US1422969A - Expression device for automatic musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

1. c'. HAGEY. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-1| 1918.

" Patented July 18, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. C. HAGEY.

\ EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1918.

1,422,9 9 Patented Jul -1s, 1922;.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 2,

.l. C. HAGEY. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- I, I918- 1,422,969.

Patented July 18, 1922 a SHEETS-SHEET a.

J. C. HAGEY. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL 1NSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, I918.

Patented July 18, 1922.

5 SliiETS-SHEET 4.

miin W wnejjas.

J. C. HAGEY. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1918. 1,422,969. Patented July 18,1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I "ilk/00111111111110 We. flqw 2%, Mq M 7 M40 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CLARKE HAGEY, OF CHICAGO, IL LINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS..

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly18, 1922.

Application filed March 1, 1918. Serial No. 219,879.

Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Expression Devices for Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the acspecification.

My invention relates to an expression-device for automatic musical instruments.

One oi? the objects of my invention is to provide an improved sheet-controlled automatic musical instrument, in which sheetcontrolled means are provided for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, such as the solo, with respect to another part thereof, with means for varying the tone-volume or tonal power of one of said parts with respect to the other. A further object 01 my invention is to provide an improved sheet-controlled automatic musical instrument, in which two diiferent .eX- pression-devices are controlled from the same tracker-opening. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved sheet-controlled automatic musical instrument, in which two different expressiondevices are controlled from the same musicsiou-device for automatic musical instruments in which a regulator acts to mechanically adjust parts oii the instrument to limit the movement 01" the note-sounding mechanism. A further object of myinvention is to provide an improved automatic sheetcontrolled musical instrument, in which a movable expression-device is connected with a plurality of openings in the tracker and controlled by the volume of air admitted through the tracker-openings. jects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

lVhile shown in connection with a playerpiano. the invention may be used, where applicable, upon other mechanical musical instruments.

In the drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is shown Figure 1. is a front elevation of a sheeteontrolled pneumatic player-piano embody- Further ob- 'ing my invention, parts being broken away to show the interior construction, and the section being substantially onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section, substantially 0n the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, showing a valve for controlling an expressiondevice; companying drawing, forming a part of th1s Fig. 4 is a section, on the line L-l of Fig. 3; V

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of part of the tracker and the associated tubes;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of a player-piano, showing another form of my invention Fig. 8 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic innature, of the player-piano shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view of the primary-valve construction of the expression-device;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view, on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a portion of the tracker and music-sheet.

Fig. 12 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the mechanism asso ciated with the music-spool; r Fig. 13 is a detail of construction; and Figs. 14 and 15 are views otanend portion of the musicspool. Referring now to the drawings in general,

the player-piano shown comprises a casing 10, a piano-action ll, a player-action 12, a selector-mechanism an air-pump 14-, an expression levice 15 for controlling the airpressure in the player-action, and a soloaction 16 whereby the solo part of a musical composition may be emphasized with respect to the accompaniment part. The parts thus far mentioned may be of any suitable construction and need not be described in minute detail. The expressiondevice 15 may be substantially the same as that shown in my Patent No. 1.359,698. dated Nov. 23, 1920. The piano-action 11, the player-action 12, the selector-mechanism 13, and the s0loaction 16 may be substantially the same as those shown in Klugh Patent No. 1,261,553, dated April 2, 1.918. The player-action 12 comprises a series of pneumatics 17 one for actuating each unit of: the piano-action, each of the pneumatics 17 being controlled through one of the openings 18 in the tracker 19 by means of one of the tubes 20. The selector-mechanism 13 comprises the roll box 21, in which are mounted the tracker 19, the take-up roll 22, and the music spool 23.

The air-pump 14 comprises a plurality of bellows 2=l driven "from a motor 25, the bellows 24L acting to draw air from the action wind-chest through the conduits 26 and 27 and acting to withdraw air from the expression-device 15 through the conduit 28. The expression-device 15 is connected by means 01' four tracker-tubes 29 with openings SO in the tracker 19. and, as described in my Patent No. 1,359,698, referred to above, is so constructed as to admit air more or less freely into the conduit 28, the degree of freedom with which air is admitted depending on which one of the tracker-openings 30 is uncovered. If none of the trackeropenings 30 are uncovered, air is admitted with the greatest degree of freedom to the conduit 28. It the right-hand trackeropening 30 shown in Fig. 5) is uncovered, air is admitted to the conduit 28 with a lesser degree of freedom. If the second from the right-hand. tracker-opening 30 (Fig. 5) is uncovered, air is admitted to the conduit 28 with a still lesser degree of freedom, and so on with the other two openings, air being admitted with the least degree of freedom when the left-hand tracker-opening 30 is uncovered.

The more freely air is admitted to the conduit 28, the less will be the rarefaction of the air in the conduit 26, and, consequcntlv. 1n the wind-chest of the player-action. U 1

The solo-action 16 comprises a series of pnenmatics 31, each having, connected therewith and actuated thereby, a rest or abutment 32 located in position to engage two adjacent hammer-heads 33 of the piano-ac tion 11.; and a swinging support 34: on which the pneumatics 531 are mounted. Each pneumatic 31 is controlled through two adjacent tracker-openings 35 by means of one of the tracker-tubes 36. Each tracker opening is so located, with respect to one of the tracker-openings 1.8,that a wide perforation in the music-sheet may uncover both the tracker-opening 35 and the corresponding tracker-opening 1S and. a narrow perforation may uncover only the tracker-opening 18.

The support 3 1 is pivotally mounted at 37 and is actuated by means of a push-rod 38 slidable in suitable guides 39, the upper end of the push-rod engaging an arm 10 secured to the swinging support There are two separate controlling means for actuating the push-rod First, a pneumatic toggle-mechanism 4 1., which acts to place the solo-action in operative position when the pump i l; is s! arted: and. second. an empression-device 42, whi h acts on too push-rod 38 to vary the operative position of the soloaction 16 while a. selection is being played. The pneumatic top'qle-mechanism 4-1 (0111- prises a pneumatic i?) in communication with the wind-chest thron 'h a conduit 44:. two links 45 and 4-6 pivotaily mounted at t? and 4-8, respectively, on the leaves or the pneumatic &3 and pivotally connected together at L9, and a pnsh-rod 5O pirotally (onnccted to the link 45 at 51 and iiivolally connected at to a "floating lev r 523 which is pirotally connected at to the ')nsh-rod 38.

The expre ion-device for "varying the operative position of the solo-action l6 during playing, comprises a pneumatic 55 i'or a ftuating the solo-action. '56, a valveanechanism 56 for controlling the pneumatic :35, and a regulator-mechanism CT for co'i'itrolling the valve-mechanism 56.

The pneumatic 553 is pivotally cormectcd t 58 with a rod 59 which is pivotallv connected at (30 to the heating lever 51%. A spring (ll tends to hold the pneumatic 535 in expanded position.

The ralve-mechanism 56 comprises a chamber (32 in communication with the pneumatic through the conduit (3:3, a flap-valve 6 lt'or controlling the atmospheric port {35 leading to the chamber (32, a tiap-valre 66 "For controlling the exhaust-port OT. and a valve-actuating rod (38 tor actuating the valves (34; and (36.

