US504396A

US504396A - Wind-instrument

Info

Publication number: US504396A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1910-09-05

Description

(NO Model.)

J. L. MAHBR. WIND INSTRUMENT.

Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

UNITED STA'IES PATENT IFFICE.

J OHN MAHER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.-

WIND-INSTRUMENT.

SPEGIFIGA'IIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,396, dated September 5, 1893.

Applicatiou filed December 24, 1892 Serial No. 456,248. (No model.)

T0 aZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MAHER,"

Lynu, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Imprcvement in Wind-Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accempanying drawings, is a specification, like letters en the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has foi its object the production nf a novel wind instrument for musicians, by which the effect to the ear is that of two different instruments in different keys, but in harmony with each other, such a result being obtained in a single instrument.

In accordance therewith, my invention consists, in a musical instrument of the class described, of two flutes seeured together and each provided with the nsual openings, combined with a series of key levers each adapt ed to simultaneously control en opening in b0th flutes, substantially as will be described.

Other features of my invention will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, is a top or plan view of an instru ment embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, is

a modification to be referred to.

I have herein shown twq fiutes, a and b, provided with usual mouth-pieces a and b, respectively, and with openings therein as usual, indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1. The two flutes are rigidly held together in any suitable way, and if of metal they may be soldered together. I have sec'ured standarcls or poets a and 12 to the flutes, which support a rod or hearing between them,shown in dotted lines between the standar'ds b upon which rode are pivoted the key levers e, 0, c*, 0", c aud 0, by the sleevedike hubs d, one for each key lever, and each rod supports three of the key levers, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A snitable projection, as d',.on 1 1 9 hub is acted third, and beginning at the rght-hand of Fig.

1, the tones in fiute b are D, E, F, G,A a-nd B and produced by the successive openings, and similarly in the flute a the tones are F natu ral, G, natural, A, B, C natural, and D natural.

Nhen the instrument is played, three key levers being operated by each hand of the player, the melody will be prodncedon the 0 flute,and the third above by the E flute. One flute is modulated te accord with the other, and preferably the flute in the lower key is in the naturel key, the flute in the higher key being modulated t0 accord therewith, but the reverse may be used if desired. By the censtruction thus described the eiect produeed upon the ear is that of two difierent instruments played in perfect time and harmeny, as in a duet, so that by my invention I am enabled to produce the same result in a. single instrument.

The flutes may be constructed of wood or metal, as desired.

This invention is not limited to the use of flutes in the keys of 0 and E, but the keys of A and 0 can be used, the interval being the same, or any two keys may be used.by modulating the flnte in one key until it is in accord with the other. Each of the two tones,however, controlled by a single key lever, must be separated by the same interval as exists between any other two tonessimultaneously ccntrolled.

The instrument may be used with a single menth-piece as at a, Fig. 2, which is adapted te be held between the lips of the playerand if clesired a cornet mouth-piece, as f, may be inserted in the tubular portion of e, and in that instance the lips are pressed against the fiaring or bell-shaped end of f.

I claim- 1. In a. musical instrument of the class described, two fiutes secured together and each provided with the usual openings, combined with a series 011 key levers each adapted te 5 snpported by each flute, each lever having steps thereon adapted t0 control an opening in both flutes, substantially as described.

3. In a musical instrument of the class de- 5 scribed, two fiutes seeured together and having their scales in dierent keys, combined with a series of key 1evers each adapted to control en opening in eaeh flute, whereby tw0 different tones 2ue simultaneonsly prodnced, substantially as described.

4:. In a musical instrument of the class descrbed, two flutes secnred together and having the usnai openings herein, the seales of the fintes being in diterent keys and modu- 15 lated t0 aceord wth each other, combined with a series of key 1evers each adapted t0 control en opening in both flutes, whereby two different tones are simnltaneously produced, the interval between each two tones being the same, substantially as described. zo

5. In a wind instrument of the class described having the usual openings therein, a key lever adapted t0 smultaneonsly control a. plnrality of openings, and thereby' produce different tones simultaneously, substantially 2 5 as deseribed.

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

JOHN L. MAHER.

Witnesses:

JOHN C EDWARDS, FREDERICK L. EMERY.