Abstract: An apparatus for marking slide positions on a conventional trombone having an inner hollow slide slidingly journalled in an outer hollow slide includes a magnet sensor mountable on the outer hollow slide for sensing proximity of a magnet mounted within the inner hollow slide. The magnet sensor may be first magnets mountable in longitudinally spaced apart slide positions on the outer hollow slide. A second magnet is mountable within the inner hollow slide. The magnet sensor indicates the proximity of the second magnet by feedback to a user sliding the outer hollow slide over the inner hollow slide.

Abstract: A production of tapered bent tube wherein a U-cup with a full opening is pressed to form from a brass plate by a primary mold. The two ends of the full opening of the U-cup are of different calibers. The U-cup is subjected to tempering treatment to eliminate its processing stress. An assembly forming mold is used to punch the fill opening of the U-cup to form a rough shape of tapered bent tube with two different calibers at two ends, and between the two ends with different calibers is a flattened part. The flattened part on the tapered bent tube is removed to form a tapered bent tube; then, the seam of the tapered bent tube is welded and smoothed by roller pressing process, to complete the two ends of different calibers.

Abstract: A pinky retaining device for a trumpet or other valved instrument, a preferred embodiment of which is laterally and vertically adjustable with respect to the valves and angularly oriented so as to accommodate the natural position and constrain the natural movements of the musician operator's pinky while playing the instrument.

Abstract: This application relates to various stepped pitch instruments crafted to a novel musical tuning system for the generated frequencies. As such, the tone selection devices are arranged to a distinct set of interval specifications when compared to the tone selection devices for a prior art instrument crafted to sound the common frequencies of 12 tone equal temperament. To generate the bicameral tones, the preferred tuning system utilizes two different series of Pythagorean perfect fifths separated by a known reference interval. Relative to 12 tone, the instant tuning system is primarily concerned both with improving the sour major and minor thirds and perfecting the slightly flat fifths. Substantially fewer tones per octave are used than the number required by standard just intonation. Various modifications to existing prior art instruments are described, as well as a novel enharmonic multitone keyboard.

Abstract: An adjustable receiver is provided for use on brass musical instruments. The adjustable receiver includes a barrel which is coupled to the end of the instrument leadpipe, and a receiving member which is telescopingly received within the barrel. Receiving member is configured to receive the instrument leadpipe. Receiving member is longitudinally movable relative to the barrel, such as through use of a threaded coupling.

Abstract: An acoustical reflector (10) formed by a pair of assembled panels (17, 18), each of which including one or more mouths (45) spaced from one another in ring-like fashion about a centrally disposed opening (27) for the reflector (10), the panels (17, 18) rotatably adjustable independently of one another. Each pair of mouths (45) between the panels (17, 18) cooperate to provide a channel (47) through the panels (17, 18) in the adjustability of the panels. Channel (47) is variable in its capacity for transmitting sound through the reflector (10) and for reflecting sound by utilizing the reflecting surface of one of the outer panel faces (either 21 or 22) with a portion of a facing surface (either 23 or 24) of the alternate panel to reflect back the sound to its source or instrument player's ear(s) for a determination of tonal blend, accurate pitch, or volume balance.

Abstract: An acoustical ring and bell sound system 10 for use with a variety 101, 102, 103 of musical wind instruments 100; wherein, the sound system comprises an acoustical ring element 21 and an acoustical bell element 31 dimensioned to releasably engage the proximal 104 and distal 105 ends of the musical instrument 100 for producing air turbulence control in the interior of the instrument 100.

Abstract: A rotary valve is provided for a brass instrument to produce brass sounds of different pitches by changing over a tube length of a resonance tube. Herein, a rotor is inserted in a valve casing. The valve casing has a cylindrical shape whose both ends are openings, wherein ports are formed on a periphery, while the rotor has a cylindrical shape whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than that of the valve casing, wherein two shaft portions respectively project from the end faces of the rotor as its integral parts, and change-over paths are formed on a periphery. An implantation bottom covers one opening of the valve casing, while an implantation upper cover covers another opening of the valve casing. The shaft portions of the rotor are rotatably supported by radial ball bearings respectively. A depression member is inserted between the implantation bottom and radial ball bearing to depress the rotor in its axial direction. An upper cover setscrew fixes the implantation upper cover to the valve casing.

Abstract: A low friction vented rotary valve for a brass instrument is disclosed comprising a partially circumferential member providing a low friction engagement with the rotary casing. The partially circumferential member has first, second and third apertures therein with a first tube connected between the first and second apertures and a second tube connected at one end of the circumferential member. The second tube has an arcuate collar at its other end for providing another low frictional surface engaging the rotor casing.

