Improvements in Pianofortes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, WILLIAM PERCIVAL, of Whitegate View, Halifax, in the County of York,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
-
My invention has reference to the fronts of pianos the object thereof being to
provide adjustable openings whereby the sound or tone of the piano can be increased
or diminished at the will of the performer.
In carrying out my invention, I arrange in front of the piano a series of moveable
laths or louvers placed horizontally, vertically or in any other suitable position. These
louvers are arranged so as to be capable of moving in such a manner as to diminish
or increase the openings, whereby the sound of the instrument can be regulated.
These moveable laths or louvers are connected together in such a manner as to give
the performer every facility for operating them; and they may be so arranged as to
be operated either by the ordinary pedals, or an additional one if necessary or the
said louvers may be operated by the hand of the performer.
Instead of employing moveable laths or louvers, slots or perforations may be made
in front of the piano, provided with a sliding cover which can be moved in such a
manner as to diminish or increase the area of the said perforations or openings; or
other means may be employed whereby the area of openings in front of pianos may
be increased or diminished at will.
Dated this 25th day of January 1889
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
1, WILLIAM PERCIVAL, of Whitegate View, Halifax, in the County of York,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention has reference to the fronts of pianos, the object thereof being to
provide adjustable openings whereby the sound or tone of the piano can be increased
or diminished at the will of the performer.
In carrying out my invention, I arrange in front of the piano a series of moveable
laths or louvers, placed horizontally, vertically, or in any other suitable position.
These louvers are arranged so as to be capable of moving in such a manner as to
diminish or increase the openings, whereby the sound given off by the instrument
can be regulated. These moveable laths or louvers are connected together in such a
manner as to give the performer every facility for operating them.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now make reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is front
elevation of a piano shewing the application of my improvements thereto; Fig. 2 is
cross section of the improved parts. a represents a series of laths or louvers placed
horizontally capable of working upon hinges b so that the said louvers can be moved
or opened as shewn at Fig. 3, which is cross section of the improved parts. Each
louver is connected by a link or short bar c to a vertical rod or frame d, so that
when the said frame d is at its highest position, as shewn at Fig. 2, the louvers are
closed; but if the said frame is lowered as shewn at Fig. 3, then each of the said
louvers are operated so as to cause openings to be left between each louver, as will be

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well understood, consequently the sound given off by the piano can be increased or
diminished according to the area of the apertures or openings between each louver.
The frame d may be adjusted by means of the cam e which is operated by the "stop,
or handle f. Fig. 2 shews the cam e at its highest positon, and the louvers closed,
whilst Fig. 3 shews the stop drawn out and the cam to have caused the frame d to
descend and operate the louvers thereby. A spiral spring g is employed to draw the
frame d upward so as to close the louver when the cam e is removed off the top of
the frame d. Instead of employing the "stop" for operating the frame d, it may be
operated by the ordinary pedals of the piano, or an additional pedal may be employed
if necessary, which may be operated by the foot of the performer.
Instead of employing moveable laths or louvers as above described, slots or perfo-
rations may be made in front of the piano, provided with a sliding cover, which may
be moved so as to diminish or increase the area of the said perforations or openings
after the manner of a ventilator; or other means may be employed, whereby the
area of the openings in front of the piano may be increased or diminished at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In pianos, the combination therewith of adjustable louvers or equivalent devices
for purposes herein described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1889.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.