US247774A

US247774A - Mechanical musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US247774A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1881-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1898-10-04

Description

J. METZGER.

MEGHANIGAL MU$IGAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 247,774. MW

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 4, 1881? E! DU EIEI EU DE! [IE] IIIIII DE] ElEl Ell MEI El :IEI

. r O 1U n 6 m I r 6 Z M 0 N. PETERS. Pholn-Lilhngrapllnr. Wnshmglon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOSEPH METZGER, OF EAST CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,774, dated October 4., 1881.

Application filed March 25, 1881.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH METZGER, of East- Oambridge, of the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reed-Organs; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a top view, Fig. 2 a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section, of the series of reed-chambers and the parts above them of an organette, such containing my improvement, the nature of which is fully set forth in the claim as hereinafter given.

In such drawings, the reed-chambers are shown at a, each being provided with a reed, b, and openinginto a wind-chest, c, from which air is to be extracted by a bellows, as in most reed-organs.

Extending over the series of 1 eed-chalnbers is a mouth-piece or cap, A, having through it a mouth, 0, for each of the said chambers, such mouth-piecebeing on its upper surface cushioned with leather or other proper material, the cushion beingshown at t. On this cushion rests the tune-sheet B, which is ametallic plate bent in a cylindrical form around and fixed upon a rotary frame or supporter, 0, consisting of two or more disks, d, and a shaft, 0, all being arranged as represented. The tunesheet is perforated, as shown atf, which,while the tune-sheet and its supporter are being slowlyrevolved, are carried across the mouthscf the reed-chambers, so as to admit air into them as may be required for operating the reeds to produce a tune.

It will be observed that the rotary supporter of the tune-sheet is hollow or chambered, so that air can flow freely through it and the tunesheet, and thence into any of the reed-chambers, except when the mouth of such chamber is closed by the tune-sheet. The tune-sheet supporter rests directly upon the cushion t, and at one end is provided with a gear, h, to engage with a pinion, 23, that projects from the side of the gear 70. The latter gear engages in turn with another pinion, l, fixed on a cranked shaft, on. By turning the crank it of such shaft the tune-sheet and its supporter will be caused to revolve, the bellows being operated at the same time by mechanism connected with it on the shaft.

I am aware that in organettes it has been customary to have the tune-sheets supported by a roller or rollers and pres ed down upon the mouths of the reed-chambers by one or more separate rollers or devices. Therefore I do not claim such, my invention being to support the tune-sheet and cause it to operate in a different manner and to better advantage. In passing over the reed-chamber months the tune-sheet is not in the act of being wound upon a roller or off another roller; nor is it pressed down upon such months by another roller, but being fixed to its carrier or frame it revolves therewith and is pressed down thereby against the cushion, and with such prevents airfrom passi nginto any ofthemouths where covered by such sheet.

What I claim in a reed-organ or organette as my invention is- The combination of the perforated drum composed of the tune-sheet and its rotary sustaining frame or supporter with the series of reed-chambers, cushioned at their months, as explained, such supporter being arranged over the reed-chamber mouths, and provided with means of revolving it, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH METZGER.

Witnesses:

It. H. EDDY, S. N. PIPER.