US361970A - subers - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.A L. A. SUBERS.

PEDAL ATTACHMENT EUR EEED oEGANs. No. 361,970r Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

Il l l lill Emana:

l xxxxxxx xxxxxxx mll Il ullll 3e 2mm@ Il lill I* (No man.) y 2 sheets-sheet v2. L. A. SUBERS. A

PEDAL ATTACHMENT FOR REBD'ORGAATS. No. 361,970. Patented Apr. 26,1887.

- @ZJ me Jia-www UNITED' STATESA PATENT rrics.

LAwRnNoEA. sonnes, or PrioEBUs, VIRGINIA.

.PEDAL ATTAcHMr-:NT FOR REEo-oRGANs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,970, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed February '1, 1887. Serial No. 226,734. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom imay concern.' I

Be it known that'I, LAWRENCE A. SUBERs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Phoebus, Elizabeth City county, Virginia, have invented certain Improvements in Pedal Attachments fr Organs, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a pedal attachment which can be used in connection with any ordinary organ, and which, while comparatively inexpensive, will afford the same facilities for pedal practice as the pedal structure of an expensive organ. This object I attain in' the manner which I will hereinafter set forth, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings, in which-4- Figure 1 is aview showing an ordinary forni of reed-organ with mymproved pedal attachment. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the attachment with a portion of the covering removed to show the internal construction. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the attachment on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view on the same scale as Fig. 3, but also having a portion of the covering removed to expose the interior construction; and Fig. 5 is a detached sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of part of the attachment.

The fixed frame-work of my improved attachment comprises opposite end bars, and

transverse connecting-bars af', suitably located and properly secured together to insure the desired rigidity of said fixed frame. At each end of the rigid frame is an adjustable strip, a, which has inwardly-projecting tongues c', adapted to suitable guide-openings in the fixed frame, these adjustable end strips permitting the frame of the attachment to be expanded to suit instruments of different widths in connection with which the attachment inay have to be used.

In order to close at the front the space between the fixed frame and the end strip, a, when the latter is drawn out, a folding wingstrip, b, is hung to the front end of each strip a, this wing-strip being turned in against the end bar of the fixed frame after the adjustable end strip has been withdrawn to the desired extent.

Fig. f1 shows two different adjustments, the movable end strip at one end ofthe frame being fully withdrawn and that at the other end partially withdrawn.

Between the reed-board d and the top board, d', at the rear of the attachment is a Vacuum chamber, f, which communicates through lateral passages f with a vacuumbox, A, the latter being in communication through a tube, B, with the vacuum box or chest C of the organ.

That portion of the pedal structure which contains the vacuum-box A is beyond the front of the lower portion or box, C', of the organ-case, so that facilities are afforded for theready attachment of the ends of the tube B to the casing of the pedal structure, and also to the under side of the projecting vacuumchest C of the organ.

As a means of effecting this attachment, I prefer to use a piece of rubber tubing, which fits snugly at each end in a central opening in a plate, g, the plates being secured by screws to the casing h of the pedal structure and to the under side of the vacuum-chest C of the organ, and suitable packing being interposed between the plates and casings, so that no particular care need be taken in forming the opening in the casing h or'in the under side of the vacuum-chest, the ends of the flexible and elastic tubes being slightly compressed in forcing them into the openings in the plates g, so as to insure the necessary ltight iit.

The action of the regular bellows of the organ` thus provides for the maintenance of a partial vacuum in the chamber f. If desired, the vacuum-box A may extend entirely across the frame of the attachment, and may communicate with the vacuum-chest of the organ at each end of the latter, instead of at one end only, as shown.

The reed-board d carries in the present instance two sets of reed-blocks, F and G, the reeds of one block being of higher power than those of the other, and each valvei controls two openings, one for a reed of each block. Each reed-block is provided with a stop-valve, m, connected by a suitable rod to a knob, m', conveniently located at the front of the pedal structure, so that either of these valves may be opened or closed, as the performer may desire. By this means either set of reeds may be used, or both sets may be used together;

IOC

hence the power of the attachment may be so regulated as to harmonize perfectly with the power of the organ in connection with which the attachment is used.

The pedals H are hung at their front ends to a pivot-rod, n, andare acted upon by springs n', tending to elevate their inner ends, which act upon the levers J, the latter in turn acting upon the valve-pins p. Each lever J is recessed on its under side for the reception of thepivot-rod s, and a spring, t, carried by the lever, bears against this pivotrod and prevents the accidental dctaching of the lever J therefrom, but permits it 'to be readily detached when occasion requires.

The above described attachment forms a self-contained structure, which can be made at small cost, and can be used in connection with any ordinary form of organ, the attachment being simply inserted beneath the organ, so as to serve as a pedestal or foundation for the latter. Vhen this has been effected, all that remains to be done in order to render the attachment operative is to provide a connection between the vacuum-box of the attachment and the vacuum-chest of the organ, and this can be effected in a f'ew moments by means of the devices described, all of the connections being outside of the organ case and readily accessible.

I thus construct a cheap attachment, which can be used with any organ and which provides the organist with the same facilities for pedal practice as are now provided by expensive pedal-organs.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a pedal attachment for organs, of the fixed frame and adjustable end strips,whereby the attachment is adapted for use with organs of' different widths, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a pedal attachment for organs, of the fixed frame, the adjustable end strips, and the folding wing-pieces, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a reed-organ having the usual vacuum-chest, a pedal attachment, also having a vacuum-box, and a pipe or tube located outside of' the organ-casing and forming a communication between the vacuum-box of the attachment and the vacuum-chest of the organ, all substantially as specified.

4. rlhe combination of the vacuum-chest of the organ or pedal attachment, the flexible connecting-tube, and a connecting-plate sccured to the casing of said vacuum-chest and having an opening for the reception of" said tube, all substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof'I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAWRENCE A. SUBERS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. CONNER, HARRY SMITH.

Images