Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
• Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I GUSTAVE LYON of 58 Chaussee d'Antin Paris in the Republic of France
Musical Instrument Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Upright pianos have a damper which rests against the strings either above or
below the point at which the hammer strikes.
This damper is composed of a foot secured to a rod centred upon a fork mounted
upon the hammer bar or upon a special bar. The special bar may be fixed to the
action properly so called for pianos without transposition or independently of the
action and fixed to the body of pianos for transposition pianos.
Hitherto the extremity of the rod carrying the damper has been actuated by an
attachment of wood or metal adapted to a prolongation of the bridge.
In the mechanism according to my invention the extremity of the rod of the
damper is acted upon directly by a prolongation from the said rod operated upon
by means of an adjustable button carried upon the tumbler of the hammer and
participating in its movement. When the finger is pressed on the key the escape-
ment projects the hammer against the string and the adjustable button impinges
upon the prolongation from the rod of the damper and moves the damper to
a certain extent. When the hammer has struck the string it is returned so far
that a counter catch carried by the tumbler of the hammer takes upon a catch
carried by the bridge. The hammer is then off the string and the damper returns
towards the string.
If the piano is played very forcibly or from wear the hammer may return too
abruptly or too far permitting the damper to act prematurely. To obviate this
inconvenience I employ a rest provided upon the catch carried by the bridge on
which the tip of the counter-catch bears so as to limit or regulate as desired the
return movement of the hammer. The position of this rest remains invariable
If by wear of the foot of
whatever may be the derangement of the mechanism.
the damper the extension from the rod of the foot approaches the adjustable button
the relative positions are not altered as the button is also retreated. The regulation
of this damper is therefore excessively stable and simple and independent of the
wear of the mechanism. The adjustable button may be arranged on a screw
passing through the tumbler of the hammer so that a simple screwdriver will serve
for effecting the adjustment of the button.
A lever or triangle may be centered to the special bar of the damper and by
means of an elbow or arms enable the dampers to be removed altogether by the
loud pedal.
Dated the 27th day of 1905
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: I GUSTAVE LYON of 58" Chaussée d'Antin Paris in the Republic of France
Musical Instrument Maker 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 :-
Upright pianos have a damper which rests against the strings either above
or below the point at which the hammer strikes.
I will refer to the accompanying drawing in the following description.
The said damper is composed of a foot P secured to a rod L, centered at o upon
a fork F mounted either upon the bar B of the hammer or upon a special bar b.
The special bar 6 may be fixed to the action properly so called for pianos without
transposition or independently of the action and fixed to the body of pianos for
transposition pianos.
Hitherto the extremity E of the rod L carrying the damper P has been actuated
by an attachment of wood or metal adapted to a prolongation of the bridge C.
In the mechanism according to my invention the extremity E of the rod of the
damper P is acted upon directly by a prolongation T from the said rod operated
upon by means of an adjustable button R carried upon the tumbler N of the
hammer participating in its movement. When the finger is pressed on the key the
escapement projects the hammer against the string and the adjustable button R
impinges upon the prolongation T from the rod L of the damper P and moves the
damper to a certain extent. When the hammer has struck the string it is returned
so far that a counter-catch a carried by the tumbler of the hammer takes upon a
catch A carried by the bridge C. The hammer is then off the string and the
damper P returns towards the string. If the piano be played very forcibly or if
owing to wear, the hammer may return too abruptly or too far, permitting the
damper P to act prematurely. To obviate this inconvenience I employ a rest or
abutment K provided upon the catch A carried by the bridge C on which rest or
abutment the tip of the counter-catch a bears so as to limit or regulate as desired
the return movement of the hammer. The position of this rest or abutment K
remains invariable whatever may be the derangement of the mechanism.
If by
wear of the foot of the damper P, the extension from the rod L of the damper
approaches the adjustable button R, the relative positions are not altered as the
button is also retreated. The regulation of the damper is therefore excessively
staple and simple and independent of the wear of the mechanism. The adjustable
button R may be arranged on a screw passing through the tumbler of the hammer
as shewn so that a simple screwdriver will serve for effecting the adjustment of
the button R.
A lever or triangle I may be centered at i to the special bar 6 of the damper
and by means of an elbow or arms enable the dampers to be removed altogether by
the loud pedal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In pianoforte actions the means for operating the damper from the hammer
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
2. In pianoforte actions the combination with the lever of the damper of a pro-
longation T and with the hammer of an adjustable button R substantially as
herein before described and shewn.
3. In pianoforte actions the rest or abutment K and the catch a operating sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 4. The improved pianoforte action consisting of the combination of parts
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 25th day of February 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.