An Improved Transposing Key-board for Pianos and Organs..
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Transposing Key-board for Pianos and Organs..
I, JOSEPH HANAUER, of corner 43 and Berkly Avenue, Chicago, in the
United States of America, Wood Turner, 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:-
My invention consists of making piano actions, key-boards and key-board frames,
for any of the various piano scales, so that when the key frame is unlocked, the
same may be shifted for the purpose of transposing the music, so as to render the
music at any pitch of tone desired, while playing the music in the scale or key as
written.
The invention has for object to provide simple, efficient and inexpensive attach-
inent to musical instruments, so that when the key frame is unlocked the action
will be separated from the keys and allow the key frame and keys to shift right and
left, and allow the keys to move up and down and not come in contact with the
lifts or action stems, and when the key frame is locked in any position it may have
been adjusted all parts of the key frame, keys and the action will assume their
proper place and be firmly held in their normal position.
I obtain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1, represents a section of piano action, illustrating the key-board
frame locked, and a normal position of the parts when constructed according to
my invention. Figure 2, represents a cross section of the same, and illustrating
the key frame unlocked, with the lifts clear of the keys, preparatory to shifting
the key frame and keys, and Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section on the
line A B of Figure 1.
Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
I provide action brackets, 1, resting on the casing, 2, back of the flange rail, 3,
and stationary rail, 4, with a flat surface to receive the flange rail, 3, and stationary
rail, 4. The flange rail, 3, is jointed to the stationary rail, 4, with hinges, 5, and
the springs, 6, are secured to the stationary rail, 4, at each end, outside of the
etion, and operate on the lower edge of the flange rail, 3, and holds it in its
normal position when the key-board frame, 7, is locked, Figure 1, and when the
key-board frame, 7, is unlocked, Figure 2, the springs, 6, allow the flange rail, 3, to
swing forward and raise the lifts, 8, off and in front of the key blocks, 9, and allows
the keys, 10, to shift right and left and move up and down and not come in contact
.with the lifts or action stems, 8, while the key-board frame, 7, is unlocked. The
felt, 11, on the key blocks, 9, assures noiseless action. The retaining bar rods, 12,
passing between the swings, 13, have a thread on each end, the thread on one end
secures them to the flauge rail, 3, the thread on the other end provides means to
adjust the retaining bar, 14. When the key-board frame, 7, is locked, Figure 1,
the flange rails, 3, the swings, 13, and lifts, 8, must be free from the retaining
The regulating
bar, 14, so that they can have free action with the keys, 10.
screws, 15, on the ends of the lifts, 8, have holes, 16, in them so that they can be
run up or down to adjust the length of the lifts, 8. The swinging flange rail, 3,
has a lever, 17, projecting below the flanges, 18, for the jack, 10, to work against
and swing the flange rail, 3, the jack, 19, is secured under the casing, 2, the long
end passing up through the casing, 2, so as to work against the flange rail lever, 17.
I provide a stop rod, 20, which is secured to the jack, 19, in a flexible manner, and

page_text: is bedded in the casing, 2, under the key-board frame, 7, and extends at least half
an inch in front of the centre bar of the key-board frame, 7, when in its normal
position. The blade projecting up on the front end of the stop rod, 20, is an
inch or more long and half an inch or more in height so as to extend half as high
at least as the bar of the key-board frame, 7. I provide twelve notches, 21, ou
the underside of the front edge of the centre bar of the key-board frame, 7, said
notches, 21, are about half the depth of the bar. The notches, 21, correspond
with the spacing of the lift or action stems, 8, the stop rod, 20, with the blade
on the front end is arranged so as to hold the key-board frame, 7, in any
position it may have been adjusted. About half of the blade on the stop rod, 20,
will be in front of the centre bar of the key-board frame, 7, when in the normal
position, and the other half of the blade will be in one of the notches, 21, in the
bar and prevent the key-board frame, 7, from moving. When adjusted the blade
will be free from the key-board frame, 7, the bar in the key-board frame, 7, will
cover half of the blade when in its normal position and the other half will extend
in front of the bar and should be covered with a block, 26, so as to hold the blade
firmly in position. The jack, 19, the jack rod, 22, leading to a foot pedal, the
springs, 6, the action brackets, 1, the flange rail lever, 17, and the retaining bar
rods, 12, consist preferably of metal.
