the vocal se ection and the accompaniment. If it is desired, for any reason, to stop in the midst of a selection, the lever 53 is moved over, thus closing the valves 47 and stopping the motor 43, and at the same instant, the pneumatic 35 being relieved from pressure, allows the spring 34 to throw the brake 33 into engagement with the brake wheel, and thus lock-the graphophone record against rotation. Thus the parts are prevented from running by momentum, and the exact relation of. the two records is preserved. If it is desired to operate the piano player without the attachment, the lever 10 is thrown so as to bring the stop 15 up against the supporting bracket. This disconnects the'openings 5 from the motor, and throws them into communication, through the pipes 13, with the ordinary pneumatics controlling the three uppermost notes of the instrument. .With the parts in this position the usual perforated sheet of standard width, without the perforations 4, may be employed, and the piano player operated in the ordinary manner. shown in Fig. 2 the action is similar. The switch 68 performs the function of the slides 8 and 9 and lever 10, and the solenoid 7 5, of thepneumatic 35. It will be observed that, since the perforations 4 slightly overlap, the'current through the wires 70 and 71 will be practically continuous and thus the solenoid will be caused to hold the brake shoe off of the brake Wheel 25. The moment however that this circuit is interrupted as for instance, by throwing the switch 68 or by opening the switch 73 in the common return, the solenoid 75 is deenergized and In the modification the spring 34 throws the brake on, thus locking the graphophone record in position.

'While I have shown and described my invention in connection with certain specific motor mechanism, such showing is to be regarded as illustrative only. Numerous forms of motor devices will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such forms are obviously within the spirit of my invention, the only limitation being that such motors shall be capable of absolutely synchronous o'eration by means of a regular succession of impulses. These impulses may be caused by the intermittent and periodic supply of the motive agent to the motive element or elements of the motor, or by other means.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a piano player operating by means of a perforated record sheet, it is obvious that the same principle may be applied to any other record not in the form ofa perforated sheet, such, for instance, as a record provided with projections In the claims I Will use-the word formation and this is intended to include anything in the way of perforations, projections, or other configurations carried by a record which operates or controls an automatic musical instrument of any nature whatever. Furthermore while I have illustrated my invention as applied to'a graphophone of the disk type it is obvious that it may be equally wellapplied to phonographs of the cylinder type,

and to any other automatic musical ma- 1 chines employing a moving element or record. 7

It will be understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings and the following claims, that my I improved combined musical instrument in the preferred embodiment thereof comprises a sound producing mechanism, such as hammers and the strings on which they act, as

in the case of an automatic piano, the oper- I ation of said mechanism being controlled by a moving record element, as for instance" a music sheet having note formations representing'collectlvely a glven musical selection or an accompaniment to a selection; I

and said combined instrument also includes a record-controlled mechanism for reproducing recorded sounds, such as a phonograph or a graphophone, which includes as a part thereof, a sound-box and stylus, the latter I coiiperating with formations made in a wax.

or composition controlling-record by sound waves acting upon a record1ng needle or stylus, the formations in said last named record representing recorded sounds of the human voice or other sounds. It will be apparent, therefore, that my improved combined musical instrument differs from other combined instruments in that the sound producing and'the sound reproducing mechanisms are distinctly different or dissimilar in character, except that they are both sounding instruments, and in that the controlling records for the two mechanisms differ in kind.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient means for producing a highly pleasing result, and which result I believe to be broadly new in the art.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a main musical instrument, a perforated sheet controlling the same, an auxiliar musical instrument, a record therefor, and means controlled wholly by said sheet for operating said record.

2. In combination, a main automatic musical instrument, a traveling record sheet controlling the same, an auxiliary automatic musical instrument having a rotary part capable of being driven, and means controlled wholly by said sheet for governing the supply of motive power to drive said rotary part. I

3. In combination, a main musical instrument, a traveling record controlling the same, an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor for driving the same, "and means controlled wholl-y by said record for governing the operation of said motor.

4. In combination, a-main musical instrument, a traveling record controlling the same, an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor for driving the same, and means controlled wholly by said record forsupplying motive power to said motor.

5. In combination, a main musical instrument, a traveling record controlling the same, a separate auxiliary musical instrument having a rotary part, a motor for driving the same, and connections for causing said record and motor to run continuously at speeds bearing a fixed relation to each other.

