US35490A - Piano-orchestra - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 3, 1862.

No. 35.490. Y

J. B. SCHALKENBAGH.

PIAN() ORCHESTRA.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JNO. BAPTIST SCHALKENBACH, OF THIERS, PRUSSIA, ASSIGNOR TO E. JUSTH, OE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PIANO-ORCHESTRA.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 35,490, dated June 3, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BAPTIST ScHAL- KENBCH, of the city of Triers, in the Kingdom of Prussia,l have invented a new and Improved `Musical Instrument, which I denominate the Piano-Orchestra, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of t-he same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a front elevation of the instrument. F ig. Q, is a side elevation ot' the same. Fig. 8, is a transverse section of the key board and principal chest of the wind portion of the instrument. Fig. 4, is a plan of the interior of the chest with its covers removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several gures.

This invention consists in the application of musical instruments played by percussion such as the large and small drums, cymbals, tam tam, triangle, &c., to harmoniums, piano fortes, organs or other instruments played by keys in such manner as to allow the performer to bring the said instruments into play by making use of his hand or forearm during the execution of a piece of music without causing an interruption` of the harmonies and passages.

It also consists in novel mechanism for playing upon the small or rolling drum in order that when so applied and played by keys it may realize nearly all the effects eXecutecl by a skilful drummer with his drum sticks.

It also consists in a mechanism applicable to harmoniums, organs, and other wind instruments played in a similar manner by means of which the keys may be stopped with their valves in an open condition in order to permit the player to act freely on the percussion instruments during the sustained accords or tunes whenever it is desired to produce a particular effect with the latter instruments.

It also consists in a set of metallic tunnels or trumpets adapted to the acoustical holes or harmoniums &c. through which the sound by applying the tremolo-valve receives the character of a trumpet (tuba).

It also consists in uniting the said percussion instruments in one, which being played upon by a single artist in the same manner as any other instrument played by keys may bel employed in an orchestra or for accompaniment in general.

A, is the chest ot the harmonium supported by a pillar B, erected upon a base C. On each side ot' the pillar there is arranged one of two bellows D, D, to be worked by the feet; and the pillar serves as a wind passage between the bellows and the chest A.

E is the key board of the harmonium.

On the top of the harmonium is a harmoniliute F, the wind chest of which is in communication with that otl the harmonium.

G is the keyboard of the harmoniiiute.

Above the harmoniflute is a carillon or chime instrument N, composed of a set of bells.

H is the keyboard of the carillon. The hammers for striking the bells of the carillon are behind them and not exposed to view in Fig. l. Z), b, are there dampers.

From the bottom of the chest of the harmonium the small or rolling drum I, is suspended by cords or wire links c, c. The cymbal J, is suspended by a cord (Z, and the triangle I), is suspended by one or more cords. The drum I, being near the right hand end of the harmonium and the cymbal and triangle near the other end.

At the back of the harmonium between the chest A, and the base B, the large drum K, is secured by cords or wires f, j', above and below, the head of the drum being vertical and toward the front of the instrument.

g, g, are the drum sticks for playing the small or rolling drum I, composed ot' flattened steel springs having each a hollow copper knob g3, at one end to constitute the heads for striking the drum and attached at its other end to one of two but-ts 7L, la, which are pivoted by a pivot i', to a light but rigid metal hanger L secured to the front of the chest A, near the right hand end thereof. The said butts have ap plied to press upon them, in front and below the pivot z', springs j, y', made of pieces of watch spring for the purpose of holding up the sticks out of Contact with and some distance above the.drum when it is not bcing played upon; and the said butts have also hinged or pivoted to them behind the pivot z', metal rods g, g, working through suitable guides and furnished at their upper ends with knobs g2, g2, of ivory or other suitable material to enable them to be used as keys by the fingers, hand, wrist, or fore arm of the player for the purpose of playing the drum I. By pressing down the knobs g2, g2, the balls g3, g3, are caused to strike the drum I, the movement of the springs g, g, and j, j, in connection with the elasticity of the surface of the drum, produces by a single depression of the keys C, C, a rolling which can be freely lengthened or stopped, maintained in pianissimo or heightened to fortissimo rollers, dry blows or the latter intermixed with the rollers, every rhythm and shade of tune executable by an able drummer are easily executed by means of this mechanism, of the keys are played upon with two fingers. The degree of the depression of the knobs g2, g2, is not limited by a stop but the balls, or respectively the sticks g, g, may be pressed down further than to the level of the surface of the drum, and it is by this means that the performer is enabled to execute blows of any strength and the rolling of the drum. By adding a third stick made rigid but otherwise operated by a similar knobbed rod or key the variety of the character of the blows on the drum I, might be further increased.

