Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
JAMES OWLES, 276, St. Paul's Road, Highbury, London, N., Pianoforte
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in pianofortes in what are known as
under damper actions. To avoid the use of springs for damping which are
usual in under dampers, I carry the bottom part of damper lever (stick or
wire rod) below the action levers, at the bottom end of damper lever I attach
by centres a small lever which in turn is centred at an obtuse angle from
damper lever to a lever block that is weighted by lead as in a over head
damper, the said block to be centred on to, bottom edge of hammer rail, or on
a separate rail when the damper lever is centred at the back of hammer rail,
instead of the front of hammer rail. The key lever or prolonger of action
to be shaped at the back so as to allow, the weighted block to swing clear of
same. The damper is levered forward from string by a regulating lever
attached, under weighted block, to key lever or key.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I, JAMES OWLES, of 55, Sunwell Street, Queen's Road, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, late of 276, St. Paul's Road, Highbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer, 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:--
My invention relates to improvements in pianofortes in what is known as
under damper action.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now
proceed to describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had
to letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the interior mechanism of the pianoforte.
Fig. 2, is a front view of a part of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an alternate pattern of a part of Fig. 1.
The object of my invention is to avoid the use of springs for damping which
are usually used in pianofortes with under dampers.
In carrying my invention into practice I fix a horizontal angle iron rail d
to the standards c and to the rail is fixed a horizontal bar e on which I fix

page_text: a lever arm f, this said lever arm f carries the vertical damper lever 6 (stick
or wire rod). The vertical damper lever b works on a pivot 9 and in the top of
the damper lever I fix a bent wire rod h, this said wire rod h carries the under
damper a, the said damper a being made adjustible on the wire rod h by means
of a set screw i. The bottom part of damper lever is carried below the action
levers. To the base or lower end of damper lever b I connect by a pivot ja lever
bar set at an angle, the other end being pivoted at / to a lever block m, this said
lever block is weighted by a lead disc n as in an over head damper. The lever
block m works on a pivot o mounted in a small standard p screwed on to the
edge of the hammer rail 7, or on a separate rail when the damper lever b is
centred at the back of the hammer rail, instead of the front.
The key and the key lever or prolonger of action is provided with a
buttons at the back which comes in contact with an adjustable weight t attached
to the lever block m, so that the back of the key lever is allowed to swing
clear of the same.
The damper a is levered forward from the string u by a regulating lever
attached to key lever or key under the weighted block for actuating the
dampers by a pedal.
On the key I fix the key lever
screw. The top of the key lever
hammer a¹.
by means of a screw to and a regulating
operates the action levers connected to the
The action levers are connected to a horizontal rail fixed to the vertical
side frames c', these side frames e¹ on each side of a pianoforte fit into a recess
against the side frame and against a pin el. The pine fits in a semicir-
cular recess cut in the vertical frame as in Fig. 1, and the frames are
secured together by means of a screw f¹. The object of the aforesaid construc-
tion and arrangement is to permit the ready removal of the frame which
carries the action levers to get at the under damper, damper lever, string or
any other parts fitted to the back part of the pianoforte.
In Fig. 3, in place of the key lever I fix a bent standard g' at the weighted
end of the key to operate the action levers above. Near the aforesaid
standard g or key lever I fix a weighted block h¹ which lifts the lever block m
when the key is struck.
A stop or stay rail is fixed above the lever k in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, a
damper lifter is shown, this said damper lifter is connected to a pedal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In pianoforte actions, the arrangement and combination of the various
parts of mechanism substantially as fully. described in the above specification
and illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In pianoforte actions, the arrangement and combination of the various
parts of mechanism substantially as fully described in the above specification
and illustrated in Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1890
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.