A button (39 is secured on the rod (51; to limit the down movement or the od by engagement with the wall '7!) oi the chamber This button (39 also 5.-'Ql,'US to open ard the waive 6i hv eiwagement with the finger Tl on the valve. it button the rod above tl Zinger for limiting the upward movement oi the rod or; b ongageinent with an aluitnient 73. The button (iii is so located that, when it engage-4 the wall 70, the valve (36 will uncover the o;- haust-port The button '72 is so located \H. that when it on the abutment T l. the

the atmospheric port (35. The upper end oi the rod (38 is pivoted at T tl to a floating lever 75, one end of which is pivoted at (3 to a rod or link 7"? which is pivotally conne at T8 to an arm 79 secured to, and 011-; i from, the movable leaf oi the pneum The other end of the floating lever 85, a link 88 having one end pivotally connected to the knife-valve 86 and the other end pivotally connected to the movable leaf of the bellows'83, and a spring-841 tending to hold the bellows 83 in expanded position. The port 87 is in communication with the pump 14 through the conduit 89, regulator 90, conduit 91, conduit 28, and conduit 27. The interior of the bellows 88 is in communication with a plurality of openings 92 in the tracker 19 through the conduit 93, which has a plurality of branches 94, one for each of the tracker-openings 92. The openings 92 are in transverse line, respectively, with the openings 30, so that they may be controlled. by the same perforations in the music-sheet, as hereinafter more fully described.

The exhaust-port 67 is in communication with the conduit 89 through a conduit 95.

The regulator 90 may be of any usual or suitable type and comprises a bellows 96 in communication with the conduit 89, a portblock 97 having a port in communication with the conduit 91, a knife-valve 98 for controlling the port in the port-block 97 and actuated by the movable leaf of the bellows 96, and a spring 99 tending to hold the bellows 96 in expanded position. The function of this regulator 90 is to maintain a substantially constant air-pressure in the conduit 89, regardless of changes of pressure in the conduit 28.

In order that the expression-device 42 may be manually controlled, when desired, the conduit 93 is provided with a branch 100 (Fig. 1) which leads to a port-block 101 (Fig. 3) having a port 102 controlled by means of a valve 103 which may be actuated in any suitable manner, as by means of a hand-lever 10 1 to which the valve may be connected by means of a link 105.

If desired, the communication between the pneumatic 43 and the wind-chest through the conduit {1141 may be controlled by means of a valve-mechanism 106 which is controlled by the tail-stock 107 for the musicspool 23, the construction being such that, when a music-spool of a certain length is placed in position, the tail-stock 107 will be shifted to actuate the valve-mechanism 106 to open communication between the pneum-atic and the wind-chest, such a construction being described in detail in Klugh Patent No. 1,261,553 referred to above.

A hammer-rest-rail 108 may be provided to determine the position of the solo-playing hammers.

.The operation is as follows: Assuming that the instrument is idle and it is desired to play a selection, the music-spool 23 is placed in position in the roll-box. This opens the valve-mechanism 106, placing the pneumatic 413 and conduit 14: in communication with the wind-chest. The motor 25 is then started, to cause the pump 14 to withdraw air from the wind-chest through the the regulator-mechanism 57 through the conduit 89, regulator 90, and conduit 91. The withdrawal of air from the win l-chest causes the collapse of the pneumatic 4:3 and a consequent raising of the push-rod 38 through the action of the pivoted links 15 and 46, the push-rod 50, and the floating lever The lifting of the push-rod 38 swings the solo-action 16 into operative position. in which all of the hammer-heads 33 are held close to the strings in short stroke- 1 position by means of the rests 32.

c The pneumatic 83 of the regulator-mechanism 57 is also collapsed, as the air supply through the conduit 93 is .cut oil by the music-sheet and air is exhausted from they pneumatic through the conduit 89. The

pneumatic 83, therefore, collapses until the valve 64; controlling the atmospheric port, thus placing the pneumatic 55 in communication with the atmosphere through the port 65, chamber 62, and conduit 63. The pneumatic 55 accordingly remains expanded for the present, under the action of the spring '61.

As the music-sheet travels over the tracker 19, thenote-perforations 1 register with the openings 18 in the tracker, causing the ac tuation of the corresponding pneum-atics 17 of the player-action, and, hence, the sounding of the corresponding notes. If it is desired that a certain note be emphasized with respect to other notes being sounded at the same time, the note-perforation 1 in the music-sheet, corresponding to the note to be emphasized, is made wide enough to uncover the corresponding opening in the tracker. hen this opening is uncovered, it causes the collapse of the corresponding pneumatic 31 of the solo-action 16, which moves the rorresponding rest or abutment 32 away from the piano-strings, permittingthe corresponding hammer-heads to fall back to long stroke-position against the hammerrest-rail 108. lVhen the perforation which has uncovered the opening 35 registers with the corresponding tracker-opening 18, the

note is sounded with emphasis because the hammer has fallen back to long stroke-position,

In order to obtain desired variations in he degree of rarefaction of the air in the vwind-chest, the music-sheet is provided with suitable perforations 1 for registration with the apertures or openings 30 in the tracker 19. There are five degrees of air- Cit pier-sure which may thus be obtained ll ith l oi the openings 30 corcrod, the degree of rarotacti m is the least; with the righthand openings 30 uncovered, the degree of raretzu-tion is n'rcatm'; with the second opening from the right uncovered, the degre o'l rare'laction is still greater; and. so on, the degre i oi rnre'l aetion being greatest with the lelit-hand openings 3) uncoverml. The construction of the (mpression-device 15 i,- such that the degree of rare'taction obtained by uncovering one (it the tracker-openings 00 is not afl ected by the uncovering of any of the tracker-openinp s 30 to its right; that is to say, the degree of rare'l action obtain-ed is the same when only the left-hand t eclicro wing; 30 is uncovered it would be if all of the tracker*openings 30 were uncovered, and the degree of rareitaction obtiiined if the next to the leftdnind opening 30 is uncovered alone is the some as it would be it this opening 30 were uncovered and also both of the openings 30 to the right of it. etc. This construction is taken 2rd 'antnge oi in the operation of the expression-device as will be llOJfOlliflflLGl' pointed. out

Coming: now to the operation of the expression-derice 42, there are five positions of the solo-action 16 which may be obtained by the ope 'ation of this device. lVith all of the trackcr-openings 92 covered, the soloaction will, when the instrument being played, be held in position to maintain the lnmmers in their shortest stroke-position: with one of the openings 92 uncovered (and is immaterial which (melt the solo-action will swing to permit the hammers to fall back 2 little farther from the; strings; th two of the openings 92 ui'icovcred (and it is immater'a-l which two), the solo-action will swing; to let the hammers fall still further back; with three openings uncovered. the hammers will be permitted to swing still. further back; and with four of the openings 99, urcovered, the solo-action will be swung" i() give the greatest length o'l. stroke for the nceoni 'inniinent-playing hammers.

it will be uiulcrstood that this swinging;- of the solo-:u tion controls only the accompaninicnt- 'ilaying hammers, and that, in any position of the solo action, the solo-playing" hammers are permitted to fall back against the hammer-rcst-ra.il 108.