6. In combination, a main musical instrument, an auxiliary musical instrument, a sheet having perforations controlling said main instrument, and provided with additional perforations wholly controlling the actuation of said auxiliary instrument.

7. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument, a reader and record controlling the operation thereof, asecond automatic musical instrument, a motor for operating the same, and means wholly under the control of said reader and record for causing the actuation of said motor.

8. In combination, two self-playing musical instruments, a record device for each, and means responsive only to the movement of one of said record devices for controlling, unconditionally, the operation of the other instri'lment.

9. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument, a traveling record sheet therefor, an auxiliary musical instrument, a record device therefor, and means, controlled wholly by the travel of said record sheet, for causing the actuation of said record dc vice.

10. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument, a record therefor provided with note-controlling formations, an auxiliary musical instrument, and a motor for driving the same, said record being provided With additional formations arranged to control wholly and continuously the supply of motive power to said motor.

11. In combination, a self-playing musical inst ument, a traveling record for controlling the same, means for driving the record, an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor connected to drive the same, said motor comprising a plurality of power elements, means for actuating said elements successively, each of said elements at each actuation effecting the movement of the auxiliary instrument through a predetermined distance, and controlling formations in said record cooperating with said actuating means to govern the motor.

12. In combination, a self-playing musi cal instrument, a traveling record controlling the same, means for driving the record, a motor associated therewith having a rotary shaft, said motor comprising a plurality of power elements, means for successively actuating said elements, each of said elements at each actuation effecting the rotation of said shaft through a certain angular distance, a series of controlling formations arranged in sets in said record which cooperate with said actuating means to govern the motor, and an auxiliary musical instrument driven by the said motor shaft.

13. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument, a traveling record controlling the same, means for driving the record, a motor associated therewith having a rotary shaft, said motor comprising a plurality of power elements, means for successively actuating said elements, each of said elements at each actuation effecting the rotation of said shaft through a certain angular distance, controlling formations in said record arranged in sets, the number of formations in each set being equal to the number of power elements in said motor, and said formations co6perat ing with said control device to govern the motor, and an auxiliary musical instrument driven by said motor shaft.

14. In combination, a self-playing musi cal instrument, a reader, a perforated record sheet cooperating with said reader to control said instrument, an auxiliary musi cal instrument, a motor for driving the same, and means whereby said sheet and reader also wholly control the operation of said motor.

15. In combination, a self-playing main record sheet being provided, With a series of perforations controlling said motor, and means coiiperatively associated with said perforations, whereby the passage of each" perforation past a given point ofsaid-means results in producing one application; of power t'o-said' motor device. 7

'17. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument, a record sheet, a reader cooperating therewith to control said instrument, an auxiliary musical instrument, a

. motor for driving the same, said motor being responsive to successive, periodic applications of power, connections between said reader and motor, and a-series of perforations in said sheet so arranged that the passage ofeach perforation past the reader serves'to produce one application of power to'said motor.

18. In combination, a self-playing musical instrument,-a record sheet provided with formations for controlling the same, an auxiliary-musical instrument, a motor provided with a rotary shaft for driving the same, said motor comprising a plurality of motive elements, each of "which, when actuated, serves to rotate said shaft through a definite angle, sa-id' sheet being provided with a seriesof additional formations, arranged in sets, and means in cotipera-tive relation therewith and with the motor, whereby the passage of each of said additional formations past a given point of said means serves to actuate one ofsaid motive elements, and the passage of each of said sets serves to actuate successimly all of said motive elements, and thereby impart one complete revolution to said shaft.

19. In combination, a self-playing mu-v sical instrument, a reader and record element for controlling the same, a motor, and means whereby part of said reader may be thrown into controlling relation eitherwvith said motor or with some of the sound-pr ducin'g means of said instrument, as desired.

20. In combination, a main self-playing musical instrument, a record sheet therefor provided with a begin indication, an

auxiliary musical instrument, a record-elemasses 22. In-combination, a pair of self-playing? musical instruments, a record device for each, a separate motor for driving each record device, 'the record device of one instrument wholly controlling the motor of the other, and means for locking one record against movement immediately motive power is shut off from either motor.

23. In combination, a pair of automatic sound producing devices, a record element for each, and means controlled absolutely and continuously by one record element alone for governing the operation of the other record element.

24. In combination, a pair of automatic sotmcl-producing devices, a record element for one of said devices, and a traveling record element controlling said otherjdevice, and also provided with means for wholly controlling the movement of saidrfirst-mentioned record element.

