US856604A - Electric self-playing violin. - Google Patents

Description

Nm 856,504. l PATENTBD JUNE 11, 1907. H. K. SANDELL.

ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING VOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.27,1906. lo SHEETSnSHEET 2' No., EMT-WEB JUNE 11, 1907.

- f in K. SAND'ELL.

BLEGTRmS-LF Hmmm APPLIUATIOH FILED FEB. 27l 1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\ 10.855,604. y PATENTED JUNE n, we?.

H. K. BANDEN..

ABLEC'I'RIC SELFv PLAYNG VIOLIN. `APPLIOATION PILBI FI:B.27,19Q6.

1G SHEETS-SHBB' 1S.

PATENTED JUNE 1I H. K. SANDBLL.

ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING VIOLIN.

APPLIOATION FILED 11:13.27 190e.

. 1o SHEETS-SHEET 54 W y ,d w n, mi, N i W n y@ No. 856,604. PATENTED JUNE Il, 1907.

H. K. SANDELL.

ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.27,1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6,

E1/vena 7/ fz/@Ing afnae@ L PATLNTLL JUNE 11, 1907. H. K. SANDBLL. 1 LLLGTRIG SELF PLAYING VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,1906.

4 10 SHEETS-SHEET .7.

' No. 856,604. Y y PATENT-ED JUNE 11,l 1907.

E. K. SANEELL. ELECTRIC sELE PLAYING VIOLIN.

' APPLIOATIN'IILEI) PEB.Z7,1906.

1o SHEETS-SHEET av PATBNTBD JUNE-11, 1907.

H. LSANDELL. ELBGTRIG SELF PLAYING VIoLIN.

APPLICATION FILED 2122.2 1906.

' 7' 1o SHEETS-SHEET 9.

12F A www PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. H. K. SANDELL. r ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 27, 1906.

1o sHBETssHEET 1o.

U'Nnnn srrirns HENRY K. SAN DELL, OF CHICAGO, lLLl'lllS, ASS' COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLXN KHS, A

ELEM-mo Speciication letters Application filed February Z7,

4 oi which the following is a speciication.

The primary object of this invention is to improve, in matters of detail, the selt-pla' ing musical string-instrument which forms the subject of Letters Patent ot the/United States No. 807,871, dated December i9, 'i1-)05, and which includes electrically, pneumatically or otherwise actuated stringsounding and fingering devices operated .nnder the control of a traveling perforated music-sheet, through the perforations in which the circuits, controlling the sounding and fingering devices are closed or actuated to cause these devices toengage,and per-- iorm their functions on the strings for reproducing the'inusic for Which the sheet cut.

Generally stat-ed, the mechanism shown and particularly described in the aforesaid' patent for playing the violin, which is the string-instrurnent therein selected for illustration, consists oil a motor-driven feed for the traveling perforated music-sheet., in-

volving an electrical contact-roller between which and a roW of contacts the music-sheet passes, the roller being included in the circuit of an electric generator 5 and each contact forms a terminal of a different branch of the circuit including an electro-magnet, which controls one of the fingering devices 'for a violin-string, and an electro-magnet for raising and depressing the sounder which plays on the string. The sounder comprises a series of nested dish-shaped thin disks, preferably oi' celluloid, on a rotatory shaft adapted to be depressed by the action of the sounder-controlling electro-magnet to engage the disks, While rotating with the shalt carrying them, With the string for sounding it, Another feature ofthe patented mechanism is an electro-rnagnet-controlled device for regulating theV extent ot depression oi' the sounder against the string upon .vhic'i it plays, to moderate thek tone produced.

v The more important features oi' improvement in this application relate, directly or indirectly, to certain of the parts ofthe mechanism mentioned in the foregoing geneling innsicsheet for rev sing the direction 'of atioi oi tn-e uden-s fit, thereby more clos te snnulaie the acticn .ci the ordina-ry ating the upiii Hatent. atented June l1, 190'?.

oral statement. Oi these features, one conor neans under the control of the traverewitli, par- -playing snc-- cessiveiy i, a string. it is not u ie ot the present improvero ents that trie notary sounder shall involve the dished-elr construction referred to, 'for ed with advantage f i" sounder adapted to )or playing it. 'nent consists ressing ternusli the dis-l y strings they strolling magnets, ore hea u ne strings for angniei'iting. accordingly the sound.

another rea-ture ot improvement consists insupporting Ihe finger-hoard oit the instrument independcntly ci' and out of contact nf in the latter. thus to materially improve its tone-quality, which .is marred by the depressi-on ot the fingering derhies against the Ylinger-licard when the latter, as hitherto, is on the neck ci" the instrument,

Stili another feature ci improvement consiste in supplementing the 'fingering devices with one or more string-picking fingers for producir, the ei'iiect ci" piazicato, iiadolin and like pn ing-'on the violin.

