US653263A - Self-playing attachment for key musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 653,263. Patented luly I0, |900.

H. M. SALYER.

SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR KEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' Appuuuon me.: July 17, 1899. (No Model.) 3 Sheen-Sheet l,

IKW,

lIlll ATTORNEY No. 653,263. Patented July I0, |900.

H. M. SALYER.

SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FUR KEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application ld July 17, 1899.) (No lodel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2;

/w ATTORNEY N. 653,263. Patented July I0, i900.

*K H. M. SALYER.

SELF PLAYlNG ATTACHMENT FR KEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application led July 17, 18994) (No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 INVENTOR 2 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES HARRY M. SALYER, OF NEW YORK,

PATENT Ormes N. Y., AssieNoR To LUnwie a co.,

OF SAME PLACE.

4srncmrcnurronr forming pm of Letters Patent N. 653,263, dated .my 1o, ieoo.

Application filed July 17, 1899- following is a specification.

The object of myinventifm is to provide a new and improved self-playing attachment for key instruments-such as pianos, organs, and the like-which attachment is simple in construction, strong and durable, can easily be applied on any key instrument, and plays any desired melody, according to the tunesheet inserted, and produces all the various effects in music, such as forte and piano, works the pedals, varies the speed at which the music is to be produced, and which attachmentcan easily be adjusted to repeat the same melody any number of times automatically or can be adjusted to stop at the end of a tune, and which attachmentalso rapidly rewinds the music-isheet upon its original roller to permit removing it from the attachment,'so that another music-roller can be inserted.

In the accompanying drawings, `forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views, Figure l is a general plan view of my improved self-playing attachment for key instruinenis,the`attaehinent being shown as applied to the keyboard of a piano and the air-compressor used for working the attachment being shown in diagram. Fig. 2 is a side view of the cla1npingbracket on the under side of the attachment for holding the attachment over the keyboard. Fi g. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewof one of the key-operating plnngers and the valve mechanism for the same. Fig.v 4 is a detail plan View, enlarged, ofthe pedal-operating meehanism. Figs. 5 and (i are enlarged vertical l transverse sectional views on the lines 5 5 enlarged planffview of the music-sheet rollers sei-m 15u. 724.064. (No man.)

and the mechanism for operating the same, parts being broken away. Figs. 9 to 12 are sectional views of the controlling-cock. Fig. 13 is a sectional plan'view of the automatically-adjust-able pressure-regulating valve. i

Fig. 14 is aside view of the brake-pulley.

The entire mechanism is contained in a casing A, provided with a bottom A', which rests on suitable rabbets A2, Figli, of the keyboard-support, and from the under side of said bottom A' bracket-pieces A3 extend downward and below the keyboard-support A of the pianoforte, the brackets A each being provided with a screw A5, by means of which the casing A can be clamped on the pianoforte-casing.

The easing A is provided'with ahinged cover A andrwith an intermediairl horizontal partition or floerAT. On the intermediate floor oi partition AT a bridge-piece l5 is se cured, near the longitudinal center line of the intermediate partit-ion or iloor A7 and in the direction of the length ofthe keyboard, which bridge-piece is preferably shaped conical in cross-section and is provided with a flat top '13', Fig. 7, in which a series ofducts or chaunels Ii terminate. Direct-ly above the upper end of each channel b a valve lil' for closing the channel is located, each attached to a spring-strip B, which spring-strips are all .secured en a rail B, attached to standards lrf at the ends ot' the bridge-piece l. A shaft BG is secured in the upper ends of the standards 115, and on said shaft a key-lever C is mounted for each duct or channel l, in the bridge-piece B, and the downwardly-extcnd ing free end C' of each key-leverrests upon the free end of the corresponding springstrp Bs, carrying en its under side the valve 152 for the corresponding duct or channel b.

Each key-lever C is provided at its [ree end with a beveled upwardly-extending lug C?, which several lugs C2 each pass through corresponding transverse slot c in a top plate C", secured to the standards l5, the said keylevers C being held in .such positions that their lugs O1 reject through these slotsc nn- Ader the action of their corresponding springs B?. `\A retaining-bar C, grooved longitndinally omits under side for receiving the several lugzsC2 of the key-levers C, is hinged to a standard b' and at its opposite end is provided with a latch b2 for engaging another standard b5 for the purpose of locking said retaining-bar in place.

