US784608A - Musical wind instrument. - Google Patents

Description

No.' 784,608. PATENTED MAR. I4, 1905.

G. L. WISBB, & G. II. WALOOTI. MUSICAL WIND INSFIR'UMEIVIl APPLICATION FILED 001221904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATBNTBD MAR. 14, 1905. G. L. WISER & G. H. WALGOTT.

MUSICAL WND INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. IVISER AND GEORGE H. IVALCOT'I, OF ELKIII-XRT, INDIANA.

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,608, dated March 14, 1905.

To @ZZ 71177/0711, 7115 may concern/.-

Bc it known that we, GEORGE L. VISER and GEORGE H, IVALCOTT, citizens of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical IVind Instruments; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in musical wind instruments, and refers more particularly to that class of instruments having valve attachments. such as cornets-a-pistons and similar wind instruments, and has for its object to provide means whereby the instrument is rendered in perfect tune in any key by enabling the performer to increase the length on certain tones that are naturally too sharp on the valve instruments in ordinary use.

With the improvements hereinafter described every tone may be vmade in perfect tune with ease and without humoring, the eX- tra length being obtained by a simple means that will control the two distinct lengths of the instrument which is required to regulate the temperament thereof, thus obtaining perfect tune in any key.

The invention consists in the means substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure I of the drawings is a side elevation of one of many forms of musical wind instruments, showing our invention applied thereto, the instrument being one of themany kind having piston-valves connecting therewith; Fig. 2, a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing more clearly the mechanism for controlling the two lengths of the instrument; Fig. 3, a side elevation, partly in section, showing in full and dotted lines the adjustable length in its several positions.

In the accompanying' drawings is shown one of many forms of musical wind instruments to illustrate the application of our invention thereto, the valve-cylinders being shown at A B C, in which work the valve-pistons a b c,

respectively, the usual tube I), which connects with the valve-cylinder C, having the mouthpiece (l. The U-shaped tube E connects with the cylinder C, and the trumpet-shaped portion of the instrument, as indicated at F, has its tube connecting with the valve-cylinder B, and the curved tube G connects with the valvecylinder A, a second tube H connecting with the valve-cylinders A B, and to this tube is connected the slidable and adjustable tube I, to which our invention is applied.

In describing in detail the construction of the instrument herein shown itshould be understood that no claim is made thereto, as it is one of many of this class of instruments that are in common use and shown only to illustrate the application of the invention to the instrument to give a full understanding thereof.

That portion of the musical wind instrument in which the invention resides comprises the means for controlling the slidable tube I, whereby every tone may be made in perfect tune` the construction admitting of the tube being adjusted to two distinct lengths, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

rIhe means employed to accomplish the above-named object consist in the two rods J K, the former having its bearing in a stationary bracket E upon the tube H, in which said rod is slidable, the rod at one end being pivotally connected to the slidable tube I, as shown atf, any means being employed to form this pivotal connection. 'Ihe rod J extends through a bracket g, which is held stationary upon the rod by a suitable set-screw /L or other preferred means, and the end of the rod is pivotall y connected at to the under side of a suitable key L for operating the same. The rod K has its free end loosely supported in a bearing j, which projects from the bracket g/,which is held stationary upon the rod by a suitable set-screw t, and said rod is pivotally connected to the under side of a key M, as shown at Z. The rod I( has a bracket my, held thereon by a set-screw n or by any other suitable means found most desirable, the bracket e as well as the bearing] acting as stops to limit the movement of the rods, the rod j having a suitable IOO packing 0, of felt or other suitable material, and the brackets (y m having paekings p Q, of similar material, so as to render the rods noiseless when operated. The brackets g and Amy are adjustable upon the rods by means of the set-screws hereinbefore described, whereby the extent to which the tube I may be extended is regulated and adjusted as circumstances require, the bracket acting as stops to limit the movement of the rods and the corresponding movement of the slidable tube.

The keys L M, which receive the fingers or thumbs of the player when it is desired to extend the tube l, are hinged or otherwise suitably connected to some portion of the instrument, as in the present instance to the valvecylinder A, and the keys are rendered springactuated through the medium of a suitable spring, as shown at N, or by any other preferred means,so that when the keys are pressed down and the iinger removed the keys will resume their normal position and draw the rods` up with them and also the slidable tube. Upon the under side ol the key M is a projecting finger fr, which is rigid thereon so as to more with the key, so that when the key L is pressed down it will strike the linger and carry the former key with it, the linger being' shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. rlfhe keys and their connections with the slidable tube enable said tube to be increased in length on certain tones that would be naturally too sharp on the valve instruments heretofore in use, the tube being capable ot' adjustment by the adjustable brackets or stops on the rods. The

leases spring-actuated keys, in connection with the rods and the slidable tube with which thel rods connect, are considered oi importance in controlling the slidable tube to a nieety without depending upon the hand alone.

Having now 'fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- l. In a musical wind instrument, a slidable tube, spring-actuated keys, rods pivotally connected thereto, one of said rods pirotally connected to the slidable tube, and means for adjustabl y connecting the rods together whereby the extent of their sliding movement with relation to each other may be adjusted and controlled, substantially as and lor the purpose set forth.

2. In a musical wind instrument, a slidable tube, hinged and spring-actuated keys, rods pivotally connecting therewith, one ol said rods being pivotally connected to the slidable tube, brackets with which the rods are adj ustably connected, one ot' said brackets having an outwardly-exteiuling bearing with which one ol said rods eiigages, and a stationary bracket upon the instrumel'it to I'orin a guide and support lor one of the rods, substantially as and for the purpose described.

lin testimony whereof we ai'lix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. lVlSER. GEORGE H. VALCOT'II Titn esses:

GEORGE S. Rios, BENJAMIN J. NoLAN.

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