US871916A - Combined manually and mechanically operated piano. - Google Patents

Description

No. 8'7l,9l6. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

' J. W. DARLEY, JB.

COMBINED MANUALLY AND MBGHANIOALLY OPERATBD PIANO.

APPLIGATION FILED sEPT.'11,1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NQ. 871,916, PATENTE Novi 25, 19o?,

` J. W. DANLEY, JR.

COMBINED MANUALLY AND MECHANIGALLY OPNRATND PIANO,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1l3 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEXT 3.

. PATENTED Nov. 26, 19o?.

No. 871,916.l

J. W.DARLEY, JE. COMBINED MANUALLY AND MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11.1905.

5 SH-EETS-SHEBT 4.

N0. 871,916. PATNNTND Nov. 26, 1907. J. W. DAR-LEY, JR. COMBINED MANUALLY AND 11111011111110111113 @B51111511 PIAN@ APPLICATION FILED SEPT.11,1905\ 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 mt" Mv .UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WM. KNABE & CO.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF` BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A COR- PORATION OF MARYLAND.

COMBINED MANUALLY AND MECHANICALLY OPERATED PIANO.

Specification o f Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26,11 907.

Application filed September 11. 1905. Serial No. 277,989.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jon'N W. DARLEY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Im- 'rovcments in Combined BIanually and Iechanicallyted Opera Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to bc a full, clear, and exact descriptionof thc invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to `which it apportains to make and use same.

The main object of this invention is-to improve the general construction and mechanlcl organization of combined manually-andpneumatically-operated pianos, having the appearance of ordinary u rights and played manually by lingering t e key-board, but containing au automatic player or pneumatic action-operating apparatus 'which is vcontrolled by admission of air through a tracker-bar transversed by n. perforated web or music-sheet located in the upper front of the case.

T hose imp ovements attain the follow ing' important eflects: (l.) a general simplification. and increased efficiency of construction and opera 'Lion of the combin ation of actions involved in themamnil and pneumatic players,

together with '.rovision for inde )endent adiustment in the action with respect to the key and with respect to the pneumatic striker or actuator; (2) structure and arrangement- ,\f the mech anisms y\\ hich compose the piano organimtioniu distinct divisions or groups of instrumeutalities properly united and combined, in suchmanner as to facilitate the/initial coi'istruction ,assemblage and adjustment ol thoinstrui'neni., and pcrmitrcmoval or sepa- 40 ration of parts without dismantling the entire instrument or derangement of therespective mechanisms or groups -of instru mentali ties (3) exposureol' the pianoforte- .action al. the front, and consequent conven- 4.5 icnce of access thereto, for adjustment, re-

pairs, or other purposes, without the usual interference or obstruction from the trackerbin' tubes or pipes; also disassociation of these pipes from the` keys, with resultant freedomfol action and exemption from accidental'fontact between the tubes and keylevers, well increased facilities for adjust-nient or other manipulations of thev mechanism; and compact grouping or banking of the tubes in a perfectly unobjectionable arrangement; together with various incidental benefits and advantages hereinafter appearing.

Without limitation to the particular illustrated construction, representing one preferred form or embodiment of my invention, which however is susceptible of modifications in respect to details, the said invention will hereinafter be first -fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and will then be more particularly pointed out and defined inthe aniiicxed claims.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of the interior construction of an instrument embodying my invention, the front ortion of the piano case being removed, s owing approximately the left-end half-portion of the music-roll frame, tracker-bar, pneumatic tubes or tracker-bar pipes, and action-rails and supporting brackets therefor, but not showing the piano-action back of the trackerbar pipes, excepting one element of the yaction associated with one key represented near the left of the figure.' Fig. 2 1u a vertical cross section through the instrument,

showing parts in elevation, this section being l taken near the right-hand end of the case and looking toward the left or opposite end. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of one of the lower.

outer action-rail brackets shown in Fig. 2.

