An Improved Resonator for Pianos or similar Instruments."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec.,
1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"An Improved Resonator for Pianos or similar Instruments."
I SAMUEL KIRK, of Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, Do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this invention is to increase the resonance of a piano or similar
instrument, and the invention consists of a hollow sound board or box upon which the
piano is stood, specially constructed, somewhat upon the principle of a violin.
The sound board or box is of suitable size and shape to support the feet or castors
of the piano, and is made with a back or bottom board of suitable thickness supported
upon (say four) small feet. (tapered to say three eighths to a quarter of an inch in
diameter at the bottom and about half an inch in depth) and provided with shallow
Bides or ribs supporting an upper or belly board formed with or sound holes like
those of a violin or violoncello, this board being about three eighths of an inch in
thickness, and preferably reduced in thickness at the centre, and about an inch
distant from the back or bottom board.
The upper board is further supported near to the points where the feet or castors
of the piano rest thereupon, by small spring bridge pièces (say about two inches long)
having small feet or abutments standing upon the back-board and somewhat similar
to the bridge of a violoncello.
The four small feet support the hollow case, box or sound board, the belly of which
supports the weight of the piano; and the invention can be applied to either horizontal
or upright pianos.
Suitable resonant wood should be used, anch as yellow or Swiss pine and the upper
or belly board is preferably made in two parts of selected wood, the grain of which
in opposite directions the parts being joined together as in the violiu.
It is found that the resonance of a piano placed upon a hollow soundboard of this
description is greatly increased.
“An Improved Resonator for Pianos or similar Instruments.”
"
I SAMUEL KIRK, of Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, Do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
[Price 8d.l

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to increase the resonance of a piano or similar
instrument, and the invention consists of a hollow sound board or box upon which the
piano is stood, specially constructed, somewhat upon the principle of a violin.
The invention will be readily understood from the following description on reference
to the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a horizontal section, Fig. 3 a plan view, and
Fig. 4a transverse section through a resonator (for an upright piano) made according
to my invention.
The sound board or box is of suitable size and shape to support the feet or castors
of the piano, say, at the points marked a, a, a, a on Fig. 3, and is made with a back
or bottom board b of suitable thickness sapported upon small feet as seen at c, or made
in the form of pegs (sny four) tapered to say three eighths to a quarter of an inch
in diameter at the bottom and about three eighths of an inch in depth. The box is
provided with shallow sides or ribs b' supporting an upper or belly board & formed with f
or sound holes d like those of a violin or violoncello, this board being about three
nighths of an inch or even less in thickness, and preferably graduated in thickness to
the centre where it will be thinnest, and about three quarters of an inch distant from
the back or bottom board, preferably supported and slightly raised in the centre by the
pillar b³.
The upper board b' is further supported, but not beneath the points a where the
feet or castors of the piano rest thereupon, by small thin spring bridge pieces o prefer-
ably of suitable wood (say about two inches long) as shewn having small feet or
abutments (Fig. 4) standing upon the back-board b and somewhat similar to the
bridge of a violoncello.
The four small feet c support the hollow case, box, or sound board, the belly of
which supports the weight of the piano.
The invention can be applied to either horizontal or upright pianos.
Suitable resonant wood should be used, such as yellow or Swiss pine, and the upper
or belly board 6 is preferably made in two or more parts of selected wood, cut on the
quarter," the parts being joined together as in the violin. The back board b is also
preferably made in two or more parts.
66
The belly band back board b are preferably made to project slightly beyond the
sides b' as shewn excepting at the back of the resonator where the sides 61 project or
the back-board bis provided with pointed projections as shown at bx (Figs. 2, 3, and 4).
By this construction the sides of the resonator cannot be pulled against a wall or
any other object which might prevent full vibration.
I am aware that hollow sound boards and boards with holes (both unmovable and
removable) have been used beneath a piano or part thereof in various ways but the
principal feature in my invention is that the whole weight of the piano resting on its
feet or castors is borne by a very thin belly board which is suitably supported near to
but not immediately under such resting points, and that the complete soundboard or
box is again supported in such a manner that there is almost the least possible contact
with the floor.
It is found that the resonance and singing quality of a piano placed upon a hollow
sound board of this description is greatly increased, and the instrument more
sympathetic to the touch.
It will be found desirable to provide in combination with this resonator a small fcot
rest as seen at g for the heels of the performer to rest on when using the pedals, and
to prevent the feet from coming in contact with the sound board.
The foot rest is neatly and suitably made of wood having three sides and top, and
being hollow it can cover over the pedals when not in use. The soundboard and foot
rest can be suitably stained so as to correspond with any instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
1. A hollow box or resonator standing on suitable feet and provided with a very
thin top or belly board having holes and supported by bridges situated under the
same but not under the points upon which the castors or feet of the piano or similar
instrument rest substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved resonator constructed and arranged to support a piano or similar
instrument substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the annexed
drawings.