US876060A - Device for illustrating the transposition of musical scales. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

L.-A. JAROS. DEVICE FOR ILLUSTRATING THE TRAN SPOSITION 0P MUSICAL SCALES.

APPLIGA IION FILED SEPT. 6, 1907.

LADISLAW A. .IAROS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR ILLUSTRATING THE TRANSPOSITION OF MUSICAL SCALES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed September 6. 1907. Berial No. 391.740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LADISLAW A. JAnos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 5 11018, have invented a new and useful Device for Illustrating the Transposition of Musical Scales, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for illustrating the transposition of musical scales, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and produce a device of this character which will be efficient and easy of operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention. or sacrificing any of its advanta es.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure '1, is a plan of the device after the removal of the case; Fig. 2, a front elevation of same; Fig. 3, an end elevation of same as far as the line b. 1).; Fig. 4, is an end-elevation partly sectional ofthe same from the line a. a.; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the relation of the sharps and flats on the lateral faces of the triangular prisms D, when the treble clef is used; Fig. 8, is a perspective view of the device when complete in case; Figs. 9, 10 and 11, show the relation of the sharps and flats on the lateral faces of the said triangular prisms D, when the bass clef is used; Fig. 12, to which I will refer hereafter denotes direction.

The mechanism is embodied in a rectangular case consisting of a top, bottom, sides, back and front. The front A, is made of glass or some other transparent material. That'portion of the front A, outside of the dotted lines (see 8) is made opaque and has upon it the musical staff B, and clef C. The ortion of the front within the dotted lines 15 left transparent behind which can be seen the series of triangular prisms D. Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which are mounted on vertical center shafts E, in the frame F, and so arranged that a lateral face of each prism D, rests against the front A.

The frame X is rigidly secured to the bottom of the case and has mounted upon it the frame F, by means of the arms Y, by virtue of which the said frame F, can move away from the front A, enough to allow the corners (See of the prisms D, to pass said front A, when i K the said prisms D, are rotated.

For the purpose of clearness I say the triangular prisms D, are in their normal position in Fig. 2. Thus in their normal position they present neither sharps nor flats. The faces which present themselves when all the triangular prisms are rotated from the said normal position one-third of a rotation in the direction of the arrow, (see Fig. 12) bear flats as shown in Fig. 7. Reading from left to right they are, B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat and G flat. And the faces that present themselves when the prisms are rotated from the said normal position one-third of a rotation in the opposite direction of the said arrow, bear sharps as shown in Fig. 6. Reading from left to right they are F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp, A sharp and E sharp.

The combinations which are presented on the staff B, in conjunction with the pointer II, and index plate U, are as follows. When the pointer H, is at O, neither sharps nor flats are presented; when at G, the first sharp counting from the left is presented (see Fig. 6); when at D, the first two sharps; whenat A, the first three sharps; when at E,the first four sharps; when at B, the first five sharps; and when at F sharp, all the sharps. Similarlywhen the pointer H is at F, the first flat counting from the left is presented (see Fig. 7); when at B flat, the first two flats; when at F flat, the first three flats; when at A flat, Elie first four flats; and when at D flat, all the ats.

The means for rotating the prisms D, and presenting the proper combinations of sharps and flats on the stafl B, in conformity with the pointer H, and index plate U, are as follows: The triangular prisms D, and the pinions I, are rigidly secured on their center shafts E. Said center shafts E, journal in the frame F. Each of the said pinions I, has its respective rack J, which is rigidly mounted on its respective bar K. Each bar K, has its corresponding bar L. Between each bar said corresponding bars.

K and its corresponding bar L, is a rocker arm M, which rocks loosely on its center N, and has at each extremity a slot 0, which fits loosely over the upward extending pins P. Said pins P, are rigidly secured in the said bars K, and L, respectively. The said bars K and L pass loosely through the frame at R, and slide laterally forward and backward therein. Thus when any of the bars K are pressed laterally from left to right far enough, they rotate their respective prisms D, from the said normal position, by means of said racks J and pinions I, until the faces which bear the sharps are presented. And when any of the bars L are pressed laterally from left to right far enough, they rotate their respective prisms D, from the said normal position, by means of said pins P, rocker arms M, bars K, racks J, and pinions I, until the faces which bear the flats are presented.

