Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
We, HARRY GEORGE, of 25, Whitehall Parade, London, N., Pianoforte Tune,
THOMAS DAVIDSON TURNBULL, of 8, Dartmouth Park Road, London, N.W., Bank
Clerk, and ALFRED HERBERT COYLE, of 10, John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements 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 the 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 may be provided 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 the centre of its length. The upper end of the
jack is centred, by means of an adjustable centre, to the underhammer, which may
be carried by a suitable rail, and the underside of the butt of the hammer is centred
to the underhammer.
Upon the jack is a spring which carries a button in contact with a rail provided
for the purpose and situated at or near the top of the jack is an adjustable button
which is arranged to come into contact with the underside of the underhammer
just as the hammer strikes the string, thereby causing the jack to collapse.
The action of the spring upon the jack also tends to assist the player rendering
the touch more sensitive.
Dated this 97th dove of Tul❤ 1007
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
We, HARRY GEORGE, of 25, Whitehall Parade, London, N., Pianoforte Tuner,
THOMAS DAVIDSON TURNBULL, of 8, Dartmouth Park Road, London, N.W., Bank
Clerk, and ALFRED HERBERT COYLE, of 10, John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.,
Architect, 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:―
This invention relates to improvements in pianoforte actions and has for its
object to construct an action in which the haminer shall be caused to recede from

page_text: the string after striking the same by means of a hinged jack instead of an escape-
ment jack, and also to simplify the construction of such movement.
In carrying the invention into effect the key is provided with an adjustable
carriage or rocker to one end of which is centred the jack which is composed of
two parts, jointed or hinged at or near the centre of its length. The upper end of
the jack is centred by means of an adjustable centre, to the underhammer which
is secured to a suitable rail, and the underside of the butt of the hammer is centred
to the underhammer. Upon the lower portion of the jack is a spring carrying
an adjustable button in contact with a rail provided for the purpose, and situated
at or near the top of the jack is an adjustable button arranged so as to come into
contact with the underside of the underhammer just as the hammer is striking the
string, thereby causing the jack to collapse allowing the hammer to fall back
when the string has been struck. The spring upon the lower part of the jack
whilst serving to keep the jack straight when in its position of rest also tends to
help the player rendering the touch more sensitive.
In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are appended
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the position of the parts when at rest.
Fig. 2 is a view showing the approximate position of the underhammer just as
the button upon the top of the jack is coming into contact with the underside of
the underhammer preparatory to collapsing the jack.
A is the key, B the rocker, C is the lower part of the jack hinged at D to the
upper part E centred to the underhammer F by means of the adjustable centre G
and which underhammer is secured to the rail H by means of the centred piece g.
The underhammer is centred at I to the butt J of the hammer K.
Upon the top part E of the jack is an adjustable button L which upon the upward
movement of the jack comes into contact with the underside of the underhammer F
as shown in Fig. 2, causing the jack to collapse at the centre or hinge D and allow-
ing the hammer to fall back when its motion has been checked by the string
(not shown in the drawings).
To the lower part C of the jack is attached a spring M of any convenient form
adapted to receive a button at the end which button N bears upon the rail O and
when the hammer is at rest serves to keep the jack straight and at the same time
when the key is struck helping the performer rendering the touch more sensitive.
The action of the various parts when the key is struck is as follows:-
The striking of the key lifts the inner end thereof and with it the jack which
raises the parts secured to its upper end, at the same time the said parts being
centred to the rail H cause the end of the jack to describe an arc of a circle thereby
bringing the button L into contact with the underside of the underhammer, press-
ing the jack outwards and causing it to collapse, allowing the underhammer and
jack to fall when the jack will be straightened by the spring M ready for the return
of the hammer, when the movement will be ready for the striking of the key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
In a pianoforte movement of the class herein described the combination of an
underhammer with a button for collapsing the jack when the hammer is striking
the string with a means for straightening the jack, all substantially as herein set
forth and shown by the drawings appended hereto.
1711 1
1 1000
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.