IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PIANOFORTES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
PIANOFORTES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to pianofortes, and has for its object to provide improved
means for causing any of the wires or strings of the same to continue to vibrate
after they have been struck by the ordinary hammers whereby any note or
combination of notes may be sustained for any desired period.
The said invention comprises improvements in the apparatus described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent dated November 6th A.D. 1867 No 3137 in
which a number of small light felt hammers are arranged to strike isochronous and
rapid blows upon the strings or wires. It also comprises various other improve-
ments all as hereinafter described. These small hammers may be applied to certain
notes of the pianoforte only, or they may be extended for the whole length of the
key board.
In applying this improved apparatus to an upright pianoforte I provide a shaft
consisting of two wooden bars held together by means of screws and rendered
more rigid by two iron blades. The said shaft is arranged parallel to the plane of
the strings, between the two wooden bars of the said shaft are fixed the ends of
vibrating steel blades, to the free extremities of which are fitted the small felt
hammers which strike the metallic strings below the percussion line of the large
bammers.
To each extremity of the said shaft is fixed a small steel pivot. These pivots
support the said shaft and are carried in bearings lined with cloth and formed in
two supports attached to the case of the instrument. The said shaft is connected
by means of two levers and a small rod with actuating mechanism, hereinafter
described, whereby the said shaft is vibrated.
The vibratory movement transmitted to the shift through the said rod is also
transmitted to the steel blades, which, being flexible, bend without being capable
of transmitting the said movement to the small hammers attached to their
extremities in consequence of the said hammers being held back by silk bands, or
DR11

page_text: the like, which are attached to the bars of the large hammers by means of small
rings of gutta-percha or other suitable material.
When a performer by depressing a key, causes a large hammer to move forward
in order to strike a string, the silk band connected therewith is slackened, thereby
releasing the corresponding small hammer. If, now, by means of the actuating
mechanism motion be imparted to the shaft carrying the small hammers the
hammer in connection with the key which is depressed will be caused to strike
rapid and isochronous blows upon the corresponding string which is thus kept
constantly vibrating, so long as the performer keeps the said key depressed and
the actuating mechanism is in motion.
In the application of this invention to a table or grand pianoforte the shaft is
constructed and operates in a similar manner to that herein before described.
The small silk bands, instead of being connected to the large hammer have each
one extremity attached to the head of a small hammer, the other end being fixed
to a support by means of a small screw. These bands serve to hold the small
bammers away from the strings when the plates attached to the large hammers are
resting against the said bands. The plates are fixed to the hammers by screws.
When a hammer is caused to strike one of the strings the small plate is moved
away from the silk band, whereby the band is allowed to straighten itself thereby
permitting the small hammer to strike the string and sustain its note when the
shaft is oscillated.
A lever is fixed upon the vibrating shaft and has connected to it a rod carrying
upon its extremities two pieces having the shape of forks. One of the said pieces
is jointed to the lever attached to the shaft the other piece being jointed to a lever
oscillating upon a pivot and connected by means of a support to the actuating
mechanism hereinafter described. The said rod serves to transmit to the shaft the
*movement which is imparted by the said mechanism.
⚫ The actuating mechanism is suspended under the sounding board of the
instrument and is entirely concealed between the bars of the casing; it is set in
motion by means of a third pedal arranged near the ordinary pedals.
Dampers are provided similar to those used in ordinary pianofortes.
The wooden blocks carrying the large hammers are jointed in forks attached by
means of screws to a wooden bar. The said blocks have a peculiar shape somewhat
different from those in ordinary use and serve to cause the repetition of notes,
being provided for this purpose with small brass pieces engaging loosely in
rectangular apertures formed in the longer arm of a bell-crank-lever. To a small
wooden piece secured upon each of the said blocks is attached one end of a thin
leather band, its other end being connected with another small wooden piece fixed
by means of a sorow to the upper extremity of a small elastic steel blade, the
lower extremity of which is held between two wooden bars. This steel blade
coustitutes an important feature of this invention and serves to equilibrate the
weight of a large hammer and consequently to maintain the same in a raised
position near the strings in order to allow sufficient time for the long arm of the
bell-crank-lever to pass below the rounded edge of a block and to knock against
the string in order to repeat the note even when the key has come to the end of its
stroke.