The teatiires oi'4 improvement thus outlined and other features illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the entire machine by a view in liront elevation, partly sectional. Fig, is an enlarged breiten view in longituldinal 'sec-tion, showing a soundenreversing device in eleve ion; Fig. E, a breken enlarged vieiv oi" the reversing device, including its controlli, C; electro-magnet, in sectional elevation, i? 1i, a ln'olten view showing the reversing c' :vice in elevation, partly sectional,

' en'i'frelliiig electro-magnet, ce inits normally similar View of the ice in its unlocked ,.ig. a section taken ne conditi reni. the string Ath the rotating '1.5, a per .suitable casing B and supported therein at vdevices for playing it, and lower compartat the line 6 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, d 'lligf a 'face-view of the ratchet-element of the reversing device. ".llig. S is a broken View in elevation, shouing the linger-heard supported above and ontY ol contact'. j'ith the neck of. the violin, and lig. tl, a seccion taken at the line 'l l on Fig. S and Viewed in the direction of the arrow. Allig. lt) is an enlarged plan 1view ol' the resin-holders for the sounders, showing the preferred construction. thereof, and Fig. 1i Ashows the saine in iront elevation, vwith pieces of resin in `place to contact with the peripheries of the Sounders. Fig. 12 is a hrolien View showing a picker-device in eleration. in itsfhornial condition relative to string; Fig.. 13, a similar View of the saine in its condition of partial depression, wherein it is engaging the string; Fig. i4, a similar View ol" saine in its Acondition oi complete depression alter' sounding` the string, and li 'spectire 'View' of the saine showing a pleinental eleetric-contact device with ch it equipped. lo is a View in l ien, partly' broken, of the niodilled construction el' tl e der-rice, hcreinhe'fore rei red to, :for lightening the contact with the Violin-strings of the sounders, and Fig. 1.7, a broken perspective View of av portien of the saine. Fig. i8 shows the novel constructit'in of the guide for the perforated music-sheet, hy an edge View, partlxT broken, and the sheet-feed with its adjusting mechanism, in end elevation, and Fig. t9 is a section of the saine 'Cahen at the line Zion Fig. l., viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged. lig'. i9 is a View in elevation, partly seetional, oi coritaet-ileviee- Fig. '20 is a plan diagram el the guide-plate for theods which terminate in the lingering devices and showing vdotted the electro-magnets which actuatev the rods; and Fig. 2l diagram illustrating the electric circuit and its branches containing the operating mechanisms of the machine. y

At l s represented a violin contained in a.

its endsV on a partition 2 dividing the easing into an upper conn, artinent B", inc-losing the instrument and the lingering and sounding nient E2, housing` the perforated music-sheen and its Yfeeding mechanism and a motor C for driving the leed and the rotatory sounder shaltsfall as disclosed in the aforesaid former patent. i lt is found to he desirable to support the instrument` alsohetween its ends, and for that purpose a. prop, shown yas a species ol' jack-screw 4, is provided to extend Jiroin the partition 2 against the shoulder 5 of the instrument, l'roin Awhich its neck eX- tends.

The playing mechanisms of the machine, meaning the rotatory Sounders with the electrc-n'iagnets for raising and depressing theni relative to the strings, and the electroiuaguet-actuated lingering devices, except for the added picker-lingers, are, as shown in the drawings, generally the sante as those of the said patent; and need not, therefore, be described herein in detail; and the saine applies also to the feeding Inechmiisni l'or and the circuit-closing actionol the perforated music-sheet, except as to novel means for adjusting the rollers of the sheet-feeding device.

The details o1 the sheeteleeding mechanism are illustrated in Figs. 1S and It): The spring-pressed h'ictio1i-1oller' 6, journaled in pivotal hangers 7 and 8 on the similar brach-- ets Q and 9 depending frein the partition 2, carries a gear-Wheel l() withwhich meshes a pinion in on the shalt of a drive-pullerY 11 having a lielt-eonnection lf2 with a horizontal shaft 13 journaled in suitable bearings in the casing-conipartnient B2, the shaft 13 being geared, as represented at 14, to the shalt ol' the rnotor t). The other roller, l5, is the clectrical-contaet roller, journaled at its ends in the brackets 9 endg, the journal-bearing l@ in the bracket t) heing a horizontally elongated slot, shown as extending liront a vertical slotI rising vfrom the lower edge ol' the hracliet. Adjacent to the bearing 1G is eeeentrieallj. `itun'naled on the bracket 9 a disk l? containing an arc-shaped slot i3 through which a set-screw l) works in the bracket. The eccentric 'read lTbea-rs atits ed ge against the adjacent 4iournal ol the roller 15, whereby turning the head in one direction presses it against that journal to nieve the latter and the roller l5 toward the roller t3, and turning thelhead in the opposite direction permits the said journaled end o'lxthe roller 15 to be moved in the hearing tti inthe contrary direction under the spring-pressure against. the contact-roller oi the roller (i. Preparan tory to turning thefeccentric adjusting head it is freed by loosening the set-screw lt) to be tightened for securing thel head in auxY ladjusted position. Thus, when, i'roin wear on the journals of the feed-rollers, or l'roni other cause, their required parallelism. is impaired, setting the roller l5 through the medium ol' the er rtric head l? will restore the parallelism for producing the necessary straight feeding ci the sheet 3, which passes between the rollers' 15 and and under the row of electrical contacts 20, which bear `against the contact-roller through the perforations in the sheet for closing the circuit" to actuate the lingering devices and depress the rotating Sounders, described vin said patent.

.liront the Iiournal-end of the i"1"ictionroller 6 presented in Fig. 1S there depends a handle 72l whereby turning the handle in opposition to the spring 2l swings the. friction-roller 6 by its hangers-7 and S away from the coni-y panion-roller to separate it therefrom IOO IOS

IIO

when desired, as for freeing the sheet ,3; and .when thus swung, the roller 6 may be releasably locked in that position by engaging its protruding journal-end with a recess 22 in an arm'23 pivoted at one end on the bracket 9,

ders it highly flexible and insures its engagement, through a registering perforation 1n the traveling music-sheet, with the surface of the contact-roller, even though a portion of the brush may extend over the edge or edges of the perforation; whereas, with a mere s ring finger forming the contact, if b any s ight disarrangement its free end shou d extend over either or both edges of a perforation in the sheet, it would fail to meet the surface of the contact-roller. And the adjustability of the brush adapts it to be set, as, its contacting end wears away, toward the roller. to com ensate for the wear, thus greatly prolonging tlie usefulness of the contact.