To operate the bars K and L, I have the pointer H, and the plates S and S, rigidly secured on the shaft T. The said shaft T, passes loosely through the index plate, U, and the frame F, and slides laterally forward and backward therein thus causing the said plates S and S to operate the bars K and L. Thus when the pointer H is turned to register with the desired keynote, the plates S and S will register with corresponding bars K or L and if the pointer H is then pressed inward, the plate S will move laterally to the right the The plate S is shaped the same as the plate S and its duty is to bring the said operated bars back into their normal position, when the pointer H is pulled outward. In other words, the hiward motion of the pointer H, shaft T and late S moves certain of the bars K or L from their normal position laterally to the right; and the outward motion of the pointer H, shaft T and plate S moves the said certain bars back into their normal position. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the shape of the said plates S and S is such that when the pointer H is at C, neither the bars K nor L will be operated; when at F, the lowest bar L will be operated; when at B flat, the lowest two bars L will be operated; when at F flat, the lowest three bars L will be operated; and so forth. Similarly when the pointer H, is at G, the lowest bar K will be operated; when at D, the lowest two bars K, will be operated; when at A, the lowest three bars K, will be operated and so forth.

The pointer H, has rigidly secured thereto the pin V, which enters the corresponding holes IV, in the index plate U (see Figs. 2 and 3) when the said pointer H is pressed inward, and prevents the shaft T, from rotating.

To illustrate the musical scales in the bass clef, I change the relation of the sharps on the faces of the triangular prisms D, to that shown in Fig. 9 and the relation of the flats to that shown in Fig. 10; I alter the trans parent portion of the front A, enough to make all the sharps and flats visible; when presented, and put a bass clef in place of the treble clef O. (See Fig. 8.)

Claims.

1. I11 a device of the class described, a case having a front made of glass or some other transparent material, a portion of the said front opaque and upon the said opaque portion the representation of a musical staff and clef, a series of triangular prisms visible through said transparent front, sharps and flats on the lateral faces of the said triangular prisms, transverse lines across the said faces of the triangular prisms to coincide with lines of staff on front of case, an index plate and pointer placed on the outside of said case, and means for rotating the triangular prisms so as to display signatures on the said staff in conformity with the said pointer and index plate.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a case having a musical staff and a clef on the face thereof, an index plate, and a pointer suitably placed on the outside of said case, and a series of triangular prisms having sharps and flats on the faces, thereof, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the class described, a series of triangular prisms, sharps and flats on the faces thereof, shafts supporting said triangular prisms in the frame, pinions secured on said shafts, racks in gear with said pinions, bars for actuating said racks, rocker arms for oscillating said bars and means for operating said bars substantially as specified.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a case having a musical staff and clef on the face thereof, an index plate, designating characters of the muscial scales on the face of said index plate, an index pointer, and means for displaying signatures relatively to the said staff in conformity with the said index plate and pointer.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with a case having a musical staff and clef on the face thereof an index plate designating characters of the musical" scales on the face of said index plate, an index pointer, a shaft rigidly secured to said pointer members rigidly secured 011 said shaft, bars to be operated by said members, racks rigidly secured on said bars, pinions in gear with said racks, center shafts rigidly secured in said pinions and signature prisms rigidly secured on said center shafts.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a case having a musical staff and clef on the face thereof, a series of triangular prisms, sharps and flats on the faces of said prisms, a frame, shafts supporting said prisms in said frame, means for operating said shafts, rocking-arms for moving said two subscribing Witnesses, this 4th day of frame away from said face, pins jointing said September, 1907, at Chicago, Illinois.

rocking arms with said frame, a base frame, and pins jointing said rocking arms and said LADISLAW JAROS 5 base frame. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof, I have signed my OTAKAR J. BRABEC, name to this specification in the presence of MAX SoHULz.

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