US144148A - Improvement in sounding-plates for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

A. SCHO EN HUT.

Sou nding Plates for M usical Instruments.

Patented Oct. 28, 1873.

l 8- Sounding-Plato for Musical Instruments:-

Auum'r Suumsxuu'r l'hlludulphiu, lu. Applimu'uu lilcd October 2, 1871!.

The plums or plntr's are cut frmn rolled \mrdmn n! ho prnucr length, and then rapidly revolved, first \mh gmval and than with sawdust, to remove the scale but not the oulur skin of the planes.

I 0laim.-A sounding-strip consisting of wroughtiron treatul 1n the manner described.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SPIIOEXHUT, O]? PHILADELPHIA, 'II'IXXSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SOUNDlNG-PLATES FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming art of Letters Patent No. 144,118, dated October 28, 187. application filed October 2, 1873.

To all who: it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT SenoENnn'r, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Sounding-Strip for Musical Instruments, of

which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of musical instruments in which the notes are produced by striking strips of metal supported by bands, as, for instance, in toy pianos; the object of my invention being the preparation of strips of wrought-iron in such a manner that the sound they emit on being struck will be clear and distinct.

The strips are of the form shown in perspective, Figure 1, and in Fig. 2, which is a. cross section on the line 1. 2, Fig. 1.

After repeated experiments with diti'erent metals, I have found that strips cut from ordinary rolled bars of wrought-iron are, when properly prepared, especially applicable to iiistruments of this class. \Vhen cut from the crude bar, the strips, on being struck, give out a dull sound, owing to the presence of more or less scale, which always exists on newlyrolled iron bars in the condition of minute layers, portions only of which are incorporated with the solid metal. This laminated condition of the surface of the strip must necessarily impair the sound. On the other hand, the skin of the metal should be presewedthat is, so much of the outer skin as remains after re moving the scale; this skin being an essential part of and thoroughly incorporated with the metal of the strip, the integrity of which would be impaired on the removal of the skin by grinding or otherwise.

In order to produce the desired soundingstrips, 1 take a rolled bar of wrought-iron ot the desired width and thickness, and cut it into the proper lengths demanded by the character of the note which they have to emit when struck. 1 then place a number otthese strips and a mass of gravel in a cylinder, and revolve the latter until the scaly snrt'aee is removed and the clear skin ot' the metal exposed, after which, as a finishing process, I place the strips. with a. mass oi sawdust, in a vessel, and revolve the latter.

After the strips have been sul ieet'ed to this treatment, and have been applied to the instrument in the usual manner, they will, on being struck, give out clear, and distinct. and pleasing sounds.

I claim as my invention- A solunling-strip consisting of wrought-iron treated in the manner described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT StllOl lNllUl. \Yitnesses:

\VM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH.

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