Message.
Description mine Tastenharmonika.
The internal mechanism of the Tastenharmonika stopped long being a secret; since it admits indefs perhaps not yet generally is, and a closer description the same some of their readers to be interesting can do, so theile I you selbige along and attaches an illustration of this instrument.
The outside *} housing of the Tastenharmonifca has the shape of a roll writing cabinet. The bells are from the purest and weifsesten glass. The range of the tones is from the grofsen F to f, thus four Oktaven. The bells are nine and forty, about which middle (B) at the Hauptspindel (A), the Bafs - and these Kant bells however fastened to two tubes (C) sinef; turn around the Hauptspindel. At the end each of these tubes is firm a turntable (D), which averages a belt with that, broad over it strained tariff, to which down in the box lying spindle (E) fastened disk is connected.
This lower spindle rests with both ends or taps on thick cross ribs or carriers, those, in order to leave the tension of the belts or too strengthen, through iron
Screws more highly or lower to be placed can. At the left end of this spindle is appropriate and an almost 50 Pound heavy, bleiernes flywheel holding against 18 tariff in the diameter. At the right end of this spindle the crank (h) is, the bar (1), iron by a I, which after requiring more highly or more deeply be screwed can, to the footstep (k) is attached. This mobile footstep is fastened to the left end of the rack; on the third welfare of this kick 5 tariff is appropriate a broad strong belt, in form of a slipper; the Füfs which was in this slipper set both by low pressure, and by waiving with aufserordentlicher ease the whole machine in motion. This becomes umge in same Zeitmaafse turns, because however to the spindles and cases 3 different disks are attached by unequal diameter, then rotates the bells themselves in the unequal Zeitmaafse: indeed during itself the Bafsglocken once, which middle Theil something over twice turn, the these Kant bells are more three times umgedrehet than. The friction of the bells, which the clay/tone giebt, and would be very unequal to which during a simultaneous circulation the same, there the diameter of the bells so much | verschieden.ist, by that unequal circulation the same evenly and in a certain Verhältais is brought. The relationship of the disks at both spindles is:
upper II tariff 5 - 6. |
lower 5 tariff 12 - 6. I
All taps and mobile points lie on horn; into the same let in oil causes a gentle, easy and quiet course, also the horn is far more durable than metal, | only the taps must be finely polished, so that they do not cause an audible friction. The internal mechanism or structure, from which keyboard begun, consist of louder straight levers, which provide for the keys more accessible, than the otherwise usual only levers, which disturb the player by their sudden Anprellen not only in lecture, suitable for the pressure, but also occasionally the bells divide blow up. Behind the setting forward slidegate valve a mechanism is alike, in order to screw the keyboard more highly or more deeply, depending on it the attack, i.e. the contact of the bells by the keys erfodert.
Between the keyboard and waiters the structure the water drain (x) is, which of lead consists, attached. On the left side of the soil is a container for the water running off, which can be abgeschraubet and expenditure-emptied then.
The attack, which represents the place of the finger with the Tastenharmonika, consist of the common bath - or so-called wax sponges, which is to be prevented however from sand or the usual small sea shell fragments on the most careful gereiniget its mufs, as dabey all soiling. This completely thin cut sponge becomes over a small Polsterchen, or still better over a ungeleimten hat - felt strained, filled with Rosshaaren, and on which rear Theiie of the lever (g) fasten. Bey of the humidification which can be made with pure water mufs one guard to make such excessive; because the too much dampened sponge becomes too smooth, therefore no more a certain roughness or sharpness keeps, which carries the geschwinden and light requirement.
Both from the sketch A, when from that averages B, everyone, which unite term of the usual Harmonika's has, becomes, which can give weitern explanations themselves. This instrument described here can be played also by direct Betastung of the bells with the fingers, not be only forgotten mufs one after the play to wipe the glasses off purely.
Me some other Tastenharmonika's came to face, but almost all seemed it at good mechanical mechanism too
I are missing. From bey the the same noticed errors I state the only following: Erstlich are much too thick with some Harmonika's the bells. The oscillation is not only prevented by this excessive thickness, which the largest error of a Harmonika is, but also after besides the bells are covered inwendig with a multicolored Firniss, whereby they are only more blunted.
Secondly the kick at the same resembles a weber chair; , if with a Fufse the pressure happens, the other 8.bis 10 tariff is lifted up, whereby the player loses the equilibrium and its attention certainly repeatedly.
Thirdly the keys fall over a tariff deeply, therefore the sponge fastened to the end of the lever affects the bell more by a kind bruise than by a course; therefore the bells must be with such a mechanics however thick and strong, otherwise most would be mert with only one Sonate zertrüm, as this often taught the experience.
To Mr. Röllig in Vienna indisputably the honor of the first invention of the Tastenharmonika, the other giengen is entitled only on the course already broken away. Inventis facile est addere* and like probably the bells of its instrument at the firm spindle only einerlei movement aniiehmen, then selbige earns the preference/advantage nevertheless in comparison of other Tastenharmonika's, which are provided with übermäfsiger thickness of the bells.
In the Juny 1799.
Heinrich small,
off discharger. ord. Professor of the music
to königl. Hauptnatio
nalschute in Prejsburg.