. One of the more important features of the present improvement is a device for instan- -tancouslyreversing the direction of rotation of the Sounders, which, according to the aforesaid patent, are adapted to rotate only in one direction. O ne of these devices 'is provided for each sounder, and as they are all alike, description of one, with particular reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 4 to-7, inclusive, will suf-flee: The rotary shaft of each sounder 24 is composed of a forward section 25 and a rear section 26, these sections enterin at their adjacent ends into the opposite en sof a' sleeve 27, wherein the fiattened end of the forward section is rigidly secured by a set- -screw 28, while the end of the' sleeve which receives the section 26 is enlarged internally and that section is fastened in the sleeve by a pivot-pin 29, whereby the sleeve and the forward section 25 have a Ilimited vertically swinging movement on the section 26, throughout vthe axial rotationof the latter. This section has its bearing in a rigid sleeve 30 extending horizontally throu h the front wall 31of the housing 31 whic 'rises from the partition 2 at the rear end of the violin and has the arrni32 extending horizontally 4 from its upper end lengthwise and centrally over the violin-strings.

The housing 31, which is formed of thin metal, is slightly resilient, 4for a purpose hereinafter explained. In the sleeve 30, against the forward end of which a collar 33 is fastened by a set-screw, is stationarily confined about the shaft-section 26, a cylindrical tube 34, which protrudes into the housing 31 but beyond which,

in the housing, the rear shaft-section protrudes and carries rigidly secured on its end a beveled pinion 35. Adjacent to this pinion the tube 34 is loosely surrounded by a hub 36 from which radiates a stud 37 having journaled upon it a beveled pinion 38 like and meshing with the pinion 35; and the hub carries diametri'cally opposite the stud 37, a pin 39 serving the purpose`hereinafter explained. 40 is an annular ratchet open on its side ad-y jacent to the pinion 35, but having a face 41 covering its'opposite side and containing a slot 42. The ratchet, which is connected at its face 41 .with the pin 39 by a light spiral spring 43, has a sleeve 44 extending from a central opening in said face and loosely surrounding the tube 34, while this sleeve is looselysurrounded by a grooved pulley 45 having a beveled pinion 46 formed on one face llke and meshing with the pinion 38, which projects through the slot 42 for the meshing purpose. The pulleys 45 of all the sounder-shafts are connected by an endless belt`45a (Fig. 1), as in the aforesaid patent, with the motor-driven shaft 13,'whereby the motor C, in operation, rotates all of the four 'sounder-shafts. The spring 43 yieldingly holds the pinionj38 in engagement with an end of the slot 42, to lock .that pinion and the ratchet to ether, as represented in Figs. 4 and 6,-so t at rotation of a pulley 45 causes the pinion 46 to rotate the pinion 3S, and with it the ratchet 40., about the tube 34, while this rotation of the pinion 38 causes it to revolve the pinion 35 and'thus revolve the entire sounder-shaft. By arresting rot-ation of the ratchet 40, however, the strain of the rotatin pinion 46' vagainst the' 'pinion 38 forces t e latter against the resistance of the locking spring 43, to disengage the lastnamed pinion from the end of the slot 42, thereby unlocking it to enable it to rotate freely about the stud or axis 37. Thus freed, and with the ratchet thus heldstationary, the pinion 38 is rotated about its axis 37 and rotates the pinion 35, and with it the shaftsections 26 and 25 in the direction contrary to4 thatof therotation of the pulley45; there- 'by reversing the rotation of the sounder.

For arresting the ratchet an electro-magnet 47 is provided on the top of the housing 31, the magnet having a spring-cushioned arma ture 48 carrying aplunger-rod 48a extending vertically through the magnet-core and terminating in a blade 48b which registers with the ratchet, whereby when the magnet is energized through closure of the circuit by a certain contact 2O engaging the roller 15 at a perforation in the traveling music-sheet brought into registration with such contact, the resultant attraction of the armature will drive the plunger-rod againstthe ratchet and stop its rotation until the magnet is (leenergized. This occurs by the perforation clearing thecontact to. open the circuit and results inl-.the rise of the arniat1re,"u11der theA 'rccoil-forc'e'of .its cushioning spring, and the withdrawal of the plunger-rod from engage- 5 ment'y with the ratchet, whereupon the spring 43 again forces the pinion 3S against the Hatchet, at the end of its contained slot 42, thereby locking the ratchet to' cause the pinion. 35 and sounij'ier-shaft to rotate correio, spondingly with the. pulley 45, iis-already described. This reversing ,device is extremel)T sensitive and instantaneously responsive, so that the axiall)7 reversing action it induces of the sounder against a string of the instrui 5 ment may, in'accordance' with the length of the perforation through which the circuit.- .closure is effected as described,`be rapid or .slow in imitation of the reciprocatingn. ve-A nents with the ordinaryY violin-bow. .2o Provision -is made, by. the 'iconstri'lction'A ilIuStratedinFigs. l, 2,-for deflecting simul- ,..taneously the four rotatoiwv Sounders 24 tow'ard the violin-strings, so that whena'ny one is depressed by its actuating electro-magnet 25 affainst'a string for playing it, thepressure oi? the sounder-against the strin r vwill he augmented and the resultant'fsound accordingly rendered louder. As in the constructio'rrset forth in said patent, the sounder-shaftsare 3o `-supported toward their forward ends b v upright. electro-magnets 49 'on the forwardend ofthe am32, the armature50 of each nia"- net'being carried on a vertically reciprocab e rod 51 passi-ngth'rough the magnet-core and terminating at its lower end in an eye 512,V through which the Sounder-shaft passes 'to he". supported toward its forward end-Obviousl'y, then, -l)}"'deflecting downward, from `its normally horizontal position, the arni 312 4o and with it the magnets 49,4th`e Sounders will be .correspondinglyv .depressed to a lower plane, from which to 'be actuatedby therods 5l against the strings of the instrument. To accomplish this purpose, a double-spool ele-etro-magnet 53 issupported on'one side of thev casing-compartinent B2, its larmature. '54'- being carried on the lower end of 'a lever 55 .'passing, through an opening 56 in the parti;