Assuming that the instrument is being: playeu and that all of the hacker-openings 92 are covered, the pneumatic 83 of the regulator mechanism 57 will be collapsed, the valve 64: will be open, the valve 66 will he closed the pneumatic :5 will be expanded, and the pivotal point (30 will be in its highest position, which will hold the solo-action 16 in a position to maintain the accompeminent-playing hammers in their shortest stroke-position. For convenience, the different positions in which the uccompaniment-playing hammers may he held will lo rcl'errc sncorul, third. tourt-i and V the first position hc up; the shortest stroic'e position, and die li'ith p --ition being the longest stroke-pos ion. a i lor conven- As prcri I he t 92 are in l no with the 11!':\(tl0:--0'1 eniugjs '30 respectively, and the openings 92 controlled from the same pcrlmations in the ll'll=r5lC--Sl100t which control This results in. savii j tracker, and prevents d1 standznrds in the in. e'. while it theoretically lunits the nuiubc olf *arintions in air-pressure and hnnunen strokedencth otherwise possible, this lllllliir tion is not material from a practical standpoint. These limitations are such thnl'. the second degree of :tl1-'1)l(l'-iSiH'0, the ac paniment-playing hann'ners can occupy only the second Slll'OlIG-QOSltl( ll--tllzlt is. they cannot occupy the third, fourth, or litth strokepositions; with the third d e oil nirpressure, the accompnniment-payingr lininmers can be made to occupy only the second or thire strohe-positionsthat they cannot be mad-e to occupy either the fourth or i'e' th strolqe-positions; with the fourth (leer c ol air-pressure, the accompanimentdaring hammers con he made to o :cupy the se ond, third or :lourth strolte-pesititms; and. with the filth deg-rec o'l? air-prcssiu'e .1 nut-playing llflfill'l'S can no nu my the second. third, l'ourti or iifth ltwpositi ns. its. in pra "lice. it is never :ble that the tone-vo ume r tonal power the ouslv noted. t

i cot Wl e11.

zzcczunpinin'icnt should he rwitlv 'n ied durin soil; 3 T his limitation is not uni i, W

standpoint.

Assuming, now, that it is desired that the sir-pressure should he oi the second degree and that the aecompanii'nent-playing hennmers saould occupy the second stroke-position" the itnusic-sheet is per'lorated so that a perforation \ill register with the righthand tracl-zer-openingrs 92 and 3 l, as viewed in Fur. This admits air through the right-haiul tracker-0pm)inn 9'12 into the pneunmtic 9?), which has been. in collapsed position, and cause. this pneimnitic Eli-l to 01x pand to open the lcui'hi-valve 86 until the amount (it "the vnlve-opening is sin usient to permit the sir to he drawn oil through the conduit 89 as 'tast as it is supplied through the tracker-opening 02. This opening ol the lated.

pneumatic 83 closes the valve 6st and opens the valve'66, through the operation of the rod 8l and the floating lever 75. The opening of the valve 66 and closing of the valve 6a causes a. collapsing movement of the pneumatic 55, the air being exhausted there from through the conduit 63 and exhaustport 6'7. This collapsing movement of the pneumatic continues" until it causes the closing of the valve 66,-through the operation of the arm 79, the rod 77, and the fioatinc lever 75.

In effect, the pivotal connection 80 of the floating lever '75 assumes a definite position corresponding to the uncovering of a single one of the tracker-openings 92, and the pneumatic 55 assumes a definite position corresponding to this position of the pivotal point 80.

As previously stated, the button 69 limits the opening movement of the valve 66 and, consequently, the degree of rapidity with which the pneumatic 55 collapses. By adjusting this button 69, the rapidity of collapse of the pneumatic 55 maybe regulf this adjustment of the button 69 is such that it stops the opening, or expandmovement of the pneumatic 83 before said pneumatic has assumed a position of equilibrium, in which the air will be withdrawn just as fast as it is supplied, said pneumatic will continue its opening or expanding movement as soon as the pivotal point '76 of the floating lever is raised by the collapse of the pneumatic 55, and this opening movement of the pneumatic 83 will continue until said pneumatic reaches the aforesaid position of equilibrium.

Assume, now, that it is desired that the air-pressure should be of the fifth degree, and that the accompaniment-playing hamniers should he in the fourthposition. To accomplish this, the musicsheet is provided with a perforation which will register with the left-hand openings 92 and 30, and it is also provided with two additional perforations (in transverse alignmenton the musiosheet with the first perforation referred to) which will. register with two of the other openings 92 in the tracker. air to he admitted to the pneumatic 83 through three of the tra(filter-openings 92, which will cause the rmeiunatic 93 to open to its next to widest position, and will, consequently, lapse to a corresponding extent, which will move the solo-action 16 to a position in which the accompaniment-playing hammers will be held in the fourth position.

The uncovering; of the left-hand trackeropening 30 willcause the fifth degree of airpressure, and, as previously described, the uncovering; of the other tracker-openings 39 to the right of the left-hand opening will, not affect the degree of air-pressure.

This will cause cause the pneumatic 55 to coldefinite positions of the solo-action 16.

If" the accompaniment-playing hammers were, for instance, in fifth stroke-position (which would mean that all of the trackeropenings 92 were uncovered), and it was desired to move the solo-action to a position corresponding to third stroke-position, and itwas at the same time desired to maintain an air-pressure of the fifth degree, the musicsheet perforation uncovering the left-hand openings 92 and 30 would be continued to maintain. the desired fifth degree of air pressure, but two of the three other perforations would'be discontinued, it being immaterial which two. The flow of air from the tracker to the pneumatic 83 would thus be out down from the capacity of four openings to that of two openings, and this would result, in a collapsing movement of the pneumatic 83 and a consequent lifting of the pivotal connection of the floating lever 75. This adjustment of the floating lever 75 would open the valve 64 and close the valve 66, causing an expansion of the pneumatic 55, due to the action of the spring 61, the pneumatic 55 being in communication with the atmosphere through the conduit 63, chamber 62, and atmospheric port65. This opening movement of the. pneumatic would continue until the valve 64 was closed through the operation of the arm 79 (secured to the movable leaf of the pneumatic and the link 77 connected with the floating lever 75. The degree of rapidity with which the pneumatic 55 expands is controlled by means of and may be regulated by adjustment of the button 72, which engages the abutment 73 to limit the opening movement of the valve 64. In case the button 7 2 engages the abutment 73 before the pneumatic 83 has collapsed sufficiently to restore a state of equilibrium between the air supplied to the pneumatic and the air exhausted therefrom, said pneumatic 83 will continue its collapsing movement as soon as the pivotal connection? 6 of the floating lever 75 is lowered on account of the expansion of the pneumatic 55.

It will be observed that the change in degree of air-pressure affects both the accompaniment-playing hammers and the solo-playing hammers, whereas the change in position of the solo-action affects only the accompaniment-playing hammers, By

means of this construction, the tone-volume or tonal power of the accompanii'nent may be made to approach or recede from the tone-volume or tonal power of the sole.

F or manually controlling the position of the solo-action 16, the hand-lever 101- is shifted to more the valve 103 to the left or right (as shown in Fig. 31 to admit air nn'ire or less freely to and thus control the position of? the regulator-mechanism 57. The regulator-mechanism 57 controls the pneumatic and associated parts, as described. in connection with the sheet-controlled action.

In the construction. shown in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, the casing 10, piano-action 11, player-action 12, selector-mechanism 13, air-pump 1-1:, expression-device 15, and soloaction 16 may be substantially the same as in the construction just described.

