US1168755A - Electrically-operated musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

I. B. SMITH. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 26; 1910.'

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D c.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1910- Patentd Jan. 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON u. c.

l. B. SMITH ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1910. 7 1,168,755. Patented Jan.18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4 E Y a w W THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, 04 c4 I. B SMITH. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION mg!) MAY 26. 1910. 1,1 3,755, Patented Jan l8, 1916.

, 5 SHEETS SHEET 4.

Elm

Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII co., \\'A 'IHNGTON, D. c

I. B. SMITH. 1 I ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1910.

1,168,755. v I I Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I IRVING B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

n EcTnIoA LY-ornnnrnn MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed May 26, 1910. Serial No. 563,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRWNG B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in thec'ounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electri-v cally-Operated lvIusical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments, and particularly to automatic playing mechanisms 'for use in connection with grand pianos.

While particularly designed for use in connection with grand pianos it will be readily seen upon reading the following description that my invention possesses many features which are applicable to other types of musical instruments, and that it'may be used in connection with certain other types of musical instruments practically in toto and without substantial change,

The application of automatic playing mechanisms to grand pianos has been attended with considerable difficulty owing to a lack of space in a piano of this type, to the peculiarities of the piano action, and the peculiar arrangement of the parts of the piano. For'these and other reasons it has been difiicult to get a playing mechanism applied to a grand piano which would operate in an efiicient and entirely satisfactory manner without interference with manual operation of the piano which should be possible whenever desired. Also due to the causes mentioned the application of an automatic playing mechanism to pianos of this type has detracted from their artistic, neat and attractive appearance and more than that has been placed in a position in which it is decidedly in the way of the persons performing upon the piano.

It is one object of my invention to overcome the above named dil'liculties and to pro duce, adapt and apply an automatic playing mechanism to grand pianos in such a manner that it will operate the piano and in turn allow the piano to be operated, manually, in an entirely satisfactory and rellable manner and with excellent efficiency.

It is a further object of my invention to produce a playing mechanism for grand pianos which may be applied to any one of the different makes of grand pianos at will and with a simple change of dimensions, and

without substantial alteration of any of its structural features.

In the accomplishment of my invention I make use preferably of an electro-magnetic playing mechanism for the reason that this .mechanism occupies a very small space and may be placed in very small compass. At

the same time it operates simply and reliably. Other types of playing mechanisms may be used, but generally must occupy a greater space. I mount this mechanism beneath the piano, attaching it to the key bed just below the hammer action, which in this type of piano is usually located in the front of the casing. In this position vtheplaying mechanism is readily accessible for adjust- 7 of the piano.

The electro-magnetic mechanism which I have produced and adapted to grand pianos possesses several advantageous features not heretofore found in playing mechanisms of this type. Prominent among these is an electro-magnetic means for decreasing the power required to operate the mechanism and for increasing the rapidity of repetition possible in a playing mechanism of the automatic type. And to further theadaptability of the playing mechanism and to secure minimum of interference with manual operation of the piano I make use of an improved phrasing bar designed to meet the demands for fineness of expression in this type of piano. As will be seen it is especially constructed to fit in with the remaining parts of the piano, and to improve the quality of playing done by the automatic playing mechanism.

I show in the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation along the lines of the key levers of a grandpiano equipped with the automatic playing mechanism of my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial section substantially on the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1 at right angles to the line of the key levers. Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the rear ends of the key levers shown in Fig. 2, and showing the relation of these rear ends of the key levers to the front ends, or so called the ivory keys. Fig. lis a perspective view of several elements of the electro-magnetic playing mechanism showing their connection with the rear ends of the key levers. Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section through one of the elements of the playing mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of one of the striker rods connecting the actuating elements with the rear ends of the key levers. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the under side of the improved phrasing bar which I have designed. Figs. 8 and 9 are plan and side elevations respectively of one of the supports for the phrasing bar of Fig. 7. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are detail views of joints in the phrasing bar. Fig. 13 is a plan View of the under side of operating arms, shafts and operating levers for the phrasing bar. Figs. l l to 17 are diagrammatic views showing tour of the expression combinations possible with the aid of the phrasing bar of Fig. 7. Figs. 18 and 19 are enlarged, perspective views of forms of metal clips suitable for extensions 01"- the key levers, and Fig. 20 is a diagram of the electrical connection of the several elements of the electro-playing mechanism. Fig. 21 is a side view of a modified form of phrasing lever; and Fig. 22 is a transverse section of a modified form of bar.

