IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES, AND IN THE MEANS OF STRINGING REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE PITCH OR TONE THEREOF "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Outram of Grectland in the County of York
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES, AND IN THE MEANS OF
STRINGING REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE PITCH OR TONE THEREOF
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Outram at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents ou the 17th February 1882.
EDMUND OUTRAM of Greetland in the County of York. IMPROVEMENTS IN
PIANOFORTES AND IN THE MEANS OF STRINGING, REGULATING, AND CONTROLLING
THE PITCH OR TONE THEREOF.
My Invention consists firstly in an improved means of stringing pinnofortes
more especially applicable to bichord and trichord instruments I preferably
employ endless strings which pass over antifriction pulleys carried in suitablo
hangers attached or hung in the rails, or frame of the instrument the pulleys being
adjustable by means of screws or other arrangement.
Secondly. In the means of raising or lowering the pitch or tone of the instrument
to suit the ear or will of the performer I increase or diminish the distance between
the rails upon which the strings are carried thus increasing or diminishing the
tension of the whole of the strings of the instrument simultaneously or by
employing a cam or bar placed in a suitable position so as to act upon the whole of
the strings by deflection thus increasing or diminishing the tension of the same.
In lieu of the ordinary bridge I prefer to employ as series of antifriction pulleys
or some suitable antifriction substance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Outram in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th August 1882.
EDMUND OUTRAM of Greetland in the County of York IMPROVEMENTS IN
PIANOFORTES AND IN THE MEANS OF STRINGING REGULATING AND CONTROLLING
THE PITCH OR TONE THEREOF
My Invention consists in introducing an arrangement for equalizing the tension
of the strings in stringed instruments especially pianofortes more particularly to
bichord or trichord, or any number of strings, required to each note of an
instrument; the object of my improvements are-
Firstly to provide an improved means of stringing and so facilitating the
tuning of pianofortes and in the maintainance and equalizing of the tension
thereof. I preferably employ endless strings, which pass over antifriction pulleys
carried in suitable hangers attached or hung in the rails or frame of the instru-
ment, the pulleys being adjustable by means of screws or other arrangements, by
this arrangement the tension of the strings is equalized.
Secondly in the means of raising or lowering the pitch or tone of the
instrument to suit the ear or will of the performer by mechanism acting upon all
the strings of the instrument simultaneously.
I increase or diminish the distance between the rails upon which the strings are
carried thus increasing or diminishing the tension of the whole the strings of
the instrument simultaneously, or by employing a cam or bar placed in a suitablo
position so as to act upon the whole of the strings by deflection thus increasing or
diminishing the tension of the same.
In lieu of the ordinary bridge I prefer to employ a series of antifriction pulleys
or some suitable antifriction substance. Such being the nature and object of this
my said Invention in order that the same may fully understood I have hereunto
annexed two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference indicating the same or corresponding parts
throughout all the figures of the Drawings.

page_text: board, by this arrangement the whole of the strings of each note are in equilibrium
and at one uniform tension thus greatly facilitating the tuning of the instrument;
also when the notes are struck the weight of the blow brings the elasticity of the
strings from behind the board over the pulleys giving a more free vibration to the
strings in front and improving the tone thereof another method for bearing or
supporting the bangers is shewn at Figs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14 in which the
frames C are not adjustable but are made preferably in sections mounted on a
frame or support C₁ the top frame having a series of bearers or bridges C which
carry the hangers (each separately) by this arrangement the hangers and pulleys
are in full view, and anyone of them can be separately and readily taken out
when required for repairing strings; this construction is cheaper and lighter than
the construction shewn at Figs. 1. 2. and 3. The top and bottom parts of the
frame C are adjustable on the side piece K and can be moved nearer to or further
from each other by links L connected to the nuts M of the right and left hand
screws N which pass through slots in the side piece K, on turning the screw N one
way or the other the nuts M are moved nearer to or further from each other and
the distance between the rails upon which the strings are carried is increased or
diminished, thus increasing or diminishing the tension of the whole of the strings of
the instrument simultaneously; or a cam or bar P may be placed as shewn at
Figs 4 and 5 so as to act upon the whole of the strings more or less by deflection,
or the deflecting rods or bars may be operated by a rack and pinion arrangement,
these arrangements may be operated by hand or by levers and treddles so as to be
worked by foot similar to the harp.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into
effect I would have it understood that what I claim as the Invention to be
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1 The use and employment of endless strings F, F, in pianofortes or other stringed
musical instruments constructed and operating as shewn and described.
2 The use and employment in pianofortes of antifriction pulleys E, E, constructed
and operating as shewn and described.
3 The combination of endless strings F, F, pulleys E. E. and adjustable hangers G
on the frame C constructed and operating as shewn and described.
4 The employment of a bar or cam for acting upon the whole of the strings F, F.
simultaneously by deflection such as shewn and described
5 The clip or stud S for securing the ends of the rods or wires in pianofortes
constructed and operating as shewn and described.
In witness whereof 1 the said Edinund Outram have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
JOHN E. WALSH.
Patent Agent
Halifax, Leeds and Bradford.
EDMUND OUTRAM. (L.S.)