When the jack rod, 22, leading to a foot pedal is drawn down it deflects the
jack, 19, forward and moves the stop rod, 20, forward and unlocks the key-board
frame, 7, swings the flange rail, 3, forward, and raises the lifts or action stems, 8,
off of the keys, 10, so the keys, 10, and the key-board frame, 7, can be shifted
right and left and the keys, 10, moved up and down and not come in contact with
the lifts or action stems, 8, while the key-board frame, 7, is unlocked.
The stop rod, 20, is secured to the jack, 19, in a flexible manner, when the jack
rod, 22, leading to a foot pedal is drawn down it deflects the upper end of the
jack, 19, forward and slides the stop rod, 20, forward and frees it from the front
edge of the centre bar, 23, of the key-board frame, 7, so the key-board can be
shifted when the action and key-board are in their normal position, the blade
projecting up on the front end of the stop rod, 20, enters one of the twelve
notches in the front edge of the centre bar of the key-board frame and holds it
firmly in its normal position.
The lever, 24, has cogs in a circling form on the back and these cogs mesh in a
rack secured to the back bar, 25, of the key-board frame, 7. By moving the front
end of the lever, 24, that is under the front edge of the piano casing, 2, the key-
board and keys are moved right and left.
Having thus 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, is: .
1. In piano actions, a swinging flange rail, for the purposes set forth.
2. In piano actions, a retaining bar beneath the swings, for the purposes set
forth.
3. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail and an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to
the swinging flange rail, and the springs secured to the stationary rail, for the
purposes set forth.
4. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, and the flanges
secured to the said swinging flange rail, for the purposes set forth.
5. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging frame rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, the flanges secured
to the said swinging flange rail, and the swings connecting the said flanges with the
lifts or action steins, for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 6. In piano actions the combination of a swinging flange rail, jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings, and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, the flanges secured
to the said swinging flange rail, the swings connecting the said flanges with the
lifts or action stems, and the lifts or action stems with the lower ends where they
connect with the keys about equally spaced from centre to centre, for the purposes
set forth.
7. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, the flanges secured
to the said swinging flange rail, the swings connecting the said flanges with the.
lifts or action stems, the lifts or action stems with the lower ends where they
connect with the keys about equally spaced from centre to centre, and the regulating
screws on the lower ends of the said lifts or action stems, for the purposes set
forth.
8. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, the flanges secured
to the said swinging flange rail, the swings connecting the said flanges with the
lifts or action stems, the lifts or action stems with the lower ends where they connect
with the keys about equally spaced from centre to centre the regulating screws on
the lower ends of the said lifts or action stems, and a movable transposing key-
board, for the purposes set forth.
9. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to
the swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, and a jack
secured to the casing, for the purposes set forth.
10. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, a jack secured to the
casing, and the jack rod leading to a foot pedal, for the purposes set forth.
11. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, a jack secured to
the casing, the jack rod leading to a foot pedal, and a movable transposing key-.
board, for the purposes set forth.
12. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to the
swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, and the action.
brackets resting on the casing back of the keys and back of the said stationary and
swinging flange rail, for the purposes set forth.
13. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail jointed to a
stationary rail, an adjustable retaining bar beneath the swings and secured to
the swinging flange rail, the springs secured to the stationary rail, the action
brackets resting on the casing back of the keys, and back of the said stationary
and swinging flange rail, and a movable transposing key-board, for the purposes
set forth.
14. In piano actions, the combination of a swinging flange rail, an adjustable.
retaining bar, the springs, the flanges, the swings, the lifts or action stems, the
deflecting of the lifts or action stems, the regulating screws, the jack, the jack rod,
the action brackets resting on the casing back of the keys and back of the
stationary and swinging flange rail, and a movable transposing key-board, for the
purposes set forth.
15. In pianos, the combination of a swinging flange rail, an adjustable retaining
bar beneath the swings, the deflections on the lower ends of the lifts or action
stems will be about evenly spaced from centre to centre, and a movable trausposing.
key-board, for the purposes set forth.;

page_text: 16. In pianos, a stop rod with one end secured in a flexible manner to the jack
and the other end having an adjustable connection with the key-board frame, for
the purposes set forth.
17. In pianos, the combination of a swinging flange rail, an adjustable bar
beneath the swings, and secured to the swinging flange rail, the springs pressing
against the said swinging flange rail, a jack secured to the casing, a stop rod with
one end secured to the jack in a flexible manner, and the other end having an
adjustable connection with the key-board frame, and a movable transposing
key-board, for the purposes set forth.
18. In pianos, the combination of a lever having a sector at one end, as specified,
to mesh with a rack secured to the key-board frame, and a movable transposing
key-board, for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 24th day of January 1896.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.