Referring to Fig. 1, is the key bed of the piano above which are mounted the key levers ll. 12 designates collectively the hammer action with W1lCl1 the key levers are associated and on which they act. 13 designates the damper mechanism, and 1% the sound producing elements or strings on which the hammer action and damper action act. is the electro-magnetic playing mechanism located beneath the key bed and acting on the rear ends of the key levers. 16 is the improved phrasing bar.

Speaking more specifically of the hammer action, 19 is the wippen of the action which is engaged by the rear ends of the key levers. is the repeti ion lever, 21 the hammer shank, 22 the hammer which strikes the strings 14;, and 23 the back check. This mechanism it is to be noted is mounted in the front of the piano adjacent the key board.

The electro-magnetic playing mechanism comprises a plurality of actuating electromagnets 2 disposed within the body of a bar of magnetic material 25 which forms the back-bone of the mechanism, and is disposed flatwise in a horizontal plane parallel to the key board. The bar is longitudinally parallel to the line of the rear ends of the key levers. see Fig. 2. This bar is supported at its ends by two brackets 26 which are hinged at one of their ends 27 to the key bed 10 and r m0" b y sec red thereto by the other ends 28. Intermediate its ends, and approximately at its center, the bar 2-1 is supported by a lag screw 29 passing through it and en tering the bottom of the key bed.

Each element of the playing mechanism (see Fig. 4-) comprises one of the electromagnets 24;, an armature therefor 30, which is hinged at one end to the bottom of the rail, and an actuating shoe 31 connected to the armature by means of a saddle The saddle is of spring metal and. is connected to the armature at its hinged or bottom end. At its front end it is provided with two overhanging branches 33 to which the shoe 81 is pivoted by means of a pintle 34-. the top out the bar 25, while the feet hang over the rear side 01 the bar and are supported on a felted angle shaped restrail upheld. by U-shaped springs 36 secured to the bar 25 by adjusting screws 37 which pass through both branches of the U.

The rear ends of the shoes are rounded and adapted to engage the rotating power shaft or taper roll 38 carried in hearings in the brackets 26 which support the bar immediately to the rear of the ends of the shoes. \V hen the electro-magnets 2 are energized they draw their armatures inwardly and project the actuating shoes 31 into contact with the taper roll 38. A series of adjustments are provided for determining the time, pressure and extent of this contact. The first of these is embodied in a retractile spring 89 for each armature, and means for adjusting it. Springs 39 are lea fl springs secured to the rear ends of the armatures. hey are engaged at their ends by the eccentric hcads 40 of adjusting screws 4L1 passed through a stop rail 1-2 supported in fixed relation to the bar 25 and in front of it. By turning the screws t1 the springs 39 -may he flexed to the desired degr e and the desired tension placed upon the armatures 30. Adjustable steps 4-3 are also su 'iported by the stop rail es and provided with felted heads 4% which engage the front faces 0'! saddles 32 and limit the movement of the armatu res away from the magnets, and hence determine the air gap. Adjustment of the stops 43 also adjusts the normal space between the bottoms of the shoes 31 and the taper roll 38. A. third of the adjustments mentioned isa complex adjustment {1CCOIT1PllSllECl by an adjusting stud 45 which passes looselv through the saddles and is screw threaded through the armature 30. and is adapted to bear at its inner end against an armature stop rail 4-6 secured to the top of the bar (in their outer sides the screws 45 are provided with nuts 4-7 which. engage the saddles 32. The stop rail it; is formed with a plurality of tongues 48 at an angle to its main body which project one into each space between the arms 3 of the respective saddles and the shoes 31 The bodies of the shoes extend across connected therewith. By turning the nuts 47 on'the ends of the studs l4: without turning the studs, saddles 32 are adjusted with respect to the armatures 30, and anad ustment of the actuating shoes 31 secured to the saddles to and from the taper roll 32 is thus obtained. When this adjustment is made the air gaps of the electro-magnets are altered, but these are easily adjusted,