Abstract: A brass instrument having a mouthpiece connected by a pipe to a valved body which is in turn connected to an output bending and a bell thereby defining an air duct. The bell and the output bending are formed of separate and detachable parts. The brass instrument has an intermediate section between the output bending and the bell and a coupling member for detachably coupling the intermediate section to the output bending and to the bell respectively. The intermediate section has a plurality of subsections in telescopic relation to one another and parts for adjusting an overlap between the plurality of telescopic subsections so as to change a length of the intermediate section whereby to alter a tone of the instrument.

Abstract: An improvement to the tone and responsiveness of brass instruments is achieved by holding preshaped pieces of damping material, preferably a waxy, hot-melt adhesive, pressed against surfaces of the instrument tubing sections such as valve casings and tubing sections at particular locations, to reduce sympathetic vibrations of the instrument structure.

Abstract: A musical instrument warmer including a horn in combination with a cover for warming. A warming means is positioned around the horn for heating. The warming means is provided with an electrical power source for activation. Whereby, providing power to the warming means raises the temperature of the warming means for heating the valves when temperatures being below 32.degree. Fahrenheit. Lastly, the cover has a body member with a front side and a rear side. The body member is formed by attaching two layers of a fabric. The front side of the body member has a cone-like portion projecting outwardly. The body member is adapted to be removably mounted onto the horn when the heating means is positioned on the horn. The body member retains heat generated by the warming means therein, when the warming means is activated.

Abstract: A wind instrument is described which includes an elongated tubular body and a helical member in the tubular body extending longitudinally therein for inducing a helical airflow in the tubular body from air blown into the mouthpiece. A helical member is also described for insertion within a wind instrument to induce helical airflow through at least part of the instrument.

Abstract: An improvement to the tone and responsiveness of brass instruments is achieved by holding preshaped pieces of damping material, preferably a waxy, hot-melt adhesive, pressed against surfaces of the instrument tubing sections such as valve casings and tubing sections at particular locations, to reduce sympathetic vibrations of the instrument structure.

Abstract: A plurality of tubular members are incorporated in a wind instrument for forming an air passage, and each of the tubular members has a tubular portion and a guide portion larger in diameter than the tubular portion and rounding therefrom for forming a hollow space open to the inner space of the tubular portion, thereby preventing the external appearance of the wind instrument from residual electrolyte confined during a plating bath.

Abstract: A full-double French horn comprises a mouth piece, a front tube member, an intermediate tube network associated with valves, a rear tube member and a bell for defining a vibrative column of air, and the inner diameter of the intermediate tube network affects fortissimo sounds and low-pitched sounds, wherein the inner diameter of the intermediate tube network ranges from 12.8 millimeters to 13.5 millimeters so as to improve the fortissimo and low-pitched sounds without sacrifice of timbre and a good feeling in the blowing.

Abstract: A musical instrument which may be used to play a complete major scale without coordinated mouth and finger operations has a single mouthpiece, an outer tubing assembly or horn connected to the mouthpiece and terminating in a bell, and an inner horn assembly mounted within the outer horn. The inner horn assembly includes at least one inner horn having an open, upstream end located inside the outer horn and either an open or a closed downstream end adjacent the belled end of the outer horn. If open, the downstream end of the inner horn is either belled or tubular. The inner horn assembly preferably has four straight inner horns, each of which is closed at its distal end by an end cap, each inner horn being tuned to a pitch which is required to produce a required scale frequency of the outer horn and having a length substantially equal to one-fourth the wave length of the pitch to which it is tuned. A method of determining the resonant pitch of each inner horn is also included.

Abstract: A musical instrument which may be used to play a complete major scale without coordinated mouth and finger operations has a single mouthpiece, an outer tubing assembly or horn connected to the mouthpiece and terminating in a bell, and an inner tubing assembly or horn mounted concentrically within the outer horn. The inner horn has an open, upstream end located inside the outer horn and either an open or a closed downstream end projecting outwardly from the belled end of the outer horn. If open, the downstream end of the inner horn is either belled or tubular. The inner horn preferably is in the form of a straight tube which is closed at its outer end by a cap but may be opened or belled.

Abstract: A brass wind instrument is disclosed which has substantially the same range as a French Horn but has a forward facing bell for greater projection. Further, the bell is substantially that of a tenor trombone.The instrument includes a rotary valve for changing the key from an F-alto to a B-flat.The instrument includes a French Horn lead pipe.

