Improvements in Pianofortes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1894
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROWNE, of 81 Linnæus Street, Hull, in the County of
York, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby pianofortes can be made
dust proof. To attain this object I employ a suitable padding of indiarubber or
the like which I place between the doors and other parts necessary to be removed
for the purpose of gaining access to the inner parts of the instrument.
Or in place of attaching the indiarubber or the like to the doors and other parts
of the piano, such moveable parts may be screwed to the body of the instrument,
or they may be fitted on in such a manner as shall effectually prevent the admission
of dust.
In place of the ordinary canvas covered back, I may employ a wooden back made
in a similar manner to the sounding board, and connect it with the said sounding
board to provide greater resonance.
may provide the inside of the cheeks next to the key blocks, with rubber or
the like, or I may fix rubber or other suitable material on the ends of the fall, 80
that when the fall is closed the instrument is rendered perfectly airtight.
To compensate for the loss of freedom of vibration which these improvements
would cause, I may fix to the top door, bottom door, top or back, (or to as many of
them as.is desirous) swell shutters, slides, or rollers, which may be arranged so as
to be opened by a draw-stop, or by depressing a pedal with the foot, or such swell
shutters may be attached to the fall so that they open simultaneously with the
raising of the fall.
1 may also employ a draw music desk or rest which may be fitted between the
top door and the top, or between the nameboard and back hollow of the fall, so
that when the desk is drawn out for use, the aperture is filled in by a piece of
wood attached to the top end of the desk, such wood corresponding with the piano
case, so that it appears part of the case, and fitting in like manner when the rest is
pushed in, when not in use. This desk may also be provided with a regulating set
off, so that the distance from the piano may be regulated to suit the performer.
The piano case may be raised at the ends so as to leave a suitable space between
the top of the wrest plank and the top of the piano, a bar or rail being employed in
front above the top door so as to form a well or sinking for the top, a suitable
moulding being employed to give a finish to the top part of the case.
These improvements are applicable to both vertical and horizontal pianos, the
shape of the instrument only requiring slightly different treatment.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of March 1893.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby pianos may be made
dust proof.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows front view of piano case with my improvements applied.
Fig. 2 shows side section of piano case with my improvements applied.
Fig. 2 shows part of piano top with draw music desk closed when not is use.
Fig. 3. shows top door having groove on inner side, for bedding against india-
rubber or the like padding.
Fig. 4. is a side section of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. is a plan of grand piano showing false or extra top for keeping it dust
proof.
Fig. 6. is a part section of grand piano through A. B.
Fig. 7. shows view of draw music desk.
.
To attain my object I employ a suitable padding A, of indiarubber or the like,
which I place between the doors and other parts necessary to be removed for the
purpose of gaining access to the inner parts of the instrument. Or in place of
attaching the indiarubber or the like to the doors and other parts of the piano,
such moveable parts may be screwed to the body of the instrument, or they may be
fitted on in such a manner as shall effectually prevent the admission of dust.
I may provide the inside of the checks B, next to the key blocks D, with rubber
or the like, or I may fix rubber or other suitable material on the ends of the
fall C, so that when the fall is closed the instrument is rendered perfectly airtight.
I may also employ a draw music desk or rest, see Figs. 2 and 7 which may be
fitted between the top door and the top, or between the nameboard and the back
hollow of the fall. When the desk is drawn out for use, the aperture is filled in
with a piece of wood E2 attached to the top end of the desk or rest, such wood
corresponding with the piano case, so that it appears to be part of the case, and a
second piece E³ fitting in like manner when the rest is pushed in when not in use.
This desk may also be provided if required with a regulating set off, so that the
distance from the piano may be regulated to suit the performer. The desk consists
of three or more hollow tubes E, the centre one being tapped internally, within
these tubes three or more spindles F slide, the centre one having an external
thread, and a thumb screw or the like G at the bottom; to shorten or lengthen the
desk, the screw is turned and the threaded spindle works within the internally
threaded tube and lengthens or shortens the desk as required. The desk slides on
two rods E¹ let into the bar J of piano top drawing out on these rods and falling
over front as shown at Fig. 1.
The piano case may be made higher or raised at the top H, so as to leave a
suitable space between the top of the wrest plank H¹, and the top of the piano; a
bar or rail J being employed in front above the top door and around the sides and
back so as to form a well or sinking for the top, in which music or the like can be
placed a suitable moulding being employed to give a finish to the top part of the
case, the top thus being a fixture.
In horizontal grand pianos the indiarubber A or the like, runs around the sides,
front, on key blocks or cheeks, fall, and on all parts moveable or loose; for making
it more perfectly dustproof I employ a second top K, put a short distance below

page_text: the ordinary top see Fig. 6. This second or inner top K may have a thin metal
casting L running around its edge for the purpose of keeping it rigid.
Indiarubber or the like A runs around underneath this top which is grooved on
its underside to bed on the said indiarubber, A the parts M and N are boarded over
to form a framing fitting up to the inner lid K so that when sending out a grand
piano to a concert or the like, the ordinary top may be taken off and the piano sent
with the inner top or cover on only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In pianos, the employment of indiarubber or other suitable material upon
those parts of the piano to which fit moveable doors, covers, or the like, such doors
preferably having a groove, which beds on the indiarubber, as and for the purposes,
substantially as shown and described.
2. The employment in horizontal grand pianos of a double cover or top, such
inner cover being preferably provided with or without a thin metal casting for the
purpose of strengthening and keeping it rigid, substantially as shown and described.
3. The employment of a fixed top, for vertical or upright pianos, as and for the
purposes such as shown and described.
4. The employment of a draw music desk substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of December 1893.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Saville Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.