In order to cause the large hammers to fall upon the resting bar and at the same
time to stop the small hammers used for sustaining the sounds, the weight of the
bell crank levers, as well as a part of the weight of the keys, is utilized, the upper
part of the bell crank lever near the said aperture bearing against the said brass
piece fixed in the block.
A small wooden case is provided serving as a cover for the damper and the
small hammers used for sustaining the sounds, and to reduce the noise produced by
the latter striking the string and also to assist in maintaining the sounds.
Devices are provided in connection with the ordinary mechanism of either
upright or grand pianofortes for the purpose of moving the dampers away from the
strings and allowing the vibration of single notes or complete chords to take place

page_text: in such a manner that. the performer may not be obliged to keep the keys depressed,
and is consequently at liberty to use both hands for the execution of musical pieces
whilst the notes or chords from which the damper has been removed are still
vibrating. The main part of the above arrangement consists of an iron cylinder
which is placed along the whole length of the dampers in a groove formed in a
wooden bar which carries the said damper. This cylinder is provided at its two
extremities with pivots which are placed excentrically. By means of this device.
connected by suitable rods and levers with an arm placed under the key board;
near the knee, the performer is able to turn the said cylinder and cause the same,
by reason of the excentricity of the pivots, to approach the side wall and press
against a small leather band just at the time when it is pulled back by a spring
and when the lever to the lower extremity of which the said band is fixed by:
means of a screw, is raised in consequence of the performer depressing the
corresponding key. By reason of the pressure of the said cylinder against the
above mentioned leather band the levers to which the dampers are attached are
held, and the said dampers are kept away from the strings which consequently:
vibrate until the performer pushes the arm beneath the key-board with the knee.
The above arrangement is not indispensable and may be omitted without
interfering with the working of the mechanism.
The actuating mechanism is suspended under the key-board and imparts
movement to the wires in consequence of the rotation of a crank on a shaft upon
which is mounted a small fly wheel. The said shaft is operated by the performer
by means of a pedal.
The casing of the mechanism is composed of sheet iron plates joined together
by means of metallic ties. I provide drums composed of sheets of paper pasted
together or cardboard, in order to avoid the wearing of the pivots of the fly wheel
shaft, which revolves upon the edges of the said drums, and at the same time to
prevent the noise which would be produced by the rotation of the pivots on metal®
drums.
The fly wheel shaft carries, in addition to the crank, a grooved pulley.
The pulley which may be integral with the said shaft imparts to the same the
movement which it receives from a cardboard drum the said drum having its edge'
of suitable shape to fit the groove of the said pulley.
The drum is adapted to be lowered into the groove of the pulley as required, and
for this purpose is mounted upon a metallic lever having two arms connected
together near the stud upon which the said lever oscillates; at the extremities of
these arms is fixed a steel pin upon which rotates the drum.
The lowering of the said drum is effected by the performer pressing upon the
third pedal; this pressure is transmitted to the drum and causes the same to rotate
by means of a leather strap, the upper end of which is rolled over a pulley formed
integrally with the drum its lower part being attached to the end of a lever.
placed at the bottom of the instrument and actuated by the said third pedal upon
which the performer presses with his foot. A small leather strap passing over
another pulley has one of its extremities attached to a spiral spring and the other
fixed to a pulley formed integrally with the first pulley and with the drum. This
arrangement causes one drum to rotate in an opposite direction to the other drums
of the mechanism. A spring raises the pedal when the performer removes his foot
from the same.
A cardboard wheel is provided the hub of which is made of bronze or the like and
through the centre of which a small pin passes, this pin being formed integrally
with the arms of the bent lever to which it communicates an oscillatory movement
imparted to the said pin by the crank formed integrally with the shaft of the fly
wheel, and rotating together with the said wheel; the lever oscillates upon a centre.
its two arms carrying the steel pin upon which rotates another wheel.
A metallic support is fixed by means of a screw upon one of the plates of the
casing of the mechanism. The said support carries the steel pin upon which the
lever oscillates.

page_text: An arm formed integrally with the lever serves to transmit an oscillating
movement to the lever to which it is connected by means of a joint. The said
lever bears against a roller which serves as its fulcrum, and at its end is jointed to
a rod which transmits an oscillating movement to the shaft carrying the small
hammers.