The drum stick M, for playing the large drum K, is made with a padded head M2, like the sticks for playing such drums by hand. The said stick is attached to a rockshaft arranged in suitable bearings under and near the back of the instrument; and an arm 7c, of this rock-shaft is connected by a rod k2, with an elbow lever Z4, working on a fulcrum pin in a hanger N, arranged by the side of L, and this elbow lever has connected with it an upright ivory knobbed rod m, which is arranged close to the knobbed rods g, g', to be played upon by the right hand when the player desires to strike the large drum. The said rod m, has applied to it a spring 771/, which serves to raise it when relieved of the pressure of the hand or fingers, and to draw back the drum-stick M, from the drum. The pressure given by the hand of the player to the rod m, to play the large drum should have the character of an elastic throw.

The cymbal J, is played by means of sticks or hammers n, o, p, applied in a hanger Q, secured to the front of the chest A, near the left hand end thereof, the mode of applying the said sticks or hammers in said hanger corresponding with that in which the drum sticks g, g, are applied in the hanger L. n, 0', p, are the rods with knobs n2, 02, p2, serving as keys to play upon the cymbal with the lingers hand or wrist. rIhe hammer n, has its head composed of a metal ball and therefore produces a purely metallic sound; but the head of 0, is covered with leather and felt and thus produces the dull bell-like sound proper to the tam-tam; and Z9, is arranged to strike near the center of the cymbal to produce the silvery tone of small cymbals.

The triangle is played by a stick g, of iron or steel applied in the hanger Q, in the same manner as the hammers n, o, p, but having instead of a knob on the rod Q, by which it is played, a long straight head g2, to enable it to be played by the wrist of the left hand whatever the position of that hand may be in playing upon the harmonium. The rod g, may have attached to it a movable piece by which it may be made to produce the operation of the key n2, and hammer fa, by the act ofA playing the triangle.

rIhe percussion instruments, viz: the drums, cymbal and triangle applied and furnished with playing mechanism as above described can be easily managed during the playing of the harmonium by the wrist or the fore-arm; but when it is desired to produce higher effects with small drum I, two of the fingers of the player must be employed, and in such case the right or leftA hand has to leave the key board E, while the otherI one continues the harmony or performs appropriate passages on the harmonium. In order however to facilitate the playing and realize the fullness of the accords and also to allow the percussion instruments to play their part during the tina! resounding of the accords; and finally to produce very great effects on harmoniums and organs generally, there is an especial mechanism peculiar to this inst-rument which I will proceed to describe with reference to Figs. 3 and et.

E, E, are the keys and T, T, their attached valves. The keys have springs r, fr, applied to them near their rear ends for the purpose of depressing the said ends and closing the valves when the front ends of the keys are not subject to the pressure of the fingers in playing.