Abstract: A detachable mouthpipe assembly for releasably attaching a mouthpipe having a reduced end portion to a musical instrument having a receiving aperture for receiving the reduced end portion. The detachable mouthpipe assembly includes a substantially U-shaped saddle member attached to the musical instrument and a swivel screw pivotally attached to the saddle member. A slotted arm member is attached to the mouthpipe end engagable with the swivel screw and saddle member.

Abstract: A heating attachment for the mouthpiece of a musical wind instrument for heating the mouthpiece during outdoor playing of the instrument in cold weather. The attachment includes a sleeve which is adapted to be mounted on the mouthpiece and which includes an electrical heating element. The attachment also includes a source of electrical power and a switch for selectively connecting the heating element to the source of electrical power.

Abstract: A musical wind instrument of the type in which the pitch of the note to be produced is initially created by a person blowing the instrument, the instrument being provided with at least one elongated tubular section forming a sound path with two ends. This section has twelve segments arranged in tandem, the length and diameter of each segment being progressively greater in the direction the sound travels through the section. The length of each segment corresponds to the wave length of a different note of a chromatic scale. In addition, the boundary between adjacent segments is formed by an abrupt change in diameter and the boundary between adjacent segments is made from a softer metal than the segment walls themselves.

Abstract: Each of seven modified trumpet tubes is connected by a series of tubular "Y" connections to a single, conventional mouthpiece. Each modified tube is similar to a conventional trumpet except that its three manually-operated finger valves and associated valve slides have been replaced by a single, generally U-shaped tubular slide, which is slidably mounted on the outer end of the usual loop which is formed in the trumpet tubing. The slides are of slightly different lengths, and each is adjusted so that the overall effective axial length of each trumpet tube (from the mouthpiece to its bell) is equal to one of the seven different tube lengths, which are required to produce the seven different semitones capable of being produced by a conventinal trumpet. The entire chromatic trumpet range can be played simply by applying proper lip vibrations to the mouthpiece.

Abstract: Wind instrument of the type with mouthpiece, single reed, double reed, lip, etc. . . , comprising a device for laterally perturbing the column of air, adapted to modify the volume of a given section of the column of air, and constituted by a piston slidable inside a body disposed laterally with respect to the column of air and issuing therein, the end of the piston which faces the column of air being displaceable due to a threaded assembly inside the body and being able to project out of said body by encroaching on the said column of air.

Abstract: A pitch adjuster for a valved brass instrument having a tuning slide crook for selectively operating the tuning slide crook between a normal position, a preselected inward position, and a preselected outward position, to raise or lower the note played. The pitch adjuster comprises a main rod mounted to the tuning slide crook and slideably mounted in a ring to the instrument. Stops on the rod limit the inward and outward movement of the rod and tuning slide crook to predetermined positions, by engaging the ring. The outer end of a spring is engaged on the rod and the inner end is engaged by a collar which is held from inward motion from the normal position, so that the spring is compressed when the rod and crook move inward and exerts an outward restorative force on the rod only when the rod is in inward from a normal position. An auxiliary rod is mounted on the inward side of the collar, parallel to the main rod.

Abstract: A method of constructing a trumpet or other brass instrument is disclosed wherein a zone of increased taper is formed on the cylindrical inner surface of the mouthpipe to provide an improved air column between the mouthpiece and valve sections of the instrument. The zone of increased taper is critically positioned along the length of the mouthpipe to coincide with the pressure maximum points of selected notes in the upper octave of the normal playing range of the instrument to yield a chromatic scale that is nominally true to desired pitch.

Abstract: A mouthpiece practice holder has a base which approximates the envelope of that portion of a brass instrument normally held by the left hand and supports a mouthpiece from a brass instrument for practice playing or buzzing. A mouthpiece rod is adjustably supported from the base by a guide and tightener assembly and a mouthpiece receiver attached to the end of the mouthpiece rod has a taper to slidably receive and retain the mouthpiece. Practice valves may be provided in the base so that the right hand may "finger" the note being played or buzzed as the left hand holds the base. A rimpiece holder supports only a rim from a mouthpiece and may be inserted into the mouthpiece receiver as a substitute for the mouthpiece to permit closer observation of the lips, etc. in relation to the mouthpiece rim as the rim is "buzzed". The guide and tightener assembly may be slightly modified and used to control the tuning of an instrument which is tuned from the mouthpipe or bell.