The said roller rotates upon a stud fixed to a lever pivotted to the casing of the
mechanism. The said lever is connected by a rod or other suitable means, to an
arm which is adapted to be acted upon by a performer's knee whereby he is enabled
to alter the position of the roller with relation to a lever thereby causing the latter
to make short or long strokes as desired. In order to regulate the motion of the
mechanism in case the performer places his foot too suddenly upon the pedal which
actuates the same, I attach to the lever a projection carrying a vibrating blade to
the extremity of which is attached a small piece of metal resting upon an elbow
piece formed at the end of a steel wire which is screwed into the shaft; this shaft
is provided with a plate covered on one side with felt and only bears upon the
surface of the fly wheel when the blade assumes a greater amplitude of oscillation
than necessary, which occurs when the performer pushes, too rapidly, the pedal.
The friction resulting from the plate bearing upon the surface of the fly wheel
decreases the speed of the former and regulates the movement thereof, which is
indispensable in order to obtain synchronism of the blows of the small hammers.
This arrangement which forms an important part of the invention is termed the
regulator.
The first and most important advantage resulting from the construction
herein before described is the arrangement of the percussion line, or the line upon
which the small hammers strike the strings below that. of the large hammers.
Another advantage is that the mechanism of upright and grand pianofortes which
are supplied with the improved mechanism does not materially differ from the
ordinary mechanism of pianofortes, the only difference of any importance being the
addition of small silk bands for which may be substituted very thin wires such as
are, used on table or grand pianofortes. Another advantage is being able to obtain
a protracted sound of all notes from the lowest to the highest by placing the
percussion line of the small hammers below the large hammers an advantage not
obtainable in any other mechanism.
In mechanisms heretofore constructed the force of a blow from the small hammer
had to be considerable in order to obtain by the vibration of the string a sound of
suitable intensity, but according to my invention this force is considerably reduced.
In mechanism heretofore constructed the percussion line of the small hammers was
above that of the large hammer and consequently nearer the top of the sounding
board and the wires at this place, being less Hexible, required, in order to produce a
sound of sufficient intensity, very hard blows from hammers of great weight
(50 decigrammes for low notes) graduating to 25 decigrammes for high notes,
whereas in the mechanism constructed according to this invention the line of
percussion of the small hammers being situated below that of the ordinary
hammers, and consequently further away from the top of the sounding board than
in other mechanism; the wires at this place are much more flexible and can
be made to vibrate more easily, with hammers made of felt (of a weight of
10 decigrammes for low notes) and 2 for high notes and consequently the force of
the blow required to strike these strings is reduced to about one eighth of that
required to strike the string in other mechanism. Another advantage results from
blows struck by a light and soft felt hammer not causing the noise produced by the
blow struck by heavy hammers so that the sustained sound is of the same nature
as that produced by the large hammers. Furthermore the sustained sound thus
produced is thoroughly clear even in the two highest octaves and it is also
continuous, that is to say, the sound is not composed of a repetition of sounds,
which has hitherto constituted a most serious defect in other similar mechanism.
The sound produced in mechanism constructed according to this invention is

page_text: similar to that of stringed instruments in which the sound is produced by means
of a bow.
The inconvenience arising from the troublesome noise produced in the movement
of mechanism heretofore constructed is; according to this invention, entirely
obviated.
In consequence of the improved arrangement for the percussion line, the
construction of this mechanism is greatly simplified, and although the same is
lighter it is nevertheless strong, and all the pieces composing the same being
subjected to a strain of about one eighth of that required in other mechanism,
they do not easily get out of order and consequently do not require frequent
repairs. For the same reason the power required by the performer to actuate
the pedal which imparts the movement to the mechanism is also considerably
reduced, which is a matter of importance to the performer. By making use of the
return movement of the large hammer to stop, by means of a silk band, the small
hammers used for sustaining sounds in upright or. grand pianos, a further
advantage is secured inasmuch as the spring is struck the 'moment a corre-
sponding key of the key-board is depressed. This advantage permits the
performance of a musical piece in a manner which has been hitherto impossible.
Dated this ninth day of February 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
PIANOFORTES 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 pianofortes and comprises improvements in apparatus
of the class described in the specification of former Letters Patent dated
November 6th AD 1867 N° 3137, that is to say, apparatus for obtaining &
prolonged sound, with scarcely any perceptible tremolo effect, by striking
isochronous blows upon the strings in rapid succession by means of small hammers
formed of, or covered with, felt and thereby causing the continuous vibration of
the said strings. It also comprises various other improvements as hereinafter set
forth.
