STRUMENT
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ainsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1882.
JOHN AINSWORTH of Brinscall in the County of Lancaster
IN PIANO-FORTES AND SIMILAR KEYED INSTRUMENTS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for connecting
pedals to the keys of piano-fortes and other like instruments, so that the keys may
be worked by the feet of the performer.
I use two levers to each key one connected by a wire or otherwise to the key
of the instrument, this lever bears against a fulcrum extending from one end to the
other of the instrument and the end of the lever furthest from the connection to
the key is cut or formed obliquely and rests over the end of a second lever which
is connected to a pedal, this second lever rests on a fulcrum and when the pedal
is depressed the end of the second lever raises the end of the first lever which is in
contact with it, and the other end of the first named lever is thus depressed and
by the wire or other connection it draws down the key; I use a staple or pins
fixed in a bar to keep the ends of the two levers in the required position where
they rest against each other and I employ a spring which is fixed to one lever and
bears on the end of the other to prevent any sound when they are actuated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Ainsworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th August 1882.
JOHN AINSWORTH of Brinscall in the County of Lancaster
IN PIANOFORTES AND SIMILAR KEYED INSTRUMENTS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for connecting
pedals to the keys of pianofortes and other like instruments, so that the keys may
be worked by the feet of the performer.

page_text: I use two levers to each key one connected by a wire or otherwise to the key
of the instrument, this lever bears against a fulcrum extending from one end to the
other of the instrument and the end of the lever furthest from the connection to
the key is cut or formed obliquely and rests over the end of a second lever which
is connected to a pedal: this second lever rests on a fulcrum and when the pedal
is depressed the end of the second lever raises the end of the first lever which is in
contact with it and the other end of the first named lever is thus depressed and
by the wire or other connection it draws down the key: I use a pin to keep the
ends of the two levers in the required position where they rest against each other
and I employ a spring which is fixed to one lever and bears on the end of the
other to prevent any sound when they are actuated and to bring the levers quickly
into position for repetition.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the accompanying drawing reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
a is a pedal connected by the wire b to the lever c: the wire b is in two parts
and 6 is a nut for adjustment so that the end of the pedal and the end of the
lever c may be drawn towards each other or moved further apart: d is a fixed
guide through which the wire b passes: e is a bar which forms the fulcrum for the
lever c:
f is a lever one end of which rests on the lever c and the other end is
connected by a wire g and a piece of wood g¹ to the key h of the piano or other
instrument the wire g can pass downward freely through the lever ƒ so that when
the key is played by hand the lever is not moved: the wire g is screwed into or
out of the wood gl according to the distance between the key h and the lever f:
the wire g passes through a guide i: j is a bar which forms the fulcrum of the
lever f: a pin fixed in the bar j enters a hole in the lever f to keep it in position:
k is a spring one end of which is fixed to the lever c and the other end bears on
the lever f: this spring brings the levers quickly into their normal position so that
notes may be repeated by the pedals as rapidly as when the keys of the instrument
are played by hand: is a pin passing through a slot in the lever c and fixed in
the lever fto prevent lateral movement.
The bars e and j are fixed to the ends or otherwise connected to the frame
of the piano and they are furnished with felt or other cushions for the levers to
bear against.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same
I declare that I claim.
The improved mechanism for connecting the keys of pianofortes and like
instruments to pedals substantially as herein described and shown.
In witness whereof I the said John Ainsworth have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty fifth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two