IMPROVED MEANS FOR EMPLOYING ORGAN PEDALS IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Rushton at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1883.
JAMES RUSHTON pianoforte and Organ Tuner Repairer and Regulator, of
N° 11 Albert Terrace, Notting Hill Gate. London. W. IMPROVED MEANS FOR
EMPLOYING ORGAN PEDALS IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES
My Invention relates to the employment of organ Pedals in connection with
pianofortes. Differing from all others that I have seen, known, or heard of, in
that they are not attached to the keys of the Piano It consists of and in the
application of, a set of hammers similar to those used in a piano for producing
tone. The Hammers are glued. into a "sticker or single Action or into a
"Check
"
or double Action, which is fitted and fixed inside the bottom of the pianoforte,
on the left, or base, side, And secured in its place by two buttons or thumb-
screws, one each side thus allowing the action to be taken out and replaced at
leisure. The hammers in connection with the pedals strike the wires of the
pianoforte above the belly or sound board bridge upon the pedals being pressed
down by the feet in the usual manner The pedals being connected with the
action by a back fall which is made of iron or wood. The pedals are of sufficient
width and depth to allow of a round hole being bored in each of them of sufficient
depth and size to allow a screw which goes right through the pedal to be turned
right or left in them as occasion requires by a screw driver leaving the screw under
flush or level of the pedal The screw has a wood button on the end of the thread
covered with cloth or leather to prevent noise in its Action upon the Backfall
aforementioned The Action is as follows-On the pedals being pressed down by
the feet the button on the screw rests upon the end of the Backfall causing it to
rise in front and lifting a wire tapped at each end with a covered button on each
end which works through a bushed rail morticed into the Blocks or screwed to the
Pedal Frame Thus bringing the Backfall into direct communication with the
Action inside the Piano
The advantages of my Invention are 1 It is noiseless and can be applied to
the best Pianoforte made without the least injury to the instrument 2nd The
touch blow and Escapement and repitition will be equal to that of the action
already in use in any piano-forte to which it may be applied. 3rd My Invention
not touching the keys gives the effect of an independent pedal. Thus enabling the

page_text: performer to use all the bass keys with his hands. 4th Pedals detached or
attached by merely pulling them out or pushing them into their place 5th The
blocks on which the pianoforte stands have two dowels fixed in each corresponding
holes being bored in the bottom of the piano. The pianoforte being placed on the
blocks the dowels fit into it and keep it firm whilst the holes for the castors or
rollers of pianoforte are morticed out of the blocks and the bottom of pianoforte
rests level on the top of the blocks so that at any time the piano-forte can be
completely detached from blocks and pedals by simply lifting it off the blocks
6th The screw working through a hole in each pedal and having a covered button
at the end resting on the backfall allows of the touch being made up and regulated
from the front. Thus obviating the necessity of pulling out the frame several
times to regulate each note, As is the case with all detached pedals that I have
seen, known or heard of