The said invention can be applied to upright, grand or other pianofortes, either
in the course of their manufacture or after they have been made. It is partly
designed to obviate defects which have been found to exist in apparatus constructed
as described in the said former specification, and which have prevented the
practical use of such apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the action and other parts of an upright
pianoforte, with my present improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of a motor employed therein.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line ¹, x¹ Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a vertical section showing the action of a grand pianoforte, with my
present improvements applied thereto.
Figure 6 illustrates in detail the construction of part of the mechanism shown in
Figure 1, and
Figure 7 is a side elevation, drawn full size, of two of the felt hammers which
I employ, the large one being intended for the lowest note and the small one for
the highest note of the pianoforte.
In applying my present improvements to an upright pianoforte, I provide a shaft
or bar A (Figure 1) which is preferably of wood and is made in two parts held
together by means of screws a (Figures 6 and 7) and strengthened by two metal
blades or plates a¹. This shaft or bar A is arranged parallel to the plane of the
strings B of the instrument. Between the two parts of the said shaft or bar are
fixed the steel blades C which carry the felt hammers D.
These hammers are, according to my present invention, so arranged that they
will strike the strings B below the percussion line of the large or main hammers E
or further from the bridge B¹ than the latter, instead of above the said main
hammers or nearer to the bridge as described in the said former specification. By
this arrangement I gain various advantages hereinafter enumerated. The number
of small additional hammers employed must be equal to the number of notes
which it is desired should be capable of having their sounds prolonged, and the
said hammers may be applied either to certain notes of the pianoforte only, or to
the whole of the notes thereof.
The shaft or bar A has, at each extremity, a small steel pivot or trunnion a²,
Figure 6; it is supported, by the said pivots or trunnions, in bearings lined with

page_text: cloth or similar material and formed in two brackets or supports attached to the
frame or case of the instrument. The said shaft or bar is provided with a lever or
arm F having an adjusting screw F against which bears the lever G. This lever
is connected by the rod H with the motor I, situated beneath the key-board of the
instrument and arranged upon pieces of felt or other suitable material, to diminish
or deaden the noise which would otherwise be caused by its working.
This motor imparts oscillatory motion to the shaft or bar A in the following
manner that is to say:-A pin J is fixed excentrically in, or formed integrally
with, the shaft K', so as to act as a crank-pin. This shaft carries a fly-wheel K to
which motion is imparted by the performer by means of a suitably arranged pedal
in the manner hereinafter set forth. The motor is enclosed in a frame or casing b
formed of sheets or plates of iron united by means of metal tie-rods b¹. The
journals of the shaft K¹ carrying the fly-wheel K are supported upon wheels or
rollers composed of card-board or sheets of paper pasted together, so as to
diminish the wear of the said journals by friction and at the same time avoid the
noise which would be produced by the rotation of the said journals on metal wheels
or rollers. The wheels or rollers c are mounted upon axles carried in suitable
bearings in the casing b and in the sheet iron supports or brackets d.
The fly-wheel K is preferably of brass and is very light, and the shaft upon
which it is mounted is of steel. On one side of the said fly-wheel is a grooved
pulley formed integrally with, or rigidly attached to, the shaft K'; and on the
other side thereof is the crank-pin J.
A card-board or paper wheelf having its edge of suitable shape to fit the groove
of the pulley e is arranged in frictional contact with the said pulley. This wheel
is so arranged that it can be lowered into the groove of the pulley e or raised
therefrom, and for this purpose it is mounted upon an axle carried by the lever f¹.
The said lever has two arms secured to, or formed integrally with, a boss or hub,
and is fitted and free to oscillate upon the stud ƒ³..
A drum or pulley g is fixed on the axle of the wheel fand one end of a leather
or other strap or band h is wound around the said drum or pulley; the other end
of the said strap or band is attached, or connected, in any suitable manner to a
pedal, by pressing upon which with his foot the performer can operate the motor.
A leather or other strap or band h¹ is, moreover, attached at one end to a drum or
pulley g¹ also fixed upon the axle of the wheel f. This strap or band is passed
over a pulley i and connected at its other end to the spiral spring k. The said
straps or bands are, moreover, so arranged that, when the said pedal is depressed,
the strap or band h will be unwound from the drum or pulley g, whilst the other
strap or band will be wound upon the drum or pulley g¹ and the spring & thus
extended.