The pneumatic the valve-mechanism 56, the regulator-mechanism 57, and the connections 3t\\"68l1 these parts may also be substantially the same as in the construction shown in Figs. 1. to 6, inclusive.

in this form, however, the pneumatic is connected with the hammcr-rest-rail 108 instead (it to the swinging; solo-action, and the supply of air to the regulator-mechanism 5'? is controlled by means of the primary valves oi": the expression-device 15. The soloaction 16 is moved to operative position by means 01 a pneumz'itic to .i'lemechanism 109, and the operative posii'on oi the solo-action is varied by means of: the reservoir 110, which is in communication, through the port 112, with. the wind-chest 11.1.. with which the player-action 12 communicates. In this form oi? my invention, the pump and connections for the windchest 111 may be substantially the same as in the form. shown in Fig. 1. the wind-chest 111 being; in communication with the pump through conduits similar to the conduits 2S and 27 of Fi e. 1. The communication of the reservoir 1.10 with the wind-chest 111, and the coinnninication ot' the pneumatic 1 oi the pneumatic toggle-mechanisni with the wind-chest, are controlled by means of a valveanechanisin 1141 (Fig); 8), which. valve-mechanism is controlled by the tail-stock for the music-spool 23. This yalreonechanism may be similar to that shown in the patent to lflugh .1,261.5o-l, dated April 2. 1918, mechanical musical instiuments, and. is shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13. Referring to Figs. S, 12 and. 1.3, a conduit 1.15 extends from the action wind-chest (not shown) to the yalre-mech-- anism 114; associated with the tail-stock 115 for the music-spool 23. This valve-mechas nisi'n 111- comprises a pair of blocks 115 and 115 having ducts or passages 115 and 115. respectirely terminating in ports 11 iand 115 respectively. The block 113 pivotally mounted so that it may be swung with reference to the block 1153 to bring the ports 115 and 11 5 into and out ot register with each other. A. spring 115 tends to swing the block 115 into a positimi to the right. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. in which. position the ports 11:? and 1.15 will. be out oi regis-ater so that no communication can be established between the conduit 11.5, connecting with the bloci: 115 and the conduit 1153 connected with the blocl: 115 and extended from the same to the pneumatic 11.3. The tail-stocl-z 115 for the nnisic-spool has an extension 115 adapted to extend to and illli upon the. block 115", and. the music-spool 23 has a projecting collar 115 (Figs. 12 and 1 1-) which, when the music-spool is in position. pushes said tail-stock 115 suiliciently to the left (Fig. 12) to cause the extension 11.5 to move the block 115 into position to cause the ports 115 and 115 to register with one another; this whole arrangement bei g of course one arrangement or mechanism for controlling pneumatic communb cation to the pneinnatic 113 01 the pneumatic toggle-mechanism. The tailstock 115 is suluect to a spring 115 tending to force said tail-stock to the right 12) to press the same against the n'iusic-spool c1 l. The music-spool 23 is understood to carry a music-roll particularly adapted for playing solo music which. lnfing's into operation the solo mechanism, the solo rolls bein provided with such extended or pro jectinn' spool-collars 115" as are shown inv the drawings 1 1 and 15).

The valre-meclianisin 1015 may be siinila I 1 in all 1 speets to the valre-mechanisin 11.1

desrrilterl above.

Referring now, in detail, to the construction whereby the primary valves or the ore pression-deviec 15 control the flow of air to the rce'ulator-mechanism 57. the condi'iit 11G leads From the regulator-niechanism 57 to a header 1.17 (Figs. 9 and 10). This header 117 is in cornn'iunication with four passages, 11.8, 119, 120, and 121., controlled, respect-irely, by four n'iinary valves. such as 122. the primary valves being, in turn, cmitrolled, 'i'espectively. From the trackeropenings 123. 12- 1, 12 and 126 (Fizz. 'l'll through "tour commits. such as 121 (Fiff. T)

Each oi: the passages 118, 119, 12 and 121 is provided with. a checlevalwc 52?, which will permit the [low of. air from. the respective pas go into the header but will 7revent the flow oi air from the header back into the passage, so that air will not be sucked out of the regulater-mechanism 57 through the conduit v116 when any or all of he passae'es 115%, 119, 1.20. and 121. are connected wlth the wind-chest 128 of the primary valv ,s.

The relation of the tracker-openings 123,

124:, 125, and 126 to the expression-device 15 is substantially the same as is the relation of the tracker-openings 30 to the expressioudevice in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6. inclusive ;that is to say, if none of the openin 123, 124,125, and 126. are uncovered,

air is admitted with the greatest degree of freedom to the wind-chest of the player; if the opening 123 is uncovered, air is admitted with a lesser degree of freedom; if the opening 124: is uncovered, air is admitted with a still lesser degree of freedom; and so on, with the other two trackeropenings, air being admitted with the least degree of freedom when the left-hand tracker-opening); 126 is uncovered. 1

The more freeiy air is admitted to the wind-chest, the less will be the degree of raretaction of the air in the wind-chest. As stated in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, the construction of the expression-device 15 is such that the. degree of rarefaction ob tained by uncovering one of the tracker openings is not affected by the uncovering of any of the other tracker-openings to its right. This construction is taken advantage of in this control of the regulatormechanism 57, as well as in the control previously described.

There are five positions of the hammerrest-rail 108 which may be obtained. by the operation, of the regulator-mechanism 57, just as, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, there are five positions of the solo-action 16 which may be obtained by the operation of the regulator-mechanism 57. With all of the tracker- openings 123, 124, 125, and 126 covered. the hammerrest-rail 108 will, when the instrument is being played. be held in position to maintain the solo-h ammers in the shortest strokeposition; with one of the openings 123, 124. 125, or 126 uncovered (and it is immaterial which one), the hammer-rest-rail 108 will s ing to permit the hammers to fall back a little farther from the strings; with two of the openings 1.23, 124, 125, and 1261mcovered (and it is immaterial which two), the hammer-rest-rail will swing; to permit the solodiammers to fall back still farther; andv so on.

I It will be understood that the swin ing sololavina' hammers and that. in an 0- sition of the hammer-rest-rail, the accompanimenbplaying hammers are controlled by the solo-action 16.

it is understood, of course. that the amount of air-admitted through trackeropening's 123, 12 1. 125 and 126, is depend cut. to considerable extent. upon the correct registration of the several respective music-sheetperforations therewith, and that part oi the air so admitted is drawn through conduits 126 and the vents of the primary valve-action into wind-chest 128 .(Fig. 9). These vents are fixed insize and, consequently, the difference between the amount of air admitted through the described sheetcontrollcd tracker- openings 123, 12%. 125 and 126, and the amount of such air drawn through the vents into wind-chest 123 would vary considerably with a slight variation in the lateral position of the music-sheet. This described difference in amounts is all that would be available for the conduit 116, if the passages 118, 119. 120 and 121 were directly connected with the tracker-openings 123,124, 125 and 126, and I have, therefore, shown the passages as controlled by the primary valves 122, since it is desirable that the flow of air through each of said passages should not be affected by variations in the lateral position of the music-sheet.

If desired, a manually-operated valve, such as shown in Fig. 3, may be connected with conduit 116 in the same manner and for the same purpose as it is shown (Fig. 1) and described in connection with conduit 93.

