Mazzeo Clarinet Manual Transmission
April 3, 1968 R. MAZZEO 3,379,086 KEY MECHANISM FOR CLARINET Filed Oct. 19, 1965 United States Patent 0 3,379,086 KEY MECHANISM FOR CLARINET Rosario Mazzeo, Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. 19, 1965, Ser.
493,065 8 Claims. 84--382) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet including first, second and third finger closing tone holes left hand, an A tone hole, an Ab tone hole,.a thumb tone hole and a register tone hole, A and Ab keys axle supporting means for each of said A and Ab keys running in the same di rection providing a pivotal support for said A key closely adjacent said clarinet and a pivotal support for said Ab key substantially raised from and at the left hand side of the clarinet. In one form of the invention there is an A and Ab key supporting axle extending from between the Ab tone hole and first finger closing tone hole left hand diagonally and outwardly toward the upper end of the clarinet substantially parallel to the line of said A and Ab tone holes. The Ab key lever mounted on the upper and outer portion of said axle crosses over the longitudinally extending A key lever. In a second form of the invention a separate A key supporting axle is provided parallel to and overlying the Ab key supporting axle, both extending longitudinally of the clarinet interposed circumferentially between the line of the finger tone holes and a leftwardly off-set A tone hole. Contact elements on the respective A and Ab keys engage when the A key is pressed to raise the Ab key. The thumb tone hole covering key of the clarinet is provided with a thumb engaging plaque built up to provide a thumb engaging surface a substantial distance above the surface of the clarinet, contoured to the shape of the thumb tip, being sloped inwardly toward the upper end of the clarinet,.to substantially the level of the register key plaque engaging surface when pressed, thereby forming a substantial continuation of the thumb engaging surface of the register key plaque.
The present invention relates to improved key mechanism for cl-arinets, and more particularly to improved key mechanism operable by the forefinger and thumb of the left hand for playing notes at the upper end of the register. For the normal playin position of the hands on the clarinet the forefinger left hand is located over the first or F finger tone hole while the thumb passing under the instrument may be pressed against the thumb tone hole closing lever. When called upon to play the throat note A, the forefinger, left band, would normally be shifted upwardly along the clarinet a sufiicient distance so that the first joint of the finger is in a position to press the A key, which opens the A tone hole. The A key during its rocking movement strikes against and lifts the Ab key to open the Ab tone hole. When called upon to play Ab the upper portion of the forefinger left hand is pressed downwardly to press the Ab key. In order to press the register key the thumb is extended upwardly to overlie the adjacent register key thumb plaque.
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The movements of the forefinger left hand required for playing the A and Ab notes have been found to be somewhat awkward and difiicult of execution especially in rapid sequences. The conventional arrangement of the A and Ab keys wherein the keys are supported to turn on axles arranged at right angles to each other, has the further disadvantage that the movement of the Ab key by the A 3,379,086 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 'ice key is accompanied by a relative sliding movement between these keys producing friction which tends to slow the return movement of the keys under the pressure of their respective springs. The conventional arrangement of the thumb tone hole lever, and register key, also requires some dislocation in the position of the left hand as the thumb is shifted from one to another position in playing these keys.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved key mechanism for the A and Ab throat notes which will facilitate the playing of these notes by natural, easily executed, sharply distinguished positive movements of the forefinger left hand. Tajima Dgml By Pulse Edition X2 Maestro Tv more. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the A and Ab keys which will provide a more efficient arrangement of the axles relative to the sound producing holes, and of the finger plaques of said keys, so that the contact surfaces of said keys will correspond more accurately to the improved fingering called for by the forefinger left hand. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the thumb tone hole closing key and register key which will facilitate the rapid and precise operation of these keys by the thumb, left hand, without any substantial dislocation in the position of the left hand.
With these and other objects in view the several features of the invention will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a somewhat fragmentary top plan view of the upper joint of a clarinet illustrating particularly the A and Ab key mechanism embodying features of the invention; FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of substantially the upper joint as shown in FIG. 1, illustrating additionally a preferred arrangement of the thumb hole and register keys; FIG.