The downwardly-extending fro'nt end C' oi each key-lever C is provided with au arm C, extending toward the rear, and over the said severa' arms C a half-round bar C5 extends in such a man ner that when the several eylevers are raised and the half-round bar C5 is in such a position that its fiat side is in a horizontal plane the upper edges of the several arms C will rest against the said fiat side of the half-'round bar, asshown in Fig. 7,

A note-sheet of paper or other suitable material and provided with slots a', suitably spaced and arranged according to the music to be produced, rests upon the slotted plate C?, om which it is held by the retaining-bar C6, the,perforations a being arranged in parallel rows extending in the direction of the length of the note-slidet, the rows being an equal distance 'from each otherland separated a distance equal tothe distance between the lugs C2.

Each music-sheet is secured to a roller D, which is mounted removablybetween the standard D and the hub of a cog-wheel D3,

mounted in a suitable standard Don the in termediate floor or partition A7, and that end of the roller D engaging the hub of the cogwheol Ds is squared or in. any other manner so shaped as to turn with the cog-wheel D.

The standard D' is provided with a longitu-A dinally-movable spring-bearing D', of any well-known construction, forholdingthe lefthand end of -the roller D in such a manuel that it may turn freely, at the same time permitting the ready removal of the roller, with the note-sheet thereon, when said'spring-bearing D" is pulled -out to the left. I do not show the details of the construction of this spring-bearing, nor of the ends of the pivots of roller l), as such constructions are-all well known a d not ot'my invention. 'lhe other end of the note-sheet is secured in anysuitf able manner on the playing-roller-D, which is mounted in suitable bearings D", Fig. 8, and is provided with means for attaching the end of the note-sheet to it, such means being shown in Fig. 1 and consisting of a pin d, projccting into a 'slot d'in the notesheet a; butany other well-known contrivance may be used-forsecuring the end of the note-sheet in the playing-roller D5. The playing-miler D carriesaogwheel D", secured to the shaft of saidij'playing-roller D", which cogwheel D7 canbe engaged byasmallcog-wheel D', mounted in a free end of aswiugingarm D, mounted to rock on a shaft of the pinion' D, whichpinionehgages the wheel Ds. The shaft E, n which said pinion D0 is secured, is a drivenshatt of a =compressedair motor E' of any suitable construction. A cog-wheel E, mounted on arsuitable standard, engages the cog-wheel D,"s9 that when the arm D, Fig. 6, is pushed'fto themright the cog-wheel DE engages the cogfwheel Eand as the latter engages the cog-wheel D on the roller D the latter will be rotated and the sheet that has been wound upon the playing-roller D!s during the playing of the instrument can be rewcuud back upon the original roller D by means of the said rrotor.` All that is necessary is to shift the cog-wheel D8 out ofc engagement with the cogwheel i)7and into engagement with the rewinding cog-wheel E2; A centrifugal governor F, of any well-known construction, is provided upon its central shaft with a pinion F', engaged by the cogwheel F2 on the shaft E, driven directly by the motor, and said governor F is provided with a frictionldisk F3, which rotates with the weights and moves lengthwise on the governor-shaft when said weights swing toward or from each other. A spring-brake lever-F, attached to the horizontal partition A7, extends upward at the side of the friction or brake disk F, and the friction-lever F can be pressed againstthe frictiomdisk FB by two wedges F5 and F, which can press laterally on the lever. F, the wedge F6 resting against the beveled inner end part Flo of an elbowlever F7, pivoted on a standard F, its other end resting against an adjustable screw F-q in the standard Flx on the partition A7, which screw can be turned by means of a handle F, provided with a pointer FA.

The plungers for operating the keys and other parts of the mechanism, and 'which are all of one and the same construction and clearly shown in section in Fig. 3, will now be described. Compressed air is conducted into a chamber G, with which one or more of said plunger-s may be connected. 'l`he piston iu the cylinder Il is provided with asuitable packing I-l, and apistou-rod Il", secured to the piston, extends through a hole in the outer head of the cylinder, whereby the piston-rod is guided. Said piston-rod may oper-` ate any suitable mechanism or it may carry a head Ilvl for striking a key, and which head is providedwith a rubber, felt, o r other pad H5. '.lhe outer head of the cylinder is provided with a vent-aperture Il, and a helical spring U7, surrounding the piston-rod II, serves for pressing the piston inward. At the inner end of the cylinder I-I2 and between the same and the chamber G a cylinder J is located, the axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the cylinder ll, and this cylinder J contains a piston J', provided with a Y suitable packing J2, a helical spring J being interposed between the cylinder-head J and the piston J and bearing on each. An apertured neck Js in the cylinder-head J is connected by a fine air-tube ln with one of the channels b in the bridge-piece B `for a pur-4 pose that will appear hereinafter. The piston-rod K of the piston J "is made hollow and is adapted to work freely through the central axial bore K' of ahub K, fixed inthe cylinder J ,which hub is provided with a duct K2, ex-

: tending from the center bore K'g; the inner shown in Fig. 3.