Coming now to the construction and operation of the mechanism for controlling the swinging solo-action, this may be substantially the same as that shown in the heroinbefore mentioned Klugh Patent No. 1,261,- 553, except that, in the present device, there is a valve-controlled communication between the reservoir 110 and the wind-chest 111. This valvecontrolled communication is provided for the reason that, when some musicrolls which are not soloized are, being used. it is desirable that the reservoir 110 be cut elf from communication with the wind-chest. 111 in order to get the desired musical effect, while, when soloized music being played, it is important that there shall be communication between the reservoir and the wind-chest. By soloized music-rollv is meant a music-roll. which, when used with the instrument shown, will cause solo effects to be produced.

The mechanism for controlling the position of the solo-action comprises the pneuinatic 113, links 130 and 131 pivotally connected together at 132 and pivotally connec ed to the leaves of the pneumatic 113 at 133 and 131, respectively, a lift-rod 135 pivot- 7 'ally connected to the link 131, a lever 13-6 oi. the hauuner-rest-rail controls only the actuated by the lift-rod 135, a lift-rod 137 actuated by the lever'136, a V-shaped spring; 138 exerting" an upward pressure on the lower end of the lift-rod 137. a bell-cranlrlever 139 for drawing down or lowering the lift-rod 137, and an arm 140 secured to the movable leaf of the reservoir 110 for engaging and operatlng the bell-c1'anklever 139. A Vwhaped spring 1 11' is inter"; sed

in the connection between thelift-rod 135 and the lever 136 to permit the lowering of the lift-rod 137 without lowering liftrod 135. The lever 136 is pivotally mounted at The belllii i i on any suitable support.

is mounted in suitable bearhe Windpnei niatic o and 113 action oi air i 'llhe operation of the mechanism for 1e soleaction is as lollOWSZ :xs-

t the air-puinp is working and tnere is rarefied air in the wind-chest, the placing of a soloizedf n 'rsicaroll in pe- :ion in the roll-box will ea me he collapse the pneuniatics 1.13 and 1 :5. The collapse oi, the pneumatic 113 moves the swineing solo-action 16 to bring the hainine s the piano-action to their shortest stroxe= sition, through the me i the i links 1250 and 131, the lire-rod 135, the

the lever 13S, and the lift-rod ltl airpres?sure in the \Ylilli-CilQSt corres i spending); to a, lesser tonal iioiver than that of mezzo-forte, the solo-action will remain in this position. If, however. the raret action oi. air in the Wind-chest is increased beyond tl at corres}ionding to menace-forte, the reservoir 110 will. he collapsed therehy to a degree which brings the arm l-l-O into cnn'agg'ciiient with the vertical arm of the bell-eranlelever '39 and a :tuates this hellcranlc-lever to torce the rod 137 dovrnweirdly, against the action of the springs 138 and 14;}. thus lilSlllQ the solo-a tion to he moved to permit the pizine-hammers to tail hack to a longer stroke-position. The greater the increase of raielaction ot' the air in the mind-chest over that corresponding to memo-forte, the greater will be the strolredengrths of the :iceoinpaniuicnt-hzunmers. The solo-hanuners are. ot reverse, p0"- initted to tail hack against the hammer-rest- :rail 108 by the col apse of the pneumatic; of the solo-action Th variations in solo and a ,conipaninient which nay be obtained are as follows: Both solo and accompaniment are infinenced by the degree of raretaction oi the air in the Wind-ehest, which determines the power e): rted by the striker-pliesmatics on the piano-action. The accoinpaniniei is also influenced the position of the soloaction, which, in turn, is controlled by the degree of raret'action of the air in the wind-- ehest. The degree of rarehietion oi? the an in the Wind-chest thus has a double ellert on the aecoinpaniment: it determines the torce exerted by the striker-pneuniaties and also determines the stroke-lengths oi? the arc-oinpaniment-haminers. The degree o1": rareil aetion oi? the air is selectively determined by the perforations in the music-sheet which control the tra.eke1.'-openings 1523 13 124., 125 and lQG. The solo, in addition to being in- ;lueneed by the ftil-PlQSS1i1O, is also influenced by the position of the hmnmer-resh ail 108, the position of the hammer-res nil being determined by the instant nuiuher t periiorations in the music-sheet controlling the tracker- openings 123, 12411, 125, and 126.

is eiqilained in connection with l ies. l to (3, inclusi e, the position of the regulatornieehanis n 57 may be varied inde 'iei'uieutly oi the variations in airpressure, in spite oi? the tact that the perforations which control the regulator-ineehanism 5'? register with the tracker-o ,)enings which control the airpressure. This independent variation is possible because only one of the series ot transversely aligned perforations in the music-sheet, registering vith the 'racker openings 123, 124:, 125, and 126, is e'll'eetire in determining the air-pre:-'-'sure, whereas all oi the transversely aligned perforations are ettectiye in determining the position of the reg-aletor-mechanism 5'? By niezins of this control oi the hanunerrefit-rail 109 through. the regulator-meeha- 57, the tonal power of the solo may he pproach or recede with respect to tonal power of the aceoiupai'iimeut. and may to varied independently of the varia "ions in the accompaniment.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, not only is the regulator-mechanism 5? controlled from erforations in the music-sheet which register with the trackeropenine s which control the air-pressure, but the rcgulator-inechanisrn, 57 is controlled froin the same trael elf-openings as control the air-pressure.

lVhile, from this description, the eontrol oi the solo and that of the accompaniment appear to be very similar and oi little distinctive value, the one over the other, there is, in fact, a wide distinction therehctween, not only in the mrsical clitects obtainable thereby, but because the employment of one method of control. ather than the other, in automatie musical instruments is. of necessity, more than simple preference. In some instruments, one oi": these met-hose might be necessary to pro duee the desired results and the other would be impracticable, While. in other instruments, the reverse condition might obtain.

The'principles of construction of the various instruments are controlling in such matters to a greater or less degree.

l/Vhile I have shown and claimed my invention as used upon a player-piano, it is to he understood that its use is not necessarily so limited. It may he used in connection with other musical instruments where a control of the degree of movement of the notesounding mechanism 1 ay eil'ect expressioncontrol.

In the claims, where the term regulator is used, it is meant to he understooo as meaning an automatically operating, valve-ad justing device which acts automatically upon a variation of air-pressure to position the valve in conformity with such variation. Also, where the term one expression part of a musical composition is used, it is meant to refer to a part oi? the ,rnusic such as the solo part, the accompaniment part, the principal theme, the subsidiary theme, and other such musically separableor distinguishable parts of a musical composition, as distinguished from the first, middle, or latter part thereof.

I claim as new andvdesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1,. An expression-device for an automatic musical instrument, couiprisii'ig means for mechanically adjusting parts of: the musical instrument to limit the movements oi the note-sounding mechanism, said means ineluding a regulator.

2. An expressioindevice for an autonuttic iusical instrument. comprising means t'or mechanically adjusting parts of the musical instrument to limit the movements of the note-sounding mechanism, said means including a regulator and means through which said regulator controlled in operation from the note sheet.

El. An expression-device for an autoi'natic musical instrument, comprising a regulator for mechanically adjusting parts of the musical instrument to limit the movements of the note-sounding mechanisu'i, and means through which said regulator is controlleifl in operation from the note-sln-iet in a per nautative manner.