3 illustrates the A and Ab key mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 looking from the opposite side of the instrument; FIG. 4 is a section taken on a line 4-4 of FIG.
5 is a somewhat fragmentary top plan view of the upper joint of a clarinet illustrating a modified form of A and Ab key mechanism; FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the upper joint as parts shown in FIG.
5, but including the thumb hole and register keys as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive; FIG.
7 is a section taken on a line 7-7 of FIG. The invention is shown as embodied in a Boehm type clarinet similar to that illustrated, for example, in the United States patent to Mazzeo No. 2,867,146 for Clarinet dated Jan. The upper joint of the clarinet only is shown to illustrate improved key mechanism operated by the thumb and forefinger left hand, including particularly improved constructions and arrangements of the A and Ab keys, the thumb hole closing lever and the register key.
Referring to the drawing, the upper joint of a clarinet is indicated at 20 having formed therein the usual F, E, and D tone holes 22, 24, and 26 adapted to be closed by the first, second and third fingers respectively of the left hand. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the A tone hole 28 is aligned with the finger closed F, E, and D tone holes, and the Ab tone hole 30 is diagonally offset to the right side of the clarinet in accordance with the conventional location of said A and Ab tone holes. A novel and improved construction and arrangement of the key mechanism for sounding A and Ab is provided in which an A key 32 and an Ab key 34 are mounted in side-by-side relation to rotate about a common axis which extends diagonally across the upperside of the clarinet parallel to a line connecting the A and Ab tone holes. Pivotal support is provided for said A and Ab keys by means of an axle 36 carried at one end on a post 38 located about half Way between the Ab tone hole and the F finger tone hole and at its other end on a post 40 disposed leftwardly of the A tone hole. The A key 32 is mounted on the right hand or near end of the axle 36 as shown in FIG. 1 and is formed with a finger plaque 42 which extends lengthwise of the clarinet closely adjacent the F finger tone hole 22 forming a broad, rounded forefinger engaging surface, which is pressed by a rolling movement of the forefinger left hand which moves the first joint of the forefinger laterally and downwardly against said plaque surface.
The A key 32 is formed with a hole covering pad and lever 44 which extends longitudinally toward the upper end of the instrument. The Ab key is located on the left hand, or further portion of the axle 36 as shown in FIG. 1 and is formed with a finger plaque 46 which is similarly curved and forms a continuation of the A key finger plaque 42 along a diagonal which is parallel to the axle 36 but diverging sharply from the surface of the clarinet to be engaged by the crooked middle joint of the forefinger, left hand, when rolled laterally and downwardly to press position.
The Ab key is formed with a hole covering pad and lever 48 which extends transverseiy across the A lever 44, to be engaged and raised by the A lever 44 when the A key 32 is pressed. 10 Feet Super Stomper Download Itunes there. The A key 32 and Ab key 34 are normally held in hole closing position by tensioning springs 59, 52. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the portion of the Ab key finger plaque 46 engaged by the upper joint of the forefinger adjacent the palm of the hand is formed to project laterally and upwardly from the surface of the clarinet by an approximate /1 inch, thus making possible the pressing of the Ab key with a minimum dislocation of the hand. A rolling movement of the forefinger accompanied, at the most, by a slight straightening of the forefinger is sufllcient to actuate the Ab key. In order further to avoid unnecessary movement or deformation of the hand, especially in the playing of rapid passages, an improved construction of the thumb hole closing key and adjacent thumb actuated register key is provided which substantially reduces and simplifies the movement of the thumb required for actuating these keys. The register key 54 as best shown in FIG. 5, in the present construction is arranged to rock transversely about an axle 56 which extends lengthwise of the clarinet, and which is aligned with the axle 68 for the thumb hole closing key hereinafter described, being provided with a finger plaque 58, which extends lengthwise of the clarinet to a point closely adjacent the thumb tone hole 69, and which is sloped laterally so that the edge engaged by the tip portion of the thumb is projected inwardly toward the surface of the clarinet.