. bridge picco ll the. pressure on the outer side l central box-cK o the'hub K.

end o( the cylinder ll'-, and with a-duct K, extending from the neck K" in the chamber G to one end of the hub. The piston J' is provided below its packing-ring J2 with a metal plate L, secured to the piston-rod K below the packing-rng J2, and this plate L is provided with a duct L', extending from the bore of the piston-rod I( to the edge of the plate L. A screw-stem L is screwed into the tubular piston-'rod liund in itsend serves to regulate the size of the opening of the inner end of` the duct L', said screw projecting from the opposite ond of the piston-rod K, as is clearly The size of the opening at the inner end oi.' the duct Llcan thus easily be adjusted by screwing the serew-stem Ls inward or outward more or less. `A leather valve M is securedA to the under side of the plate L on the piston-rod K and is adapted td seat on that end of the hub K in-which the duct K-3 terminates, so as to interrupt the communication between theduct Ks and the At theopposite end of the hub a disk N' is secured on the piston-rod l( and carries on its inner side a valve N, adapted to seat on the hub K'i and to closc that end of the central bore K' opposite the one which can be closed bythe valve M. Normally the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3, and the compressed ,air from the chamber G cannot escape, a'nd the communication' between the duct K and the central bore K of the hub K is closed by the valve N. As soon as tlxevalve B3 is lifted olf the end ofthe correspondimgr channel b inA the ofthc-piston J' is reduced to much less than the pressure on the inner side, which internal pressure is about six to eight pounds to the square inch more than atmospheric pressure, more or less, and in consequence the piston J' is moved in the direction toward the head .il of the cylinder J, the tension ot the spring J being overcome. At the same time the valve N has been lifted against and closed that cud ot the central bore K' of,the hnbK opposite thc one from which the valve M has just been lifted. Compressed' air from the chamber G can now pass from the duct K into the bore K' of the hub li and as it cannot escape from the end of the said boro passes through the d uct K in the inverso direction of the aigrow shown and, acting on the piston ll in the cylinder Il?, drives the piston-rod outward. 'lhc part-s remain in these positions until the valve ll' of Fig. 7 closes the end oft the corresponding channel b, and thereupon th` pressure is equalized at both sides of thc piston J' in the cylindcrJ, for the reason that' some of the compressed air passes through the duct L'and the hollow piston-rod into the closet'l end ol' the cylinder J and the tube n, connected therewith, thereby equalizing the pressure. The compressed-air now acts on the valve N and readily moves the same from the emi of the' huh, for the v reason that the ized and the pressure on the outer side of the disk N' is less than the internal pressure, and

this movement is also assisted by the spring J The result is that the valve M shuts oft communication between the duct K3 and the boreK', and communication is established between thejnner end of the cylinder H2 and the outer air by means of tho duct K2 and the inthe cellar, or the compressors may be operated by any other power. The air-tank Os is connected, by means of a pipe O, with the casing A, and one branch Os of this pipe extends to the main valve P of the entire mechanism, which valve is located within the casing A and has its stem providedwith a cross-arm the ends ot which restagainst the heads of the` piston'- rods P2 and 13 of The parts remain in this position -tank O, which, for example, may be'located two cylinders h and h', constructed and op- Y crating like the mechanism shown in Fig; 3, and which two cylinders serve for opening and closing the main supply-valve P. Compressed air passes from the main valve P through thc pipe Im. to the two pressure-regu lators'Q and R, and from the. pressure-regulator Q compressed air passes through the pipe m' and itsbranches to the two compressed-air .chambers G G, with which the several key-operati ng plun gers are connected,

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and from the pressure-regulator It the compressed air passes through the pipes m2 to various other ai r-operated mechanism, which will be descigibed later on. 'lhe pipe t)6 conducts compressed air to the valve mechanism of the plnngers lr 1i'.

The 'regulator Q consists oi a cylindrical casing provided with a neck Q',through which the compressed air enters, and with a neck Q2, through which air escapes, the neck Q2 extending some distance into the regulator Q and beingclosed at its inner end,which closed inner end has a hole Q, which can be closed IKO by a valve Q on the end oi an arm Q", se-

cured to a diaphragm Qf, which diaphragm has a stem Q7, the opposite end of which is Y secu red to a ,sliding piece Qi', mounted to slide in a ncci: Q3 o the easing of thc pressure-rcgulator, Fig.' 13. The diaphragm Q has s uch spring tension as to 'hold the valve Q nonmally such a distance from the hole Q3 as to permit a certain predetermined quantity of compressed air to pass. The sliding piece Q" terminates in astcm Q, which rests on a rim ot a ratchet-wheel S, made integral with a larger ratchet-wheel S', engaged by a pressu: e on both sides of the piston J isequalpawl S, pivoted on a pawl-leverS, mounted to rock on the shaft of the ratchet-wheels S S', which rocking lever S3 canv be actuated by a rod P4 of a cylinder h2 like the one shown in Fig. 3, and whenever said ratchet-wheel is turned to the proper extent the stem Q is forced inward, as is also the diaphragm Q,-