25. In combination, a main musical instrument, a record therefor, a motor which drives said record at substantially uniform speed, a second musical instrument, a record therefor, a motor which drives said record, and means in said first-named record controlling the motor which drives the second record whereby the speed of said second record is made at all times to conform to the speed of the first record.

26. In combination, a record for a main musical instrument, means for driving the same, a second record for an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor which continuously drives said second record, a source of power for said motor, control connections leading from the first record directly to the motor, and formations on said'record cooperating with said connections for causing said motor and record to operate at'speeds which bear at all times the same relation to each other.

' source efpowerito which said-motor is connected, control connections fbetween sald motor and said first record, and formations iusaid first record controlling the motor through said connections whereby the speed of said motor is determined at all times by the speed of said first record.

28. In combination, a record for a main musical instrument, a second record for an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor which continuously drives said second record, a source of power, power-transmitting connections between said motor and said first record, and formations in said first recordcontrolling the motor through said connections whereby the speed of said motor is determined at all times by the speed of said first record. I v

29. In combination, a record for a main musical instrument, a second record for an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor which continuously drives said second record, control connections between said motor and said first record, and formations in said first record which control the motor through said connections and cause the speed of the motor to conform at all times to the speed of said first record.

30. In combination, ,a piano record, a phonograph record, a motor, means operatively connecting the motor with the piano record whereby the speed of said motor is determined by the speed of said record and means operatively connecting the motor in .fixed speed relation with the phonograph record.

31. In combination, a record for one mu sical instrument, a second record for an other musical instrument, a motor for operating the said second record, connections leading from the motor to the first record, and means in the said first record acting through said connections to effect energization of said motor when the first record is moved. v

32. In combination, a record for one musical instrument, asecond record for another musical instrument, a motor for causing rotation of said second record, control connections between said motor and said first record, and means in said first record which control the said motor through said connections and cause the continuous actuation of said motor and the continuous rotation of the second record.

33. In combination, two musical instruments, a record element for each of them, a motor for moving one of said records, a latch by which the starting of that record is controlled and which has one position in which the controlled record is rotated by its moving means and another position in which the rotation is prevented, and means for moving said latch to the first named position at a definite time with respectto the commencement of playing by the strument, a record element which controls the same, an auxiliary musical instrument, a motor which drives the said auxiliary instrument, a source of power for said motor, and means whereby the supply of power to said motor is controlled by saidrecord.

35. In combination, a main musical instrument, a record element therefor provided with a begin indication, an. auxiliary musical instrument, a record element therefor also provided with a begin indication, and means comprising a shiftable roller engaging one element for accurately adjusting one record element with respect to the other to bring the begin indications into proper relative position to begin playing together and a thumb piece for shifting said roller.

36. In combination, a main musical instrument, a record element therefor provided with a begin indication, an auxiliary musical instrument. a record element therefor also provided with a begin indication, supporting means for each of said record elements, and means comprising a shifting device mounted on one of said supportingmeans and engaging one of said elements for accurately adjusting one record element with respect to the other to bring the two begin indications into proper relative position to begin playing together without moving said supporting means.

37. In combination, a main musical instrument, a record element therefor provided with a begin indication, an auxiliary musical instrument, a record element therefor also provided with a begin m dication, a motor for driving said main musical instrument, a motor for driving said auxiliary musical instrument, and means comprising an adjustable device mounted on a part of the instrument and engaging one of said elements independent of said motors for accurately adjusting said record elements with respect to each other to bring the two begin indications into proper relation before the playing of the instruments is commenced.

38. A. combined musical instrument. comprising record-controlled soundproducing mechanism and recordcontrolled mechanism for reproducing recorded sounds, a record for each mechanism, said records having complementary formations representing collectively harmonious sounds, two motors one for driving the record of each mechanism, and control connections between one record and the motor of the other mechanism for causing the, two records to move simultaneously at speeds bearing a fixed relation to each other, whereby the companion formations in the two records will cause the sound producing and the sound reproducing mechanisms to operate'simultaneously and in musical harmony one withthe other during the travel of the records.