4. An tBXDlGSSlOlPtlGYlCG or an automatic mijlsical instriuuent, coinpr ing a regulator "for mechanically adjusting parts of the musical instrument to limit the movements ot the uote sounding mechanism, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation by selective means oi the note-- sheet which are employed to control the op eration of devices other than said expressiren-device,

in expression-device tor a p ayen piano, comprising means for mechnni ally adjusting parts ol the player-piano to limit the tr vel of the piano-hammers, said means including a regulator.

6. An expression-device for a player-piano, comprising means for mechanically adjust ing parts of the player-piano to limit the travel of the piano-hammers, said means including a regulator and means through -which' said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet.

7} An expression-device for a player-piano, comprising a regulator for mechanically adj Listing parts oi the playenpiano to limit the travel of the piano-hammers, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

8. An expression-device for a player-piano, comprising a regulator for mechanically adjusting parts of the player-piano to limit the travel of the piano-hammers, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation by selective means of the notesheet which are employed. to control the op eration of devices other than said expression-device.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof means acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrun'ient to limit movements of the notesounding mechanism to "vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, the last said means including a pneumatic regulator.

10. Ina mechanical musical instrument having sheet controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, means acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit movements of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the emphasis given to said one expression. part of the musical composition, the last said means including a'pneumatic regulator and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation fromiihe note-sheet.

11. In a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one eXpression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof. a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit movements of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

12. In a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for empha' sizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit movements of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, and means through which said regulator is controlled. in operation by selective means of the note-sheet. which selective means are employed to control the operation of other devices.

13. In a player-piano having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expres sion part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, means acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit the travel of the piano-hammers to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, the last said means including a pneumatic regulator.

14. In a player-piano having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, means acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit the travel of the piano-hammers to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition. the last said means including a pneumatic regulator, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet.

15. In a player-piano having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit the travel of the piano-hammers to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

16. In a player-piano having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit the travel of the piano-hammers to vary the emphasis given to said one expression part of the musical composition, and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation by selective means of the note-sheet, which selective means are employed to control the operation of other devices.

17. In a mechanical musical instrument having sheetcontrolled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, means acting to mechanically adiust parts of the instrument to limit move ments of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part, of said musieal composition, the last said means including a pneumatic regulator.

1.8. In a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, means acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit movements of the notesounding mechanism to vary the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part, of said musical composition, and. means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet.

it). In a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for emphasi ing one expression part of a musical composition, a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrui'nent to limit movements of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part, of said musical composition, and means through which said regulator is coi'itrolled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

20. in a mechanical musical. i1 strument having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, a pneumatic regulator acting to mechanically adjust parts of the instrument to limit movements of the note-sounding mechanism to vary the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part, of said musical ('OInpOSitiOll. and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation by selective means of the notesheet, which selective means are employed to control the operati-ai of other devices.

In a player-piano llilt'llly sheet-eontrolled means for emphasizing one expres sion part of a musiral (,OEIJPOSll 'lOH, means acting to mei-hanicaily adjust parts of the instrument to limit the travel of the pianohammers to varv the tonal power of a part,

other than the emphasi'lzeijl expression part,

of said musical composition, the last said means including a pneumatic regulator.

in a playeupiano having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, means acting to meehanicaily adjust parts of the instrun'ient to limit the travel. of the pianohammers to vary the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part. of said musical composition, the last said means including a pneumatic regulator and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet.

23. in a mechanical musical instrument having means for emphasizin one expression part of a musical composition through lii'nitation of the moven'ients of certain units of the note-sounding merluinism of said instrument, means controlled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree of limitation of such units as have the more limited movements.

24.. In a mechanical musical instrument having means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical, composition through a limitation of the movements of certain units of the note-sounding mechanism of said instrument, means controlled in operation iron the notesheet to vary the degree of limitation of such units as have the more limited movements, and means through which the last said means are controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

sheet, which selective means are employed to v control the operation of other devices.

26. In a player-piano having means for emphasizing one expression part oi a musical composition through a limitation oi? the movements of certain hammers or the pianoaction of said instrument, means controlled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree of limitation of such hammers as have the more limited movements.

27. In a player-piano having means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition through a, limitation of the movements of certain hammers of the piano-action 01" said instrument, means controlled in operation from the uote-sheet to vary the degree o t limitation of such hammore as have the more limited movements, and means through which the it said means are controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

28. In a player-piano having means for emphasizing one expression part ot a musical composition through a limitation oi the movements or". certain hammers oit the pianoaction oi said instrument, means controlled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree of limitation of such hammers as have the more limited movements, and. means through which the last said means are controlled in operation by selective means of the note-sheet, which selective means are employed to control the operation of other devices.

29. In a mechanical musical instrument having means for emphasizing, as a class, the notes of one expression part oi a musical. composition through a limitation, as a class, of the units of the note-sounding mechanism used to sound notes of another part or said composition, means controlled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree oi such limitation.

30. In a mechanical musical instrument having means for emphasizing, as a class,

the notes of one expression part of a musical composition through a limitation, as a class, of the units oi. the note-sounding mechanism used to sound notes of another part of said composition, means con rolled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree of such limitation, and means through which the last said means are controlled in operation irom the note-sheet in a permutative manner.

31, In a mechanical musical instrument having means for emphasizing, as a class, the notes of one expression part of a musical composition through a limitation, as class. oi the units of the note-sounding mechanism used to sound notes of another part of said composition, means controlled in operation from the note-sheet to vary the degree of such. limitation, and means through which the last said means are controlled in operation by selective means of the note-sheet, which selective means are employed to control the operation of other devices.

32. In a player piano having means for emphasizing, as a class, the notes of one eX- pression part of a musical composition through a limitation, as a class, of certain hammers of the piano-action used to sound notes oi another part of said composition, means controlled in operation from the notesheet to vary the degree oi such limitation.

33. In a player-piano having means for emphasizing, a class, the note of one eX- pression part of a musical composition through a limitation, as a class, of certain hammers ot the piano-action used to sound notes of another part of said composition, means controlled in operation from the notesheet to vary the degree of such limitation, and means through which the last said means are controlled in operation from the noteshcet in a pcrmutative manner.

34. In a player-piano having means for emphasizing, as a class, the notes of one expression part 01 a musical composition through a limitation, as a class, of certain hammers oi the piano-action used to sound notes of another part of said composition, moans controlled in operation from the notesheet to vary the degree of such limitation, and means through. which the last said means are controlled in operation by selective means oi the note-sheet, which selective means are employed to control the operation of other devices.

The con'ihiiuition, in a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for emphasizing certain notes, of a. uotc-sheet provided with selective means of one character for selecting for emphasis notes or the solo or melody part of a musical composition, and with selective means of another character for selecting notes of the accompaniment oi? said composition, and means controlled in operation from said note-sheet to vary the tonal power oil? the accompaniment, as such.

36 The combination, in mechanical musical instrun'ient having sheet-controllcd means for emphasizing certain notes, of a note-sheet provided with selective means "tor selecting the notes to be emphasized and for selecting other notes not to l. emphasized, and means controlled in operation from said notosheet to vary, as class, the tonal power of the said other notes not to he emphasiyed.