if necessary, by manipulation of the stops;

43' By turning the studs 43 an adjustment of the armatures with respect to the armature stop rail 4.6 is bad, and the inner position of the armatures is thereby determined, as is also the pressure with which the respective shoes 31 bear against the taper roll. The ends of the studs 43 are felted in order to avoid noise due to impact with the tongues 48 of the stop 46. By theuse of these several adjustments just described the time, pressure and extent of engagement of the respective shoes with the taper roll 48 may be regulated with great exactness and nicety. A number. of spring supports 36 are provided for the angular felted rest rail 45 for the toes of-the shoes, and by relative adjustment of these springs the shoes may be all positioned so that they normally rest with their toes in the same right line.

The elements of the playing mechanism are associated with the rear ends of the key levers of the piano by striker rods 49 which are hinged to the horizontal upper bodies of the actuating shoes 31 and engage at their upper ends extensions 50 of the rear ends of the levers. These striker rods are made in two parts connected together by sleeves 51. The upper part is screw-threaded into the sleeve (see Fig. 6) and provided with jam nuts 52 bearing upon the top of the sleeves for clamping the same with respect to the sleeve, after adjusting the overall length of the rods. The lower parts of these rods are swea'ted into the lower ends of the sleeves and areprovided with T-heads 53. These T-heads 53 are seated transversely of the upper bodies of the shoes 31 in felted sockets 54, and are normally held in these sockets by the bifurcated ends of leaf springs 55' secured to the shoes. The

striker rods may be readily disengaged by' removing them laterally to pull them from beneath the springs and the ends of the springs are upturned to facilitate their replacement by insertion beneath the springs.

The striker rods pass through holes 56 in the key bed and are guided at their upper ends by clips 57 (see Figs. 2 and 4) affixed to the upper side of the key bed.

. The extensions of the rear ends of the key levers are formed by, metallic clips which are felted on their under sides for engagement with the ends of the striker rods which are headed and rounded as shown. These clips are of the generaliformshown in Fig.

2, being somewhat Z-shaped. They are not, however, all of the same angularity, the engaging ends of the respective clips being ofi-set from the rear ends of the key levers varying distances. The reason for this is the fact that breaks are necessary at intervals in the rear ends of the key levers in order to accommodate the hammer action to the variation in distance between the strings of the instrument. This is especially necessary when over-stringing is done in the bass. The elements of the playing mecha-. nism constituted by the electro-magnets 24 and associated parts are evenly spaced from each end of the bar 25 toward the middle of the bar, this spacing in a playing mechanism which I have built for a piano of standard make being about nine-sixteenths of an inch. The ends of the keylevers are, therefore, extended and the ends of the extensions oif-set with respect to the rear ends of the key levers (see Figs. 2 and 3) in order to suit the playing mechanism having evenly spaced actuating elements for a grand piano in which there are breaks between the rear ends of the key levers. It is to be observed that in this embodiment there is a break between the regular spacing of the actuating elements of the mechanism adj acent the lag screw 29. This is provided for the obvious purpose of permitting the supporting lag screw to be passed through the bar. Instead of the. lag screw some other support might be used in the space between the actuating elements which is provided in The provision of this space small amount of power to operate the same from primary or storage batteries. I have, therefore, provided in connection with the damper mechanism of the piano a device for use in conjunction with the playing mechanism which materially decreases the power used, and in addition materially increases the rapidity of repetition possible. 58 are the damper levers, Fig. 1, which are pivoted at 59 to their supports. .60 are the damper rods connected with the individual dampers 61,. Just above each damper lever 58 is an electro-magnet 62 arranged to act on an armature 63 carried by the damper lever. Each armature is felted on its engaging face or provided with a leather covering in order to prevent noise during engagement. These magnets are connected respectively in parallel with the respective actuating magnets 24 of the playing mechanism, as clearly shown in Fig. 20. Secured to a support 64 and in operative relation to each damper rod 60 is a movable contact 65 coiiperating with a fixed contact 66, and these contacts are in series in each instance with the corresponding electro-magnet 24 of the playing mechanism. An adjustable collar 67 on each damper rod actuates the movable contact 65 when the dampers are raised to open the circuit of the electro-magnets 24 at these contacts.

