Improvements in Pianofortes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road, Camden Town in the County of
Middlesex Pianoforte Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
This invention has reference to the improvement of the pianoforte.
In carrying out my invention I improve the construction of the case so as to
increase its usefulness and avoid injury to the tone of the instrument, and further I
increase the tone of the instrument by altering the directions in which the grain of
the wood forming the bridges, placed upon the plank and sounding board are laid
or applied.
I also simplify and improve the means of guiding and controlling the movements
of the sticker or jack, by utilizing the set off pin as a guide pin also by causing its
lateral or other motions to be controlled by a forked prolongation of the hammer
butt. Also improve the damping action by coupling dampers so that they
co-operate and enable the string or strings of the first damper to impart vibrations
to the string or strings of the other damper coupled to the first damper and I bring
the coupling into operation by means of a pedal, or stop controlled by the hand.
In practice form the case of the pianoforte with usual or convenient rising
hinged top and above this at sufficient distance above not to interfere with the
rising of the lid I form or apply a shelf, or shelves, supported conveniently by
brackets, or supports, from the back or frame, of the case these shelves, or this
shelf, serving for many useful purposes now inconveniently served by the top;
leaving the top free to be raised, or lowered according to the variations of tone, or
exigencies of the melody.
In the construction of bridges placed upon the plank and sounding board I
employ wood having its fibre or grain, not arranged parallel to the length of the
bridges, but at right angles or at other suitable angles thereto.
The stickers or jacks are constructed so that the set off pins of the same are
made each to serve a double purpose riz. to serve to set off and also by passing in
between a forked tail, or prolongation of the hammer butt to effect control of and
impart guidance to the sticker in its motions in unison with the tail of the
sticker.
The dampers are capable of being coupled at will, or left as usual independent,
so that a string, or strings struck and set in vibration may be capable of imparting
vibrations by sympathy to another set of strings, or a string, acted upon by the
other damper coupled and this 1 effect either by pedal, or stop.
Dated the 18th day of April 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicaut.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
1 ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road, Camden Town in the County of
Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer 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 :-
TL
Howratament of the uinnoforte.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I improve the construction of the case so as to
increase its usefulness and avoid injury to the tone of the instrument, and further I
increase the tone of the instrument by altering the direction in which the grain of
the wood forming the bridges, placed upon the plank and sounding board are laid
or applied. I also simplify and improve the means of guiding and controlling the
movements of the sticker or jack, by utilizing the set off pin, as a guide pin also by
causing its lateral or other motions to be controlled by a forked prolongation of
the hammer butt.
Also I improve the damping action by coupling dampers so that they co-operate
and enable the string or strings of the first damper to impart vibrations to the
string or strings of the other damper coupled to the first damper and I bring the
coupling into operation by means of a pedal, or stop controlled by the hand.
In practice form the case of the pianoforte with usual or convenient rising
hinged top and above this at sufficient distance above not to interfere with the
rising of the lid I form or apply a shelf, or shelves, supported conveniently by
brackets, or supports, from the back, or frame of the case, these shelves or this
shelf serving for many useful purposes now inconveniently served by the top;
leaving the top free to be raised or lowered according to the variations of tone or
exigencies of the melody.
In the constructions of bridges placed upon the plank and sounding board, I
employ wood having its fibre or grain, not arranged parallel to the length of the
bridges, but at right angles or at other suitable angles thereto.
The stickers or jacks are constructed so that the set off pins of the same are
made each to serve a double purpose viz. to serve to set off and also by passing in
between a forked tail, or prolongation of the hammer butt to effect control of and
impart guidance to the sticker in its motions in unison with the tail of the
sticker.
The dampers are capable of being coupled at will, or left as usual independent,
so that a string, or strings struck and set in vibration may be capable of imparting
vibrations by sympathy to another set of strings, or a string acted upon by the
other damper coupled and this I effect either by pedal or stop.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. indicates by a sectional diagram the arrangement respectively of the
grains of the woods forming the bridge and the belly or wrest-plank.
u indicates the bridge, bare brackets or stop pieces, are screws passing
therethrough into the belly or wrest plank, as the case may be indicated by c.