37. The combination, in a mechanical musical instrument having sheet-controlled means for subduing' certain notes, oi a noteshee't provided with selective means for so lectinn', to be subdued, notes of the accoioipaniment part of a musical composition, and means controlled in operation trom said note-sheet to vary the degree to which said notes of the accompaniment parts are sul dued.

38. An automatic musical instrumentcoim prising a note-sounding action; means for emphasising one eXpre 1011 part of a musical composition, connirisine; a plurality of independently movable abutments, each a 'ting mechanically on certain units of said note-sounding" action to limit the movement thereof, a plurality oli pneumatics lor actuating said abutmci'its, respectively. and a common support for said ahutmcn ts and pneumatics, said pneijunatics in expanded position causing the units to he held in liniitcd stroke-position and in collapsolfl position permitting the units to assume longer strokeposition; and slmet-controlled means "tor moving, said common support to vary the limited strolrcqposition.

39. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano comprising; a piano-action; means tor emphasizing one expression part oi. a musical composition, comprising a plurality of independently movable abutnwnts, each acting mechanically on one or more pianoactionamits to control the length o'l'" stroke thereof, a plurality of pneun'iatics 'lor actuating said abutn'ients, respectively, and a, common support for said ahutments and pnenmatics, said pneumatics in expanded position cmising the hannners to he held in short strokeposition and in colliuosed position permitting the hammers fall back to long stroke-position and sheet-c mtrolled actuatingoneans for moving said common support to vary the short stroke-peeition.

40. A. sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano con'iprising a piano-action; means :tor emphasizing one expression part ot' a mush cal composition, comprisinga ph'iralitg" of independently movable abutments, each acting mechanically on one or i'nore pianoaction-units to control the length oi strolte thereof, a plurality oi? pneumatics ttor actuating said abutments, respectively, and a common support for said abutments and pneumatic-s, said pneumatics in expanded position causing the hammers to be held in short SiTlOl(3-p )SlliiO11 and in collapsed position pern'iit-ting the hammers to fall. back to 3 ng strolrc-position; sheet-controlled actu ring-means tor moving; said common support to vary the shortstroke-position; and abutiment-means tor limiting the longstrolteposition of the hammers.

all. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playen piano coniprising, a piano-action; means tor emphasizing one expression part ot a musical composition, comprising a plurality o 1 independently movable abutincnts, each acting mecl'izmically on one or more pianoaction units to control the length oi? stroke thereof, a plurality of pneumatics for actuating said abutments, respectively, and a pivotally mounted common support for said almtments and pneumatics, said pnciunatics in expaiuled position causing the hammers to be held, in short strokeiiosition and in collapsed position permitting the hammers to tail JiECli to long stroke-position; and sheet-controlled actuating-means for moving aid common support to vary the short stralte-positionv l2. ii sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano comprising a piano-action; means for emphasizing one expression part ot a musical composition, comprising a plurality oi inoepcndently movable ahutments, each actinn mechanically on one or more piano actionuinits to control the length oi" strol'ce tliereo'l', a plural ity of pneumatics tor actu-- atinc; said ahutments, respectively, and a common support tor said abutments and pncumatics, said pi'ieumatics in expanded position causing the hammers to be held in short strokeposition and in collapsed position permitting the han'imers to fall back to long stro keposition; sheet-cmitrolled ac tua iiiumneans for moving: said common support to vary the short sticks-position: and actuating-means for moving said common support to move said dblltillGlltS from inoperative to operative position.

i it sheet-cm'itrolled pneumatic plaverpiano conuirising an air-pinup; a pianoaction; means -lor emphasiziin; one expression part of a n'ujisital ,-om1' osition. comprising a plurality ot independently movable abutnicnts, each acting mechanically on one or more piano-action-units to control the length oit stroke thereo'l a plurality oi pneumatics il or actuating said ahutments, i'espectively, and a common support for said ahutments and pneumatics, said pncunaitics in expanded. position causing the hammers to hold in short stroke position and in collapsed position permitting the hammers to fall back to long stroke-position; sheet-controlled actuating-means for moving said. common support to vary the short strokeposition; and actuating-means for moving said common support to move said abutments from inoperative to operative position, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump.

44. An automatic musical instrument com.- prising an air-pump; note-sounding mechanism; adevice movable to a plurality of different positions for limiting the movement of certain units of said note-sounding mechanism; and means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and means for admitting air to said pneumatic.

45. A. sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising an air-pump; note-sounding mechanism; a device movable to a plurality of different positions for limiting the move ment of certain units of said note-sounding mechanism; and means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and sheet-controlled means for admitting air to said pneumatic.

4L6. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpia'no comprising an air-pump; a tracker; a piano-action; a device movable to a plurality of different positions for limiting the movement of certain units of" said pianoaction; and means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and means affording communication between said pneumatic and a plurality of tracker-openings.

4.7. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano comprising an air-pump; a tracker; a device movable' to a plurality of dilierent positions for controlling the expression; means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and means affording communicationbetween said pneumatic and a plurality of tracker-openings; and a second expression-controlling device controlled from the same tracker-openings.

48. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano comprising an air-pump, a tracker, a device movable to a plurality of diflierent positions for controlling the expression, means for controlling the movement of said device comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pump and with a plurality of tracker-openings, and a second expression-controlling device controlled from the same tracker-openings.

49. A. sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a note-sounding mechanism;

sheet-controlled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof, comprising a plurality of independently movable devices, each acting mechanically on one or more units of said note-sounding units, and sheet-controlled modulating means acting collectively and mechanically on a plurality of note-sounding mechanism, whereby more than two different degrees of tone-volume of one of said parts may be obtained.

50. A. sheet-controlled player-piano comprising a piano-action; sheet-controlled means for emphasizing thesolo part of a musical composition with respect to the accompaniment part thereof, comprising a plurality of independently movable devices, each acting mechanically on one or more piano action units; and sheet controlled modulating-means acting collectively and mechanically on a plurality of piano-actionunits, whereby a plurality of different de grees of tone volume of the accompaniment may be obtained. 1

51. A sheet-controlled pneumatic player piano comprising a piano-action; means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, comprising a plurality of independently movable abutments, each act- 1 ing mechanically on one or more pianoa-ction-units to control the length of stroke thereof, a plurality of pneumatics for actuating said abutments, respectively, and a common support for said abutments and pneumatics, said pneumatics in expanded position causing the hammers to be held in short stroke-position and in collapsed position permitting the hammers to fall back to long stroke-position; and means for moving said common support, comprising afloating lever, sheet-controlled actuatingmeans for moving one end of said lever to vary the short stroke-position, and actuating-means for moving said other end of said lever to move the abutments, from inoperative to operative 7 position.

52. A sheet-controlled pneumatic playerpiano comprising a piano-action; means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical composition, comprising a plurality of independently movable abutments, each acting mechanically on one or more piano-am tion-units to control the length of stroke thereof, a plurality of pneumatics for actuating said abutments, respectively, and a common support for said abutments, said pneumatics in expanded position causing the hammers to be held in short stroke-position and in collapsed positionpermitting the hammers to fall back to long stroke-position; sheetc0ntrolled actuating-means for moving said common support to vary the short stroke-position; and actuating-means ating: said alnitn'iems. lQSPQClIlYClIvI and a' common support for said alixutments. said pneumatics in expanded position caus ng" the hammers to he held in short studio-position and in collapsed position permitting the hammers to fall back to lon stroke-pm sition; and means for 1T1OVi112f connnon support, comprisinga float ng lever, sheet controlled actnsting-means tor moving" one end of said lever to vary the short strokeposition. and actuating-means tor moving; the other end oi said lever to move said abutments from inoperative to OPGiili'lVi? position.