The operation with the addition of this device is as follows: When contact is made bv one of the fingers 68 of the reader 69 (see Fig. 20) a circuit of one of the electromagnets 24: and a corresponding electromagnet 62 is closed. Immediately the actuating shoe of the electro-magnet 9A: is drawn to the power shaft 38 and the shoe is thrown upward thus actuating the key levels associated with the hammer action and through the key lever, the hammer to strike the string. Simultaneously the damper mecha nism is actuated to lift the damper from the string. By this movement the circuit of the energized electro-magnet 2 1 is broken at the corresponding contact 65, 66, by the upward movement of the damper. Immediately the actuating shoe which moved the parts returns to its normal position against the rest rail 35, and so does the actuated hammer of the hammer action. But the damper is held up by the action of electro-magnet 62 on its armature 63, and the circuit including the corresponding electroanagnet 24: is held open at contact 65, 66, until the contact of finger 68 with the reader 69 is broken. Upon the breaking of this contact electromagnet 62 is deenergized and permits the parts to return to their normal positions. Electro-magnet 62 may be made of very fine wire as it is required to exert but little power, and much power is therefore saved, as a comparatively great amount of power is required to operate the electro-magnets 24. Inasmuch as the actuating shoes drop immediately back to their normal position after actuation, they are always ready to strike a second time, and to strike successively the same note a number of times.

In this connection. I provide a second device for use when the device just described is not used, or for use in connection with it. This consists of a flange 70 depending from a bar 71 beneath the key bed and in the line of movement of the bottoms of the shoes. This bar is provided with a plurality of spring tongues 73 one for each shoe, and each adjustable by a set screw 74 which passes through the bar 71. The heels of the actuating shoes upon energization of the respective magnets at the extreme end of their upward throw engage these tongues, the tongues being so adjusted, preferably, that they are engaged by the heels of the shoes only when the toe is past the taper roll and the shoe has been moved bodily a slight distance toward the bar by its armature. \Vhenever the device first described is installed as a part of the playing mechanism, I prefer to omit the device last described. However, I may provide both of these devices in a single instrument and so adjust the one when the other is in operation that that one is out of operation. For instance, I may readily break the circuits of the magnets 62 .if it is desired to use the bar 71, or I may readily adjust the tongues 73 of the bar so that they do not engage if it is desired to use the magnetic mechanism associated with the dampers. Used at the same time as the damper device, the bar 71 and its contiguous parts act to prevent the armatures 30 from impinging on the magnet rail, and further simply act to hold the shoes up until the magnet-circuits are broken at contacts 6566.

Fig. 22 is a view of a form of bar in which the parts 73 are omitted, and heads 70 of wood, leather, or other similar material, are used on the screws.