vend and intermediate action-brackets at the right of the music-roll flame. Fi 6 is a detail plan view of the lower arm 0F the upper intermediate Aaction-Inail bracket shown in Fig. 5.- Fig. 7 is a detached view showing in front elevation the tracker-bar and u per group of air tubes or primar lengths o the tracker-bar pipes associatedt erewith. Fig. 8 is a detached View showing in front elevation the lower group of'air tubes or secondary lengths of the tracker-bur pipes, this figure showing the pro er juxtaposition of the said secondary lengt s of the pipes to the primary lengths shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 9 is a side view of the subject-matter of Fig, 7. Fig. 10 is a. side view of the sub'ectmatter of' Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a sectional ront view taken behind the music-rolll frame and For by the strikers 3 anism, mounted in a frame showing a portion of the action in front elevation.

A particular explanation of the illustrated construction is as follows z- The pianoforte-action is arranged as usual in the case 1 and is adapted to be actuated,` as hereinafter explained, either by the keys 2 of the pneumatics 4 to cause the hammers reeoiltroni the strings 6. ln the upper part of the case, preferably behind an opening or movable dooiwor panel in the front, is the pneumatic-eontrplling or music-sheet mech- 7, and having the well-known characteristics of the' tracker-bar 8 and a perforated web or music-sheet 9 adapted toltraverse the same 'for controlling admission et air to the duets of the trackerbar (Figs. 2land 5), the music-sheet being rolled upon the removable music-spool 10 and adapted in -"operation' to wind on to the take-up roll 11. Ulrom the tracker-bar 8 the pneumatic tubes or tracker-bar pipes 12-f-13, f

extend down to the wind-chest or chamber 14, containing the primary or controlling pneumatics (notl shown) and the secondary or operating pneumatics 4, which latter, when the instrument is played mechanically, are controlled by the primar or controlling pneumatics from the impu ses of, air admitted by the passage of the jnusic-sheet over the tracker-bar. It is understood of course that the'wind-chest or chamber 14 is in communication with any suitable wind-inducing a paratus, such' as the usual bellows operated by the performers feet, whichalso furnishes power for running the music-sheet, through `the agency of appropriate mechanism; all of\\vhich is so well known that speciiic representation and further explanation thereof are deemed unnecessary.

In view of the joint facilities for manual and mechanical playing, the pianoforte-action (one complete element of which isfrepresented in each Figs. 1, 2 and 5) is as a whole composed preferably of two correlated but distinct mechanisms, or what maybe termed two separate actions, an upper and a\ lower one. ese will be described in order.

The upper mechanism is the conventional piano-action, including the group of o )erative partsractuated by the key (or by tie pneumatic striker) tor producing the stroke upon the string and effecting recoil of the hammer. It comprises the hammer 5 and its associated devices, supported by the action-rail 16. and actuated as usual by its wippen, rociQer or under-lever 16, which is pivotally-attached to the lower side of the action -rail and receives its movements, transmit-ted from the key or pneumatic striker, through the medium of its actuatingrod 17.

'lhe lower mechanism comprises principally vthe said actuating-rod 17 of the wip- 5 to impinge upon and i pen, which corresponds to the'abstract in ordinary upright pianos.

rod 17 is vertically-dis osed close behind the vrear end of the key or otally-connected to and supported by levers or links 18 and 19, which are themselves pivotally-attaclied to and supported by a lower action-rail 20; the positions and lineal proportions of said links 18 and 19 being designed to maintain an approximately vertlcal up and down motion of the abstract or rey-lever 2, and is piv Said actuating'- vwippen-actuating rod while conforming or adapting it to the movements of those parts (the key-lever', pneumatic striker and wippen)which atect or are affected by it. At its upper end said actuating-rod has an adjustable head 21, shown screwedI upon a threaded stem and provided. with an annular series of small perforations to. receive an adjusting wire or and said rod. or abstract may rest directly upon the striker, as shown, without) rod which can be inserted' between adjacent elements of the action. at its 'top .when the instrument is played methe necessity of interposim'l,r an intermediary' p device or connection as in certain prior constructions. The key-lever 2 carrles atits rear end an upstanding adjustable capstanscrew 22, likewise shown provided with pervforations to permit of adjustment by means' Said capstan-scrcw takes of the upper linker lever 18, being preferably rounded and bearing against a cushion on the lower side of said lever, which extends slightly beyond its pivof a wire or rod. under the front end ota'l connection with the actuating-rod 17.-

