US86394A - Improvement in metallic reeds for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

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@giusti Letters .Patent No.`86,394,

dated February 2, 1869.

IMPROVNIENT IN METALLIC REEDS I 'OR MUSICA?. INSTRUMENTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Know all men by theseprcsents:

'lhat I, A. H. HAMMOND, of the city and county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Reeds for Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the foilowingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view of my improved metallic reed;

Figure 2 representsa perspective view of the same, the tongue and frame being shown separate;

Figure represents a' longitudinal section, on line A B, lig. l;

Figure 4' represents a lowest-toned reeds;

.Figure 5 represents a plan view of the same,'tl1e tongue and flame being shown separate Figure replese'ntsa longitudinal section of the same on line O D,'iig. 4;

Figure 7 represents a longitudinal section through the jaw, on line G, tig. 5;

Figure 8 represents a similarsect-ion ofthe reed shown in fig. l; A

Figure 9 represents a transverse section on .line E F, lig. 4, with the tongue and frame separate; and

Figure 10 represcnts a similar transverse section, after the tongue is secured in place.

(Figs. 9 and 10 show the parts upon an enlarged scale.)

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs, to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

The nature of my invent-ion consists- First, in a reed-frame, with two separate jaws` formed from the metal of the flame, for holding the rear end of the tongue, as hereafter explained.

Second, in a tongue-frame, in which the metal at the top of the frame, in rear of the tongue-slot, is removed back to or a little beyond the front ends of the jaws, between which the rear end of the tongue is secured.

Third, in a tongue-frame having two jaws set up Abottom view of one of the tance apart, to hold the tongue in its place, without planing or otherwise removing a portion of the `inner edge of said jaws, as hereafter set forth'.

Fourth, in a tongue for metallic reeds, the corners of the base or rear end of which are bevelled or scalf loped, in the manner shown, and for the purpose hercinaft'er explained.v

[n the drawingsv The part marked A represents the metallic frame of the reed, provided, in the usual manner, with a slot, B-` in which the tongue C yibrates.

At the rear end ofthe tongue-slot are two jaws, ff, formed by setting up portions of the metal of the frame shall be exactly equal to thewidthof the base, b, of the tongue O, so that when s'aid tongue is secured to its seat between those jaws f f, it will be -eroper position to vibrate freely through the slot B. l

From the rear end of the slot B to a little distance back of the front ends of the jaws fj, the metal is removed, as indicated at e, fig. 2, either in the-form of' a bevel or otherwise, so that the jaws f f shall firmly hold the tongue C at a point forward of the rear part of said bevel, thereby rendering it impossible for the tongue C, in vibrating `through the slot B, to strike upon any of the metal of the frameA, and, by jarring, produce an imperfect tone.

The top edges of the tongue G a're bevelled or scalloped oil' at its base, b, 'as shown in figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings, and it is secured to the frame A by placing its base b between the' jaws ff, which are riveted down upon and against thescalloped or beve-lied edges of the tongue, as .indicatedjn fig.10. Thisbevel-orscallopV may be produced in connection with another necessary operation in manufacturing reed-tongues.

The' method of setting up the jaws f j' is by punching the metal of the frame A partiallytlrough, from the back side, which operation is performed by dies and machinery arranged for that purpose. The depressions or bevels c, at the rear end of the tongue-slot B, may be made, in the desired form and degree, in connection with another process of manufacturing the reed-flames, and it is not essential that this depression should be of greater depth than just sulcient to clear the vibration of the tongue.

In lieu of setting up the jaws ff at a distance apart exactly equal to the width of the base of the tongue C, they may be set up at a less distance apart, as shown in u. 5, and their inner edges pla-ned out to the required widthl either forming erect edges, grooves, or under bevels, or the base, b, of the tongue C, may be reduced by an upward bevel or scallop, or erect edges, to fit between the jaws, or, if desired, both operations may be performed.

This latter method of construction may be adopted for some of the lower reeds of the scale, with satisfactory results, and perhaps in some ofthe highest.

It will readily be observed by all persons familiar with the manufacture of metallic reeds, or their use in reed musical instruments, that reeds constructed in the manner above described have many important advantages over those constructed in the usual manner. The jaws ff, being set so that thcirt'ront ends extend forward to or a little beyond the back part of the bevel e, at the rear end of the tongue-slot B, and also being riveted strongly against and upon the base, b, of the tongue, which is 'thereby held lirmly down upon the frame in every part that can possiblyV touch or move in vibrating, it will be' seen that there can be no jarring of the tongue upon the frame, for the reason that the vibrating part of the tongue rests on nothing, and can touch' nothing, and therefore it will be impossible -for the reed to produce 'any but the most perfect tone of which a reed is capaas heretofore-constructed, to overcome which has been` the chief leffort of reed-manufacturers and users for Amany years past;

By my method of making reeds, n'o more of the metal of the frame is necessarily setup than is required to form the jaws for holding 4the tongue, and therefore the frame is not injuriously weakened, and the seat of the tongue remains intact,'and level with the other portions of the frame, and the tongue consequently rests upon a solid, uniform seat, which cannot be displaced, thereby securing the utmost solidity and uniformity of tone, together with the4 greatest reliability in mechanical construction.

As the jaws may be set up at the right 'distance apart to receive the tongue nearly or quite throughout the entire scale, the whole, .or nearly the whole, diionlty and expense of milling or planing a seat for the tongue can be obviated, thereby rendering their mauufacture cheaper, while, at the same time, producing a more perfect and desirable article than can Abe produced by the different modes of construction in use prior to my invention.

Having described my improved metallic reed,

What I claim therein as new, and of my invention, and' desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A reed-frame havingtwo separate jaws set up from the same metal to hold the base of the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A reed-frame having two jaws set up, at the ex- -aet distance apart to receive and hold the base of the tongue ofthe reed, as shown and described.

3. A reed-tongue formed of reed-metal, the base of which is bevelled or scalloped upon the edge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' A. H. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

CHAs H. BURLnreH, D. L. MILLER.

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