To further the range of use of the playing mechanism and to attain the range of expression desirable, I divide the phrasing bar 16 up into sections 75 to 7 9 (see Fig. 7). These sections are supported by the ends of supporting levers pivoted at points 81, above the hammer action. The supporting levers 80 each comprise a main body 82 and a depending portion 83 at an angle to the main body portion which passes edgewise between the shanks 21 of the hammers of the action and engages the phrasing bar beneath the shanks. The sections of the phrasing bar are variously connected to these lovers. The section 75 is riveted to each of two supporting levers 80, see Fig. 7. The section 76 is hinged to the supporting lever 80 on the end of section 75; sections 76 and 77 adja cent are connected at their adjacent ends to a supporting lever 80 by a sliding connection of the pin and slot type (see Fig. 7); the sections 77 and 78 are similarly connected to a supporting lever 80 at their adjacent ends. The lever 78 is hinged to the supporting lever 80 after the manner of supporting lever 76 (see Fig. 10), and the section 79 is riveted to two adjusting supporting levers 80 as is section 75. IGfGlGTlCG to Fig. 12 will show that the end of section 77 which is not provided with a hinged joint which will determine its plane, is provided on one end with two sliding pin connections with the supporting lever 80 adjacent.

Associated with the end of each supporting lever on the other side of its pivot or fulcrum 81 from the phrasing bar 16 is a connecting rod 84: which passes in front of the hammer action between the key levers and through the key bed to a point beneath it. Beneath the key bed (see Fig. 13) each of the connecting rods 84 connects with an operating arm 85, associated with an operating'shaft. The two endmost connecting rods 84: at each end of the mechanism are connected in the one case to an operating shaft 86' and in the other case to an operating shaft 87, while the two intermediate "connecting rods 84: associated with the intermediate supporting levers 80 are connected one to an operatingshaft 88 and the other to an operating shaft 89. All of these operating shafts are journaled in brackets 90 beneath the frame. to the key bed at one end and to short arms 92 on the-shafts at the other end normally retain the phrasing bar in pianissimo position. Four levers 93, 9%, 95 and 96 associated with the shafts project forwardly to the front edge" of the key bed where they are provided with thumb and finger pieces 97 for convenient hand operation. These levers are each made in two parts a and b, the part.

a being loosely journaled-on the shaft and the 'part 5 being slidably connected therewith and extensible relatively thereto, so

that the levers may each be extended to the edge of the-key bedor pushed back out of the way beneath it at will. The part b engages at its inner end (seeFig. 1) a projection or short lever 98 fixedly'attached to the shaft and provided with an engaging lug 99. The adjacent ends of the parts I) of the levers 98 to 96 and the projections 98 from the shafts are correspondingly beveled so that when the parts I) are shoved inwardly the projections 98 are engaged, and the respective shafts to which they are attached are turned. By removing the screws 101, the

lever ends may be entirely removed.

The levers pass through a frame 100 by which they are guided in their upward and downward movements. By moving any one of the levers, the supporting lever or levers 80 of the phrasing bar are moved through the respective rods or'rod 8% and the corresponding sections of the phrasing bar adjusted. Thus the sections of the phrasing -bar maybe moved to occupy a number of positions. Four of these are shown in Figs. 1a to 17 and from these it should beevident that the tone of the instrument may be practically modified at will.

tionis graduated from one point to another as clearly shown, and by choosing suitable combinations of positions of the sections of the bar substantially all modulations of tone desired may behad, and the automatic playing mechanism may be made to simulate or approach'very closely to producing music of the quality produced by human touch.

Fig. 21 shows a modified form of phrasing lever, in which the two parts a and b are made readily separable as Well as adjustable,

by forming anopen ended slot in the end ofthe partb and attaching it to part a by Screws, as shown. By this provision the pushed in under the keyboard.

Spiral springs 91 secured Intermediate the ends of the phrasing bar the tone modulaleversmay readily be adjusted as to length,

and may as readily be removed without removing. the screws 101, instead of being VVhat'I claim is v I 1. The combination of sound-producing elements,'a hammer action, key levers, a key bed for said key levers, a magnet rail made of a single bar secured adjacent to the underside of said key bed including magnet coils located on the bar, actuating shoes actuated by said coils disposed adjacent to said coils and in close proximity to said bar, and

striker rods connected'by one of their ends with said shoes and detachable therefrom by a lateral movement, and extending up through said key bed, said rods having their other ends in position to strike and operate said key levers.