39. A combined musical instrument comprising a mechanism for reproducing re- ..5 corded sounds, said mechanism'including a sound-box and stylus, a rotary support, a motor having a driving connection with said support and a record having formations representing a given selection, the said stylus coiiperating with said record formations; an automatic piano playing'mechanism forming a part of said combined inslrument and having sound producing devices, a reader, music rolls, a motor forming a part of the piano mechanism and having a driving connection with one of said rolls, and a music sheet having note formations representing a musical selection arranged to control the operation of the sound producing devices in musical harmony with the selection represented by the formations in the first-named record; and motor controlling mechanism including means movable in definite relation with one of the records in playing for. controlling the operationof the other record to cause the two records to travel at speeds bearing a fixed relation to each other, whereby the formations in the respective records repbe brought successively into coiiperative relation with the stylus and reader, respectively, to cause the sound producing and the sound reproducing devices controlled by the said formations to operate simultaneously and in harmony one with the other during the travel of the records.

40. A combined. musical instrument, comprising mechanism for reproducing recorded sounds, said mechanism including a record. having formations representing a given selection, a sound-box and stylus, the latter cooperating with said record formations, a rotary support for the record and a motor having a driving connection with the support; and a self-playing piano forming a partof said combined instrument and including amusic strip record having note- ,formations representing a musical selection arranged in musical harmony with the selection represented by the formations in the first named record, a reader over which said music strip record travels, rolls for supporting the latter record, a motor forming a part of the piano and having a driving connection with one of said rolls, and means rendered operative during the travel of one record in playing for controlling the operation of the driving motor for the other record whereby the formations in the respective records representing collectively companion sounds will be brought successively into cooperative relation with the stylus and reader respectively to cause the sounding devices controlled by said formaresenting collectively companion sounds will 1 tions to operate simultaneously and in musical harmony one with the other during the travel of the records.

41. Acombined musical instrument, comprising two independent and dissimilar sound prancing mechanisms, a separately movable controlling record for each, said records differing in kind, two independent motors one for driving each of said mechanisms, and control connections between one of said mechanisms and the motor of the other mechanism, said connections operating during the playing of the instrument to cause one of the records to move simultaneously with and at a speed bearing a fixed relation to that of the other record.

42. The combination with a' self-playing piano controlled by a traveling record, of a phonograph controlled by a traveling record, said piano and phonograph each hav- 5 mg driving gearing for advancing its record, and the said piano having a main source of power included as a part thereof, and means for driving the record-advancing gearing of both the piano and the phono- 9 -graph to cause their records to travel simultaneously with a continuous motion and a constant relation of speed, from the said main source of power.

43. The combination with a selfplaying 5 piano,'a motor and a music sheet therefor, of a phonograph mechaniSm a motor and a record therefor, means whereby the relative speed of said motors'is controlled, a

brake for holding the phonograph record 10 against rotation, a'power element for actuating said brake, and a source of power in the piano leading to said power element for rendering the latter active; 44;. The combination with a self-playing 1 5 piano, a motor, and a music sheet there-for, of a phonograph mechanism, a motor and a record therefor, means whereby the relative speed of said motors is controlled, a brake for holding the phonograph record against rotation, a power element for actuating said brake, and means operable from the front of the piano for controlling the operation of said power element to release the brake.

45. The combination with a mechanically '115 operated piano and a record for controlling the production of the sounds of the piano, of a record controlled mechanismfor the reproduction of recorded sounds operable simultaneously and in harmony therewith, and control connections between the piano record and the said sound reproducing means for causing the two records to be driven at speeds bearing a fixed relation to each other.v

46. A combined musical instrument,-comprising a self-playing piano with its musicrecord, advancing means therefor, a motor for driving said advancingzmeans and a main source of power in the piano for drivmesses ing said motor, a phonograph mechanism including its record, a rotary support therefor and a motor for driving said support, all cooperatively combined with the piano, controlling connections between a part of the piano and the phonograph mechanism for causing their respective records to move simultaneously at speeds bearing a fixed relation to each other, and manually operable means controllable from the front of the piano for regulating the speed of the phonograph motor.

47. The combination with a self-playing ,piano controlled by a traveling record strip,

of a phonograph controlled by a traveling record, said piano and phonograph each having driving gearing for advancing its record, and the piano having a main source of power included as a part thereof, separate motors for driving th record advancing gearing of the piano and the phonograph respectively, and motor controlling mechanism including means movable in definite relation with one of the records in playing for controlling the operation of the other record to cause the two records to travel at speeds bearing a fixed relation each other, said motor controlling mechanism being in communication with and under the influence of said main source of power in the piano.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL S. WATERS. itnesses:

A. O. CUSHMAN, ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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