Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, EDWARD JOHN VAVASOUR EARLE, of 119 Cheapside, in the City of London,
Manufacturers' Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by Otto Thein, of
Bremen, in the Empire of Germany, Pianoforte Manufacturer,) do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of instrument in which a piano is combined
with a harmonium, organ or the like. In such instruments the piano is put out of
action by pressing the hanımers against the wires. According to this invention
this is done in the following manner:-At the back of the hammers is hinged a bar
or block which when turned about its hinges comes against the hammers and
presses them against the wires. The bar or block is moved by a rod hinged to it;
this rod is provided with notches which drop into a catch on the frame of the
instrument, so that the rod can be secured in various positions. By this means the
piano hammers can not only be pressed against the wires to put the piano out of
action, but their travel can also be limited to any desired extent thus giving the
same effect as a soft pedal.
The stems of the valves of the harmonium or organ are prolonged upwards to the
underside of the keys, so that when any key is depressed it not only strikes the note
of the piano but also depresses the stem of the valve of the harmonium or organ
and so causes it to sound.
The harmonium or organ is thrown out of gear by raising the key-board. For
this purpose the key-board is pivotted at the back and on the underside of its front
has an incline which rests upon a wedge actuated by a handle at the front of the
key-board. When this handle is pulled out the wedge forces up the key-board and
so lifts the keys out of contact with the valve stems of the harmonium or organ,
but does not materially affect the relative position of the parts of the piano, which
can still be played.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, EDWARD JOHN VAVASOUR EARLE, of 119 Cheapside, in the City of London,
Manufacturer's Agent (a communication to me from abroad by Otto Thein, of
Bremen, in the Empire of Germany, Pianoforte Manufacturer) 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of instrument in which a piano is combined
with a harmonium, organ or the like. In such instruments the piano is put out of
action by pressing the hammers against the wires.
According to this invention this is done as shown in the drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the combined instrument, and
Figures 2 and 3 are similar sections to a larger scale of the upper and lower
parts of the mechanism respectively showing the parts in a different position.
At the back of the hammers a is hinged at b a bar or block b which when turned
about its hinges comes against the hammers a and presses them against the wires c.
The bar or block b is moved by a rod d hinged to it at d' this rod is provided with
rn .

page_text: notches which drop into a catch e on the frame of the instrument, so that the rod
can be secured in various positions. By this means the piano hammers can not
only be pressed against the wires to put the piano out of action, but their travel
can also be limited to any desire tent thus giving the same effect as a soft
pedal.
0
The stems of the valves of the harmonium or organ are prolonged upwa
the underside of the keys g so that when any key is depressed it not only stri .he
note of the piano but it also depresses the stem of the valve of the harmonium or
organ and so causes it to sound.
The harmonium or organ is thrown out of gear by raising the key-board. For
this purpose the key-board is pivotted at the back at and on the underside of its
front has an incline which rests upon a wedge actuated by a handle at the
front of the key-board. When this handle is pulled out the wedge k forces up the
key-board and so lifts the keys out of contact with the valve stems of the harmonium
or organ, but does not materially affect the relative position of the parts of the
piano, which can still be played.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of the hinged block or bar by which the piano hammers are
pressed against the wires with a notched rod for actuating and retaining the same
substantially as described.
2. The combination of a hinged key-board having an incline on its underside with
a wedge for raising the same substantially as described.
3. The improved instrument substantially as described and shown in the
drawings.
Dated this 18th day of July 1891.
EDWARD JOHN VAVASOUR EARLE.