By this means the actuating-rod is lifted or actuated by the rear end of the key-lever when the 'front end of the the performens finger. '[hus the piano-action maydqe actuated either manually 'from the .l\'eys, on mechanically 'from the pneumatics when brought into play by the windinducingI apparatus controlled by travel of the music-sheet over the tracker-bar. 'lhese two actuating agian-,ies are entirely independent of each othe`r,\ it being observed that the actuating-rod 17 iifpthe wippen is snp- )orted both by the rear end of the key-lever and by the strilier, but without positive connection .vitli either, and also without positive connection with the wippen. AliVhen the keyboard or manual is lingered, the operation of the instrumentis practically the same as in regular pianos, the wippen-aetnating rod 17 performing the function of the common ab being no positive connection lever and the pneumatic struct; there between the keykey `is depressed by matic strikers is etl'ected without 1 or bobbing up and down of the n in many combined manually nraljv played instruments to the of the performer; therefore 'the keg and me distrar t. s

mechanism here dese'ibed is well adapted' for incorporation' therewith of any suitable icans, for maintaining the front fs in their normal elevated pothe operation of the piano by the pneun apparatus, such for example the device illustrated and described in the application Messrs, Knabe & Mallabre, Scriai No. 203566.

The upper adjustable head 21 of the abstract oractuating-rod of the wippen allows regulation of tee operative length of the actuating-rod between the .wippen and the pneumatic striker, whi le the capstan-screw 22 allows regulation of the operative length between the key and the wippen, it being observed lt independent adjusting means vided, by the proper. manipularhich the accurate dispositions ary for )erfect action is read- A turt ier feature of advan- Aechanism described is that the tion between the piano action or i and the pneumatic rated at the rear en( of the he paris are of simple concasily capable of adjustment. ined, the upper and llower isions of the pianoforteits actua? apparatus ev while s structic i,

ac n :ir trately supported by their respect/P i al? 'ails l5 and. 20, which in turn are ind itiy mounted one above the other a; Sntudnally of the piano case by means f s "tracht-td branko Euch action- 'o outside or end two intermediate ngui shed as follows:

supported by its and intermedia-te 'on-rail by its outer d. in inieifliate brack- 25 and 2G rest -ocard The sevnd 2 are attached at .zth bemalt-frame of the sirens of the usual headed l through the upper lends of d, int-o the projecting studs The upper outside or end w. mrther :zupported by boli il the operation of the pian o-actionplaying,