tion 2, into the housing 3] wherein it 1sful- 5o crlnned at andthe upper` forked end ofthe' lever embraces und is riveted to a bracket 57T,A which'is securetvfastened to and extends" backward from the. iront wall ol' the, housing 3l, and t0 whichtheslecvcs 3() of the revers- 55ing devices are fastened. By turning the lever on its fulcrum, thc l'orce ol turning it will spring'the'resilient .housing ilito deflect the arm 32 and thusdcpress the sound/ers to lower plaire from which to bc.' pressed 6o against the.violin-slrings'bv the rods 5l of theelectro-magnets 4t), ascxplained' in -the aforesaid patent. rlhis spriaging of the housing 31-is produced bv attracting the armature 54 under energizing of the magnet d 5 53, Whiclroccurs whenever the proper con- 'tact 20 engages the surface of the contactroller through a perforation in the'. traveling music-sheet brought into registration with such contact. i'

'lo enhance the smoothness ot' travel ofithe 7o music-sheet 3 under the. action of the feedrneehanisrn, it moves toward the latter between the regularl flat surfaces of substantialhv like, areas oi a pair of plates forming s a guide-table 5810i the construction most `7 5 clearly illustrated iii-Figs. 18 and 19: v`Front the bracket 9 a sheet-guiding arm 581finclines downwardly and is .formed with an inwardly 'projecting plate-seating base-flange 5S, provided near Vone end with a perforated lug 59 andat its opposite end with'a lateralan apertured head 61, through which works a-set-screw 62'. A base-plate 63 is bolted near one edge-portion,l to bear against the inner side ofv the. arm .58 through the lug59. .at '59-,' and lower down through the flange 58h at 58j, and bea-rsnea'r its center upon the lset-screw 62, the base-plate extending both downwardly'and Intera ly beyond the extension 60 and beil`1g free alongits left-hand 95 edge.. The,I set-screw v62 is provided for straining thefbase-plate back into true or level posit-ion relativeto thefeed-rollers in the event ofsagging towardA it` s free lateral edge. W'ith the hase-plate cri-operates a "reo top-plate 62 a, shownin position, su eriinposed upon the inclined base-plate in `ig. 19.' and represented in F ig. 18 as`undergoing placing'into position. The top-plate is provcled on the center of its upper side with a io5 handle "64, shown as a ring, by means of which to .manipulate it for its removal and replacement; and on each edge, in aliriement with the handle, .it carries a depending stud,

like the one represented at 65" in Fig. 18', to x 1Q 4enter a h ole 66 provided to receive 1t in the edge-portion 'of the base-plate and therebyguide the 4placing of' and old the top-plateproperly upon. thebase-plate. 'An apron 67, extendinglfromthe .lower and of th'e topplate, guldesthe music-sheeltfbetween thetwo plates, and an apron 68 on' the upper edge of the` base-.plate guides thesheet from". between the plates eros's'the contact roller 151l Theweiglit ofthe top-plate `thus loosel)r 12o imposed -upon the sheet and theeven-sur-j faces lof the two plates between which the sheet passes, causes it to traveLsmoothl5'Y and regularly:

Another especially important feature of i2 5 improvement is the longitudinali)r ridgcd finger-board 69 su )ported inraised position out of Contact wit iftheneck of' the instrunifnt, as representedv in Figs. l, 8 and 9',

ering'injthis' particular frein the eon- :15o

lwhich supports the four rows of electro-inagintervals,.from the plate 75 and supported in 4'the arin ."2 in position to cause the loops H3 to register, resptuitively, -w1th the forward struction of the aforesaid patent, wherein the finger-board is directly upon the neck, so that the action of the fingering devices against the board, by compressing the instrument upon its supports, tends to inar the tone quality in playing. The fran-ie nets 70, and involving the hollow post 71, the curved and flanged end-pieces 72 on a back 73 and connected at intervals by bars, with the depending arms 74 carrying the horizontal perforated plate 75 through which the armature-actuated rods 76 reciprocate, said rods carrying on their lower ends the fingering-mechanism 77, are all as in the patent. The fulgor-board 69, however, 1s

rigidly suspended by bolts 69, at suitable raised position over the neck .1 of the instrument. The bolts 69a )ass at their lower ends through the base of a fran-ie 78 supported in the compartment B1 and carrying a' transparent housing 79, which envelops' and shields the mechanism of the fingering-dcvices. Sound-deadening strips St), of felt, or the like, are interposed at intervals between the frame-base and linger-board (3) above it, and the frame 78 bears at its forward end upon a cushion H1, of felt or the like. seated in the upwardly curved forward end 82a of a ntf-tal plate 82 extending lengthwise upon the neck 1", and over the edge of whichend are stretched the strings of the instrument leading to its tuning-keys.