In the back part of the chest A, behind the keys, two light rockshafts S, s', of iron or steel are arranged in line with each other parallel with the front and back of the chest, said rockshafts being supported in suitable bearings or between suitable centers to per- Ill mit ot their tree oscillation. The two rockshatts eXtend the whole length ot the key board, each extending halt or any suitable portion ot the length. They are ot halt round torm in their transverse section and each one has applied to it at the end which is next the end ot the chest, a spiral spring t, which tends to turn it to a position in which its tlat side is upright and in tront as shown in Fig. 3 in black outline. Each one has connected with it a cord u, by a pull ot which it may be turned in opposition to the action ot the spring tor the purpose ot presenting the fiat side upward as shown in red outline in Fig. 3, and the two cords u, u, pass over pulleys u', a, arranged in openings on the back ot the chest and thence down to links u2, u2, which connect them with two small elbow levers a3, M3, which work close to the outside ot the back ot the chest or tiXed tnlcra secured in the chest, and which are connected each with the near end ot one ot two horizontal levers S, S, arranged below the chest in such a manner that their tront ends project torward trom under the chest at a short distance apart to serve as handles by which to work the said levers S, S, to bring the rockshatts to the position shown in Fig. 3, in red outline the necessary movement ot the said levers being eitected by the player pressing the said handles toward each other either with his hands or knees, or the movement ot one ot the levers being effected to turn only its respective rockshatt s, or s, by pressing that lever alone toward the other one. The resultobtained by thus turning either ot the rockshatts to the position shown in red outline in Fig. 3, is to cause such ot the keys E, E, in tront ot the said rockshatt as may have been depressed to open their respective valves, previous to its being turned to be retained in that condition to continue the tones as long as may be desired atter the player has removed his fingers trom them and while he may be playing on the percussion instruments. The connection provided between the keys and the rockshatts s, s, tor this purpose consist ot elastic hooks w, w, secured to the near ends ot the keys. These hooks are so tormed and applied that any ot them whose keys have not been depressed at the tront ends tor the purpose ot raising their near ends and opening the valves which their respective rockshatts s, or s', is in the position represented in black in Fig. 3, will press against the flat side ot the rockshatt as shown in black outline in Fig. 2 and will have their points below the lower edge ot the said liat side so that by the turning et the rockshatt to the position indicated in red outline in the same igure, the said hooks will not be caught by the rockshatt and so caused to have the near ends ot their keys raised to open their respective valves but that when the tront ends ot their keys are depressed to open the valves while their respective rockshatt is in the atoresaid position the points ot the said hooks will be brought to such a height that by turning the rockshatt to the position shown in red the tlat side ot the latter will be brought under the said points and so caused to retain the keys in that position atter the pressure on their trent end has been removed and has returned to the position shown in black.

The hooks w, ze, do not interetere with the ordinary action ot any ot the keys but those which have had their tront ends depressed betore the rock shatt was turned trom the position shown in red to that shown in black, as the hooks press easily and slide treely up and down against the surtace ot the rockshatt when the key is operated in playing, while the rocks-hatt is in either position.

U, U, are metallic trumpet tubes or tunnels fitted to the air holes ot the chest A, to give the sound ot the harmonium very tull tiumpet like tones. These tubes or tunnels are titted with dampers U', U. Any number ot such tubes or tunnels may be employed.

V, lV, X Y are wooden pipes connected with the chest ot the harmonium and having their valves operated by keys V, W", X, Y, tor imitating the cry ot the cuckoo.

Z is what is commonly termed a steam whistle placed upon the chest ot the harmonium and having air admitted through it by the opening ot a valve by means ot a key Z.

The drums cymbals and triangles arranged and played by mechanism in a manner similar to what has been herein described may be employed as a separate instrument.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The application in combination with harmoniums piano tortes or other instruments played by keys, ot percussion instruments such as drums cymbals tam-tam and triangle arranged substantially as herein described whereby the player is enabled to play the said percussion instruments by making use ot his hand or arm while playing with the fingers on the keys ot the other instrument substantially as herein set torth.

Q. The use tor playing the drum or cymbal ot elastic sticks g. g, n, o, y), arranged and having springs y', j, applied to their butts and operated by means ot keys g2, (/2, in?, 02, p2, connected with the butts all substantialy as herein set tcrth.

The employment ot mechanism substantially such as is represented in Figs. 3 and l, and herein described, applied to operate upon the keys to retain the valves ot the harmonium or other Wind instrument on an their playing mechanism substantially las open Condition When desired substantially herein set forth.

as herein set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 4. The metallic tubes or funnels U, U, apmy signature this 18th day of March, 1862, 5 plied in combination With the harmonium or valuable for the speoieation of any patent 15 l y other reed instrument substantially as herein for piano-orchestra. e

speeiied. J. BAPT. SCHALKENBACH.

5. The relative arrangement of the several Vitnesses: V percussion instruments consisting of the AUGUSTUS GRISZA, 10 drum Cymbal tam-tam and triangle and GEO. O. HUTTON. i n

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