IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Joseph Robinson of N° 310* York Road, Camden
Road in the County of Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Joseph Robinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th June 1883.
JAMES JOSEPH ROBINSON of N° 310" York Road, Camden Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Pianoforte manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE
ACTIONS,"
The object of the invention is to secure increased simplicity in the construction
of the parts of Pianoforte actions with increased efficiency in their operation.
For this purpose the stickers operated by levers from the tail end of the keys
each towards its upper end receives through it an adjustable set off pin which is
screwed for the required adjustment into a prolongation forming a tail to the lower
part of the hammer butt.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 represents a section of parts of the action of a pianoforte with my
improvements applied thereto.-a represents a pianoforte key of the ordinary
character. b represents one of the wires, c one of the hammers, & the rest therefor,
c' represents the hammer butt and c' the pin on which the butt turns in the
ordinary way. e represents one of the stickers by which as is well understood the
motion of the key a is communicated to the hammer.
The lower end of each sticker e is guided to preserve its correct relation to its
key a by means of a lever f one end of which is connected so as to move on the
rail g whilst the other end of this lever fis formed to pass through an opening
formed for it in the lower end of the sticker e and be there held by a suitable
pin f¹. The upper end of each sticker e is intended to act on one of the series of
hammers butts for the required motion to such hammers as is well understood and
to insure the correct relation of each sticker to its particular hammer there is
provided an adjustable set off pin h acting as a guiding pin which passes through a
small slotted opening formed for it in the upper part of the sticker and is screwed
into a prolongation or tail piece c³ formed with and projecting from the butt of
each hammer
By thus connecting the pin h to the tail of the hammer butt motion is given
to the pin h simultaneously with the motion of the stickere and friction and
consequent vibration and noise in the motion of the guiding pin in the sticker are
avoided.
I would however state I am aware that actions of pianofortes have long since
been arranged for the motion of such stickers to be correctly guided by a pin
passing through an opening for the purpose in such stickers to prevent their too
free side-way motion and that the means for holding such guiding pin admitted of
the pin following the motion of the sticker to avoid friction between such pin and
its sticker and consequent noise in the motion of these parts I do not therefore
claim the application of a guiding pin to and moving with such stickers, separately
considered. represents a damper operated from the sticker e by the connecting
wire j.
Having thus described my invention and means which I adopt in carrying the
same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is the arranging or

page_text: combining parts forming the actions of pianofortes whereby the butt of the
hammer is formed with or has applied to it a prolongation or tail piece to carry one
end of the adjustable set off or guide pin to move with and guide the upper end
of the sticker substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said James Joseph Robinson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of December One thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.
Witness.
ALFRED G BROOKES.
59 Chancery Lane London.
Fellow: Inst. Patent Agents.
JAMES J. ROBINSON (L.S.)