ltosin-hoh'ling means are provided, as another in-iprovelnent illustra-ted in Figs. 1, 1t) and ll and comprising the following-described preferred construction: As in the said patent, two of the sets nested sounderdisks are in advance' of the other two sets thereof. A sheet of'spring-nietal 1s reduced to the shape. represented in F ig. 1U, whereby two vertical resilient end- loops 83, 83, are formed in alinenient with each other, with their lower ends open to allord jaws, and also two similar end-loops S3?, 83, behind and in staggeredrelation to the loops 83; and the rear end of the metal sheet hasperforated clips, B4, H4, projecting from it through which to fasten it. upon the forward end of sets of sounder-disks and the loops 825 to register, respectively, with the rear sets ol' said disks. A cle.uiting-screw $4 passes transversely thr( gh the upper portion of each holder-loo] for bringingr its jaws together to clanip between thein u. cake of resin S5, which is supported in the loop to register and contact with the respective set of souiuler-disks at the perimeter thereof. Thus, as the smuulersrotate, the disks are Vconstantly .supplied with losin, the cakes Iol v, gravity.

which nur v he lowered in the holders, upon .telf-:erung the screws Si to be again tightl cned aft-er the ad'ust'ment to compensate for consumption of t e rosin.

l'\ still further improvement consists in providing picker-finger devices, shown in Figs. 1, 8, 12, 13, 14, l5 an'd 20, one for each string of the instrument, to supplement the other fingering devices of the aloresztid patent: Each of the four picker-finger devices, comprises the following-described preferred construction: 'A magnet 70a, like the inagnets 70, is located in line with the respective series of the latter at the. end thereof nearest the rear end of the instrument, .the armature of this magnet being carried by a rod 76, like the rods 76 and assing through its proper opening in the p ate .75. Behpr this plate the rod carries, adjustably, the pickerdevice. consisting of ahead S6 on which is pivoted a finger 86 having loosely connected with its-heelportion 'a stop-rod S6 extending upward and reci rocably through a guide-extension S6 of t e head to abut at its free end against -the bottom of the plate 7 5.

Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, show this device in the different positions of its action. Thus, under attraction of the armature of the niagnet 7U, the rod 76 is lowered to deprsessthe finger 86 from its normal position (Fig. 12),

wherein ther rod S6" abuts against the plateV 75, to the posit-ion represented in l `ig. 1, wherein the finger 86 has encountered and is just clearing a string, as the string E, to sound it, and whence the continued descent of the rod carries the finger `downward and gravity turns it to the o sition in which it is re resented in Fig. 14, t e inger being so pivoted as to' tend to assume that position by ln this last-name" position the picker-finger hangs lfrom its pivot, as shown, but isagain brought to the normal position by the turning action upon it of the rod 86" in encountering the pla-te 75 as it does in be- ,ing raised by the recoil-force of the armaturespring when the magnet is (le-energized.

. The rod 7GL carrie-s, near its upper end, u. laterall)Y projecting Stud 76 to extend across one of two contact-making springs S7 und R7 suitably su ported on u block S7" and included in the e eetric operating circuit ot' the apparatus, as and for the purposehereinafter described. ln the. descent of the rod, the stud closes the eireuit..b bringing together the contact-springs, which separate, b v the resilience of the upper spring, when freed from the stud 7G" by the, rise of the rod.

The remaining one. of the improvements referred to, and which relates, and is in the nature of anaddition, to the device ot the aforesaid patent, therein mentioned as an adjunct of the sounding-devices for regulating their pressure. against the strings thereb)r to regulate the degrees of and gradual ions in vlouduess of )la riner is most clearl illustrated in Figs. 2, I6 and I7 ofthe accompany- G abaeoe tro-magnets 8S, like the corresponding inagnets of the patent and located behind the sounder-actuating magnets 49 in Aa line in# clined at an angle of about thereto, have, each, a spring-raised armature 88",l ,connected by a rod 89 with a bar 9L) supported to rock in end-bearings 90a to raise and lower the forward edge of the bar to cause it to be engaged, as a stop, Aavt-four different elevations, vby stop-lingers 91 on thc piston-rods 51 of the sounder-magnets, the variation in eleva- A-tion of the rock-bar being due to the increasing distance from the sounder-magnets of the respective magnets S8 in the slanting row thereof, whereby each rod 89 describes a shorter arc of movement than the longer one adjacent to it. Thelpurpose ofthe improve- -ment is todouble the number of gradnations of elevation of the forward stop-edge of the rockfbar', and thereby increase the crescendo andtdecrescendo effects in playing. In the patented construction, each armature 88 is independent, as toits action, of the others,

therefore that construction provides only for saine has been ile-energized.

the playing of the Sounders with the same degree of pressure against their respective strings in each cf the four raised positions of the stop-edge of the' rockenbar. N ow, how- -ever, by the improved construction,- in the frequently recurring event of two adjacent magnets 88 being successively energized, ,the

armatureof the magnet which is the second to be energized canonly descend one-half the possible distance of its movement until the first magnet is (le-energized and its armature rises, so that the raised edge of the rocker-bar remains lin its first position not-withstanding v energizing of the second magnet, until the first magnet is ile-energized, when vthe full movement ol' the armature of the second magnet occurs with the result of accordingly raising or lowering, as the case may be, theA forward edge of the rocker-bar.` `As will, therefore, be understood, with the rocker-bar temporarily in one position with two successive magnets SS energized and each armature -of one or more magnets 49, in act-ion, stopped by the rocker-bar at that position to depress the sounder it controls against the, respective string, a more gradual crescendo or decrescendo eilect. will be produced, since the second of the two magnets SS to be energized can not change the position of the rocker-bar and. therefore, the pressure of the Sounders against the strings until the first one of the To this end the iixed guide-post $8 for the four armatures 8S are coiinected by a stationary bar Q2 having three bowed arms 92 projecting 1lown wardly from it between the pairs of armatures and each terminating at its free end in.