and the valve Q is opened to a greater extent, thus permitting a greater quantity of compressed air'to pass through the neck Q2 and from the same through the connectingtube m. into two chambers G, connected with the several plungers like those shown in Fig. 3 for operating the keys. As will be seen from Fig. 1, one stroke of the pawl-lever S3 opens the valve Q to its greatest extent, and the next stroke permits it to close as far as the diaphragm Q6 permits. The cylinder h2 is connected by a fine tube n' with one of the ducts I) inthe bridge-piece B, and whenever such a greater quantity of compressed air is to be admitted into the chambers G for the key-strikers a hole a' must be provided in the tune-sheet a.. For example, when the keys for a chord are to be struck with a heavier force such greater pressure of compressed air must be admitted in the manner just described. The other pressure-regulator R is constructed in asimilar manner, with the exception that the diaphragm in the same -is adjustable by means of a screw R', according to the desired pressure to be maintained. As stated, the air that has passed from the regulator R is conducted to a series of mechanisms. A branch pipe3 extends to a cylinder h, and the branch pipo m* extends to a cylinder h, the 'piston-rods of which two cylinders bear against the opposite sides of the arm T' on the lower part of a vertical rock-shaft T, provided at its upper end with a crank-arm T2, which is connected by a connecting-rod T3 witl1,the swinging arm D, carrying a cogwheel D". Accordingly as the compressed air is admitted into one of the two cylinders hs or h the rock-shaft T is turned in one direction or the other, and by means of the connecting-rod T3 swings the cog-wheel D8 into engagement with the cog-wheel D7 for playing or into engagement with the cog-wheel Efor rewindingr the sheet back upon the original roller D.

It is necessary that the lugs C2 of the several vkey-levers C shall be depressed while rewnding the note-sheet, so as to be c-'it of the way of the same, and for this purpose the halt-round shaft. C5 is provided at one end with a crank-arm T5, which is connected by a connecting-rod T6 with a crank-arm T7 of the shaft T, so that when said shaft Tis turned as to shift the cog-wheel Da from the cogwheel D" to the cog-wheel E2 for rotating the rewinding mechanism the half-round shaft Cn is turned to such an extent as to press down the lugs C2 of the key-levers C,'so that they will be below the slotted plate C3, and thus cannot tear the note-sheet during rewinding.

I t is very essential that the motor shall run at a high speed when rewinding, so as not to occupy much time in rewinding, and for that purpose the wedge F, which bears on the brake-lever F of the governor, is connected by a rod T with the crank T5 by a pivot T, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the wedge F is moved toward the front of the mechanism during rewinding, whereby the pressure is taken off the spring brake-lever F*i to such an extent as to permit the governor to rotate freely. As the note-sheet a. is wound on the playing-roller D5 the speed with which the note-sheet travels over the lugs C2 increases, and therefore it is necessary to gradually decrease the speed of the motor as the diameter Y' of the note-sheet rollen the roller D5 increases. An arm t of a spring-pressed shalt t', Fig. S, carries at its end a roller f2, and the arm t* of this shaft is connected with a rod t3, to the front end of which'the wedge FG is attaehed. As the diameter of the note-sheet on the roller D5 increases it pushes the roller i2 to the rear of the casing, and thereby the wedge FG is forced to the front and increases the pressure of the spring brake-lever F* on the brake-disk F. When the wedge F6 acts in the manner just described, the wedge F5 is in its normal position, and the wedge F6 bears against the wedge F5, and the latter against the brakefleverl". The cylinders h5 and h are connected with the compressed air-supply pipe m, andthe piston-rod of the cylinder h acts'on a pawl-lever V, carrying ,a pawl V', engaging a ratchet-wheel V2, with which a toothed wheel 'V3 is made integral or mounted on the said shaft. The toothed wheel V has half as many teeth as the wheel V2, the teeth each having a shoulder Vl". A lever V, pivoted at V5, has one end in the path of the teeth of the wheel V3, so that as this wheel is rotated the said lever V is actuated and the other end of the lever V rests against I an arm V" of the, rock-shaft V, provided with an armA V7, connected with a bar V, extending down to the soft pedal or piano-pedal. When one of the ends of a tooth of the wheel V3 bears on the end of the lever V, the soft pedal will be depressed to a greater extent than when the shoulder V0 bears on it, thus producing different effects. The vposition of rest of the lever V is when its end rests at the inner end of a tooth.` lfVhen it rests at the inner end. of a tooth and the soft pedal is to be 'depressed to its greatest extent, the ratchet-wheel V2 moves the distance of two teeth; but if the pedal is only to be depressed to`the intermediate positionthe ratchet-wheel V2 must be turned'one tooth,and so on. To throw off the soft pedal, the ratchet-wheel must be turned the distance of one tooth from extreme depression and two teeth from intermediate depnession. The note-sheet must be provided with holes n', arranged in position and number accordingly as the soft pedal is to be operated. The forte pedal is operated in the saine manner by means of the cylinder h5; but the wheel V9, corresponding to the wheel V3, has teeth of uniform-length.