1. 2. 3 are arrows indicating alternative directions of grain for the bridge, the grain
of the belly or wrest plank e would be horizontal or in a direction approximating
thereto, and arranged at substantially right angles or approximately at right angles
to the grain of the bridge. The bridges are arranged with their grain on end by
placing the grain end up so as thereby to obtain greater density and secure a
greater reflection of tone when so used on the belly bridge. The top of such
Bridge would only be lined up with the end grain wood, but when used on the
wrest plank, the end grain wood would be glued upon the plank and so keep it to
the plank in a rigid position. According to my invention the bridge is preferably
made wider at bottom than at top so as to secure a greater surface to attach by
means of glue to the plank. To further keep the bridge in correct relation to the
jet it is secured to, place metal brackets at either side of the bridge and
these brackets or stops grip the bridge between them and keep the bridge pinned
tightly upon the plank. The gripping edges of the brackets or stops being shaped
to conform to the shape of the side of the bridge, those in the drawing being shewn
shaped at an angle conforming to the angular sides of the bridge. The screws may
also be as shewn applied at an angle or they may be applied vertically in either
case the tendency would be in screwing down to exert a pressure upon the end
grain bridge towards its support. The end grain or augle grain bridge can either

page_text: be pinned in the usual manner or it may be used with a pressure bar in the manner
usual when employing a metal bridge or the bridge may be supported in a metal
channel or metal channels, and the strings passing through small holes at the back
of the bridge.
Fig. indicates in the view part of an upright pianoforte action with the
supporting longitudinal hammer bar or rail in section. d is the hammer stem, 'is
the butt thereto. e is the check head, co-operating with the check arm, which
armis supported on the projection from the sticker or jack y. This arm
may also support the damper wire k in usual manner. Dependent from the butt d
is the forked projection between the prongs of which, or alternatively in a slot,
passes the set-off pin h, being the head thereof. This pin is secured in a hole
formed in the head of the sticker at g'. I dispense with the guide pin which has
ordinarily been employed and I make this pin perform the double duty of a set
off pin and at the same time of a guide pin for the sticker or jack g as shown in this
figure.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of an upright pianoforte action shewing
the damper parts with the coupler mechanism in edge view.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the damper rail and some of the coupler levers the rest
of the series in this and other of the figures being omitted to simplify the
drawings.
Fig. 5 is an alternative arrangement of the coupler levers also shewn in plan
view adapted for a horizontal piano.
Fig. 6 shews by side elevation an arrangement of corresponding parts for
operating sympathetic or octave damper couplers applied to a horizontal
pianoforte.
(Fig. 3) is the damper wire operated in usual or convenient manner. k¹ is the
head or button on the end of the damper wire, which wire passes freely through an
opening in the damper body i, being the damper head and the wire operated
on. is an auxiliary wire supporting a head or button. is the damper rail to
which the damper body is hinged and upon which are supported the couplers j in
suitable bearings as j.
When by the operation of a selected key and intervening parts the wire & is
raised, the damper body is lifted by the head and a lever corresponding to the
lever is tilted upward whilst the other end of it corresponding to the end
marked jis depressed, depressing the head corresponding to that marked in the
drawing and withdrawing the damper of a wire au octave distant at the same time
that the damper is withdrawn from the wire . On the damper body being
allowed to replace the head on its wire the octave wire damper is replaced at the
same time.
Fig. 7 indicates a modification in the method of arranging the connections and
parts operated by the wire k. In this case in place of the wire passing freely
through an opening as in Fig. 3, it is secured in a part by buttons so as to
be affixed thereto. This part is hinged at to the damper body i but still so as
to raise that body and in rising to bring the head in contact with a coupler arm
corresponding to that marked in Fig. 3.
A further effect that may be attained by the use of this arrangement is, that
each sympathetic octave note put in vibration by the raising of its damper may
raise the damper of the next adjoining and so for the whole length of the
coupler.
In Fig. 6, is the key which lifts the button m¹ on the wire m and also the
button m³ which button lifts the lever n on which is supported adjustably by hinged
connection the part n' of the damper wire n. n is the damper and o the string
here shewn as a bass string. The wire m as well as the wire n' passes through a
suitable socket as p which serves as a guide therefor.
The rising of the wire in which wire may call the coupler-damper-wire, lifts
the button m³ and the rising of that button lifts one end q' of a lever y supported

page_text: in suitable bearings 7 applied on a rail 7 (see Fig. 5).