1 indicates a card-board or paper wheel, the hub of which is made of brass or
other suitable material, and which is loosely mounted upon a pin or shaft / fixed
in the two arms of a forked lever m. This wheel bears against the crank-pin J,
which, at each revolution of the shaft K¹, raises and lowers the said wheel, thus
imparting oscillatory motion to the lever m. This lever oscillates upon the pin or
shaft m carried by the metal bracket or support n which is attached to the
casing b. m³ is an arm formed integrally with, or rigidly attached to, the lever m.
This arm serves to transmit the oscillatory motion of the said lever to the lever o
one end of which is coupled to the said arm at o*. The central portion of the
lever o bears against a roller o¹ which serves as its fulcrum, and its other end is
coupled to the rod H which connects it with the lever G. The roller o' is free to
rotate upon a pin or stud o³ fixed in the lever o³, which is pivotted at o' to the
casing band is acted upon by a spring o³. This lever is, moreover, connected by a
rod (or by other suitable means) to an arm arranged to be acted upon by the.
knee of a performer in order to alter the position of the roller o¹ relatively to the
lever o and thereby lengthen or shorten the stroke of the hammers D. This
device acts like the swell in an organ, that is to say, it enables the sound produced

page_text: by the striking of the strings by the small hammers to be gradually increased and
diminished.
"
When the roller o¹ is moved into the position shown by the dotted line in
Figure 4, the movement imparted to the rod H by the lever o will be very slight,
so that very light blows will be struck by the small hammers upon the strings, and
the sounds resulting therefrom will be soft. By altering the position of the
roller o relatively to the lever o it is easy to pass through a graduation of soun.l
from pianissimo to fortissimo, full expression can, therefore, be given to a musical
theme or piece, in as effectual a manner as with a stringed instrument which is
played by means of a bow. When the performer releases the said arm, the spiral
spring of draws the lever o³ and roller o¹ back to their original positions..
The said motor is operated as follows, that is to say, by depressing the aforesaid
pedal, the wheel fis rotated in one direction, and, at the same time, forced in contact
with the grooved pulley e so as to produce sufficient friction to cause rotary motion
to be transmitted through the pulley e to the shaft K' and fly-wheel K. When the
said pedal is released, the spring k, acting upon the belt or band ¹, raises the
wheel out of contact with the pulley e, and, at the same time, causes it to rotate
in the reverse direction and thereby raise the said pedal into position to be again
depressed to operate the mechanism as above described.
In order to regulate the motion of the mechanism in case a performer should
depress the said pedal too rapidly, I attach to the lever m a projection carrying a
vibratory blade m³, to the extremity of which is attached a small block m of wood
or other suitable material, which rests upon the end of a steel or other rod m³
screwed into.the piece me. This piece is pivotted on the pin or shaft m' and its
underside is covered with felt or similar material. It is normally held up by the
spring m³ but bears upon the periphery of the fly-wheel K when oscillations of
greater amplitude than are necessary are imparted to the lever m and blade m³ ;
the said piece thus acts as a brake to retard the motion of the fly-wheel. This
device, which forms an important part of the motor, is termed the regulator,
and is indispensable in order to obtain synchronism of the blows of the small
hammers.
The oscillatory movement of the shaft or bar A. is participated in by all the
vibratory blades C, but the small hammers D are normally held away from the
strings B by the bands or threads p of silk or other suitable material, which are
attached to the rods or stems E¹ of the main bainmers E, the said blades, therefore,
being flexible, bend and do not transmit the oscillatory movement to the said small
hammers. The bands or threads p are preferably attached to the rods or stems of
the main hammers by means of small rings g of india-rubber or other suitable
material.
"
If the shaft or bar A is oscillated by the aforesaid motor, and the performer, by
depressing a key, causes one or other of the main hammers É to move forward into
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 in order to strike one of the strings B,
the corresponding band or thread p will be slackened and the corresponding
hammer D permitted to oscillate and strike isochronous blows in rapid succession
upon the said .string, the vibration of which is thus continued as long as the
performer keeps the said key depressed and the motor in operation. The said key
may, if desired, be depressed in such a manner that the damper L will be removed
from the string without the latter being struck by the hammer E, then, if the motor
is set in motion, the vibration of the said string will be caused by the small
hammer only.