The register hole closing pad and lever 62 projects from the opposite side of the axle 56 to cooperate with a register tone hole 64 disposed in the right side of the upper joint adjacent the upper end thereof. A thumb tone hole closing key 66 is provided pivoted on an axle 63 extending lengthwise of the clarinet and having a tone hole closing pad and overlying thumb engaging plaque 7!), which is built up to a high level, and which is sloped lengthwise of the clarinet toward the adjacent register key thumb plaque 58 and transversely in a direction parallel to the transverse slope of the register key thumb plaque, so that the thumb engaging surface of the register key forms substantially a continuation of the thumb engaging surface of the thumb tone hole closing key. The register key is normally held closed with the thumb engaging plaque thereof raised Cir. 4 1 by a spring 72.
The thumb tone hole key 65 is held yieldably in open position by a spring 74. A principal advantage of the improved thumb tone hole key and register key construction above described, consists in the fact that the left hand, including the thumb, is allowed to assume a more normal position for the hand so that a relatively slight rolling movement only of the thumb is required to operate one or both of the register and the thumb tone hole keys as may be desired, and without any accompanying dislocation of the left hand from its optimum position. The motions required of the thumb are those for which the thumb is designed by nature, and may be accomplished without affecting the movements of the forefinger and adjacent second and third fingers, left hand, in the playing of the notes of the clarinet controlled by these fingers. The use of a substantially built up plaque 7% for the thumb hole closing key 66 has the advantage also of reducing to a minimum extent the pressing movement of the thumb required to close the thumb tone hole of FIGS.
5, 6, and 7 of the drawing illustrate a modified form of the invention in which a modified A key '78 and a modified Ab key fit} are mounted to turn on axles 82 and 84 respectively disposed lengthwise of the clarinet and in overlying relation. In this modification the Ab tone hole 30 occupies the conventional position offset to the right of the aligned F, E, and D finger tone holes. The A tone hole, here designated at 85, is however offset degrees to the left of the aligned F, E and D finger tone holes. The axles 82 and 84 are mounted one above the other on two posts 88 and 90 along a longitudinal line of the clarinet about 45 degrees to the left of the line of the finger tone holes 22, 24 and 2d. The A key 78 consists of a curved arm having a finger plaque 92 immediately adjacent and toward the upper end of the clarinet from the finger F tone hole 22, and a tone hole covering pad and lever 94 normally held closed by a spring 96.
The Ab key 88 supported on the outer axle 8 5 is formed with a transversely extending lever arm 93 and pad covering the Ab hole 30, and with a short outward projection carrying a finger plaque in the form of a long stem 1% running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the clarinet. Pressing of the A key 73 causes the Ab key 89 also to be actuated through mechanism which comprises an upward projection 102 from the hub of the A key '78 which engages a downward projection 104 formed on the hub of the Ab key 86. The construction illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, and in FIGS.
The Mazzeo system is a key system for the invented by in the 1950s, and is a modification of the. Exclusive mass-production rights were given to the company, although only 13,000 were made. [ ] Many are now in museums, but some are in private collections or can be found for sale. Selmer's 'Bundy' line of Resonite student instruments included a Mazzeo model. The differences between a Boehm system clarinet and a Mazzeo system clarinet are • The throat B ♭ using the A key and any one or combination of left-hand second or third finger or right-hand first, second, or third fingers to operate a linkage opening the third right-index-finger trill key, rather than using the inadequately vented register key to obtain that pitch; the same fingerings, minus A key, produce A; traditional () B ♭ and A fingerings are also available; • A left-hand-thumb plateau key; • A ringless bell with less flare. Full and modified Mazzeo clarinets feature • An E ♭/B ♭ key playable with the thumb, first, and third fingers and D ♭/A ♭ key on the left-hand side; • An articulated B ♭ to C ♯ keys; • An alternate left-hand A ♭/E ♭ key. References [ ].