The cylinder h, which throws the arm Dn in such a Way as to throw the cog-wheel De into engagement to the rewind cog-wheel E2, is connected by an air-tube 'n4 and 'a5 with a push-button N on the board W on the-front of the casing, so that at any time by pushing this button the air will be permitted to escape from the valve mechanism of the cylinder lz i and the shaft '1 rotated in such a manner as to set the gear-to rewind. The push-buttonW2 on the board W is connected byian air-tube fn!i with the cylinder h', so that by'pushing on said button the air is permitte'fd to escape from the valve mechanism of the cylinder h', and as the piston of the latter moves outward it throws the arm II of the main valve P into such a position as to open this main valve and start the mechanism. The valve mechanism! of the cylinder h' of the starting and stopping device is connected by a tube n.'l with one of the ducts b in the bridge-piece, and in this tube 'n7 a cock I is located, which cock is provided withA a tapering bore I' for a plug I2, having a handle-F'which handle pro- `jects from the boardWV. '.VIhe body of this cock has a channel I4, extending across the bore I' at right angles, and also has a hole I5, extending from the bore I' to the bottom of the cock. The plug I2 has a transverse h le I, which can be brought to register with,l he

channel l of the body, and in addition thereto' has a hole I", extending from the hole I6 through the plugr tothe surface, but only at one side. Then this cock is adjusted as shown in Fig..11, the hole I' in the plug registers with the channel I and the small hole I7 in the plug registers with the hole I5 in the lody of the cock, so that the air can escap from the valve mechanism of the cylinder h, said air passing from the pipe nl through the bore I into the hole I" and through the hole I7 and l. The result of this is that the lever P' of the main valve P is turned in such a. manner as to shut off all air-supply from the supply-y Whn the plug I2 is reversed, as"

pipe O". shown in Fig. 12, so thatthe small hole IT in the plug I2 does not register with the hole Ifs of the body, the air cannot escape, but the tube 117 is not closed. The cylinder h is brought into communication by the tube n" with the corresponding duct b in the bridgepiece B, and the instrument continues-to play until it arrives atthe end of a tune, when a,

-'repeated.

ously, and every time at the endof the tune the tune-sheet is automatically rewonnd, a suitable hole.in the sheet permitting the air to escape from the valve mechanism of the corresponding cylinder h4, and then when the sheet has been rewound entirely another hole registers with the duct I), connected with the valve mechanism of the cylinder ha', and so on for an indefinite time. So as to. prevent the note-sheet from unw'inding1r too readily from the roller D` the shaft of this roller carries loosely a disk r, against which a brakelever 1" rests. While the sheet is being unwound, the shaft of the roller D turns in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 14, and the two clutch-levers r2 of the disk r3 ou the shaft of the roller D engage by friction the inner surface of the rim of the pulley 'r and turn the same in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 14, and as the brake-lever 1" rests against this disk a too-rapid unwind'ing is avoided; but while the sheet is being rewound upon the roller D thesaid roller tui-ns in the inverse direction of the arrow, Fig. 14, and the clutchlevers lr2 slide within the pulley 'r without turningit.4 In place of the clutch mechanism shown any other well-known friction-clutch mechanism may be used.

l In the drawings the large` tubes are compresscd-air-supply tubes, and the smalltubes are air-escape tubes for the valve mechanisms. The tube mS supplies compressed air to the motor E'. As the pivoted arm DJ requires but a slight movement for throwing the wheel ES from the wheel D7 to the wheel E2 or, vice versa, from the wheel E2 to the wheel D7, but a comparatively-large throw of the crank-arm 'l5 is required for turning the half-round shaft C5. 'lhe connecting-rod T3 is provided with a longitudinal slot so as to insure the proper turning of the halfplay in thev manner described until the end4 of a tune-sheet, when a hole a'in` the tunesheet registers with a corresponding duct b of the bridge-piece l; whereby the main valve Pis closed and the mechanism stopped, all parts being returned to the original positions ready for starting again.