a knife-edge bearing 92". ln th(` inner side ot each of the two outer ari'natures 8S and in the opposing sides of the intermedia-te armatures are formed horizontal recesses, like the recess 93 in Fig. L6; and straight rods, 93a,

To explain the operation by reference to Fig. 16, when the armature S8a-at the righthand end of the series of electro-magnets 8S is attracted by its magnet, which armature is the one having the shortest rod S9, the rod 93 connecting that armature with the one nent to it will occupy the dotted position illustrated. Then the next electro-'magnet in order is energized to attract its armature, before de-energizing of the first magnet occurs, the second armature can only descend far enough to 'bring the respective rod 93 ito a horizontal position across and in Contact with the bearing 92", which stops it and thus prevents further descent of the second armature until the first eleetro-niagnetis de-energized. When the first magnet is cle-energized and its armature is released and rises to its normal position, thus freeing the rocker# bar 90, the armature 88% of the second inagnet is released from its arrest by the respective stop 92 and will be attracted to its full extent, ythereby bringing the first rod 93 to a position of inclination the opposite of that. represented. With the armayture of the second magnet SS thus fully depressed, thevforward edge of the rocker-dial' is turned" to occupy a lower plane than before under the attraction of the first armature 88, andthe Sounders will thesefore ress harder against the strings in playing; but. the pressure has thus been regulated to produce a gradual crescendo. Obviously, if the order of energizing the two magnets 48 were contrary -to that explainechthe pressure of the Sounders will be similarly regulated to produce .a gradual decrescendo. The same result takes place, with relation to any two o f the successive positions of elevation of the forward edge of the rocker-bar, when any two of the magnets S8 are energized in suc-- cession and the energizing of both is niaintained temporarily. Of course provision 'for this operation is made in cutting the perfora- Y tions in the. music-sheet.

According to the arrangement disclosed in the aforesaid patent, each row ot the fingering-,device magnets consists of twelve of such magnets, to. correspond with the number ol' tones in the chrom atie scale. toincrease the number ofthe fingering-devices, and accordingly of their controlling magnets for lingering the E-string, by ten, and the number thereof for fingering the A-string, by two; and it is found expedient to distribute these twelve additional niagnets by adding three for the E-string to rear end of the violin, by adding two for the A-string and one more for the E-stringro the saine end of the electro-magnets over the it is desirable XOO .the end of its series of magnets nearest the` Y (io A-stri'ng, by adding three more magnets for the E-string to the same end of the row of magnets over the D-string, and by adding three more of `the E-strin'g magnets to the row of magnets over the -Gstring- This, of course, necessitates bending and extending each rod controlled byan E-string magnet in the magnet-rows other than the row over the E-string, to iingeringdevices over the last-named string, which said added devices are separate from each other, or not linked one to the other as are the iirst twelve in each row'according to the construction in said patent, but are otherwise like the latter. This arrangement is represented diagrammatically in Fig. 20, wherein the electromaffnets addedto the rows thereof over the E, and G strings are denoted by the character and the plunger-rods they control by the character 76e, those added to the row over the A-string, for fingering that string, are denoted by the character 70" with their plunger-rods denoted by 7611 and that for the E-string added to the A-string row is denoted by the character 70e with the plunger-rod it controls denoted by the reference-character 7G,

Folloung is the explanation of the electric-circuit arrangement illustrated in the diagram presented byFig. 21: Seventy-four contacts 2() are provided in a row, to bear against. the contact-roller 15, one end ofwhich .is connected by a wire fw with the positive pole of a generator, indicated at H. Thus one contact is provided for cach of the sixty iingering-device magnets, one for each ol the four picker-device magnets 70", one for each of the four sounder-regulating magnets, one for the depresser-magnet 53, one each for the four reverser-magnets 47. and one. for the magnet of' the cut-out device I, which is the same as that of the said patent.

AThe motor-circuit is traceable as follows: from the positive pole of" the generator over the wire 'w and a branch u leading therefrom through the motor-brushes, beyond which the branchcontains a resistance-coil'at 'u to direct a portim'i of the current over a shuntline ce2 through the motor-governor C; and, as in the aforesaid patent, the branch 'w leads to one side of the. cut-out device 1, the opposite side of,which is connected by a wire w with the negative pole of the generator. 0n the completion of a piece, a certain perloration in the music-sheet registers with the spring-contact at the extreme right-hand end of the series of contacts (fo-operating with tlie roller 15, permitting that contact. to bear, through the said perforation, against thesaid contact-roller, though this engagement. is only momentary, since the perforation is necessarily small and the inertia ol' the sheetdriving mechanism carries the perforation beyond the contact in its path, tointerpose Aminal cfa branch of the circuit.