sters or posts 30, shown screwed into and projecting u from the bed 29 of the keyoard. Sai posts or holsters pass through slots or openings 31 in the lower outside or end brackets 25, to permit free adjustment of the latter transversely of the key-board and said action-rails, itl being well understood y that such provision for adjustment is rac- tically essential in view of slight possible inaccuracies in the castings of the metal brackets. .The os'ts or holsters 30 are surmounted by bal s 32, and said balls engage in cups or sockets 33 formed or provided at the lower parts of the brackets 23, providing adjustable bearings therefor, the vertical ad'ustment being obtained by screwing the holsters up or down in the wood bottom below the key-board,the lower portions of the holsters being threaded for that pur ose. Proper disposition of the u per outsi e or end brackets 23 is thus affor ed by adjusting the holsters and with the balls 32 at their lower -parts and the screws 27 V.at their u per arts. The u per inside or` in'terme iate rackets 24, w 1ch it is remembered are attachedlfto the back-frame by their upper screws 27, are further supported at their lower parts by the subjacent lower intermediate brackets 26, whose tops are surmounted vley-balls 34, said balls engaging in cups or sockets 35 adjustably-attached to the upper' brackets 24 so as to accommodate adjustf ment of said subjacent' brackets 26 vtransversely of the key-board, corresponding to the similar adjustment of the lower outer or end brackets 25 before mentioned. Said cups 35 are shown formed at the lower ends of threaded stems or bolts 36 tapped or screwed through non-rotatable nuts 37, ad'- justable along the lower Varms of the upper brackets, and provided also with iam-nuts 38. The said non-rotatable nuts 37 are adjustable along slots therefor in the lower arms of the brackets 24, said slots extending transversely of the key-board and actionrails. As shown specifically, said nuts 37 have reduced olygonal ortions slidable in their aforesai slots. Tius it is observed that the cups 35 are capable of both vertical adjustment and horizontal adjustment transversely of the key-board and action-rails. Proper disposition of the upper intermediate brackets is thusv afforded by adjustment of their up er screws 27 and their lower cups 35. The oregoing 4explains the manner of mounting the upper and lower parts of the action. In constructing the piano, the lower action, whose rail 20 is attached to its outer and intermediate brackets 25 and 26, is first mounted in the instrument, its brackets being fastened on bed 29 of the keyboard in such position as to-locatejthe actu-i ating-rods 17 of the wippens in correct position `relative to the keys.I The upper action,l

whose rail `15 is likewiseattached to its brack-- I ets 23 and 24, is then mounted in the instrul nient, its outer brackets 23 being placed u on the bolsters 30, and its intermediate brac ets 24 upon the intermediate lower brackets 26, and the upper screws 27 `and also the balls and cups 32 and 35 being properly adjusted, to bring the mechanism of the upper division of the action into L :oper relation with the Akey and correlated mechanism of the lower division.

A feature el this invention is the arrangement of the pneumatic tubes or tracker-bar pipes which connect the tracker-bar with the automatic playing apparatus below the piano-action. 'lhese pipes and tubes are grouped and disposed in such manner as to expose practically the entire 'front of .the piano-action, providing ample access` for adjustment,repairs, &c., and disassociating the pipes from the pipes to the sides of the instrument before carrying them down to the pneumatics, with tlieconsequent increase of materials and complications of such an arrangement..

The pipes and associated mechanisms are further arranged in separate and detaehablvconnected groups or divisions, permitting the without necessitating ready removal of parts dismantling the instrumen other mechanisms, or derangement ofl the articular mechanism taken out. The means liy which these cllccts are attained will now l be described.

' urp they are composed of upper and lower sec- The lower intermediate action-brackets 26 have box1like portii'nis 39 therein, above the lower action-rail 20, said bo-xings providing narrow vertically-disposed openings therethrough transverse to the, `key-board ,and piane-action for passage of the pipes. From said .brackets 26 arms or extension- .bracksts 40 project forwardly and Vupwardly and are formed at their upper ends with angle-portions providing the vertical flanges 41v and horizontal flanges 42 shownv in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, Y

The music-roll lsupporting-frame A7 in 'the er front of the case carries the take-up roll 11, the bearings for-'the spindles of the removable ini1sici=spool 1l), and the trackerbar 8., Said frame rcsts'upon the horizontal langes 42 of the arms 4l), to which" the frame is screwed or otherwise rigidly but detachably secured. I The whole series of trackerbar pipes are divided into 'right-hand and le{t-liand groups or divisions, and further tiens, or primary; and secondary lengths, the secondary lengt S13 being continuationsfof the primary lengths 12. The primary lengths ITof the pipes, extending from the tracker-bar and communicating withQ t'lic respective ducts therein, are arranged vor d ivided ,into two laterally diverging branches,

which are carried in keys, without however. incurring the objection ot' extendlng the t',-interfering with` ably fastened to the therein registering air-.pipes being of lead or other banks to the oppositesides of the frame `7, and-1 they are lthen turned or deflected downward to blocks 43 having openings therethrough, in which the lower ends of said pipes are cemented or otherwise aflixed by air-tight joints. These blocks 43 are detachably clamped to subjacent blocks 44, the counterparts thereof, fiat packings 45 being preferablly inter osed to insure non-leakage of air n-the atter blocks'44, the upper ends of the two lower groups of tubes or secondary lengths of pipes 13 Aare cemented or otherwise affixed, the openings in the so that the `secondary pipes 13 constitute continuations of the primary pipes 12. .To

