US1107801A - Accenting attachment for music-playing devices. - Google Patents

Description

W. J. KEELEY. AGOENTING ATTACHMENT FOR MUS IC PLAYING DEVICES. APPLICATION FILED 11.30, 1910.

1,107,80 1 Patented Aug. 18, 1914 Me /m 9mm THE NORRIS PETERS 00.. PnarO-Ll'rua. WASHINGTON. 0. 6.

WILLIAM J. KEELEY, 01* NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACCENTING ATTACHMENT FDR MUSICJPLAYING DEVICES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KEELEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Acoenting Attachment for Music Playing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a music playing device, and the principal object thereof is to provide means whereby the operator may accent or bring out any melody note or series of notes in a musical composition while the accompanying and foundation tones are sub dued.

The invention may be applied to all kinds of automatic music playing instruments, including the so-called cabinet piano players of various makes and constructions.

In accomplishing the object of the invention the perforated music-sheets are provided with marks to designate the melody notes, or to indicate when the accenting device is to be operated.

The means which I have provided for accomplishing the desired result in connection with the marked music-sheets consists of an adjustable bar adapted to subdue the accompanying and foundation tones, and having means for permitting the melody notes to be sounded with full power.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention as applied to two different kinds of musical instruments.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a part of one form of an automatic piano with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view of a piano player also provided with my invention, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism employed in Fig. 1, the ordinary parts of the piano being removed to show the interior construction, and also illustrating a form of music sheet which can be employed.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that located adjacent to the hammers a in such position as to be engaged by the shanks a is a bar I). This bar is preferably covered with a layer of felt b or similar soft material on the face against which the shanks of the hammers strike. This prevents the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 191i).

Patented A11"; 18, 1914.

Serial No. 552,407.

hammers from clicking or making a noise when they engage the bar Z). This bar is shown in Fig. 3 as mounted in guides 0 so as to slide longitudinally into properposition to be engaged by the desired shanks a. It is also provided with one or m-ore'slots 6 When applied to a piano such as shown in Fig. 1, these slots will be vertically arranged in the front face of the bar, and are designed to permit any hammer shank which may be selected to deliver its blow with full force without engaging the felt, the others ofthat: octave striking the soft surface to-produce subdued tones.

In order that the bar may be adjusted it is shown as provided with a rod dconnected with an arm 6 mounted on an oscillating. shaft f. Another arm g on this shaft serves 70. to turn it and this arm is connected by a .link 7: with an operating lever is. This operating lever has a handle it, and is'connected with a pointer m which is adapted to: move over a portion of the music sheet 0.

When so constructed that the bar Z) has only one slot o in order that the 'device may have full range, it will be necessary to make it as short as possible and move it; nearly the full length of the instrument so that the slot may be adjusted in sue'h'position as to receive anyone of the hammer shanks a". In this case the pointer m is also designed to move the whole length of; the music-sheet, so that it may be brought to any desired note. This is done if the notes are marked individually by asterisks, stars, or the like, which is one Way in which the invention may be carriedout. However, .3, if desired, the notes on the music sheet may be indicated at one side thereof by a'line, a series of dots, or other marks, and in that case the pointer on will move only far enough to cover the marks indicating all the notes.

in the form which I have illustrated, I have shown the bar as provided with a plurality of slots 6 each one corresponding to an octave. a fifth or a third; in the present instance, to an octave. In this case it is? necessary to move the bar only the space 00- cupied by an octave, and the pointer m moves a corresponding distance on the music sheets or across the indications at'the edge thereof. In the use of the device, (the.

music sheet being marked to indicate the accentcd melody notes in either one of the Ways indicated above), the pointer is operatcd by hand through the handle la to bring it successively to the marked positions. This moves the bar (l through the instrumcntality of the links and arms described, or in any other desired way, so that for each octave, the slot 71" is in position to receive the hammer-shank corresponding to the note in dicated by the pointer m. It will be understood, of course, that this bar should be operated longitudinally only when the hammers are all back in their normal positions, because if any one of them is forward in one of the slots b it 'vvoiii'ld prevent operation of the bar.

