a. anderson. tracker board attachment for pneumatic musical

No. 739 .134.
PATENTED SEPT. 15 ,
1903.
A. ANDERSON.
TRACKER BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1903.
,
H0 MODEL.
m: roams PETERS co. mmoumon wAsmmamn, n <2v
.
No. 7359,1554.
Patented September l5,
V
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
ALFRED ANDERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.
TRACKER-BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR'PNEUMATEC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 739,134, dated September 15, 1903.
Application ?led May 8, 1903. Serial No. 156,226. (No model.)
I
Similar letters refer to similar parts wher
Be it known that L'ALFRED ANDERSON, a ever they occur on the different parts of the
citizen of the United States, anda resident of drawings.
To all whom it ntcty concern:
IO
Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and
State of Massachusetts, have invented certain
new and useful Improvements in Tracker
Board Attachments for Pneumatic Musical
Instruments, of which the following is a speci
?cation.
This invention relates to an improved
In'Fig. 1 A represents the vacuum-cham 55
ber, in which are located the primary pneu
matics B. The vacuum-chamber communi
cates by ports 0 with the key-pneumatics D.
To the movable portion of the key-pneumatics
D are secured ?ngers E,- located over and
arranged to operate the piano-keys F, as is
usual in automatic musical-instrument play
sical-instrument players of that kind wherein ers. Each port 0 is normally closed bya
the music-playing mechanism is controlled by valve G, the stem g of which is connected
tracker-board attachment for automatic mu
with the corresponding primary pneumatic 65
The invention is particularly well adaptedv B, as shown, as is common in devices of this
for piano and organ players, but may to equal kind. From the vacuum-chamber A leadsa
a perforated music-sheet.
[5
advantage be used on other automatic mu- wind-passage II, connected to any suitable
sical-instrument players in which a perforated air-exhausting device, as usual. On the top
music-sheet is employed for controlling the of the vacuum-chamber A is secured the
tracker-board I, provided with a series of pas
music-playing mechanism.
The object of my improved'tracker-board at
sages i, communicating with the primary
'
tachment is to exclude dust from the tracker pneumatics B.
K is the music-sheet-holding roll, and L is
board channels, as well as from the primary
and other pneumatics. It also serves to pre the receiving-roll on which the music-sheet 75
25 vent the music-sheet from creasing or wrin M is wound as it is being drawn from the
.
\
kling while moving from one of the sheet-car roll K.
m m are perforations in the music-sheet
rying rolls to the other. It also serves to au
tomatically hold the sheet with proper fric
corresponding to the notes to be played and >
tion against the tracker-board, and thereby adapted to register with the tracker-board so.
p
preventing the unpleasant sizzling noise pro passages 11.
The above-described construction forms no
music-sheet is not held in proper frictional part of my present invention and is only shown
contact with the tracker-board ; and it also and described for the better understanding of
duced in instruments of this kind when the '
has for its object means for properly guiding the construction and operation of my tracker 85
attachment.
35 the music-sheet from one roll to the other dur board
My improved tracker - board attachment
ing the operation of the musical instrument.
It also acts as a frictional device to cause the consistsof a skeleton frame N, made of wood,
music-sheet to travel with a uniform speed metal, or other suitable material, having end
plates N’ N’, provided with pins or trunnions
when traveling over the tracker-bar.
The invention is carried out, as follows, ref n n, by ‘means of which said frame is loosely
erence being had to the accompanying draw pivoted in slots 19 p on the ‘guide-brackets
P P, which are preferably made forked and
ings, wherein—
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a provided with binder-screws P’ P’, by means
part of a piano-player for illustrating the ap of which said brackets are adj ustably secured 95
to the upper portion of the‘tracker-board ad
45 plication of my improved tracker-board at jacent to the opposite edges of the music
tachment. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the
perforated music-sheet and the tracker-board sheet, as shown.
In practice I prefer to provide the longitu
attachment. Fig. 3 is a detail front view of
said attachment. Fig. 4 is-,_a cross-section on dinal lower edges of the frame N with cush
0 O of suitable frictional material; but
50 the line a 4 shown in Fig. Stand Fig. 5 is an ions
this
is
not essential, as such lower edges may
end view of Fig. 3.
‘
if:
1
. 2
729,134
‘be made of wood, metal, or other suitable
What I wish to secure by Letters Patent
material without departing from the essence and claim is—
of inyinvehtion. Thesaid frameis arranged
1. In an automatic
so as to rest by gravity upon the music-sheet,
where it passes over and lies in contact with
10
player, the combination with atracker-board
and a perforated music-sheet, of a chamber
having an open bottom adapted to rest against
the outer end of the tracker-board, as shown.
The outer portion of the frameN is closed by the music-sheet, guide-brackets adjustably
a preferably transparent cover Q, so as to en
secured to the tracker-board and pivotally 50
able the operator to see the expression marks connected to said chamber, substantially as
on the music - sheet as it passes over the and for the purpose set forth.
tracker-board, and in practice I prefer to in
2. In an automatic musical - instrument
terpose about midway between said cover and player, the combination with a tracker-board,
the lower open end of the frame N a prefer and a perforated music-sheet of brackets ad
ably transparent diaphragm R, provided with justably secured to said tracker-board, a 55
perforations 'r, in register with the tracker chamber, pivotally connected to said brack
board perforations i, as shown, the object of ets, and having its outer end closed by a cover
which is to entirely deaden the sizzling noise Q substantially as and for the purpose set
produced by the music-sheet passing the vents
of the tracker-board.
20
;
musical - instrument 45
When the frame N is
forth.
I
3. In an automatic musical - instrument
hung in position during the use of thein player, the combination with a tracker-board
strument, as represented in Fig. 1, its lower and perforated music-sheet, of a chamber
edges 0 O are caused to rest with properfric
tional resistance upon the perforated music
having an open bottom adapted to rest on the
music-sheet, and having a cover Q, and in 65
termediate perforated diaphragm R, and a
tracker-board I, thus causing the music-sheet pivotal connection intermediate said chamber
" sheet M on opposite sides of the mouth of the
to be held in close contact with the mouth of
and tracker-board substantially as and for
the tracker-board, and thereby excluding the purpose set forth.
dust from the tracker~board channels, as well
4. In an automatic musical - instrument
as from the primary and other pneumatics. player, the combination with a tracker-board
30 By suchdevice the music-sheet is prevented
and a perforated music-sheet, of'guide-brack
from creasingor wrinkling while movingfrom ets adjustably secured on the tracker-board,
one roll to the other.
The music‘sheet as it and having pivotally connected to said brack
travels onward isproperly guided in the line ets a hollow frame or case open at its under
of its motion by means of the brackets PP, side and adapted to rest against the music
35 whereby the perforations in the music-sheet sheet between said brackets substantially as
are caused to properly register with the and for the purpose set forth.
tracker-board perforations. By the use of
In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig
such frame, which holds the perforated music nature inpresence of two witnesses.
sheet in close contact with the mouth of the
ALFRED ANDERSON.
tracker-board, the unpleasant sizzling noise
Witnesses:
produced in instruments of this kind is en
ALBAN ANDREN,
tirely obviated.
'
1
LAURITZ N. MOLLER.