IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PIANOFORTES, PIANINOS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PIANOFORTES, PIANINOS, AND THE LIKE"
A communication from Eduard Westermayer, Pianoforte Manufacturer, of
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1880.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PLANO-
FORTES, PIANINOS, AND THE LIKE" A communication from Eduard Westermayer,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
One feature in the present Invention is the easy disengagement which this action
allows in pianofortes (but particularly in pianinos and the like small instruments,
where the confined space renders it very difficult to use a satisfactory action),
preserving the points of contact between the pusher and supporter from unnecessary
friction, and thus greatly sparing the working surface, in consequence of which, and
the possibility of balancing the weight of the pushers with a counterweight, an
exceeding gentle touch may be achieved.
The desired effect is produced by the hammer being not only pushed, but at the
same time drawn, by a string or its equivalent attached to its bar projecting over
the turning point.
The key when depressed moves the repetition lever, whereby the pusher is raised
and caused to operate upon the supporter, and at the same time the other end of
the repetition lever moves downwards, pulling the shorter part of the lifting beam
of the hammer by means of a string or equivalent placed about the hooked end of
a spring, which is attached to the repetition lever. The proportions adopted in the
various levers are such as to render the pulling force of the string stronger than that of
the pusher during the upward motion of the hammer, so that shortly before the
hammer strikes a perfect disengagement of the pusher takes place, enabling it, by
means of a suitable disengager, to leave the supporter without friction. A dis-
engager is also provided for the string, and this is actuated at the proper time by

page_text: the spring already mentioned, and it should be pointed out that both disengagers
are so arranged that they can be adjusted with the greatest facility without
necessitating the removal of the keyboard, as is the case with the systems at present
in general use, and for repetition the hammer is not brought in contact with other
parts of the mechanism. The spring also can at any time be readily adjusted by
the help of a regulating screw, so that any needed adjustment of the action may be
made in its ready-mounted state, so that all its parts may act with the greatest
perfection. The closure at each end of the koyboard being displaced the entire
upper part of tho mechanism can be folded back, when all the adjusting screws are
exposed to view.
The arrangement just described may also be applied to the erect arrangement of
strings, as in the case of the German pianino. When used in this erect position
the second disengager has usually to be placed backwards, when the advantages of
the easy adjustment for it have to be sacrificed, but the other advantages are still
preserved. These may be briefly enumerated as follows:-The friction upon the
working surface of the supporter is much reduced, the pusher is constantly_and
regularly replaced into its position beneath the supporter, hence the capacity of the
instrument and manner of playing can be easily regulated with a counterweight in
the fore-key. On this account the entire action is gentler and quieter than is the
case with other systems, not even excepting those with double disengagement, the
weight of hammer and key on their returning to their resting position being
tempered, that of the key with a counterweight in the fore-key, and that of the
hammer by the effect of the repetition spring. Lastly, it may be added that this
action can be produced very cheaply.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th August
1880.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PIANO-
FORTES, PIANINOS, AND THE LIKE." A communication from Eduard Westermayer,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
The present improvements are peculiar for the easy disengagement they allow of
with pianofortes, as well as pianinos, preserving the points of contact between the
pusher and supporter from unnecessary friction, and thus greatly sparing the
working surface thereby, and by the possibility of balancing the weights of
the pushers with a counterweight a manner of playing gentler than ever before has
been achieved.
The annexed two Drawings exhibit the mechanism of respectively a pianoforte
and pianino; in table No. I. each with the hammer in resting position, in table II.
in its down motion.
The effects intended are achieved by the hammer not being only pushed but also
drawn at the same time by a string attached to its bar projecting over the turning
point.
On touching the key T it next operates upon the repetition lever W, whereby
the pusher d is raised and brought to operate upon the supporter a; at the same
time the other end of the repetition lever W moves downwards, pulling the shorter
part of the lifting beam of the hammer by means of a string slung about a hook of
spring f.
The proportions adopted in the various levers are such as to render the pulling
force of c stronger than that of the pusher & during the upward motion of the
hammers, so that shortly before the hammer strikes a perfect disengagement of the
pusher takes place, enabling it, by means of the disengager g, to leave the supporter
a without any fiction. The string c has its disengager in e, which is wrought
upon by spring f in the due moment.
As a peculiarity of particular utility it may be pointed out that both disengagers
can be adjusted with the greatest facility without necessitating the removal of the
keyboard from the pianoforte, as is required in the case of all other systems known
hitherto, and that the hammer has not to come into contact with any further parts
or mechanisms for the repeater action, and as is clearly shown in the Drawing the
tension of the spring can at any time be easily regulated by means of the set
screw 8. Accordingly any adjustment of the instrument that may be requisite can
be effected when it is ready-mounted, so as to have all its parts act with the
greatest perfection.
The closure K at each end of the keyboard being displaced the entire upper part
of the mechanism can be folded back, and all of the adjusting screws are then lying
open to sight.
This same principle, embodied in the pianoforte mechanism just described, may
also be applied to the erect arrangement of the strings, i.e., in the case of what are
termed "pianinos" in Germany. Table II. gives a delineation of it, and after what.
has been said precedently requires no further explanation. Corresponding to the
erect position the second disengager had to be placed backwards, and consequently
the advantage of an easy adjustment in the case of pianofortes had to be resigned
here, but all other advantages distinguishing the new mechanism from older
constructions have been preserved unimpaired.
Those advantages consist in sparing greatly the working surface of the supporter
a, and in the constantly regular replacement of the pusher into the position beneath

page_text: the former; hence the capacity of the instrument, i.e., the manner of its playing
can easily be regulated with a counterweight in the fore key. From this reason
the entire action is much more gentle and quiet than with any other system, those
with double disengagement not excepted, the weight of the hammer and the key
on their returning into their resting position being compensated, that of the key
by a counterweight in the fore key, that of the hammer by the effect of the
repetition spring f.
Lastly. the cheanness of the construction may be mentioned as a special
CLAIMS.
Having now described my Invention, and the best method known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim and desire to
protect by Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination of the hammer, pusher, repetition lever, and draw-string,
as described and shown by Drawings in two arrangements, one for pianofortes, the
other for pianinos, as set forth.
2nd. The combination of the repetition spring ƒ with the adjusting screws and
the draw-string c, as described and shown by the annexed Drawings.
3rd. With reference to table I. the arrangement for removing the entire
mechanism from the key-board, rendered possible by the peculiar disposition of its
parts, as described and shown by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty