New or Improved Means for Increasing or Decreasing the Tension of Strings in Pianofortes and other Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1893—Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Means for Increasing or Decreasing the
Tension of Strings in Pianofortes and other Stringed Musical
Instruments.
SAMUEL HENRY PALMER 32 New Arcade Sunderland Durham, Pianoforte
Tuner & Repairer & General Musical Instrument Dealer & Music Seller, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A metallic plate rests on rods, screwed or riveted in at intervals to suit the scale
of the instrument to which it is to be attached, the plate being perforated to suit
the relative scale. A resisting bar is placed each side of the plate rods, which bar
is screwed to the wrest plate or plank of instrument to regulate the string line.
The string pass under one bar then through a bolt, then under the other resisting.
bar, the end of the string then twisted round a flat headed screw, with a washer
between the head & string, the string crossed & screw tightened up. The bolt
that the string passes through is perforated at one end & screw tapped at the other,
& of sufficient length to protrude through the holes in the plate for a draw nut to
be attached to draw up the tension of the string.
Dated this 30th day of March 1893.
SAML. HENRY PALMER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Means for Increasing or Decreasing the
Tension of Strings in Pianofortes and other Stringed Musical
Instruments.
I, SAMUEL HENRY PALMER 32 New Arcade Sunderland Durham Pianoforte
Tuner, 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 :-
A metallic plate rests on rods secured or riveted in at intervals to suit the scale
of the instrument to which it is to be attached, the plate being perforated to suit
the relative scale. A resisting bar is placed each side of the plate rods, which bar
is screwed to wrest plate or plank of instrument to regulate the string line. The
strings pass under the bar then through a bolt then under the other resisting bar,
the end of string is then twisted round a flat headed screw with a washer between
the head and string, the string is then crossed and the screw tightened up, the bolt
that the screw passes through is perforated at one end and screw tapped at the
other, and is of sufficient longth to protrude through the holes in the plate for a
draw nut to be attached to draw up the tension of the strings.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I annex drawing to which
I now refer.
Figure 1. is a plan view of my invention in position.
Figure 2. front elevation of same.
Figure 3. end elevation of same.
a is a metal bar or plate having pillars or legs c which bear against the metal
plate b. This bar a has holes d in same for the passage of a pin or bolt e. This
pin e has a hole pierced in the same for the passage of the string f. of the piano.
A nut or thumbscrew g engages on the threaded end of the pin e. h, h, are two
bars which are secured to the wrest plank i over the strings f. The action is as
follows, when the nut g is revolved, the string is tightened or slackened according

page_text: to the direction in which the pin e is moved. It will be understood that my
invention may be employed to adjust the strings of various instruments, such as
mandolines, banjos, zithers and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. The combination and arrangement of the various parts substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. In a device for altering or adjusting the tension of strings in pianofortes and
the like, a pin pierced for the passage of the string and operated by a thumbscrew
or nut engaging on said piu; a supporting plate or bar having apertures for the
passage of the said pins and supported against the wrest plank by means of lega
or projecting pegs; two bars secured to the wrest plank, said bars being over
the strings all in combination and substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The method of regulating the tension of strings of pianofortes and the like,
by means of a pin having a hole therein and adjusted by means of a nut or
thumbscrew.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.