The note-sheet can be removed to be re- ,placed by another or the same tune can be By means of the cock I the mechanism can be adjusted to repeat an indefinito time, and if ever it becomes necessary to rewind before a melody iscomplctel for any reason'whatever the button W can be pushed,

As shown, the cylinders Il? for operating the white keys "w and the blnc i keys w' are arranged in two groups.

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It is evident that the mechanism can be reversed and placed below the inner ends of the levers on which the keys are fixed, so as to press such inner ends of the levers upward, with which arrangement the entire mechanism would be concealed within the piano.

As has .been stated and described, the time of playing can be easily regulated by means of the screw F, as by turning said screw inward the pressure of the brake-lover I1" on the brake-disk F is increased and the time willbe slower, while, on the contrary, when said screw is moved outward the pressure on the brake-lever is decreased and theplaying will be more rapid..l Y

Ilaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Inaself-playing attach ment for key musical instruments, the combination with two mllers upon which a perforated tune-sheet is wound, of a motor for rotating said rollers, a brake-disk loosely mounted on one roller, a brake tever engaging said brake disk, a clutch on the shaft of said roller for rotating the brake-disk when the roller rotates in one direction, only, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, theV combination with two rollers, upon which a tune-sheet is wound, a motor for rotating said rollers alternately, a governor operated by said motor,a brake-lever acting on said governor and means ad jacent to one roller for controlling the brakelevcr according to the amount of the tunesheet wound ou said roller, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. lu a sel f-playing attachment for key musical instruments, -the combination with two rollers, upon which a tune-sheet is wound, a motor for rotating said roller, a Governor operated by said motor, a brakeisk on said governor, a spring brake-lever bearing on said brake-disk, a wedge rested against the said brake-lever and means for shitting said wedge automatically from the tune-sheet as the same is wound upon onerroller, substantially as herein sho'wn and described.

4. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with two rollers upon which a tune-sheet is wound, a motor for operating said roller, a governor operated by tho motor, a brake-lever acting ou said governor, a wedge adjacent tosaid brakelcver, an adjustable abutment for said wedge and means for shifting said wedge from the quantity of tune-sheet wound on one roller, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In aselfplayi ug attachment for key in usical instruments, the combination with two rollers upon which a tune-sheet is wound, of a motor for rotating said roller, a governor' operated by said motor, a brake-lever acting on said governor, a wedge bearing against said brake-lever, an angle-lever, one end of which forms au abutment Afor said wedge, a screw on which the other end of said anglelever restsand a pointer for indicating the adjustment of said screw, substantially as herein shown and described.

(3. In aslf-p1aying attachment for key musical instruments,.the combination with two rollers upon which a note-sheet is wound, of a motor for rotating said rollers, a governor operated by the motor, a brake-lever acting on the governor, a wedge resting against said brake-lever, a pivotedlever having one' end adjacent tov the circumference of one of the note-sheet rollers and a connection between the opposite end of said lever and said wedge,

the brake-lever by the action of. the note-sheet wound on that end of the lever adjacent to 'the periphery of the note-sheet roller, sul

stantially as herein shown and described.

7. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with two. rollers upon which a tune-sheet is wound, of a motor for rotating said rollers alternately, a governor for said motor, gearing for throwing the motor inA gear with either of said rollers,

f whereby said wedge is moved inrelation to a wedge connected with'said gearing and moving with the same, a brake-lever on which said wedge acts and which brake-lever acts on the governor and an abutment for said wedge, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. In a'self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with rollers upon which atnue-sheet is wound, a motor for rotating these rollers alternatel y, gearing for throwing the motor in gear with either of said rollers, a governor operated by themotor, a brakelever acting on said governor,

two wedges in contact, 'of which one acts on the brakelever and an abutment against which the other wedge rests and means for shifting one wedge when the tu no-sheet is being wound on one roller and means for shifting the other wedge before the tune-sheet is being wound `on the other roller, substantially as herein shown and described.

9. In a self-playin g attachment forkey m usical instruments, the combination with rollers upon which a note-sheet is wound, a motor for rotating these rollers alternately, gearing for throwing the motor in gear with either of said rollers, a governor operated by the motor, a brake-lever acting on said governor, two wedges in contact, of which one acts on the brake lever and an abutment against which the other wedge rests means for shifting one wedge when the motor-gearing is in engagement with one roller and means for shifting the other wedge as the quantity of tune sheet wound on the other roller increases, substautially as herein shown and described.

10. lu a self-playing attachment for key and adapted to engage either of said rollers, a Iswinging lever supporting the said cog-wheel, a governor operated by the motor, a brakelever'acting on the governor, ai wedge adjacent to said brake-lever anda rod connecting said Wedge with the lever that throws the swinging cog-wheel into gear for rotating the onerolle'ror the other, sllbstantiallyas herein shown and described.

