IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
A communication from abroad by the Count Vitold Charles Antoine Philippe
Dieudonné Guillaume Nydpruck, and Louis Antoine Beunon, both of Paris,
France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1880.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." (A communication from abroad by the Count
Vitold Charles Antoine Philippe Dieudonné Guillaume Nydpruck, and Louis
Antoine Beunon, both of Paris, France.)
This Invention refers to a new or improved mechanical action or construction
for pianofortes, whereby great simplicity is obtained; thus the number of parts
which heretofore comprised the mechanisin or action of a piano is by this Invention
much reduced.
According to this Invention the action is composed of four main parts which are
made of metal, and for this purpose and according to one modification a band of
metal is used; this band may be made of iron, copper, or other metal; then according
to the degree of elasticity or rigidity required the band is used flat, or it is bent
over on itself so as to form a kind of tube, which then is very resisting; a complete
ring is not always employed, and in certain cases the band is only bent to an angle
shape. In other cases the said bands may be undulated or corrugated.
The accompanying Drawing is a general view of so much of a piano action made
according to this Invention as will be necessary to illustrate the way in which the
Invention is carried into effect. A, B, C, D, are the four parts before referred to.
The above described piano action, composed of four principal parts instead of
the numerous pieces heretofore employed when the mechanism is made of wood, is
made up of the metalic bands aforesaid for the construction of the above described
nechanism, the said bands being being made of any suitable metal which may be
bent, twisted, or turned into different forms according to the degree of elasticity
and stiffness which the parts require.
It is not necessary here to refer to the fittings, keys, and other parts which are
known in connection with pianos, as only the metallic mechanism is claimed,
composed of four principal parts which compose the whole combination of the
mechanism of pianos. This Invention is applicable to all instruments of this class
by varying the forms and sizes according as to whether the Invention is applied to
an upright or to a grand piano, the forms and arrangements being varied according
to the particular class of instrument to which the Invention is applied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." (A communication from abroad by the Count
Vitold Charles Autoine Phillippe Dieudonné Guillaume Nydpruck, and Louis
Antoine Beaunon, both of Paris, France.)
This Invention refers to a new or improved mechanical action or construction
for pianofortes, whereby great simplicity is obtained; thus the number of parts
which heretofore comprised the mechanism or action of a piano is by this Invention
much reduced.
According to this Invention the action is composed of four main parts which
are made of metal, and for this purpose and according to one modification a band of
metal is used; this band may be made of iron, copper, or other metal; then according
to the degree of clasticity or rigidity required the band is used flat or it is bent
over on itself so as to form a kind of tube, which then is very resisting; a complete
ring is not always employed, and in certain cases the band is only bent to an angle
shape. In other cases the said bands may be undulated or corrugated.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a general view of so much of a piano
action made according to this Invention as will be necessary to illustrate the way
in which the Invention is carried into effect. A, B, C, D, are the four parts before
referred to.
Figures 2 to 11 show these parts in detail, the parts of great length are shown
broken; Figure 2 shows a front view of the piece A, a part of which is in section
according to the line A', A", of Figure 3, which is a side view of Figure 2; it will
be bere noticed that the metal band is not bent angled, it is only bent over to form
hinges A Figure 4 is a front view of the piece B; Figure 5 is a side view; and
Figure 4bis a section through B", B, of Figure 4; it will be here seen that the
band of metal is bent at an angle B¹ to give stiffness to the bar.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the piece Č, and Figure 7 a horizontal section of the
same picce through the line C, C, of Figure 6; hero the metal rod is not only
bent to an angle at C, but it is cambered, as seen at C¹, Figure 7, which still
further increases the stiffness.
Figure 8 is a face view of
line D', D", of Figure 9;
line D, D, of Figure 9.
form a tube, as seen at D,
as before described.
the piece D seen partly in section, according to the
and Figure 11 is a horizontal section through the
Here the metallic band is entirely rounded so as to
Figures 8, 9, and 11; the hinges D¹ are thus obtained
The above described piano action composed of four principal parts instead of the
numerous pieces heretofore employed when the mechanism is made of wood, is made
up of the metallic bands aforesaid for the construction of the above described
mechanism, the said bands being made of any suitable metal which may be bent,
twisted, or turned into different forms, according to the degree of elasticity and
stiffness which the parts require.
It is not necessary here to refer to the fittings, keys, and other parts which are
known in connection with pianos, as only the metallic mechanism is claimed, com-
posed of four principal parts which compose the whole combination of the mechanism
of pianos. This Invention is applicable to all instruments of this class by varying
the forins and sizes, according as to whether the Invention is applied to an upright
or to a grand piano, the forms and arrangements being varied according to the
particular class of instrument to which the Invention is applied.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The arrangement above described and shown of piano mechanism, composed
of four principal parts or pieces, instead of, as heretofore, of a number of pieces,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The employment of metallic bands in the construction of the above
described mechanism, the said bands being made wholly of suitable metal and
curved or made of different forms or shapes, according to the degree ef elasticity or
rigidity which the part should have, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, havo hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
E. G. BREWER. (L.S.)