IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Greiner, of 57, Wells Street,
St. Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, Pianoforte Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 3rd April 1860, and dated the 4th October 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Greiner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th October 1859.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK GREINER, of 57, Wells Street, St. Marylebone, in the
County of Middlesex, Pianoforte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES," to be
as follows:-
The object of the first part of this Invention is to supply the means of a
more facile and certain method of adjusting the tension of the strings to any
desired grade of tune, and also to ensure a more permanent fixedness in such
tune. This I propose to effect by means of using a series of metal bars, of
graduated lengths, one of which bars acts upon one string, which is doubled
round a pin in one end of each, the two halves of the string forming one
unison, and by a screw and nut upon the opposite end of each bar the two
halves of the one string may be drawn up to pitch by one action of the screw
nut; and as the string is doubled round a pin at the other end of the bar, that
pin is made to move as the means of adjusting the two halves of the string into
unison, and thus the unisons are obtained with accuracy and correctly as to
tune. And by means of using these bars as the method of tuning each choir

page_text: of the instrument by one action, I am also enabled to dispense with the bridge
which has hitherto been used for the purpose of supporting the strings at some
distance from the wrest pins, and thereby I obtain an equal degree of tension
throughout the whole length of each string, as I find that the two portions of
a string, divided by the bridge, are never in the same state of tension in con-
sequence of the friction arising from its pressure upon this bridge, and that
when the instrument is used this friction is eased by the vibration, and then
the two parts adjust themselves to equal tension, but at the same time the tune
of the main part of the string is raised or reduced in pitch, and thus the
instrument works itself out of tune.
The second object of my Invention is to brase the sound board of the piano-
forte by means of strings or rods at traverse angles to the grain and joinings of
the wood of which it is composed; these rods or strings I propose to fix to the
soundboard by one end at certain intervals, and act upon them at the other
end by means of a fixed eye and a screw nut. The advantages of so applying
such rods or strings with screw nuts are, that a command can be so obtained of
the state of the compression of the wood at all times, whereby the solidity.and
density of it may be adjusted, and the tone of the instrument improved and
preserved.
The third part of my Invention consists of a method of combining the means
of a performer upon the pianoforte obtaining the pedal sounds in a similar
manner to the organ, so that pedal organ music may be practised upon the
piano. This I propose to carry out by placing one string for each pedal note
required in a frame, in the manner of a harp, and connecting that frame with
an ordinary set of organ pedals to be placed under the performer's feet, the
same as with the organ, and the pedals will be made to act upon the strings
by means of levers fixed at angles perpendicular to the pedal levers, and with
hooks upon the upper ends placed conveniently to act upon the strings by the
action of the feet in a way similar to that in which the finger acts upon a
barp string.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Frederick Greiner in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FREDERICK GREINER, of 57, Well Street, St. Marylebone, in the County of
Middlesex, Pianoforte Maker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Frederick Greiner, Her special licence that I, the said George
Frederick Greiner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Frederick Greiner, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Frederick Greiner, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Frederick Greiner, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say) :-
The object of the first part of this Invention is to supply the means of a
more facile and certain method of adjusting the tension of the strings to any
desired grade of tune, and also to ensure a more permanent fixedness in such
tune. This I propose to effect by means of using a series of metal bars of
graduated lengths, one of which bars acts upon one string, which is doubled
round a pin in one end of each, the two halves of the string forming one
unison, and by a screw and nut upon the opposite end of cach bar the two
halves of the one string may be drawn up to pitch by one action of the screw
nut; and as the string is doubled round a pin at the other end of the bar, that
pin is made to move as the means of adjusting the two halves of the string
into unison, and thus the unisons are obtained with accuracy, and correctly as
to tune. And by means of using these bars as the method of tuning each
choir of the instrument by one action, I am also enabled to dispense with the
bridge which has hitherto been used for the purpose of supporting the strings
at some distance from the wrest pins, and thereby I obtain an equal degree of
tension throughout the whole length of each string, as I find that the two
portions of a string divided by the bridge are never in the same state of