The application of the said invention to a grand pianoforte is illustrated in
Figure 5. In this case, the shaft or bar A, the blades C and the hammers D are
constructed and operate in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described. But
the bands or threads p are attached, at one extremity to the hammer D, and at the
other extremity to the bar or support 7 by means of a screw or otherwise. A plate
or piece E is secured to each of the main hammers E so that, when the said
hammer is in its lowest position, the said plate or piece will hold down the band or

page_text: thread p and thus prevent the small hammer D from striking the string B except
when the corresponding key is depressed.
The motor is arranged beneath the sounding-board of the instrument and is
entirely concealed between the bars of the frame or case; it is set in motion by
means of a pedal as above described. The rod H is connected to the said motor
by means of the bell-crank-lever M, the link N and the connecting rod N¹.
I sometimes provide a grand pianoforte with the improved means hereinafter
described for facilitating the repetition of a note, that is to say, the striking of a
string two or more times in rapid succession by one of the main hammers.
O' indicates the block or piece of wood in which is fixed the rod or stem E¹ of
the hammer E, and which is jointed to the forked piece P attached by means of a
screw to the wooden bar or rail Q. This block has a peculiar shape different from
that of the blocks ordinarily used for a similar purpose; it is provided with a pin
or projection O' which passes through a rectangular aperture R¹ formed in the long
arm of the lever R. The lever R is pivotted to the bracket S¹ which is rigidly
secured to the key S, and the said lever is acted upon by a spring S also secured
to the said key.
A small piece or projection O' is provided upon the block O, and to this piece is
attached one end of a thin bands of leather or other suitable material; the other
end of the said band is connected with a piece s³ of wood attached, by means of a
screw, to the upper extremity of an elastic steel blade t, the lower extremity of
which is held between the wooden bars u, u¹, These steel blades serve to
equilibrate the weight of the main hammers, and, when a hammer has been raised
by depressing the corresponding key, maintain the same in its raised position near
the string for a sufficient period of time to permit the long arm of the lever R to .
pass below the part 0³ of the block O and hold it in proximity to the string. By
these means the repetition of a note can be effectually and easily accomplished,
even when the key, after each depression, is permitted to rise to the end of its
stroke.
To ensure the fall of the main hammers upon the bar r, so as to arrest the
movement of the hammers D, the weight of the lever R, as well as a part of the
weight of the key, is utilized, the face of the lever R at the top of the aperture R¹
bearing against the pin or projection O' when the key is released.
T indicates a small wooden casing serving as a cover for the dampers L and the
hammers D, and also serving to diminish the noise produced by the blows of the
said small hammers upon the strings, and, at the same time, to strengthen or
augment the prolonged sounds.
In some cases I provide the device hereinafter described for holding one or more
of the dampers away from the corresponding string or strings so as to permit either
a single note, or a complete chord, to be prolonged without the necessity for keeping
the corresponding key or keys depressed; a performer is thus enabled, whilst the
sound of the said note or chord is continued, to use both hands for the execution of
passages or pieces of music, such as scales or arpeggios, and repeated notes.
The said device consists essentially of a metal cylinder or shaft U arranged to
hold a band, strap or cord of leather or other suitable material connected with
the damper-lever L'. In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, this cylinder or shaft
extends from end to end of the row of dampers in a groove or channel w¹ formed
in the wooden bar or rail w which supports the damper-levers L', and the said
cylinder or shaft is provided at its extremities with excentric pivots or trunnions
(as shown in dotted lines), which are carried in suitable bearings. The said shaft is,
moreover, connected by suitable rods and levers with an arm arranged beneath the
key-board in proximity to the knee of the performer so that the latter is enabled
to partially rotate the said shaft and cause the same, by reason of the excentricity
of its pivots or trunnions, to occupy the position indicated by the dotted circle
representing the periphery of the shaft. The said shaft is thus caused to press the
band or cord v against one side of the groove or channel wat the moment when
the damper-lever L' has been raised by the depression of the cofresponding key

page_text: and the said band or cord has been pulled upward by the spring v. The damper-
lever L¹ is thus held in its raised position and the damper L is kept away from
the string B, which will, therefore, vibrate, if the motor is in operation, until the
performer turns the shaft U in the reverse direction and releases the said band or
cord.
