IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cecil Collard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1883.
<<
CECIL COLLARD of Oval Road, Camden Town in the County of Middlesex
'IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
"
The object of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient means for
preventing blocking in what are known as "ordinary sticker actions," and consists
in the adaptation to the action, of an escapement for the hopper fly from the sticker
lever.
To this end I attach to the underside of the sticker lever a cam or bevelled
abutment block which will move freely therewith and I fit the hopper fly with an;
adjustable escapement button adapted to come in contact with the upwardly moving
bevelled abutment block when the key is struck and thrust the hopper fly from
beneath the sticker lever at the proper moment.
This arrangement allows of the set off of the hammer from the string being
properly regulated, and effectually prevents all risk of blocking.
As it involves no change whatever in 'the construction or position of the adjacent;
parts, the improvement can be easily applied to pianos with sticker actions, at
present in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Cecil Collard in the Patent Office on the 23rd January 1884.
CECIL COLLARD of Oval Road Camden Town in the County of Middlesex
IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
"
The object of the present Invention is to provide simple and efficient means for
preventing blocking in what are known as "ordinary sticker actions" and consists
in the adaptation to the action, of an escapement for the hopper fly from the sticker
lever.
To this end I attach to the underside of the sticker lever a bevelled abutment
block which will move freely therewith, and I fit the hopper fly with an adjustable
escapement button adapted to come in contact with the upwardly moving bevelled
abutment block when the key. is struck and thrust back the hopper fly at the
proper moment.
This arrangement allows of the set off of the hammer from the string being
properly regulated, and effectually prevents all risk of blocking
In the accompanying drawing Fig: 1 is a side elevation of the action with my
improvement applied thereto, the parts being in their normal or quiescent position,
and Fig: 2 is a similar view of the action the key being depressed and the hopper
fly thrust back to allow of the proper set off of the hammer from the strings.
In these views a is the key carrying the hopper at its inner end, b is the hopper
fly bearing upon the underside of the sticker lever c which is hinged to the lever
rail in the usual manner.
Mounted on this sticker lever is the sticker d to which the hammer butt e is
attached in the usual manner, as is also the damper wire f.
Affixed to the underside of the sticker lever is a bevelled abutment block. c*
opposite which stands an adjustable escapement button 6*. The hopper fly is also
provided as usual with the means for its adjustment.
On depressing the key a the hopper will rise and carry up as usual the sticker d
thereby causing the hammer to advance and strike the strings in front thereof.
Immediately on the hammer delivering the blow, the escapement button b* will
come in contact with the bevelled abutment block c*, and being pressed upon by
this block the hopper fly will be thrust back into the position of Fig: 2-This will
necessitate the fall of the sticker d.and the withdrawal of the hammer from
contact with the strings.
Thus where otherwise the action would from damp or wear fail to give the proper
set off to the hammer the liability to block will be entirely removed.
As the application of the Invention involves no change whatever in the con-
struction or position of the adjacent parts it can be easily applied to Pianos with
sticker actions at present in use.
Having now setforth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Pianoforte
actions" and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim :-
The adaptation to Pianoforte actions constructed with a hopper, of an escapement
for the hopper fly, operating in the manner and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof I the said Cecil Collard have hereunto set my hand and
seal the twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.