' 2. The combination of a casing, soundproducing elements including a hammer action and key levers contained therein, a frame work exterior to and below said casing and'hinged thereon at one side, means on the other side of the frame work for removably securing it to the casing, a magnet bar carried in said frame, including magnets supported by said bar, armatures for said magnets pivotally'mounted on said bar, actuating shoes each pivotally connected to an armature, and striker rods connected to said actuating shoes and extending into said casing in position to strike said key levers when the shoes are actuated, said striker rods being unconnected with the key levers.

3. The combination of a casing, a hammer action located therein, key levers for actuat ing said hammer action, striker rods for moving said key levers extending through the bottom of said casing, said key levers manually movable independently of said striker rods, said striker rods unattached to said key levers, mechanism for actuating casing to enable said frame work to swing down and away from the lower ends of said striker rods, and removable means for attachlng said frame work to said casing to hold said frame work normally against said casing'with said mechanism in operative connection with said striker rods.

4. The combination of a casing, soundproducing elements disposed within said casing, a hammer action l cated within said casing, key levers provided at their rear ends with clips extending indifferent directions, connections from said key levers to said hammer; action, striker rods engaging said clips, and means operated automati cally throughthe movement of a'music sheet for actuating said striker rods.

-5. \The-combination'of a hammer action,

key levers connected with said hamm r action for actuating the same, striker rods connected with said key levers and provided with T-shaped members, actuating shoes provided with openings for receiving said T-shaped members, leaf springs mounted upon said actuating shoes and provided with portions engaging said T-shaped members to yieldingly hold them connected to said actuating shoes, and means for actuating said shoes.

6. The combination of sound-producing mechanism, key levers, a casing containing said sound-producing mechanism, a magnet bar having a flat form disposed exterior to said casing and near the rear ends of the key levers, said magnet bar being provided with magnets mounted thereupon, armatures therefor, actuating shoes pivoted on said armatures, means for actuating said shoes, and connections between said shoes and the key levers for operating the key levers.

7. The combination of sound-producing elements, a hammer action, key levers, a plurality of actuating shoes each pivotally mounted at one of its ends and free at its other end, means disposed adjacent said other end for swinging the actuating shoe upon its pivotal support. electro-mognctic mechanism for moving said actuating shoes into frictional engagement with the swinging means, and striker rods each connected at one end with each actuating shoe and having its other end in position to operate a key lever. said kev levers being manuallv movable independently of said striker rods.

8. The combination of a magnet bar, means for supporting the same, a core, an armature pivotally mounted upon said magnet bar. an actuating shoe pivotally connected with said armature and movable thereby, a power shaft for engaging and swinging said actuating shoe when moved into engagement with said shaft by the said armature, a striker rod above and supported by said actuating shoe at a point between said power shaft and the pivotal connection of said actuating shoe with the armature, and a key lever movable independently of said striker rod but adjacent said striker rod to be moved thereby.

9. The combination of a casing, a hammer action located therein, key levers connected with said hammer action, a magnet bar having a fiat form and disposed parallel with the rear ends of said key levers, armatures hinged upon said magnet bar, actuating shoes pivotally mounted on the armatures and extending over the magnet bar, each shoe being provided with a portion extending. downwardly alongside of one edge of said magnet bar, a rest rail disposed adjacent said edge for limiting the travel of said actuating shoe in one direction, a power. shaft for swinging said shoe in the opposite direction, and operating means between said shoe and said key levers.