In Figure 5, I have shown two of the above described devices, one for keeping
the dampers away from the strings and the other for holding down the corre-
sponding key. The band or cord of the latter is attached to the inner end of the
key S so that when the outer end thereof is depressed and the inner end raised,
the shaft U can be partially rotated by means similar to those above described, to 1
press the said band or cord against the bar or rail V and thus hold the said key up
at its inner end and down at its outer end.
To provide for stopping. the motor abruptly when necessary, I sometimes arrange
in combination with the fly-wheel K, a brake K2, Figure 3, which is preferably
attached to a rod carried in suitable bearings and extending beneath the key-board 1
to the front of the instrument, where it is provided with a knob or handle, so that
it can be actuated either by the hand or by the knee of the performer.
One of the most important features of the present invention is the arrangement
of the small hammers in such a manner that the percussion lino thereof is below
that of the main hammers, instead of above the same, or, in the case of a grand
pianoforte, between the line of percussion of the main hammers and the central
portions of the strings, instead of between the bridge and the line of percussion of
the main hammers.
The following important advantages are gained by this invention, viz :-
1st The action of the pianoforte, whether it be an upright or a grand, need not
materially differ from that ordinarily employed, the only difference of any
importance being the addition of the bands or threads which serve for holding the
hammers D away from the strings, and for which I sometimes substitute very thin
wires such as are used in grand pianofortes.
2nd A prolonged sound can be obtained with the highest notes; this advantage
is not possessed by mechanism heretofore constructed of the class above described.
3rd In the mechanism described in the said former specification, the percussion
line of the small hammers being nearer the top of the sounding-board than that of
the main hammers, and the strings at this part being comparatively inflexible, the
said small hammers must exert considerable force and must, therefore, be heavy
(say of the weight of 50 decigrammes for the low notes and graduating to 25 deci-
grammes for the high notes) in order to cause, by the vibration of the strings,
sounds of the desired intensity; but, according to the present invention, the line of
percussion of the small hammers being situated farther from the bridge than that
of the main hammers, the strings can be readily made to vibrate, and the small
hammers may be made entirely of felt and weigh say ten decigrammes for the low
notes and graduating to two decigrammes for the high notes; and the average force
of blow required is about one eighth of that necessary in the case of the mechanism
described in the said former specification.
4th The sustained or prolonged sound has scarcely any perceptible tremolo
effect, even in the case of the two highest octaves of the instrument; and can
hardly be recognized as composed of a repetition of sounds; thus a very serious
defect in the mechanism as formerly constructed is obviated. The sound produced
by means of mechanism constructed according to the present invention is similar to
that of stringed instruments in which the sound is produced by means of a bow.
5th The inconvenience arising from the noise produced by the motor is, according
to the present invention, entirely obviated.
6th The construction and operation of the motor-mechanism is greatly simplified;
and although the said mechanism is very light it is nevertheless strong; and,
being only subjected to a strain or stress of about one eighth of that required by
the mechanism as formerly constructed, it does not easily get out of order and,
consequently, does not require frequent repairs.

page_text: 7th By utilizing the return movement of the main hammers to arrest (by means
of a band or thread) that of the small hammers used for sustaining or prolonging
the sounds, the sound produced by the depression of a key is stopped directly the
said key is released, thus permitting the performance of a musical piece in a
manner which is impracticable with the mechanism as formerly constructed.
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
In a pianoforte wherein small additional hammers are employed for prolonging
or sustaining the sounds produced by means of the main hammers :-
First. The arrangement of the said additional hammers in such a manner that
their line of percussion is further from the bridge than that of the main hammers,
as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Second. The connection of the additional hammers with the main hammers or
with a fixed support in such a manner that each of the said additional hammers
will be held away from its string except when the corresponding key is depressed,.
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The improved device consisting essentially of the excentrically journalled
shaft arranged to be actuated by the performer to press upon bands or straps
connected with one or more of the dampers, or with one or more of the keys,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The improved means, substantially as described and as shown in
Figure 5 of the drawing, for facilitating the repetition of a note, as above specified.
Fifth. The improved motor.consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing (with or
without the brake K³) and arranged to be operated as, and for the purpose,
specified.
.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.