Category:Melotrope

 Note: underlined by editor.

• "Melograph and Melotrope." in (1891) Universal Exposition Paris - Reports of the United States Commissioners, IV, p. 144−145
  "​ Carpentier (French section, gold medal, for this exhibit alone) exhibited in the class of musical instruments a set of instruments called melograph and melotrope. The object of the former is to make an accurate and permanent record of what is being played on a special piano. The object of the melotrope is to mechanically reproduce this music on any other piano from the record of the melograph or from duplicates of the same.  The melograph operates electrically as follows: A contact is secured to each key of piano; these are connected by wires to the melograph proper, which consists of a corresponding number of electro-magnets, operating a set of ink-writers, which record a series of parallel broken lines. The relative positions of the lines of this record, therefore, indicate the pitch of the notes, and the lengths of lines indicate the time or length of the note. For a range of three octabes, or thirty-seven notes, the record is a band of paper, about 4 to 5 inches wide, having room for thirty-seven parallel lines. This band of paper is made to pass through the melograph or ink-writer at an absolutely constant rate of speed by means of a small electric motor and an ingenious mechanical regulator. From this melograph record any number of duplicates are then made, in the form of a band of stiff, tough paper, with rectangular holes punched through them, corresponding in position and length to the marks on the original record.  These duplicates are sold in the market and are ready for use in the melotrope. The latter is a small rectangular box, placed over the keyboard of any piano; it is operated by a crank and fly wheel and strikes the keys by means of pins. The perforated band of paper is passed in at one end and out at the other. Its operation is purely mechanical, and therefore does not come within the scope of the present report. For a very good and fully illustrated description of the whole set of apparatus, see La Lumiere Electrique, Vol. xxvi, 1887, No. 53, p. 651. "
  • See File:Reports of the United States Commissioners to the Universal Exposition of 1889 at Paris (IA cu31924107177093).pdf
  • (1887). La Lumière électrique, xxvi (53): 651. ISSN 1155-052X.
• (1887-08-20). "The Melograph and Melotrope". Scientific American: Supplement 24: 9694-9695.

Patents

• US patent 371422, Jules Carpentier (Paris, France), "Mechanical Key-Board Player.", granted 1887-10-11  , filled 1887-05-28, pridate 1884-10-31 (France), 1885-06-10 (England), 1885-06-23 (Germany), 1885-10-27 (Austria-Hungary).
• US patent 389872, Jules Carpentier (Paris, France), "Machine for Perforating Music-Bands.", granted 1888-09-25  , filed 1887-06-27, pridate 1885-02-25 (France), 1887-05-17 (England).

Collections

• melotrope (primer quart segle XX, França). Museu de la Música [Inventory number: MDMB 977]. MIMO: musical instrument museums online.
  "​Mechanical instruments / Mechanical / Melotrope "
  "​Description:

  • Decoracions: caixa de fusta aplacada de fosc.
  • Mecanismes: maneta, 37 peces cilíndriques que accionen el teclat.
  • Lectura: pneumàtica.
  • Programes: una cinta perforada.

  No és un instrument musical complet; és un adaptador que, col.locat sobre un piano, n'acciona el teclat executant el programa prefixat a la cinta perforada ",
  "​Inscriptions: pintat al frontal ",
  "​Transcriptions: Melotrop ",
  "​Measurements:

  • alçada - Unit : mm - Value : 740
  • amplada - Unit : mm - Value : 165
  • alçada - Unit : mm - Value : 120

   "