5'47. In a playernane having; Sl1ii0011- trolled means for emphasizing one expression part of a musical compositiom a pnenmatic regulator acting); to mechanically adjust parts of the instrum nt to limit the travel of the piano hammers to va the tonal power of a part, other than the emphasized expression part of said musical composition. and means through which said regulator is controlled in operation from the note-sheet in a peri'nutative manner.

55. In a player-piano having; Filltii-(HHP trolled means For emphasizing one cacpression part 01" a musical composition. a pneumatic regulator acting to n'ieclninicaliv adnst parts of the astrument to limit the travel of the piano-hammers to varv the tonal power of a part other than the emphasized expression part, of said musical composition, and means through which said renulator is controlled in operation by selective means of the note-shee" which selective means employed to control the operation of other devices.

A sheet-controlled pneumatic musical instrument conii tirising' an air-pump, a storage-reservoir in communication with said air-pump and means controlled by the musicspool tor controlling; the communication between said air-pump and storage reservoir.

57. A sheet-controlled pneumati musical instrument comprising an air-pump. a storage-reservoir in communication with said air-pump and means controlled by placing: the music-spool in position with respect to said instrument for controlling the communication between said air-pump and storage reservoir. 7

58. A sheet-controlled pneumatic musical instrument comprising an air-pump, a reservoir in communication with said air-pump, av valve controlling communication between said air-pump and rer-iervoir. a pneumatic controllingid valve, and means controlled l' v placing the music-spool in position with respect to said instrument for controlling: said pneumatic.

A sheet-contr0lled pneumatic musical instrument C()111])1iSii1 an exprcssion-dcvicc an airpump, a pncnn'iatic in communication with said air-pump for controlling said ore prcssion-device a reservoir in communiczn tion with said air-pump For additionally controlling .sa id expression-devico, and means for controlling the communication between said reservoir and air-pump.

60. A. sheet cmitrolled pneumatic musical instrument comprising an expression-tierice. an air-pump, a pneumatic in connnunication with said air-pump for controlling said 0;;- pression-device. a reservoir in communication with said air-pump tor additiomillv controlling said expression-device, and means controlled bv the music-spool itor controlling the communication. between said reservoir and air-pump.

61. A sheet-controlled pnciunatic musical ii'istrument comprising: an expressioirdcvice. an air-pump a pneumatic in communication with said airpnmp tor controlling said expressi(in-device, a reservoir in connnunication with said air-pump tor additionally controllingg said eXprcssion-dovicc. and means controlled by ilacinn' the music-spool in position with respect to said instrument for controlling the communication bctwccn said air-pump and l'QSGl".'Oil.

('32, A sheet-controlled pneunritic musical instrument comprising a solo-mjrtiom an airpump. a pneumatic in CODUI'IIIHlt'ililOH with said airnimp tor moving; said solo-action into operative positioi'n a reservoir in courmnnication with said air pum 'i :lor cou trolling the position o't said solo-action, and means for controlling: the communication between said air--pump and reservoir.

63. A sheet-controlled pneun'iatic musical instrument comprising a solo-action. an air pump, a pneumatic in commmiication will said air-pump jlor movirrc' said solo-action into operative position. a reservoir in communication with said air-pump tor control ling the position of said solo-action. and means controlled by placing the musicspool in position with respect to said i istrument for controlling the communication Ire tween said air-pump and reservoir.

(i i. In an automatic musical instrument. the combination of a note-soimding action: means for emphasizing; one expression part of a musical composition with respect to another part thereof. comprising a plurality of independently-movable abutments each acting mechanically upon one or more Cir movable units of said action to control the limit of movement thereof, and a plurality of pneumatics for actuating; said abutments, respectively; and means for limiting the effective action, of said abulments; \vith sheet-controlled means for moving; said limiting means to thereby vary the degree of emphasis to be given one of said parts of the musical composition With respect to another part thereof.

65. An automatic musical instrument comprising an ainprinip; notesounding mechanism; a device movable to a plurality oi different positions for limiting the movement of certain units of said note-sounding mechanism; and means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communication with said air-pinup, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and means for admitting varying amounts of air to said pneumatic.

66. A sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising an air-pump; note-sounding mechanism; a device movable to a plurality of different positions for limiting" the movement of certain units of said note-soundingmechanism; and means for controlling the movement of said device, comprising a pneumatic in communicationwvith said air-pump, a valve controlling said communication and controlled by said pneumatic, and sheetcontrolled means for admitting varying amounts of air to said pneumatic.

67. An automatic musical instrument comprising a tracker, note-sounding mecharism, and two independently variable enpression devices for controlling said notesounding mechanism; both said expressioir devices being controlled from the same tracker opening.

68. An automatic musical instrument comprising a tracker, note-sounding mechanism; and two independently variable expressiondevices for controlling said note-sounding mechanism; both said expression devices being simultaneously controlled from the same tracker-opening.

69. A player-piano comprising tracker, a piano-action, and two independently variable BXPIGSSlOll-ClQVlCGS for controlling: said piano-action; both said expression-devices being controlled from the same track-openmg. r

O. A player-piano comprising a tracker, a piano-action, and two independently variable eXpresion-devices for controllingsaid piano-action; both said expression-devices being simultaneously controlled from the same tracker-opening.

71. An automatic musical instrument comprising a note-sounding action; sheet-controlled means tor emphasizing the solo part of a musical composition With respect to the accompaniment part thereof, comprising a plurality of independently movable devices, each acting mechanically on one or more note-sounding action-units; and sheeti'rontrolled modulating means acting collectively and mechanically on a plurality of notesounding" action-units, whereby a plir rality 0t different degrees of tone volume of the accompaniment may be obtained.

72. The combination, with a tracker having a plurality of expressionopenings, and an expression-device controlled i'rom' said plurality of e2;pression-openings, said cripressionulevice being of: a type in which its control through one of said expression-openings is independent of its control through another of said expression-openings, of a second expression-device controlled from the same expression-openings, said second expression-device being of a type in Which its control through one of said expression-openings is modified by its control through another of said expressionbpenings.

73. A sheet-controlled pneumatic musical instrument comprising an air-pump, a pump-reservoir in communication with said air-pump, and means controlled by the music-spool for controlling the communication of said air-pump with said pumprescrvoir.

74E. A sheet-controlled pneumatic musical instrument comprising a player-action, a

reservoir for atlecting the Wind-pressure for operating the player-action, and means controlled by the music-spool tor COXltlOlllI1;Z said communication of said reservoir with 'saiu player-action.

same selective device (it saidnote-sheet.

77. An expression-device for an automatic musical 1.113 1111111611 1 comprising means for mechanically 'adjustiirrg parts of the musical instrument to limit the movements of the note-sounding mechanism, conduits through which said means may be controlled in aid justment, and means connected with said conduits for controlling the first said means by varying" the number of active conduits.

78. An expression-device for an automatic

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