accommodate the number' of .pi es, .the

blocks 43 and 44 are preferably o long or elongated, arranged transversely of the keyboard, the pipes 12 being twisted from their peints of emergence from the frame 7 and flared or spread along the lengths of the blocks 43. The blocks 44 are screwed or otherwise detachably but rigidly alixed to the vertical ilanges41 of the arms 40. vThe secondary lengths of the pipes 13 are carried from the blocks 44 downwardly and rearwardly in compact clusters through vthe narrow boxings 39 in the brackets 26, passing thusv through the usual widened spaces left between adjacentelements of the pianoaction to accommodate the action-brackets, and they are thence carried downward .behind the lower action-rail 20 to a lower block 46, the lower vertical portions of the pipes being also spread out horizontally along ipes with the line of pneumatics extending ongitudinally of the case.

In order to avoid with the mechanism of the lower action, a horizontal rail 47 is shown supported above the action.- rail 20, resting thereupon by means of thelugs or legs 48, and the pipes are carriedv over andbehind this rail l'and thenvertically downward behind the action-rail -20 to the`. e'lo'n gated longitudinally-disposed bloek46, in whose duets or openings the lower ends` et said pipes are cemented orv otherwise af'lixed.` Said block 46 is detachwind-chest 14, the ducts with suitable conduits leadin f to the controlling pneumatics, operation o which under impulses of air Ladmitted through' the tracker-bar vby the traveling music-sheet actuates the sccondarv pneuniatics'4 which in turn operate by the strikers 3 the piano-action mechanically, when the wind-inducing' apparatus Ais worked. The stiff flexible materiahas is usual ininstruinents of this character, .the bending or.t\visting, of. the

pi es necessaryto this ai'rangein'ent'is easilyr 'ei ected. Thus by reference to Figs. 1, 7 and interference ofthe pipes blocks 43 and 44 registering,

the action in order to connect 'said'.

8,'it isappai'cnt that practically "thef-entii'e. u

front of the piano-'action is exposed, 'when-1130 the front panel of the piano case is removed, so that access for adjusting instruments and the like may easily be had. It is also observable that the mechanisms .in front of the piano-action are arranged-in separable ele-l ments, the upppr one of which comprises the frame 7 with. t e tracker-bar and other parts carried thereby and the pipes 12 and their connected blocks 43, while the lower element comprises the blocks 44 with their connected pipes and lowerI longitudinally-ar- Y rangedv block 46. The construction 'described also allows the piano-action pro er, that is the upper group of parts carriedp by the upper action-brackets and rail, to be removed without disturbing the pneumatic arrangement.

ln constructing the instrument, the whole action, comprising the lower and upper groupeJ `of devices, are first mounted in the case as bereinbefore explained, whereupon the lowerl section of pneumatic tubes 13 are placed in position, bolting or fixing their u per blocks 4.4 to the vertical fianges of t e arms 40 of brackets 26, and then the musicroll frame -7 with the tracker-bar and upper section of pi es 12 are located, screwing the frame 7 to t e horizontal flanges 42 o the arms 40 and bolting the apertured blocks 43 upon the subjacent blocks 44.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and esire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is :H-

l. In a combined manually and mechanically operated instrument, the .combination of a piano-action including the wippen thereof, a kt T-lever, a wippen-actuating rod vertically r isposed immediately behind the rear en'd of the key-lever and supported thereby, a 4pneumatic below the key-leve?, and a striker or lifter actuated thereby and arranged to operateon the foot of said rod below the key-lever.

2. In a combined manuall r and mechanically operated instrument, t e combination a piano-action including the wippen thereof, a key-lever, a wippen-actuating rod adjustable in length supportedby said keylever and operated thereby,v and a mechanic-1 ally operated striker arranged to operatej on and indepen ent means for adjustment of- Vthe point of engagement between the `l ey lever and said rod.

4. In a combined manually-and-mechnnicall'y-operated instrument, the combination of the rockerl o r `wippen of a piano-action,a vertically-movalle,y actuating-rod therefor, a key-lever, a mechanical striker, said. actuating-rod supported by said key-lever and operated either by the key-lever or by the striker, and a vertically-adjustable headat the upper end of said actuating-rod bearing under the wippen. 5. In a combined manually-and-mechanically-operated instrument, the combination of the rocker or wippen of a piano-action, a vertically-movable actuatin -rod therefor, a key-lever, a mechanical stri'er, said actuating-rod operated either by the key-lever or by the striker, and a vertically-adjustable cap or head at the upper end of said actuating-rod bearing under the Wippen and laterally provided with an annular series of apertures to receive adjusting tools. 6. In a combined manually-and-mechanically-operated instrument, the combination of a rocker or wippen of piano-action, a' verticall `-movable actuating-rod therefor, a keyever having an a( justable capstanA screw carried thereby, a mechanical striker, said actuating-rod bein Y operated from either said screw or the striker, and means independent of said capstan-screw for adiusting the length of said rod.

7. In a combined manually-and-mechanically-.operated instrument, the combination of a plano-action including the hammer and its wi pen with their associated devices, the same eing supported by an action-rail therefor, a secondary lower action-rail, a verticall -movable wippen-actuating rod and guiding links there or` pivotally-connecting said rod with the lower action-rail, the upper link being extended in front of 'its ivotal connection to said rod, a key-lever avin its rear end adapted to support the front en or extension of said upper link and thereby actuate said rod, and a mechanical striker operating on the lower' end of said rod.

8. In a combined manually-and-mechan-` ically-operated instrument, the combination of a piano-action including the hammer and its w1 pen withtheir associated devices, the same lieingv supported by an action-rail therefor, a secondary lower action-rail, a verticall -movable wip en-actuating rod and guiding links there or pivotally-eonnecting said rod with the lower action-rail, the upper link being extended in front of its pivotal' connection te said rod, a key-lever carring yat its rear end an adjustable screw w e takes under the front end or extension of said upper link, a mechanical striker operating o n the lower end of said rod, there belng no osl- `tive connection between said rod an v the key-lever or striker, and an adjustable head `or cap at the upper end of said rod bearing )under the wippen.

9. In a combined manuall and mechanieally operated instrument, t 1e combination of a key-lever, an adjustable capstan-screw carried thereby, a wippen-actuatmgrod sup-l ported by said screw, whereby said rod 1s liftable bythekey-lever, a mechanically-op-- erated striker operating on said rod, and an adjustable head on the upper 'end of said rod. l10. In a `combined manually and mechanlcally operated instrument, the combination 0f a key-lever, a wippen-actuatin rod vertically-disposed behind the rear en thereof, a lever connected to said ro'd and supported by said key-lever, whereby the said rod is operable by said key-lever, and a mechanicallyoperated striker operating on said rod.

11. In a combined manually and mechanicall operated instrument, the combination of a ey-lever, a wippen-actuatin rod vertically-disposed behind the rear en thereof, a supporting rail behind said rod, a link or lever ivotally connectin said rod and rail, the orward end of said Iever extending as a tongue past said rod and supported by said key-lever, and a mechanicall operated striker operating on the lower en of said rod below the key-lever.

