US1770966A - Reed for wind musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1930. p ARTHUR 1,770,966

- REED FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 30, 1924 Hal Patented July 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTVOFFICE PAUL ARTHUR, F ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO FRANK BOLTON & OO., OI'

ELKHORN, WISCONSIN; A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS REED FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed July 30,

This invention relates to reeds for wind instruments, such as saxophones, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, musettes, and others of the type employing a reed to produce vibration.

The object of the invention is to provide reedswhich shall be of more uniform character than heretofore produced, which shall be impervious to moisture, which shall have long life, which shall produce uniform tone effects throughout the period of their life, and which shall be of improved construction and operation.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reed embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a saxophone mouth thereon.

The reed 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1, has

5 a flat under face 11 and a rounded upper face 12 at one end. The upper face is gradually reduced and flattened to produce a thin vibrating tongue 13 at the opposite end. Because of the nature of the material used "the reed 39 may be readily made in any desired shape and thickness and the characteristics of the reed may be kept uniform for an number manufactured.

In Fig. 2 the numeral 14 designates a saxophone mouthpiece having the reed 10 secured thereto by a band 15 and clamping screws 16.

Heretofore reeds have commonly been made of bamboo by cutting the same into proper shape. It will be readily apparent that this material and method of manufacture does not lend itself to uniformity of product and requires more or less skill in its manufacture.

Moreover, the material is such that it absorbs moisture and so loses its efiiciency.

The present invention contemplates the manufacture of reeds from a phenolic compound. It has been found that phenolic compounds when shaped to form a reed will produce the desired vibration and will give uniform improved tone qualities. The material piece showing the reed in place,

1924. swarm. 129,021.

may be worked by any of the usual processes for handling material of this nature. By

employing a molding operation for producing the reeds, the reeds may be produced in any numbers, all of the reeds being of the same uniform quality. Because the material is one which can be molded it will apparent that there is practically no limit to the shapes and proportions in which the reeds may be manufactured. This, of course, is not true of bamboo reeds where the grain and thickness of material available limits'the size, sha e, and proportion of the reeds. material is not absorptive of moisture it will maintain its uniform quality for an indefinite period. It has been found that in some cases it may be desirable to add to the material before molded, fibrous substances, such as silk or wood fibers. to decrease the brittleness of the finished product. It will be apparent that any thread-like material may be used for this purose.

p Another advantage of the henolic compound for the manufacture of reeds is that suitable coloring matter may be added or the material treated in any suitable manner to produce any desired color Heretofore it has been necessary to permit the reed to retain its nature color since painting or otherwise coloring bamboo is impractical because the reed must be taken into the mouth of the player. In the manufacture of the reed the phenolic compound while soft may have suitable fibrous material and coloring matter mixed therewith, after which the material may be molded into proper shape and permitted to harden.

I claim 1. A reed for wind musical instruments constructed entirely of a phenolic compound moulded to form a relatively thick body portion and a thin vibratory tongue at one end.

2. A reed for wind musical instruments comprising a phenolic compound having a relatively small amount of fibrous material incorporated therein.

3. A reed for wind musical instruments comprising a phenolic compound having a relatively small amount of fibrous material incorporated therein and moulded into a body Since the p enolic portion having a relatively thin tongue at one end thereof.

4. A reed for wind musical instruments comprising a phenolic compound having fibrous material and coloring matter incor-' porated therein and moulded into a body portion having a vibratory tongue at one 'end thereof.

5. A reed for wind musical instruments constructed entirely of a phenolic compound moulded to the desired form.

.In testimony whereof I have si ed my name to this specification on this 18t day of July, A.-D. 1924. PAUL ARTHUR.

Images