11. In a self-playing .attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air chamber extending across the keys ot' the instrument in close proximity thereto, of a.- series of cyindols connected with the com pressed-air chamber, a piston in each cylinder, a piston-rod ou each piston, which piston-rods each act directly on a key, a perforated note-sheet for controlling the ad` mission of compressed air into said cylinders and means for moving said sheet, substantially as herein shown and described.

12. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a bridge-piccehaving a number of ducts ter- ,minatingin its ilat top, of a valve for each duct, a spring to which each valve is attached and a key-lever above each spring, snbstantially as herein shown and described.

13. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a. bridge-piece having a series of ducts terminating in its flat top, of a valve above each duet, a spring for each valve, to which the valve is attached, a pivoted key-lever above each spring and means for depressingr and holding down all the key-levers together, substantially as herein shown and described.

14. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a musical instruments, the combination with two rollers upon which a slotted note-sheet is wound, of a motor for rotating said rollers alternately, a bridge-piece having a'serics of ducts terminatingin the ilat top of the bridge'- piece, a valve above each duet, akey-lever for each valve, a'. shaft for pressing down the several key-levers and means for operating said shaft to press down the key-levers at the same time that the motor is thrown in gear with one of saidtunc-siicet rollers, substantially as herein shown and described.

1G. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with two rollers upon which a nnte-Sheet is wound, a motor rotating said rnllers alternately,

the several key-levers and closing the severaldncts, means for turning said shaft axially which means are operated by the same mechanism which throws the motor in gear with one off the rollers, substantially as herein A shown and described.

17. In-a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with two rollers, upon which a. note-sheet is wound, of a motor for operating said rollers alternately, means for throwingthe motor in gear with either of said rollers, a bridge-piece having ducts terminating in the same, a valve for each duet, a key-lever for each valve, an arm on each key-'lever, a half-round shaft above the said arms and mounted to rotate, a crank on the end of said half-round shaft, a rod connecting said crank with the lucchanism for shifting the motor-gear from one of said tune-sheet rollers to the other, substantially as herein shown and described.

' 1S. In a self-playing attachment for key musicalinstruments, the combination with a plurality of com pressed-air chambers extending across the keys and means for supplying them with conipressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valvecasing for each such mechanism, a com pressed-air-escape tube connected with one end of each valve-casing and means for contrellin g said eompresscd-air-escapc tubes, subtantiallyas herein shown and described.

19. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air chamber extending across the keys and means for supplying the same with compressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-casing for each mechanism, a compressed air-oscape tube connected with one end of each valvecasing and a perforated tune-sheet for conv trolling said air-escape tubes, substantially as herein shown and described.

20. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air chamber extending across the keys and means for supplying the same with compressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-casing for each mechanism, a compressed airescape tube connected with one end of each valvecasing, a perforated tune-sheet for controlling the air-escape tubes and a compressedair-operated mechanism for moving the noteshcct, substantially as herein shown and described. V A

2i. In aself-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air chamber extending across the keys and means for supplying it with compressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-easing for IIC each mechanism, a compressed-air-escape tube connected with one end of each valvecasing, a bridgepiece in which the several airescape tubes terminate', .valves for controlling the several air-escape tubes and means for moving .a note-sheet for the purpose of operating the said valves, substantially as herein shown and described.

22. In a self-playing` attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a Vcompressed-air chamber extending acrossl the keys and means for supplying it witl compressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-casing for each mechanism, .a compressed airescape tube connected with one end'of each valvecssing, abridge-piece in which the several air-escape tubes terminate, a valve foreach tube, a key-lever for eachvalve, means. for movinga note-sheet over the key-levers to operate the same, substantially as herein shown and described.'

23. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instru ments,4 the combination with a compressed-airchamber extending across the keys and means for .supplying it with compressed air, of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-casing for each mechanism, acompressed air escape tube connected with one end of each valvecasing, a valve for each air-escape tube,

means for moving ,a note-sheet over said valves to operate the same, an additionalfairescape-controlling valve inA some of. said airescape tubes, for the purpose` of opeiating some of the mechanism at the will of the operator, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

24. In a self-playing attachment for keyA musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers of a series of mechanisms t0 be operated by compressed air for the purpose of actuating the keys, a. main valve for controlling the supply of compressed air to the attachment, coinpressed air mechanism for operating said main valve, a valve-casing for each such com! pressed-air mechanism, which valve-casing has one end closed, a compressed-air-escape tube connected with the closed end of each valvecasing, means for moving anote-sheet for controlling'some of said escape-tubes, a cock in the air-escape tube in the compressedair mechanism for operating the main valve, which cock has a body provided with a bore for receiving a ilug, the plug having a transverse opening a d the body having an opening that can register with the opening in the plug, the plug also having an opening extending from its transverse opening to the circumference of the plug and the body having an openingxtendiug from the opening that registers with the 4opening in the plug to the surface of the body topermit of adjusting this plug in' different position for various purposes, substantially as herein shown and described.

25. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air chamber and means for supplying the same with compressed air, of. aseries of mechanisms to oe operated by the compressed air for the purpose of operating the keys, a valveiu the main compressed-air-supply pipe, two such compressed-air mechanisms for operating said main valve, a valvecasing for each such compressed-,air mechanism, a compressed-air-escape tube connected with o'ne end of each comresscd-air-valve casing, mechanism for moving a tune-sheet controlling some of the compressed -airescape tubes, a hand-operated valve in the compressed-air-escape tube of one of the mechanisms for operating the main valve and a hand-operated valve in the compressed-aire cape t'ube of the other compressed-air mechanism for operating the main valve, which latter hand-operated valve is capable of adj ustmeut in various positions for various purposes, substantially as herein shown and described.

26. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers extending across the keys and means for supplying them with compressed air, of. aseries of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valvecasing for ea'ch' such mechanism, a compressed-air-escapo tube connected with one end of each valve-casing, means for controlling said air-escape tubes and a pressure-regulating valve connected with the com pressedair supply tube, substantially as herein shown and described.

27. In a, self-playing attachment for key 'musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers. and meaus'for supplying them with compressed air and a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air, a valve-casing for each such mechanism,a compressed-air-escape tu be connected with-each valve-casing means for controlling said compressed-air-escape tubes, a pressure-controlling val ve in the compressedair-supply tube, a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism for operating said controlling-valve, and one of the above-described compressed-air mechanisms for operating the ratchet-andpawl mechanism above mentioned, substantially as herein shown and described.

28. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers and Ameans for supplying them with compressed IIO lator in said tube, another air-supply tube for the compressed-air mechanism for operating the keys, an automatically-controlled pressure-regulator in said latter tube, and means for operating said latter air-controlling valve automatically by means of one of the above compressed-air mechanisms, substantially as herein shown and described.

30. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, thecombination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers and means for supplying them with compressed air of a series of mechanisms operated by compressed air for operating the keys, compressed-air mechanisms for operating the pedals, a valve-casing for each such compressed-air mechanism, a comprcsscd-aires cape tube connected with one ,end of each valve-casing, means for automatically controlling said compressed-air-escape tubes, a ratchet-andpawl mechanism operated by the compressed-air mechanism for the pedal, and means for operating the pedal-levers from said ratchet and pawl, substantially as herein shown and described.

31. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with compressed-air chambers and means for supplying them with compressed air, of a series of mechanisms to be operated by compressed air, for operating the keys, compressed-air mechanisms for operating the pedals, a. valvechamber for each compressed-air mechanism, a-compressed-air-escape tube connected with one' end of each valve-chamber, means for automatically controlling the com pressed-airv escape tubes, a pawl-lever operated by each compressed-air mechanism for the pedals, a ratchet-wheel operated by such pawl-lever a tooth wheel on the same shaft with the ratchet-wheel, a lever actuated by the toothed wheel and means for operating the pedals from said levers, the toothed wheel of one of the mechanisms having each tooth provided with ashoulder, substantially as herein shown and described.

32. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of compressed-air chambers and means for supplying them with compressed air, of a series ofcompressed-air-operated mechanisms for operating the keys, compressed-airoperated mechanisms for working other parts, compressed-air-operated mechanisms for automatically controlling the pressure of the compressed air admitted tothe key-operating mechanism, a valve in the-compressed-air-supply tube for said compressedair-operated mechanism and a compressedair mechanism for operating said valve, substantially as hereinshown and described.

33. In a self-playing attachment for key musical instruments, the combination with a compressed-air motor, of tune-sheet rollers operated by said motor, aseries of compressedair-operated mechanisms for working the keys, a reversing-gear for gear driven by said motor, a compressed-air mechanism for operating the reversing-gear, c mipressed-air-operated mechanisms for working the pedals, a m'ain supply-tube for the compressed air, a valve in the same, a compressed-air-operated mechanism for controlling said main valve and means for controllin g all said compressedairoperated mechanisms from a tune-sheet wound on the above-mentioned roller, substantially as herein shown and described.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State 'of New York, this 12th day of June, A. D. 1899.

HARRY M. SALYER, Witnesses:

Roer. Horr JOHNSTON, OSCAR F. GU'NZ.

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