IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES, AND AMERICAN ORGANS AND PIANOFORTES COMBINED AS ONE INSTRUMENT, WITH ONE SET OF KEYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Green and Charles Savage, of Cattle Market,
Islingtou, in the County of Middlesex, American Organ and Pinnoforte
Makors, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES, AND AMERICAN
ORGANS AND PIANOFORTES COMBINED AS ONE INSTRUMENT, WITH ONE SET
OF KEYS."
Sealed the 19th March 1880, and dated the Sth October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Green and Charles
Savage at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October
1879.
GEORGE GREEN and CHARLES SAVAGE, of Cattle Market, Islington, Middlesex,
American Organ and Pianoforte Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES, AND
AMERICAN ORGANS AND PIANOFORTES COMBINED AS ONE INSTRUMENT, WITH ONE
SET OF KEYS."
The object of our Invention is to combine in one instrument the American organ
and pianoforte, whereby the player can use either or both instruments with one set
of keys, without increasing or interfering with weight of touch of the said keys. We
obtain this by the peculiar construction of the reed block and the way the wind is
conveyed to the reeds. Our Invention is by cutting channels on top of reed block to
admit the wind for the purpose of setting the reeds in vibration instead of front of
reed block. We then place pallets over these channels instead of underneath, thus
obtaining the assistance of the wind to keep the pallets closed; by so doing it
requires but a very light spring or weight to keep them closed, and thus prevent
the reeds from speaking, and vice versa, a very light weight to open pallets, thereby
obtaining a light touch to the keys.
What we particulary claim as our Invention is the construction of channels,
pallets, and stems, on top of the reed block when used in construction of the
American organ and pianoforte combined, or any other exhaust or suction reed
instrument when combined with pianoforte.
Our Invention for improvements in pianofortes is as follows:-A method for
strengthening the back or string frame, particularly the parts known as wrest
plank D & bent side or belt, by means of inserting tongues of wood or other hard
substance in grooves cut into the said wrest plank, bent side or belt, & bracings,
thus preventing wrest plank pulling down, or but side or belt pulling up.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Green and Charles Savage in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th April 1880.
GEORGE GREEN and CHARLES SAVAGE, of Cattle Market, Islington, in the County
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of Middlesex, American Organ and Pianoforte Makers.
PIANOFORTES, AND AMERICAN ORGANS AND PIANOFORTS COMBINED AS ONE
INSTRUMENT, WITH ONE SET OF KEYS."
The object of our Invention is to combine the American organ with the
pianoforte as one instrument to be played with one or more sets of finger keys
known as the key board. The instruments are so constructed that the performer
can use the American organ or pianoforte together or seperate as may be desired
at will, without increasing or decreasing the weight of touch to the finger of the
said performer. We obtain this effect by the peculiar construction of reed blocks
or cavity boards, and the method of drawing the wind or air to the reeds is as
follows: Our Invention is by cutting channels, holes, or slots, on top of reed blocks or
cavity bords to admit the air or wind for the perpose of causing or setting the reeds
in viberation, instead of front or back of reed block. We then placo the pallets over
or above the channels, holes, or slots, instead of underneath the cavity bords, thus
obtaining the assistance of the air or wind to keep the pallets firmly closed. By so
doing it requires only a light spring or weight to keep the pallets firmly, and thus
prevents the reeds from speaking or viberating, or vice versa, a very light weight to
lift the pallets, thereby opening the holes or slots and causing the reeds or tongues
to viberate or speak, called sound or music, by this method obtaining a light touch
to the performer's finger on the keyboard. Having thus stated the nature of the
said Invention we will proceed to describe more particulary in what manner the
Bame is be performed by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented the parts of pianoforts and American above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sections of our improvements of the combined American organ and
pianoforte, shewing keybord, reed black, or cavity board with pallet closed. Fig. 2
represents the same as Fig. 1, with open pallets, allowing the air or wind to pass
into the slots of cavity board, as shewn by the arrows. Fig. 3 represents a method
of preventing the hammer of the pianofort striking the strings or wires when not
required with American organ, the draw stop N being in or closed, as understood
by the organ trade terms, the hammer shank striking rail T. Fig. 4 representh the
same as Fig. 3, with the draw stop N drawn, allowing the haminer of pianoforte to
strike the string or wire, caussing it to sound or viberate togather with the American
organ, or the pianoforte only, as may be required. Fig. 5 represents section of
method for moving or working Figs. 3 and 4, with draw stop N, rod U, crank V,
and lever W, returned by spring X. Fig. 6 represents back of rail or beam T, as
shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, preventing the hammer Y striking the string or wire, when
in position. This beam T is coated with baize for the hammer shank Z to strike
upon. In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1, below the pianoforte key board A, is
arranged the American organ reed block or cavity board B; underneath is attached
to the key A a tapped pin and button C, under which is a plunger D, passing into
and through two bushed sockes E, and resting on end of stem or lever I', and
hinged or centred at G, the pallet H being attached at the end of pallet stem or
lever F, this representing pallet H closed and key A up, thus covering channels,
holes, or slots, to prevent the air or wind passing through the reeds I, the wind
chest J, the resvoni K, the exaust L. The wind pedal is lettered M. Fig. 2
represents keybord with key A down and pallet H open. O shews a swell acted

page_text: on by a well known method worked by the knee, by means of which the tone can
increased or decreased at will. Wo provide arrangements by which the performer
can play either the American organ or pianoforte as a solo instrument. When the
pianoforte is required as a solo instrument, the stops N only are drawn, and when
the American organ is required as a solo instrument, the organ stops only aro
drawn. We devide each set of reeds or viberators into two parts, a treble stop to
the right hand, and a bass stop the left hand. We also devide the pianoforte into
two stops in the same division as the American organ above naned. Any of these
stops may be used at the performer wish or will, so that the bass part of pianoforte
can be used with treble of American organ, or bass part of organ with treble of
pianoforte, or both togather if desired, without altering the weight of touch to the
performer's finger. Wo will now proceed to describe our method for strengthing
the back or string frame of pianoforte, parts well known in the trade as wrest
plank, bent side, or belt, as will be well understood by refering to Fig. 7, which is
a section of this arrangement; it will there be seen by ineans of inserting tongues S
of wood or any other hard substance in groves cut into the wrest plank Q, and
bent side or belt R, togather with the brocings P, provents the plank or belt mooving,
the tongues acting as a key, resisting the pull of strings of piano at right angles.
We do not bind ourselves as to the exact shape of tongues or groves or position of the
same. We having now discribed the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is or may be carried into practical effect, desire it to be well understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of arrangement herein before
discribed and shewn in the said Drawings, as the same may be varied without
departing from the essential and distinctive features of the Invention, but what we
do particularly claim as our Invention is the manner of construction of channels,
pallets, and stems on the top of reed blocks, also tho method of conveying the wind
or air to reeds to set them in viberation when used in the construction or combi-
nation of the American organ and pianoforte, or any other exhaust or suction reed
instrument when combined with the pianoforte. We do not bind ourselves as to
the position the American organ may be placed, whether above or below the
keyboard of the pianoforte. We also claim the method of shutting off the pianoforte
when not required with the organ; we again claim the method of inserting the
tongues in the bracings, wrest plank, belt, or bent side of pianofoites as shewn in
the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Green and Charles Savage have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eigth day of April, Oue thousand
night hundred and eighty
) Witness,
EBENEZER CLARKE,
3, Prince of Wales Avenue,
Kentish Town.
(L.S.)
GEORGE GREEN.
CHARLES SAVAGE. (L.S.)