In the travel of the music-sheet' the conn tacts engage., through its perforations, the

roller 1.5 and-close branches of the circuit containing the magnets 70, 70e, 7 0b to actuate the lingering-devices, the magnets 7()al to actuate the picker-fingers, the magnets 49 to depress the'sounder-shafts, the magnets 88 to regulate the pressure of the Sounders against the strings, the magnet '53 to actuate the lever 55 to spring the housing 31 and effeet 'lowering of the magnets 49 and of the Sounders toward the strings, and the magnets 47 to actuate the sounder-reversing mechanism: Each contact 2O forms a tor- Each of these'branches denoted by the referencecharacter fw0 on Fig. 21, namely, counting from the left-hand end of the series of contacts, the first, the fourteenth, the. twentyseventh and the forty-second, is'an openstring branch, leading through one or the other of the reverser-device magnets 47 to a correspondingl magnet '49. As all the branches containing the magnets 70 are alike,

description of one o them willsuilice, taking the one which terminates in the second contact at the left-hand end of the series; which is the particular contact that controls the magnet 70 for actuating the iirst iingeringdevice'magnet'over the G-string to engage the latter at the g-sharp position thereon. When a perforation in the traveling musicsheet registers with the contact last referred to, the circuit closes over the wire w, roller 15, said contact and the branch-wire wf leading therefrom through a magnet 7U, thence. through a sounder-magnet 49 to the wire w, which returns to the generator through the cut-out device. All the wires w" leading from the twelve vcontacts to the magnets 70 controlling the G-string iingering-dcvices lead through thc' magnet 49 controlling the G-string sounder-shaft and connect with the return-wire w3, and each of the three succeeding groups` ol' wires 11.*", constituting, respectively, twelve branches wr leading through the- D-string magnets, fourteen branches uf" leading through the A-string magnets, including the magnets 70", and

.twenty-two branches leading through the .l5-string magnets, including the ten additional magnets 70", hcreinbefore described, leads in order,vtlu'ough the magnet 49 which controls the 'D-string sounder-shaft, through the magnet 49 which controls the A-string sounder-shaft and the magnet -19 which controls the E-striug sounder-shaft and connects with the return-wire 1o". All the iingering-devicel magnets for each string are tlus each connected by one oi the-branches 105 with a di'll'erent contact and the branches o5 the insulatingpaper between it and the roller ,for the lingering-device magnets for each 2() through a ditl'erent picker-device magnet 70l and connects'with the return-wire fzi;

-but to the section of each branch wire w thatconnects with the return-wire is connected a wire wl leading to the adjacent end of the rethe sounder-device magnet 49. when a picker- 'dev,uc en the string to which that magnet belongs is operated, the lingering devi'ces remaining in condition to be controlled by the music-sheet. From this, it will be seen that when one of the magnets 7 0 is energized to depress a picker, the stud 76" on the rod 76a vwill engage the bar 87 andearry the latter i.lowiiward into contact with the bar S75. '.lhis niakes a short circuit. between the 'branch 11.2 and the. branch 'w3 and consequently completes the circuit between the brancliesvu;b and w without' energizing the sounding device magnet 4i) with which the- -parti'i.iilar picfker depressed is incline. The

four branches w iii-the group succeeding, in the directiony toward the right, the branches w, leadeach through a different magnet 8 8' to the return-wire w* at w1", for regulating the sounder-pressure against the strings in the imannelr .lesciibed,. The

tact 20 on thatgvire engages','tlirough a perforation in the music-sheet, thejroller 15.

-Fig. 2l also has indicated upon it at K the' tuning adjunct, wl'iich is the same as that of the aforesaid patent and need inot, there-fore,

be described li rein.

.by Letters Patent 'is- What I claim as new and desire to secure 1. In combination with a stringed instrunient, a sounding device supported adjacent 'to a 'string of the instrument and comprising a sounder on a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said sogunding device, and asoundershaft reversing device A :oifinected with said shaft.

2. ln combination with a' stringed instrujment, a soundingidevieefsupported adjacent to a string ofthe instrument, and comprising a rotatab e sectional shaft havino' its Vsections pivotallyconnected together end to end and a sou nder oni'theforward shaft-section, means [or riitatingi: sounding device, and a sounder-shaft reversing device connected with the rear section ot said shaft.

23. '.lhe coinhiitatiiin with a stringed instru- I branch-wire i Iwu leadssthroiighithe depressor-magnet 53 to* the return-wire` Iw td energize that magnet, for the' purpose;dcseriliedwhenever the con- -ment, of a sounding device supported adjacent to a string of the instrument and coniprising a sounder, a rotatable shaft on which said sounder is mounted, means for rotating said shaft and means whereby the direction otrotation oi said shall t can he reversed,

4. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a sounding device supported adjacent to a string of the instrument and coinpiising a sounder, a rotatable shaft on which the sounder is mounted, means for rotating said shaft and controllableI means for reversing the .direction o'l` rotation of said shaft.

5. The combination with a stringed instruin'ent, otasounding device supported adjaeentto the string of the. instrument, means 4constantly moving in one direction for rotating the sounding device, and means whereby the direction ofi-rotation of the sounding device Vcan bef-reversed.

6. In combination with a stringed instrument, a sounding device comprising a' rotatory shaft and a sou nder for a string on said shaft, and areversing-device comprising a driving pinion loosely mounted on Said shaft, a pinio'nfirmly mounted on tlieshai't andan intermediate. pinion loosely supported on the shaft to berotated about thelatter and meshling with said two first-named pinions, a ratchet encircling said intermediate pinion' and having a normally'lockcd engagement the purpose set fort-h.

