Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th- Dec., 1896.
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECFICATION:
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
HARRY GEORGE, of 25 Whitehall Parade, N. Pianoforte Tuner; THOMAS
DAVIDSON TURNBULL, of 8. Dartmouth Park Road, N.W., Bank Clerk; and
ALFRED HERBERT COYLE, of 10 John Street, Adelphi, W.C., Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A pianoforte action the hammer of which recedes from the string by means of
a hinge, instead of by means of the escapement of the jack.
The action consists of, a key, rocker or carriage piece, jack, underhammer,
hammer, set off button, check, repeat spring with key frame and rails for fixing.
It is constructed as follows-On the upper surface of the key toward the back is
fixed an adjustable rocker or carriage to one end of which is centred the bottom of
the jack. The top of the jack is centred to the underhammer, which is in its turn
centred to the underside of the butt of the hammer. The jack is hinged at about
one third of its length from the bottom and is provided at both top and bottom
with arms. On striking the key the lower arm of the jack coming in contact with
the set off button causes the jack to collapse at the hinge, thereby allowing the
hammer to recede from the string. On the release of the key the jack returns to
its normal position by means of the repeat spring working under the upper arm
from a fixed rail.
Dated this 10th day of November 1896.
HARRY GEORGE.
T. D. TURNBULL.
ALF. H. COYLE.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
We, HARRY GEORGE of 25 Whitehall Parade, N. Pianoforte Tuner; THOMAS
DAVIDSON TURNBULL of 8 Dartmouth Park Road, N.W., Bank Clerk; and
ALFRED HERBERT COYLE, of 10 John Street, Adelphi, W.C., Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvenients in pianoforte actions and has for its
objects to construct an action in which the hammer shall be caused to recede from
the string after striking same by means of a hinged jack instead of an
escapement jack, and also to simplify the construction of such movement.
In carrying the invention into effect, the key is provided at one end with an
adjustable rocker or carriage, to one end of which may be centred the lower end
of a jack, which is jointed or hinged at about one third of its length from the
bottom or lower end thereof.

page_text: The upper end of the jack is centred to the underhammer which in turn is centred
to the underside of the butt of the hammer itself.
Upon the hinged jack before referred to are two arms or projecting pieces placed
near the ends of the jack, the lower one being situated so as to come into contact
with a set off button and cause the jack to collapse when the key of the piano is
depressed, and the other has bearing aganist its underside a suitable button carried
by a spring attached to the hammer rail, or a suitable rail may be provided for
the purpose. An adjustment is provided by which the pressure of the spring may
be regulated.
In order that this invention may be the better understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1. is a side elevational view showing the movement applied to a grand piano.
Fig. 2. is a view showing approximately the position of the parts when striking
the string.
Fig. 3. is a side elevational view showing the movement applied to an upright
piano.
Like letters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
A. is the key upon which is secured the adjustable carriage or rocker B. to which
is centred the end of the jack C. the upper end of the said jack being centred to the
under hammer D. which in turn is centred to the butt of the hammer E. The
jack C. is provided with a hinge F. formed as shown and capable of movement in
one direction only, and has also secured thereto, or they may form part of the
same, two projections or arms G. H. the lower one G. arranged to come into contact
with the button I. upon the key of the instrument being depressed and cause the
jack to collapse as shown in Fig. 2.
The jack is slotted at its upper end as shown by the dotted lines to allow a
spring J. to pass therethrough. This spring may be secured to the hammer rail K.
as shown in Fig. 1. or a suitable rail may be provided for it as shown in Fig. 2.
at L. The end of the spring carries a button M. which is in contact with the
underside of the projection or arm H. upon the upper end of the jack C.
adjustment N. is provided by which the pressure of the spring may be regulated.
The button I is also adjustable.
An
Referring to Fig. 3. in which the movement is shown adapted to an
upright piano, the arrangement and operation of parts will be found
ta be substantially the same as in the preceding case. The jack C. however,
instead of being directly operated by the key A. is actuated by the piece a to which
it is centred as shown, the piece itself being centred to an arm upon the rail b.
The carriage B. is provided with a padded or felted projection B' which comes into
contact with a similar projection B upon the underside of the piece a.
position of the jack with the arms G. H. in this case is reversed and the spring J.
is placed upon the opposite side of the jack and the position of the button I. is also
altered as shown.
The action is as follows:-
The
Upon the key A. being struck the end is raised carrying with it the jack C. until
the projecting piece G. upon the jack comes into contact with the button I. when
the jack will collapse as shown in Fig. 2. and the hammer recede from the string.
Upon the key being released, the spring J. causes the jack to resume its normal
position. To prevent jarring, the various parts are provided with pieces of felt
where necessary.
The action of the spring J. also tends to assist the player, thereby rendering the
touch more sensitive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
In a pianoforte movement the use of a hinged jack provided with an under-

page_text: hammer, one end of which is attached to the jack, the other being secured to the
underside of the butt of the hammer, in combination with a spring acting upon
the said jack, all substantially as herein set forth and shown by the accompanying
drawings.