10. The combination of a casing, a haInmer action mounted therein, key levers for operating the hammer action, a key bed for said levers, a magnet bar having a substantially flat face and secured with said flat face adjacent and substantially parallel with the under side of said keybed under the rear ends of the key levers, said magnet bar including magnets, armatures carried by said magnet bar and movable by the magnets, said armatures extending slightly above the surface of said magnet bar, actuating shoes pivotally connected with the upper portions of said armatures, a power shaft disposed adjacent said actuating shoes adapted to engage and elevate the latter when said arma tures are attracted by said magnets, and striker rods supported by said shoes extending upwardly therefrom through the keybed and terminating adjacent to said key levers to actuate the same, said striker rods permitting the manual movement of said key levers independently of said striker rods.

11. The combination of a casing, a hammer action located therein, a magnet bar disposed adjacent to said casing and exterior thereto, said magnet bar including magnets, armatures pivotally mounted at one end on said magnet bar and controlled by the magnets, spring plates mounted upon said armatures at their pivotal ends and projecting at right-angles thereto, adjusting screws mounted in a fixed support and provided with eccentric heads for engaging said springs to vary the tension thereof, actuating shoes pivoted on said armatures and movable bodily thereby, a power shaft for swinging said actuating shoes when brought into frictional contact with said shaft, and connections from said actuating shoes extending into the casing for actuating said hammer action.

12. The combination ,of a casing, soundproducing elements, a hammer action, key levers mounted therein, actuating shoes for operating said key levers, striker rods sup ported by said actuating shoes extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the key levers for moving said levers, movable armatures on which said actuating shoes are pivotally mounted, means for adjusting the movements of said movable armatures to limit the travel of said actuating shoes, and a power shaft to be engaged by said actuating shoes when thus moved by said armatures.

13. The combination of a magnet bar with magnets carried thereby, arinatures movable relatively to said magnets, actuating shoes pivotally connected with said. armatures, the

bodies of said actuating shoes being disposed above said magnet bar, while their feet portions extend downwardly behind the bar, a rest rail for said actuating shoes,'resilient supports securedto the underside of said magnet bar andextending rearwardly therefrom to carry the rest rail, sound-producing elements, key levers, striker rods connected with said actuating shoes for moving the key levers,. and a hammer action including hammers to strike said sound-producing elements, actuated by said striker rods.

1a. In a piano, the combination of a cas ing, sound-producing elements, a hammer action, key levers for actuating said hammer action located within said casing, said casing comprising a keybed, a frame located without said casing and pivotedthereto atone side of said frame, means for removably se curing the other side of said frame to said casing, automatic playing mechanismsupported by said frame, and striker rods having a connection with said automatic playing mechanism disengagable by a lateral movement of the striker'rods, said striker rods extending up through said keybed into said casing unattached to said key levers and'in position to operate the key levers.

15. The combination of a casing, soundproducing elements within said casing, a flat magnet bar disposed flatwise beneath the underside of said casing, magnets formed on said magnet bar, armatures for said magnets mounted adjacent the front lower edge of said magnet bar, actuating shoes pivotally connected with said armatures and extending rearwardly over said magnet bar, a power shaft disposed adjacent to' the free ends of said actuating shoes and adapted to be engaged thereby when said actuating shoes are moved by said armatures, and striker rods for operating said hammeraction connected with said actuating shoes at points located between the ends thereof.

16. An electromagnetic automatic playing mechanism for pianos, comprising a magnet rail, magnets carried by said rail, armatures for said electromagnets, spring saddles on said armatures having parallel integral bearing arms, actuating shoes pivotally mounted in the arms of said saddle to be moved longitudinally, arotary power shaft for swinging the shoes, studs screw threaded through the armatures and passing through holes in said saddles, and nuts on said studs outside of the saddles by which the saddles may be moved with respect to said armatures to adjust the shoes toward and from the shaft.

17. An electromagnetic automatic playing mechanism for pianos, comprising a magnet rail, magnets carried by said rail, armatures for'said electro-magnets, spring saddles on said armatures, actuating shoes pivotally mounted in said saddles, a rotary power shaft for swinging the shoes, studs screw 'ust the en 'a 'ements of said studs with said J 23 D p 7 abutments.