, V7. In combination with a stringed instrume'nt,.a sounding device comprising a rotatory'shaft and a sounder for a string on said supported on said shaft, a pinion 'firmly mounted on the shaft and an intermediate spring-pressed pinion loosely surriiuiiding the ion rigidly mounted on the rear end of said shaft, a hub loosely mounted onsaid sleeve adjacent to said pinion, a beveled inion joiirnaled on said hub and meshing wit i said rigid lp iniori, an annular ratchet having a closed slot-containing side and provided with a sleeve-extension looselyl surrounding said tube to cause the ratchet to encircle said hub therewith, and ratchet-arresting means, Jfor shaft, and a reversing device comprising aA drive-pulley andv a pinion thereon looselyT shaft to nbe rotated about the latter and" IOO f stacca 9 and the pinion thereon .with the latter crossing said slot, a spring connecting said huh and ratchet, a drive-.pulley loosely n'iounted on said sleeve and provided on one face with a beveled. pinion meshing with said pinion on the hub, and an electro-magnet mounted over said 'ratchet and having, to engage therewith, a suop-rod connected with the armature to be reciprocated thereby relative to said ratchet, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a self-playingstringed instrument,

the combination with a string, o'f a sounding device comprising a rotatably moimted shaft and a sounder thereon adapted to sound saidstring, said sounding device including an electro-magnet; a plurality et fingering-devices each provided with an electro-magnet and adapted to finger said string when its magnet is energized; an electric circuit having branches, each branch including one only of said fingering -device magnets and the common part including the sounding-device magnet, whereby each of said iii'igering-device n'iagnets is included in series with said sounding-device magnet, and a reversing device connected with said shaft. l0. rThe combination with a stringed instrument, having a neck, ofngeiing devices for the strings, a finger-board supported iiidependently of the neck of theinstrument and extending between the neck and the ngering devices and out of contact with the neck with the strings oi the instrument extending over the iinger-board.

111 The combination with a stringed instrument having a neck, fingerii'ig devices for the strings, anger-board rigidly supported out of contact with vthe neck and extending 'over the n'eck and between it and theiingering devices, the strings of the instrument extending over the nger-board.

12. In a self-playing stringed instrument, the combination of the neck aiiframe pro-' vided with1.aperforated plate, fingering devices for th'e strings provided with reciprocating rods movable through the perforations' in said'plate, and the finger-board oi' tlie instrument rigidly suspended fronisaid frame to extend over the neck.

-i 3. In a self-playing stringed instrument, the combination of the -nec'k a frame provided with a perforated plate, fingering devices for the strings provided with reciprocable rods movable through the'perforations -in the plate, the finger-board of the instrw ported on said1 arm ,and a depressor-deviceconnected with said housing and `operative to spring it and depress the said' sounderldevices to a lower plane relative to said'striiigs, for the purpose set forth, I

l5. in an electric self-playing stringed insirumcnt, the. combination of a casing in which. the instrument is mounted,` the strings of the instrument, ari/upright housing provided with 'an arm extending lengthwise over said stringsrotatory sounder-devices sup` ported on said arm, a depressor-device coinprising a lever fulcruined between its, ends and having one end connected with said hous'- ing, an armature on the opposite end of the lever, an electro-magnet supported to attract said armature and an electric circuit in which said magnet is included, for the purpose set forth. v t

. 16. in itself-playing instrument, the combination with a string, of a sounding device including an electro-magnet, a fingering-device including an electro-magnet, zin-electric circuit including said magnets in series and having a branch, a picker deviceincluding an electro-magnet in said branch, a circuit* opening and closing device and connections whereby saidl sounding device magnet'may be short circuited, comprising normally separated contact bars :nd means for bringing them into contact wlien said picker device is operated.

17. in a self-playing stringed instrument, the combination with a' string, of a sounding device including a'n electro-magnet, a fingering-device including an electromagnet, an

electric circuit including said magnets in series and having a branch, a picker device comprising an electroinagnet in said branch, an armature 'carrying rod provided with a stud and terminating in a head having ivotallv supported upon it a finger, a stop rodpex-V tending trom said finger, normally supported contact springs extending at their free ends' into the path of said stud and connections whereby said springs when brought in contact will short circuit said sounding device magnetv o i8. In a self-playing stringed instrument, the combination with a string, of a soundingdevice 'inciuding an electro-magnet adapted to sound said string, a plurality of lingeringk 'devices each provided with an electro-magnet and adapted to iinger said string when Vits magnet is energized, an electric circuit having branches, each ol said fingeringr device magnets being included in a diilerent .one oi said branches with their common part including the sounding device magnet whereby each oi said fingering device magnets-is included in series with said sounding ydevice magnet; a picker device including an electro magnet in another oi said branches, a circuit 'emte menu/wif. 5 tliem lite .Contact when .sa-id picker device ie oiliootcd. A

19x in. ou eleenio sellplaying. stringed i1iiuu'ient, the oon'iliiiiziion withA a easing "uppoi'ting the paris, ol a circuit having i'inoliel, a. moto?, im electrical contactollei in saifl circuit and means for feeding :i peuolated iiiosic-Shee across Said roller: uente-ct linked-em Cof-ope it' with said roller tloougl'i peilomtions in soul sheet sounder@ devices loi 'l'ie eti'iuge, each including .u

electra-mame, mgering devises for alle strings, each including im electro-magnet,

lugs en the olumtlues of 'Clie sounding-de` zo o Seid voV s, and ,regulator comprising l knife-edges between the ormszy'fuieeyin The paths of seid last namedli'ods, said ingeiinpgdevice magnets being egizh connected liyone of Said branches with, one of said oonizu'fy lingers and the om/riches loi' @he lingering-elf? `vices of each skiing having a oomimm pm' including :i eeumling-device magnet, :Vm others oi' said con ans being' eaoli ooiineaflzed by a jbl'moli with one of Seid ieguleito'anog net-S. Y

HEEFT K. SAN''LL.

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