12. AIn a combined manually and mechanically operated instrument, lthe combination of a piano-action, including two action-rails mounted `one above the other and a hammer and wippen'carried by the upper rail and a wippen-actuating rod connected to the lower rail, there being nou ositive connection between said rod. an( wi pen, a key-lever, means whereby sail ro is supported and liftable by the vrear end of the key-lever, and a mechanically-operated striker operating on said rod. f'

13. In a combined manually and mechanically operated instrument, the combination oan action comprising two superimposed mechanisms and action-rails therefor, the lower mechanism comprising a vertically-disposed actuating rod anddinks pivotall -connecting the same with the lower rail, t e upper mechanism comprising the hammer and wippen actuated by said rod, a ke -lever supporting said rod and operating t ereon, and a mechanically-operated striker operating on 'said rod, there being no positive connection between said rod and the wippen, key-lever or striker. l y

\ 14. In a combined manually and mechanically operated instrument, the combination of an action, comprising a plurality of adjacent elements or unitsan action supportino bracket, there being a relatively widene space between adjacent elements or units of t eact1on at the bracket, a tracker bar, a pneumatic playing apparatus and a group of tracker bar pipes connecting said trackerbar and apparatus, said group of ipes beingarranged in a narrow compact c uster and carried through said relatively widened space.

15. Inv a combined manually and -pneumatically-operated instrument, the combination of a piano-action, an action-supporting bracket interposed between adjacent elements of the action and having a boxing or passageway extending therethrough, a pneumatic playing apparatu a selective or pneumatic controlling mechanism 1n front of the action, and pneumatic tules orpipes extending therefrom through said boxmg\or passage in the bracket and thence tothe pneumatic playiny apparatus.,

16. In a combined manually-and-pneumatical'ly-operated instrument, the combination of a/piaiio-action, an action-supportlng bracket l interposed etw een adjacent elements'i' the action an having a boxing or passageway extending`\tv ierethrough and a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm, a pneumatic playing appara us below the keys and the action, a selective or pneumatic controlling mechanism in iront of the action supported by said arm, and pneumatic tubes or pipes extending therefrom in a cluster through said boxing or passage in the bracket and thence to the pneumatic playing apparatus.

17. In a combined manually-and-pneumatically-operated. instrumentrthe combination of a piarrdaction, action-brackets having passages `therein through the action, the manual keys, the pneumatic playing apparatus, a selective""or pneumatic controlling mechanism in front of the action, rality of pneumatic tubes orpipes extending therefrom to the pneumatics, said pipes being arranged in diverging or oppositely extending groups clustered and carried through said passages iria-,said action-brackets to the pneumatics. e l

18. In a combined manually-and-pneumatically-operated instrument, the combination of a piano-action, the manual ,keys and pneumatics, action-brackets having boxings or passages extending therethrough, 'and arms extending-forwardly from said brackets, a music-sheet apparatus or pneumatic se- 'lective mechanism supported by said arms and. having a 'plurality of pneumatic tubes extending in opposite groups which are clustered and carried through the boxings in said brackets and thence tothe pneumatics, said tubes being divided into` upper andlower or primary and secondary lengths whose conand a' plutiguous ends are aflixed in detachably-connected blocks with registering ducts or apertures, the blocks of one set of pipes being detachably-connected to the arms extending fromy said brackets.

19. In a combined matically-operated ins l tion oii a piano-actiomi the manual keys and pneumatics, action-brackets having boxings or passages extending therethrough, and arms extending upwardly and forw ardly from said brackets, a music-roll frame detachably-connected to said arms, a trackerbar carried thereby, a series of tracker-bar pipes extending from the tracker-bar in opposite or diverging groups to the neumatics, and said pipes being also divider into upper manually and pn eurument, the combina-,Av

f pneumatic-controlling apparatus, a

and'lower or primary and secondary lengths whose contiguous ends are. j'oined to detachably-connected blocks .or members having registering ducts, the blocks of one set oi' pipe .lengths being. detachabli-connected to 'said lng, arid a group of tracker-bar pipes extending through said passage in the bracket.

21. The combination of the key-leversand action, there being a relatively widened space between two adjacent elements thereof, a support therefor located in said vwidened space, a group of pneumatic pipes leading from said apparatus and carried in a compact cluster through` said space, and pneumatics connected with the res ective pipes.

