Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 212
Scan 212
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
10 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 192. See the scan on archive.org.
1the line C C represents the air passage when all the pistons are pressed down; D is the additional tubing connected with the first piston; and E the additional tubing connected with the second piston.
3The action of the apparatus is as follows:—When either the first or second piston only is pressed down, the air passages are of the same length as in instruments of ordinary construction, but when either or both of those pistons is or are pressed down together with the third piston, then the air passage is lengthened by the additional length of tubing D or E, or both, thereby lengthening the air passage in inverse proportion to the number of vibrations of the required notes.
5Since the fingering of the instrument remains unchanged, the value of this arrangement cannot be over rated; and when applied to the larger instruments, in which the size and looseness of the embouchure enhances the difficulty of correction by means of the lips, its utility is especially evident. Euphonions and tubas thus constructed have been adopted for some years at the Royal Military School of Music, where the value of the system has been proved by the experience derived from constant use; and in orchestral works, the modern employment of the low notes of the tuba renders the four-valve compensating instruments peculiarly valuable.
7A device somewhat similar to that of Mr. Blaikley was patented in France by M. Sudre in 1881. The mechanism employed is, however, different, and consists in an arrangement by which the slides of the pistons are automatically lengthened. Improving upon this device, which was found of too delicate a nature, two supplementary tubes were designed of the requisite theoretical length required, when the 1st and 3rd, or 2nd and 3rd, or all three pistons, were used in combination; one or both of these additional tubes being automatically brought into connection with the air column thus formed.
9M. Victor Mahillon, of the Brussels Conservatoire, had been for some time endeavouring to procure a like result, and in 1886 he produced his piston regulateur, by which the air column produced by the depression of the first and third, or all three, pistons at the same time, was made of the requisite length. The fingering of the instrument remained unaltered; but it was necessary to bring the additional
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