Each lever is adapted
and arranged to act on the connections to dampers an octave apart and as the one
end is raised the other end acts on a damper lift a connected to a damper of
a note one octave distant from that operated. r is a rail to which the arm is
hinged.
(Fig. 3) shews a pin on which the top of the rail can rise when lifted by a
pedal stick or handle connection when operated in usual and well known manner, so
as to lift the end towards sufficiently high to prevent the part operating on
that part and correspondingly put like parts out of operation throughout the
instrument.
In Fig. 6 the arms or levers 7 would be drawn side wise by similar and well
known means out of operation.
Fig. 8 shews a perspective view in elevation of a pianoforte case.
Fig. 9 shews one side view Fig. 10 the opposite side view and Fig. 11 a back
view of the upper part of the same.
Figs. 12 and 13 shew by section and front view respectively details of lighting
arrangements.
Fig. 14 shews by front view and Fig. 15 by side view details, being brackets.
In these figs. indicates the case of the piano, is the shelf supported by
brackets 't of which two are here shewn, but the number may be varied. These
brackets are affixed to the back-lining or other convenient part of the instrument
by screwing or other suitable attachment; indicating screw holes adapted to
receive usual screws (see Figs. 14 & 15). indicates the top or cover of the
instrument shewn closed in Fig. 9 and open in Fig. 10; and in the brackets are
formed recesses t to allow sufficient play for the rocking of the rear edge of the
top in opening.
I find it convenient to ease the pillar of the bracket in wood or other material
best conforming to the design of the instrument, such as by a casing of walnut or
other material used for the case. The arms are secured to the shelf t preferably
by the part being shaped with inclined sides (see Fig. 16) which engage a dove-
tail in the top the part being slidden in from the back of the top to which it
thereby serves as a strengthening and resisting piece against warping as well as
serving its function as a support.
The lighting means whether candle or lamp or electrical I prefer to arrange as
indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. nrc sockets or holes from back to front of the
thickness of the shelf into which are thrust wires or arms of a lighting socket
For convenience and clearness of the drawing in Fig. 12, I have shewn the portion
of the wires w³ inclining forward, but generally, and especially for candles, I prefer
these arms to hang vertically in order to the avoidance of shadows upon the
music.
When employing an incandescent or glow lamp as the means of lighting the
connection and disconnection may conveniently be attained by slightly drawing
the wires forward to break the connection, and pushing them in contact with
contact pieces when light is desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1 In the construction or arrangement of the bridges of pianofortes the
disposition of the grain of the wood constituting the bridge at a right angle or
substantially right angle to the wood of the plank or part supporting it.
2: The combination or arrangement of parts of upright pianoforte actions o
that the set off pins may be made to serve the double purpose of setting off and
also of guiding the stickers by affixing adjustably the said pins in the stickers and
causing them to pass between forks or slotted tail pieces projecting from the
hammer butts substantially in the manner indicated in Fig. 2.

page_text: 3:-The combination or arrangement of parts of pianofortes so that the raising
of one damper may at the same time raise the damper of another wire an octave
distant which is sympathetically sensitive to the vibrations of the wire struck.
+:-The combination or arrangement of parts of platefortes
that the raising
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of one damper may at the same time raise the damper of another wire an octave
distant which is sympathetically sensitive to the vibrations of the wire struck sub-
stantially as indicated with reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 or successive octaves if
desired as indicated by Fig. 7.
5: In a pianoforte of upright type the combination of a shelf or shelves as t
with the case of the instrument supported so as to admit of the top or lid of the
instrument being raised or lowered according to the variations of tone required or
exigencies of the melody substantially as shewn and for the purposes set forth.
6: The combination or arrangement of a shelf or shelves also adapted to serve
as a sounding board and its means of support in combination with the case of the
instrument all substantially as and for the purposes as set forth.
7: The combination or arrangement and use of means for supporting lighting
arrangements from the combined shelf and sounding board of an upright piano
applied substantially as described and shewn with reference to Figs. 12 and 13.
8: The general arrangement or combination and use of parts of pianofortes
substantially as described with reference to the various figs. of the drawings.
Dated the 16th der of January 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.