22. The com ination of the manual keys and action, there being relative widened spaces therein at intermediate points, a pneumatic-controlling apparatus above the kevboard, supports t erefor located in said spaces, pneumaticsbelow the key-board, and plpes connecting said apparatus and pneumatics, said pipes being carried in compact groups through said spaces. i

23. The combination of a tracker-bar framea tracker-bar carried thereby, supporting standards for said frame, said standards' having passages therein, 'and trackerbar pi es extending from the tracker --bar throng said passages. l

24. The combination of a tracker-'bar frame, a tracker-bar carried thereby, 'supporting standards for said frame having passages therein, said frame being detachably mounted on said standards, primary lengths of tracker-bar pipes extending from said tracker-bar, and secondary lengths of trackerbar pipes arranged in said standards, the contiguous ends ofthe primary and4 secondary pipelengths beingV detachably-connected to- .ethen g 25. The combination with the key-levers and action, there. being relatively widened spaces therein, standards in said spaces mounted on the bottom below the key-board, a pneumatic-controlling mechanism supported by said standards, pneumatic pipes extending therefrom in groups through said spaces, and pneumatics connected with the respectlve pipes.

26. The combination with the key-levers and action, there being relatively widened spaces therein, standards in said spaces mounted on the bottom below the key-board, said standards having passages therein, a pneumatic-controlling apparatus supported A therefor having a boxing said bracket.l

leading' c pneumatics conby said standards, pipes' through the standards, and nected with said pipes.

27. The combination and action, there being spaces therein, standards mounted on the bottom beloH board, said standards having in, a pneumatic-controlling app tachably mounted on said stam primary pipe-lengths leading therefrom in diverging groups, secondary pipe-lengths arranged in said standards, the ccnl, ends of said pipe-lengths being dota connected, and neumatics with wh secondary pipe engths are respectively son nected.

2S. The combinationl of piai action comprising two superimposed nieesnisms carried by separate action--raiisand mounted one upon the other, tracker-bar in iront oi said action, and tracker :ipes diverging therefrom in two groups which carried in compact clusters over the lower action-rail through the lower mechanism ci' the action, the up er mechanism being detachable as a whole om the lower mechanism and being mounted thereon altcr assembling of the pipes. i

29. The combination ci a piano-action, a longitudinal action-rail, a supporting cket and group of trackerbar pipes extending through. said passage in the bracket.

30. The combination of a piano-action, e. keyboard bed, a bracket mounted. bed having a passage, and a group bar pipes extending tlnouglii said tracker-v 31. In an autopneuinatic instrument, the combination of the action comprising a series of closely'adjacent units, there being an intermediate widened space therein between two adjacent units, a tracker-bar in iront of the action, a series of' air-pipes connected to said tracker-bar and. carried in a narrow' compact cluster through said widened space, and a pneumatic playing apparatus with which said pipes are connected.

32. In an autopneumatic instrument, the combination of the action comprising a series of closely adjacent units,'a tracker-bar in front of the action, a series of pipes connected with said tracker-bar and extending therefrom in two diverging groups, there being intermediate widened spaces in the action. between adjacent elements thereof to afford passages for said groups of pipes, each group of pipes being arranged in a narrow'r compact cluster and as a whole carried through one of said widened spaces, and a neumatic playing'a paratus with which sai pipes are connecte after passing through said spaces.

33. In an autopneumatic instrument, the conibination.with the seriesloi adjacent units on said A passage in of the action, including the key-levers thereof,

of a neumatic playing apparatus below the keyevers, a pneumatic-controlling appara,-

`tus in front of the action, there being widened spaces between adjacent key-levers and units of the action at intermediate points of the series, and air-pipes connected with and extending 1n diverging. groups to opposite sides'of said controlling apparatus,

10' .said groups of pipes being respectively` arranged in narrow compact clusters extending downwardly in front of the action and earried through said widened spaces to the said playing apparatus.

. In testnnony whereof I-afiix my signature, 15

in presence of two witnesses. JOHN W. DARLEY, JR.

Witnesses:

E. A. D'oLB, CHARLES R. BOETTG-ER.

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