page_text: tension in consequence of the friction arising from its pressure upon this
bridge, and that when the instrument is used this friction is eased by the
vibration, and then the two parts adjust themselves to equal tension, but at
the same time the tune of the main part of the string is raised or reduced in
pitch, and thus the instrument works itself out of tune.
The second object of my Invention is to brace the soundboard of the piano-
forte by means of strings or rods at transverse angles to the grain and joinings
of the wood of which it is composed; these rods or strings I propose to fix to
the soundboard bars by one end, at certain intervals, and act upon them at the
other end by means of a fixed eye and a screw nut. The advantages of so
applying such rods or strings with screw nuts are that a command can be so
obtained of the state of the compression of the wood at all times, whereby the
solidity and density of it may be adjusted, and the tone of the instrument
improved and preserved.
The third part of my Invention consists of a method of combining the means
of a performer upon the pianoforte obtaining the pedal sounds in a similar
manner to the organ, so that pedal organ music may be practised upon the
piano; this I propose to carry out by placing one string for each pedal note
required in a frame, in the manner of a harp, and connecting that frame with
an ordinary set of organ pedals to be placed under the performer's feet, the
same as with the organ, and the pedals will be made to act upon the strings by
means of levers fixed at angles perpendicular to the pedal levers, and with hooks
upon the upper ends placed conveniently to act upon the strings by the action
of the feet in a way similar to that in which the finger acts upon a harp string.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
The principal of the first part of my Invention is to tune two or four unisons
or strings with one nut or screw, direct from the main part of the strings.
Fig. 1 shews a side view of an upright piccolo or cottage pianoforte. a is a
series of metal bars upon the tuning plank; b is one of such bars, which acts
upon a string doubled round the pin c, forming two halves in unison, and the
unison is regulated, when the string is fitted, by this pin c in turning it slightly to
the right or left, the end near the pin c; the bar bis halved, and has a groove d,
through, which is a screw which fastens the bar to the plank a, as much as to
allow to move by tuning; the opposite end of the bar 6 is rounded with a screw
end, which passes through a hole in a metal plate e, which is fixed upon the
plank a; all through the instrument, where the tuning nuts are screwed to the
bars 6, by which nuts the tuning is to be adjusted, the two ends of the string
are fastened on hitch pins fitted through a metal plate into the wood, called

page_text: hitch plank, by which the two ends of the string is wound up and perfectly
stretched before the nut is used; Fig. 2 is a top view, which will be easy
understood by reference to the Drawings, in which the names are marked upon
the principal parts; Fig. 3 is a top view of the whole in a contracted scale,
one inch to a foot, where the length of the bars 6 is shewn in distances by
octaves, which gives the form or figure of the bridge which has hitherto been
used upon the tuning plank. Fig. 4 is a side view of a horizontal or grand
pianoforte; the tuning bars 6 are reversed in this Figure; the end of 6, near
the part c, is screwed from beneath to the iron rest bar with the screw d; the
whole resisting of the strings is on metal; the bracing forms a frame with the
bitch plank and plate, and the plate e and the rest bar; Fig. 5 is a top view,
and Fig. 6 a top view contracted according to the above description; four
unisons may be tuned with one nut by two unison pins c in the bar b, and one
string doubled round each pin.
The second part of my Invention, to compress the sounding board by means
of strings or rods. To do this I propose to use silk strings covered with wire,
in the same manner as they are used for harps; these strings are fixed to the
barring, which is usually fixed beneath the sounding board; one end of this
string, with an eye fixed to one bar and the other end wound round a taper
rest pin, which is fitted through the bar from the top of the sounding board;
by these wrest pins the strings are stretched and the compression regulated;
the strings are distributed similarly as shewn; Fig. 6, a sounding board for a
grand pianoforte; the wood of which the sounding board is composed contracts
through heat, which causes to slacken the compression, which can be adjusted
by these wrest pins at any time, as well as improving and equalizing the
quality of tone after the finishing of the instruments.
In the third part of my Invention I have to remark that an instrument has
lately been introduced from France by a Mr. Playel, called a "pedalier," for
the same purposes, which is constructed with four strings to each note, which
are set into vibration by the hammer action of an upright pianoforte; this has
the great disadvantage, that four strings has to be tuned in unison, which is very
difficult in the first instance, and then the pianoforte to which it has to be used
has to be tuned in unison with it, this makes the instrument almost useless.
Whereas in my Invention any amature can tune it in about ten minutes to
his own pianoforte. The instrument of my Invention has one string doubled
round the tuning pin, shewn above, by the tuning screw, and the strings are
set into vibration by pulling them, which is better fitted to be played with the
feet, and gives a better quality of tone. Fig. 7, top view, full size, one end
having the form of a wedge, which passes between the two parts of a string;

page_text: this wedge is forming a double hook, by which it gets hold of the two parts of
the string; the other end has a loop by which it is fastened to an elbow
lever f; Fig. 8 is a contracted scale; by pushing down with the foot the
other end of this elbow lever, the double hook draws the string till it comes to
the other wedge, which is fixed to a rail g; this wedge parts the two halves of
the string and let off from the pulling hook, and causes the string to vibrate;
a spring pushes the elbow lever in its former position; the point of the pulling
wedge is covered with damper cloth, which damps the vibration of the string
by the first touch as it gets pushed through the two parts of the string, when
it will be ready for action again.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details herein set forth; but the principal points which I claim
and desire to secure by the said herein-before recited Letters Patent, are,―
First, the tuning two strings with one screw or nut, to be tuned direct from
the main string without passing over a bridge upon the tuning plank.
Secondly, to compress the sounding board.
And, thirdly, to set the strings into vibration through pulling them by the
pedal instrument only, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Greiner, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
GEORGE FREDERICK GREINER. (L.S.)
GEORGE FREDERICK GREINER. (L.S.)