IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINGER ENDS OF PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, AND HARMONIUM KEYS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wood Thacker, of Derby, in the County of
Derby, Pianoforte Dealer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINGER ENDS OF PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, AND HARMONIUM
KEYS."
Sealed the 30th September 1858, and dated the 6th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wood Thacker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th May 1858.
I, THOMAS WOOD THACKER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Pianoforte
Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINGER ENDS OF PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, AND HARMONIUM
KEYS," to be as follows:-
These improvements apply to the keys of pianofortes, organs, harmoniums,
and other musical instruments, having similar finger keys; and the object of
the Invention is to facilitate the movement of the fingers over the keys, and
to obviate the objection that in quick movements the usual square ends and
corners of the keys are liable to catch the fingers of the performer in the
This is effected by
rapid passage from a depressed key to another note.

page_text: forming the finger keys of the natural notes with their ends tapered in a
circular form. The black keys, or sharps & flats, are also made to taper
towards the player, so as to give more room for the fingers to work on the
natural keys between them.
The Invention is not confined to any particular curve or amount of taper,
nor as to whether the extreme ends of the keys shall be left with a portion
square, as the same object may be obtained by making the ends of the keys in
the form of the small or narrow end of an egg.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Wood Thacker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WOOD THACKER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Pianoforte Dealer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Wood Thacker, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Wood
Thacker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Wood Thacker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINGER ENDS OF PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, AND HARMONIUM
KEYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Wood
Thacker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Wood Thacker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
My improvements apply to the keys of pianofortes, organs, harmoniums, and
other musical instruments having similar finger keys; and the object of my
Invention is to facilitate the movement of the fingers over the keys, and to
obviate the objection that in quick movements and full music the usual sharp
corners of the keys are liable to catch the fingers of the performer in the rapid
passage from a depressed key to another note. This is effected by forming
the finger keys of the natural notes with their ends tapered in a circular form.
The black keys, or sharps and flats, are also made to taper towards the player,
so as to give more room for the ends of the fingers to work on the natural
keys between them.
My Invention is not confined to any particular curve or amount of taper,
nor as to whether the extreme ends of the keys shall be left with a portion
square, as the same object may be attained by making the ends of the keys of
an ovate form, or similar to the small or narrow end of an egg.
In order more clearly to illustrate the application of my Invention, and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I have annexed hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings representing what I consider to be the best form of my
improved keys, and have marked the same with Figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof:-
Figure 1 represents in plan view a group of keys constructed according to
my Invention and drawn full size; and Figures 2 and 3 represent side views
of the ivory or natural key, and the ebony or semitone key respectively.
It will be observed that the sides of the keys are made parallel, as usual, to
the point marked a, a, a, a, and that from thence they are curved in a taper
direction towards the point marked b, b, b, b, part of the ends c, c, c, c, being
left square as usual, and it will be evident that this form or construction of
key will greatly facilitate the execution of rapid passages upon the instrument
by enabling the fingers to work more freely upon that part of the natural notes
or keys between the ends of the sharps and flats, and prevent or obviate the
liability of the fingers to catch the corners of the keys when passing rapidly
from a depressed key to another note.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in the Construction of Pianoforte, Organ, and Harmonium
Keys," together with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention constructing such

page_text: keys with their ends tapering towards the performer in the manner and for
the purposes above particularly set forth, whether the sides of such tapered
part are straight or curved, and whether the extreme ends of the keys are of a
straight, ovate, or other form.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood Thacker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
straight, ovate, or other form.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood Thacker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
THOMAS WOOD THACKER. (L.S.)
Witness,
S. BARTON, Agent,
Amen Alley Works, Derby.