AN IMPROVED PIANOFORTE ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry Cary, of the City of Norwich,
Pianoforte Action Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PIANOFORTE ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 11th March 1854, and dated the 6th October 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry Cary
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th October 1858.
I, JOSEPH HENRY CARY, of the City and County of Norwich, Piano-
forte Action Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PIANOFORTE ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES " to be
as follows:-
In place of the sticker used in the ordinary action I substitute an
escapement rod, which passing through a guide socket at the lower
end rests on a spring or slip of wood attached to the key, so that the
end on which the escapement rod rests can be adjusted by means of a
screw passing through the key, which can be regulated from the under
side. The upper end of the escapement rod is not hinged to the hammer
butt like the ordinary sticker, but is connected therewith by means of
a loop and spring in such a manner as to form an escapement on

page_text: the butt. By this means I entirely dispense with the hoppers and levers
used in the ordinary action.
My claim is for accomplishing by one thing called an escapement
rod the same objects that have hitherto been sought to be obtained by
the employment of three things, namely, the hopper, lever, and sticker.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Heury Cary in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
JOSEPH HENRY CARY, of the City of Norwich, Pianoforte Action
Muker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by ller
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Henry Cary. Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Henry Cary, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Joseph Henry
Cary, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN IMPROVED PIANOFORTE ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Henry Cary,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Joseph Henry Cary, 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:

page_text: The accompanying Drawing represents the parts of a pianoforte
action included in my Invention. A, shews a portion of the key; about
one inch from the end is an adjusting screw, the head of which is
covered by a piece of thick cloth secured to the key by a tack at one
end only, so as to allow of its being turned back when setting the
screw. Upon this cloth stands an escapement rod B, reaching from the
key to the butt I, of the hammer, to guide the lower end of the escape-
ment rods, & to enable them to be lifted altogether. When the action
is removed from the instrument a rail C is placed behind them; two
metal pins are driven into this rail for each rod, so that a tail piece D,
fixed at a right angle to the escapement rod, shall slide freely upon
them in the manner shewn. The connexion between the escapement
rod & the butt is made by means of a link of silk cord, leading from
the butt to a spring E, & being passed through a wire guide F. The
escapement rod is thus prevented from slipping sideways, while the
clasticity of the spring E, allows of its sliding out or escaping from
under the propelling point of the butt on the blow being given. Thus,
though the key be still pressed, the hammer returns from the string for
a short distance; this distance is limited to about one quarter of an
inch for the sake of securing a quick repetition of the blow. This is
effected by means of a check G, formed by bending a stout wire as
shewn, passing it tightly through the escapement rod, & readily ad-
justed by turning it in more or less. The tail of the butt is guarded by
a piece of felt glued on behind for the check to catch against. As
the hammer goes to the string the tail of the butt approaches the rod,
which, in rising, brings the hook of the check close under the felt, &
completely locks the butt in its position; for, while the check prevents
the hammer from flying back too far from the string, any rebound
towards the string is prevented by a loop of stiff tape at H, glued to
the top of the butt, so that it shall stand forward in the manner shewn,
with the guide wire F within it adjusted to its proper pull by bending
it slightly to its place. J, is an end section of the hammer rail. In
clothing or covering the butt where the propulsion is given & the
escapement effected I prefer flexible materials passing loosely under the
propelling point of the butt, so that as the rod escapes the covering

page_text: partly turns with it, thus causing less friction than when the covering is
wholly glued down, as in the ordinary mode. The covering is composed
ef, first, a piece of soft felt or cloth to form a cushion shewn at K;
secondly, a piece of the best fine cloth reaching from the tail of the
butt up to the hole where the silk link is inserted; thirdly, a piece of
thin soft leather is added outside the fine cloth to form a smooth
wearing black-leaded surface for the top of the escapement rod to work
against. To regulate the set off of. the escapement a screw L is put
through the rod in the manner shewn; its point being guarded by a
hanging piece of thin stiff leather glued to the top end of the rod, &
turned down loose, with its smooth side towards the clothing of the
butt.
I do not limit myself to the particular method of clothing or covering
the butt, as described.
My Invention does not include the dampers, which are to be applied
in the usual manner.
My claim is for accomplishing by one thing called an escapement
-rod the same objects that have hitherto been sought to be obtained by
the employment of three things, named the hopper, the lever, & the
sticker, thus dispensing with the use of hoppers & levers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Henry Cary, have here-
unto set my hand & scal, this Twenty-fifth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & fifty-four.