18. An automatic electromagnetic playing mechanism for pianos, comprising a magnet rail, magnetscarried by said rail, armatures for said electro-magnets, actuating shoes connected with said armatures, and a spring supported rest'rail for said shoes in their normal rest posltion.

'19 An automatic electromagnetic playing mechanism'fo'r pianos, comprising a magnet rail, magnets carried by said rail, armatures for said electro-magnets, actuating shoes connected with said'arma tures, and a'rest rail for said shoes in their normal rest posi-' tion, and U-shaped bent springs which support said rest rall, andare secured to the side of said magnet rail by screws which pass through both branches of the U and en-' ter said rail.

20. In a piano, sound-producing elements, a hammer action, keys for operating said action, an automatic playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating members, and striker rods connected to said actuating elements and engaging said keys, said striker rods having portions sea tedin sockets on the actuating members, and resilient means for removably retaining said striker rods in said sockets.

21. In a piano, sound-producing elements, a hammer action, keys for actuating the hammer action, an automatic playing mechanism therefor comprising a plurality of actuating members, sockets transversely lo cated on thesame, striker rods having laterally extending heads seated in said sockets, forked resilient fingers for removably retaining said striker rods in said sockets, said striker rods also engaging said keys.

22. In a piano, sound-producing elements, a hammer action, means for operating the hammer action,- an automatic playing mechanism associated therewith, said mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating mem bers, striker rods connected to said actuating members and bearing on elements of said operating means, said striker-rods having T-headed lower ends seated in sockets on the actuating members, and spring retaining members which yieldingly hold said ends of the rods in the sockets and permit easy insorting thereof and removal thereof.

28. In a, piano, sound-producing elements,

a hammer action, actuating means for the hammer action, an automatic playing mechanism associated therewith, said mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating members, striker rods connected to said actuating members and engaging said actuating means, T-heads on the lower ends of said striker rods seated in sockets in the actuating members, and spring retaining, members comprising flat springs secured at one end to said actuating members and having a free end overlapping the T-heads of said rods to removably retain them in the sockets.

24. In a piano, sound-producing elements, a hammer action, operating means for the hammer action, an automatic playing mech anism associated therewith, said playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating members, and striker rods operatively connecting said actuating members and said operating means, said rods comprising a stem, a sleeve portion threaded on said stem, a T-head fixed on the sleeve portion, and means for locking fast the sleeve and rod portions after adjusting them with respect to each other.

25. In an automatic piano, a hammer action, keylevers operatively engaged there with and unevenly spaced at their rear ends, extensions of different lengths on the rear ends of said key levers offset therefrom, the free ends of which are evenly spaced, and a playing mechanism the elements of which are evenly spaced, and evenly spaced connections between said key lever extensions and the playing mechanism elements.

26. In combination, in an automatic piano, a hammer action, key levers operatively engaged therewith and unevenly spaced at their rear ends, a playing mechanism the elements of which are evenly spaced, and means connected to the key levers and ex tended therefrom in position to be engaged by the elements of the playing mechanism, said means projecting in different directions to accommodate the uneven spacing of the key levers.

27. In a grand piano, sound-producing elements, key levers, irregularly spaced at their rear ends, a playing mechanism comprising-a magnet rail containing a plurality of regularly spaced magnets, actuating members movable by said magnets for operating the key levers, and means including offsets from the rear ends-of said key levers alining with said magnets whereby the irregularly spaced key levers ends may be operated from the regularly spaced magnets of the playing mechanism.

28. In an automatic piano, in combination, a hammer action, a casing for said action, a magnet bar on the exterior of said casing, said magnet bar having a substantially flat face, said bar secured to the outer side of said casing, with said fiat face of said bar adjacent to and substantially parallel to the face of said casing, said bar having magnets, and connections between said magnets and said hammer action to actuate the same when said magnets are energized.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRVING B. SMITH.

Witnesses Gnoeen L. RUBICANE, BERNARD J. ARNDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressingith'e Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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