Abstract: A saxophone is equipped with a supporting system, and the supporting system assists a player in performance on the saxophone; the supporting system includes pressure sensors respectively adhered to the keys of the saxophone, torque motors provided in association with the keys for exerting assisting force on the keys and a controller for adjusting a driving signal to a certain amount corresponding to the pressure; since a conversion table is stored in the controller, the controller looks up the amount of driving current to be adjusted in the conversion table, and supplies the driving signal to the torque motor, whereby the keys are depressed by the total of finger force and assisting force.

Abstract: Drum hardware and drum secured thereon are preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier having a plurality of separate parts removable from each other and formed of a rigid plastic, light metal such as magnesium, aluminum or titanium. The removable hardware includes a removable back support member. The removable back support member consists of hardware or configuration that can be removed or securely attach to the carrier with or without tools. The back member may be adjustable in width using slotted holes, telescoping components or sliding members. The adjustment to the back support member can be performed by adjusting the shoulder straps. The back member may be secured to changeable and or adjustable shoulder straps.

Abstract: A music box comprising a blower unit and a flute unit. Each flute in the flute unit includes a mouth and a wind inlet hole for feeding air to the mouth and the wind inlet holes for feeding air to the flute are selectively opened/closed to produce a desired melody. Further, an air outflow hole is provided in a wind trunk of the blower unit and a disk having holes for cyclically opening/closing the hole is rotatably provided. Thus the pressure of wind fed to each flute changes at a predetermined interval of time. As a member for recording a melody, the following two methods are available. One method is a disk having protrusions for pressing the key members of the flute unit and another method is a film member which opens/closes the air inlet hole of the flute unit.

Abstract: An organ reed pipe shallot is constructed from solid metal bar stock cut to a predetermined axial length and having a tapered internal bore formed axially through the center of the bar stock. A side of the bar stock is planed and a slot is cut in the plane that extends through to the internal bore. An end plate is secured over one end of the bar stock adjacent the slot and covering the internal bore opening at that end of the bar stock.

Abstract: A musical instrument is disclosed which is capable of being operated in either of two different ways--through the use of a rotary record member, or through the manual manipulation of individual keys. The instrument disclosed includes a windchest used to supply air to either of two different principal valves, each of which is capable of being manipulated so as to set up resonance within an associated resonance chamber. Secondary valves are provided for varying the acoustically effective dimensions of the resonating chambers. All of the valves have actuators which extend into an area of the instrument capable of serving as a holder for the record member. When the record member is inserted in this holder and rotated cams on the record member engage the actuators so as to cause the production of a desired series of notes. Keys on the instrument are capable of being manually manipulated so as to cause the movement of levers into engagement with the actuators when no record member is present.

Abstract: A toy musical vehicle can be constructed within a simulated vehicle body so as to utilize a single motor to simultaneously drive and operate a music producing mechanism and the vehicle. The vehicle is driven by coupling the motor to wheels of the vehicle through the use of a conventional gearing arrangement. The music producing mechanism preferably includes a fan which supplies air under pressure to a wind chest coupled to the motor. This wind chest is utilized in conjunction with valve actuators and valves which control the release of air so as to create sound in a conventional manner. The valve actuators are normally biased outwardly from the wind chest by the pressure of the air within the wind chest so that followers on these actuators are in a position to be engaged by any of a plurality of cams formed so as to extend from the surface of a rotary record member. The periphery of such a record member is formed as a ring gear and mates with a spur gear driven by the motor through a drive train.