Improvements in Pianoforte Hammers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Pianoforte Hammers.
I, CHARLES MERRY MCQUILKIN, of Denison via Heyfield, Gippsland, in the
Colony of Victoria, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In pianoforte hammers commonly in use the felt covered end, which strikes
the wires to produce the note, becomes hardened and "dead" and the tone of the
note 18 thus rendered defective I provide at the end of the hammer a resilient
cushion of peculiar construction in which this objection is obviated.
My invention consists of the following:-
I form a recess in the end of the hammer and in such recess I set a ball of rubber
this ball is preferably of the form of a hollow sphere, spheroid or the like, and
which is glued or solutioned into position in the recess to a depth of about one-
third the diameter of the ball. A strip of rubber passes around the said ball and
has its enda secured to the top and bottom faces of the hammer, and upon the
said band 18 mounted a strip of felt, which is likewise secuied to the top and
bottom faces of the hammei The felting 18 preferably of increased thickness
at end of hammer and for this purpose it may be specially built up by means of
insertion strips.
The band aforesaid which holds the ball in position is preferably formed of
rubber upon a base of textile fabric the fabric side being placed next to the wood
and receiving the glue or solution by which it is affixed in position, the band 18
however not solutioned to the ball. In thus securing the ball in its recess and
also in securing the felting to the rubber band a gutta percha cement may be
used instead of glue
If desired an extra band might be employed to pass over the ball and be secured
to the sides of a hammer but this in practice would not be requued, if the recess
18 formed sufficiently deep to hold the ball in place
In applying my invention to a pianoforte the sizes of the spheres would vary
upon the different hammers, thus the hammer at the extreme base end of piano
would be provided with the largest ball and these would gradually decrease in
size the smallest being at the extreme treble end of piano, and similarly the
amount of felt covering might be varied
Dated this 80th day of September 1899.
C. M McQUILKIN.
Marks &Clerk,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Pianoforte Hammers.
I, CHARLES MERRY MCQUILKIN, of Denison via Heyfield, Gippsland, in the
Colony of Victoria. Australia, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
In pianoforte hammers commonly in use the felt covered end, which strikes
the wires to produce the note, becomes hardened and "dead" and the tone of the
note 18 thus rendered defective. I provide at the end of the hammer a resilient
cushion of peculiar construction in which this objection is obviated
In describing the invention I will make reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings in which-
Figure 1 shews side view of a hammer to which my invention has been
applied
Figure 2 a plan of same
Figure 3 a longitudinal vertical section of same
Figure 4 shews end view of hammer with felt removed and Figure 5 corie-
sponding side sectional view-in these figures (4 and 5) an extra strip to be
hereinafter described is shown
"a
"
represents the striking hammer of a pianoforte in the end of which I form
a recess 6" and in such recess I set a ball " of rubber. This ball is preferably
of the form of a hollow sphere, spheroid or the like, and is set in the recess to a
depth of about one thud the diameter of the ball and glued or solutioned into
position A sip of rubber d" passes around the said ball and has its ends
secured to the top and bottom faces of the hammer, and upon the said band 18
mounted strips of felt e, †" secured to the top and bottom faces of the hammer.
The felting is preferably of increased thickness at end of hammer and for this
purpose it may
be specially built up by means of insertion strips The cushion-
ing material
e, may conrespond with and be secured in the manner commonly
known and in use at the present time upon pianoforte hammers The employ-
ment of the elastic ball will maintain the cushion in a "live" condition.
The band d" aforesaid which holds the ball in position is preferably formed
of rubber upon a base of textile fabric the fabic side being placed next to the
wood of the hammer and receiving the glue or solution by which it is affixed in
position the band 18 however not solutioned to the ball. In thus securing the
ball units recess and also in securing the felting to the rubber band a gutta
percha cement may be used instead of glue
"
If deaned an extra cross band g" (Figures 4 and 5) might be employed to
pass over the ball and be secured to the sides of a hammer, in this case no recess
for the ball would be required, but this in practice would not be employed if the
recess 18 employed and formed sufficiently deep to hold the ball in place.
In applying my invention to a pianoforte the sizes of the spheres or the like
would vary upon the different hammers-thus the hammer at the extreme bass
end of piano would be provided with the largest ball and these would gradually
decrease in size, the smallest being at the extreme treble end of piano, and
similarly the amount of felt covering might be varied The drawing shews
approximately the average size of ball to be employed
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18
1 A pianoforte hammer having an elastic ball at its end with means for hold-

page_text: ing same in position, said ball being covered by cushioning material substan-
tially as and for the purposes described
2. A pianoforte hammer having a recess at one end in which is placed a hollow
elastic ball said ball being held in position by an elastic strip solutioned to the
wood of hammer but not to the ball, and having coverings of felt or like material
substantially as and for the purposes described
3 A pianoforte hammer having a hollow elastic ball placed at one end and held
in position by elastic strips as d" and "g" solutioned to hammer and having
coverings of felt or like material substantially as and for the purposes described
Way ou
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W C..
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents
MARKS & CLERK,
18. Southampton Buildings, London, W C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents