IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CANARDHARION OF PLANOFORMING AND HARMONIUMS THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward McLean, of Stoke Newington, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CANARDHARION OF PLANOFORMING AND HARMONIUMS
"
Sealed the 29th November 1867, and dated the 3rd June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward McLean at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
June 1867.
I, EDWARD MCLEAN, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES AND HARMONIUMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed principally for the purpose of augmenting and
improving the tone of such musical instruments by giving an increased
resonance to the same, at the same time that it effects a considerable improve-
ment in the appearance of the instrument itself. Hitherto the external
casing of such instruments has invariably been made with a flat top, such flat
top in the case of a pianoforte being placed only a short distance above the
sounding board.
My Invention consists in making the top or lid of the case of such instru-
ments of an arched form in contradistinction to the flat form heretofore
employed. The top may be arched either in the direction of its length or of
its breadth (or both), and the said arch may be either semicircular, elliptical,
undulating, or of other suitable form. Openings or holes of an ornamental

page_text: or other form may be made in the ends or sides (or both) of this arched top
for the emission of the sound, and the exterior thereof may be ornamented in
a variety of ways. It is preferable, for the sake of appearance, and to prevent
the placing of books, lamps, or other articles on the top of the instrument,
that the form of the exterior of the lid should follow the curved form of the
interior sound cavity, but it is not absolutely necessary. The interior of the
arched cavity may be either open or separated from the other part of the
instrument by a thin board or membrane forming (as it were) the chord of
the arc, or it may be enclosed by a valve or Venetian blind opening actuated
by a pedal or otherwise, so as to give the effect of a "swell," as in the organ;
or any other convenient way of emitting and regulating the sound from the
arched top may be adopted. The use of this arched top will be found to
increase the resonance and improve the tone of the instruments to which it is
applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward McLean in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd December 1867.
TO ALL TO, WHOM THESE, PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
M LEAN, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward McLean, Her special licence that I, the said Edward McLean,
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward McLean, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES AND HARMONIUMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward McLean, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward McLean, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following"
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention is designed principally for the purpose of augmenting and
improving the tone of such musical instruments by giving an increased
resonance to the same, whilst it effects a considerable improvement in the
appearance of such instruments. Hitherto the external casing of such instru-
ments has generally been made with a flat top, but a few have been made
with fancy tops for the purpose of ornamentation only, and of forms different
from those employed in carrying out my present Invention, such flat or other
shaped tops, in, the case of upright pianofortes, being placed close or nearly so
to the "wrest plank" or solid construction of the pianoforte.
Now
my Invention consists in making the top or lid of the case of such instru-
ments of an arched form in contradistinction to the forms hitherto employed,
thereby leaving a cavity for the sound over the wrest plank. The top may be
arched in the direction of its length or of its breadth, or the said arch may be
of a semicircular, elliptical, undulating, or other suitable form, but when of'
an undulating form it is according to my Invention made with a surface on
the under side of a, comparatively uninterrupted hollow curved form, the curve
being only slightly returned at the sides or ends; or both openings or holes of
an ornamental or other form may be made in the ends or sides (or both) of
this arched top for the emission of the sound, and the exterior may be orna-
mented in a variety of ways. It is preferred, for the sake of appearance and
lightness of construction, and in order to prevent the placing of books, lamps,
or other articles on the top of the instrument, that the form of the exterior of
the lid should follow the curved form of the interior sound cavity, but such is
not absolutely necessary, as it may be made of other form to suit the con-
venience or taste of the purchaser. The interior of the arched cavity may be
either open or separated from the other part of the instrument by a thin
board or meinbrane forming (as it were) the chord of the arc, or it may be
enclosed by a Venetian or louvre blind or other suitable valve, such valve
being actuated by a pedal or otherwise, as will be well understood, so as to
give the effect of a "swell," as in the organ; or other convenient way of
regulating the sound from the arched top may be adopted. The arched top
may be formed out of the solid, or it may be built up and then shaped to the
required form by cutters, or when curved only in one direction the wood or

page_text: other material may be bent or otherwise shaped to the desired form. The use-
of this arched top will be found to increase the resonance and improve the
tone of the instrument to which it is applied.
I wish it to be understood that although only upright pianofortes are
herein mentioned the Invention is equally applicable to other descriptions of
pianofortes.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in
which the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, the application of the resonant, arched, or curved top to
pianofortes and harmoniums, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward McLean, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
FRED. HARRIS,
Patent Agent,
35, Southampton Buildings.
EDWARD MCLEAN. L.S.)