Of course the pointer m, may move across the music-sheet at any point thereof, but it may conveniently do :so as the sheet travels over the tracker board.

VV'hen tlh e bar Z9 is not in use, it can be disposed ol in any desired "Way in accordance wi tlh the oonstri-iction of the instrument on which it is placed. A most mnvenient way her most instruments is to allow it to drop down to clear the hammer-shanks of the piano action. If desired, when the device is constructed with :a plurality of slots W, as shown, thene can be a plurality of pointers so distanced as to indicate octaves.

In 2 I have shown how the device may be applied to :so called cabinet piano players by placing it under the fingers p which strike the keys of the piano. This construction comes within the scope of invention.

While I have illustrated and described two particular applications of my invention, and one form in which I at present prefer to embody it, I am aware that many ii-uodifications may be made therein, and th at when applied to different m'aikes of musical 1 instruments, certain modifications will be necessary, all of which coune Witl'iin the scope of the skill of any person slcil'led in this art, and also within the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

Wlrat I claim is 1. A music playing device having a movhhe blows from the hair-miner shanks as they of the blovvs imparted to the strings, the

bar being provided with a slot for neceiv- 7 mg a hammer shank, whenebv of the strings may be stnuck with full force.

2. A music playing device having a msov- 1 :able :bar provided with means to lessen the power of the blows imparted to the strings representing an octave, the bar being provial-ed With a slot for receiving .a hammer shank zfor sounding the melody note, whene- 1 by the melody note of that octave may be:

sounded with full force While the accom panying and foundation tones are subdued by said bar.

3. A music playing device having hammers, and adjusting means for engaging a plurality of hammer-slmnks as they move toward the strings and subduing the accompanying and foundation tones, and having means fixed relatively to said adjusting i-neans for preventing a melody note from being subdued.

t. In music playing device, the combination with hammers and strings, of a bar having a soft surface in position to be engaged by the ha'nnners as they approach the strings for subduing certain tones of a section, the hammer engaging surface of said bar extending throughout the length occupied by all the hammers but one of a section, whereby one hammer can stri-ke with full force the string for producing the melody note.

5. In music playing device, the combination of the hammers, a sliding bar movable between the hainn'iers and strings in position to engage the shanlrs of the hammers and lessen the blows delivered by them, said bar having slots to permit certain of the hammer shanks to deliver a blow of full liorce.

6. a music playing dcviceythe combination with the hammers and strings, of a sliding ba r movable between the hammers and strings in position to engage the sh'an'ks of the hammers and lessen the b lovvs delivered them, and having slots arranged at regular distances apart so as to register With corresponding hammers of each section.

7. In a music playing device, the combination With the hammers and strings, of a sliding in position to en age the shan ks of the hammers and lessen the blows delivered by them, said bar having a plurality of slots arranged at regular distances apart so as to register With corresponding hammers el-each section, guides for said bar, a pointer rnovable over the musicsheet, and means for simultaneously moving the pointer and bar.

8. Ina music playing device, the combination of the hammers, a sliding bar movable between the hammers and strings in position to engage the shanks of the hammers and able bar provided with means for receiving lessen the o'lovvs delivered by them, said bar having slots to permit certain of the hammer move toward the strings to lessen power shaniks to deliver a blovv of full Sfiorce, a pointer movable over the music sheet, and means for simultaneously moving the bar and pointer equivalent distances.

9. In a music playing device, the combination of a sliding bar having a series of slots,

1 :a pointer adapted to move over a music sheet, means for simultaneously moving the bar and pointer, and :a *music sheett having marks representing melody notes located in the path of said pointer.

10. In :a music playing device, the combi- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of tWo subscribing 10 witnesses.

nation of the hammers, movable means for engaging the shanks of the hammers to lessen the blows delivered by them, said means having slots to permit certain of the hammer shanks to deliver a blow of full force, a pointer movable over the music sheet, and means for simultanously moving said means and pointer equivalent distances. 1

WM. J. KEELEY.

lVitnesses \VILLIAM J. BARTEN, FRANK PTOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G."

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