Improvements in the General Structure of Pianofortes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
Improvements in the General Structure of Pianofortes.
ADAM CRAIG 4 Great Victoria Street Belfast Ireland do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows :-
The notch in Butt is an incline without any step or drop-A check formed by a wire
from lower end of Butt going through Stricker, the bent up end catching Stricker,
this Wire also acts as guide for Stricker-duplicate check formed by Arm with
regulating Button on Screw-Sot off at back touches only at point of Stroke-Upper
& under damper's with smooth regulating Wires carrying Big heads & perfecting
method of Wires passing between Shanks-touch regulating rail hinged over Keys
with rounded off edged Screws-Middle rail Key pin oval at top-Damper lift wire
in two peices three methods of lengthning Bass Strings-New forms of Tuning pin
planks carrying Tuning pins on top-Sound Board strained over Cross Bar, & resting
on hollow Braceings-Strings on Sound Board having only down Bearings-hammer
head notched to secure Covering-top & bottom plates-the notch in the hammer
Butt is made without any Step or drop-in this action the notch Fig. 1 is simply an
incline on which the Stricker Fig. 2 works up & down or back & forward-the
hammer Butt Fig. 3 & Stricker Fig. 2 being kept together by a Spring Fig. 4 &
loop Fig. 5-the entire length of the notch Fig. 1 is covered with cloth & has outside
or over all the cloth a covering of smooth leather-the incline of the notch Fig. 1-may
be made more or less according to the depth of touch & amount of set off required-
the hammer Butt Fig. 3 is prolonged below the centre about three quarters of an
inch-A wire Fig. 6 is screwed from front to back through the lower part of Fig. 3
& is made to pass through a Mortice in Fig. 2-the front end of this wire Fig. 6 is
bent upward & made to form the check wire-as also the guide for the Stricker
Fig. 2 on the front of the top of the Stricker Fig. 2-A thickness of cloth Fig. 7 is
laid on projecting forward at the top & this forms the check with the upright bend of
the wire Fig. 6 which can be screwed out & regulated to any depth of check
required-this arrangement leaves room for a second or double Check by an arm
Fig. 8 projecting forward from Fig. 3 & carrying a regulating Screw & Button
Fig. 9 & forming with the clothed top of Fig. 10 the second check-the lower end of
the Stricker Fig. 2 is attached to a rail Fig. 11 by a double hinged lever Fig. 12—the

page_text: escapement or set off is effected by a screwed wire Fig. 13 passing through Fig. 2 at
an unusually sharp angle & carrying a Button Fig. 14-A fixed rail Fig. 15 is made
to come as near as workable to the back of the Stricker Fig. 2-Fig. 15 has only a
slight beval made on the edge that meets the Button Fig. 14 so that untill the hammer
touches the String the regulating Button Fig. 14 does not touch the rail Fig. 15-An
upper damper having a smooth wire Fig. 16 going through the lever Fig. 17-Fig. 16 is
secured by a screw Fig. 18. A peice Fig. 19 is screwed on Fig. 16 to carry any weight
of lead required as also the bushed hole for damper lift wire Fig. 20 to pass through
Fig. 20 can be carried up outside or inside of rest rail Fig. 21-the lever Fig. 17 can be
lengthened for the Bass Octaves to carry a duplicate damper-as see the two holes for
wires in front view Fig. 22-& the damper rail Fig. 23 stepped for this purpose-the
smooth wire Fig. 16 permits of the damper head Fig. 24 being made of extra size as the
regulating does not require the head Fig. 24 to be turned round-An under damper
having a lever Fig. 25 hung above the hammer head Fig. 26 to a rail Fig. 27-Fig. 25
passes down outside the rest rail Fig. 21 & has a smooth wire Fig. 28 passing through
& going between each pair of hammer shanks-the other end of Fig. 28 is cranked &
screwed into the damper head Fig. 29-the smooth end of Fig. 28 is secured by a screw
Fig. 30 the lower end of Fig. 25 is shaped & has a bushed hole for the damper lift
wire Fig. 31 to pas through-Fig. 31 is in two peices the under peice is screwed
into the regulating Button Fig. 32—the upper half of Fig. 31 is screwed or fastened
into Fig. 32 & has a smooth part to pass through the bushed hole-the top end of the
upper part of Fig. 31 can be screwed to carry a Button if desired-Fig. 33 is another
method of hanging Fig. 25-A smooth wire Fig. 34 passes upward through Fig. 33
& is secured by a screw Fig. 35 the lower end of Fig. 34 is screwed into a stud
Fig. 36 two smooth wires Figs. 37 & 38 pass through the Stud, Fig. 36 to show how
duplicate damper-heads can be carried from one Stud Fig. 36-Figs. 37 & 38 are
secured by Screws Figs. 39 & 40-Fig. 34 can be substituded by a wooden shank
glued into Figs. 33 & 36-A touch regulating rail Fig. 41 is placed over the Keys
Fig. 42 & is hinged or pivoted at both ends so that Fig. 41 can be turned up
when a Key is wanted out-the regulating Screws can be screwed into the rail or
as Fig. 43 can be screwed into each Key-the screws used have flat heads with a fine
slot in the head & with the sharp edges rounded off as in Fig. 43-the Key pin
Fig. 45 for the middle rail of Key frame is round for the under hole & oval at
top for the oblong square hole at top of Key-the diameter from front to back
are the same so that the oval can pass through the round hole without doing any
harm three methods of lengthening the Bass Strings without increasing the height
of piano Fig. 46 Tuning pin plank is glued on the top of Braceings Fig. 47 by slanting
the plank Fig. 46 the Bass Strings can be carried over the Bridge Fig. 48 at the very
top of piano the entire range of Tuning pins Fig. 49 can be carried on this plank
Another method is as Fig. 50 pin plank-but the Strings would be one inch shorter
than as Fig. 46-with both Figs. 46 & 50 an economy of the treble Bracings as
to length can be obtained by slanting the plank from Bass to treble as in front
top line of plank Fig. 51-the line Fig. 52 is the plank Bridge-with Fig. 53 the
Bass Single Strings can only be lengthened by passing the Strings over the Bridge
Fig. 54&round the pin Fig. 55-& returning over the Bridge Fig. 54 to the Tuning
pin Fig. 56 & see the front view of Bridge Fig. 57-Fig. 58 is the Tuning pin &
Fig. 59o the pin round which the Strings pass & return to the Tuning pin, Fig. 58-
the Sound Board Fig. 59 is strained over à Cross Barr Fig. 60 by Screws Figs. 61
& 62 at both ends-the Strings have only down Bearings as Fig. 63 & are held
down to the Bridge Fig. 64 at back by Screws Fig. 65-the top plates Figs. 66
& 67 shows the back sections secured to Bracings Figs. 47 & 68-the under plate
Fig. 69 shows the back section secured to Bracing Fig. 70-the Sound Board rests
on hollow Bracings see end section Fig. 71.
711
בד!
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the General Structure of Pianofortes.
ADAM CRAIG Pianoforte Maker & Tuner 4 Great Victoria Street Belfast 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:
The incline as Fig. 1 on a hammer Butt, is as shown, a plain even surface, without
any of the usual step or drop. It may have only one covering. If it is made with
two coverings, then the under covering must be the same & go over all the incline
the same as the outside covering, & not as is usual in under coverings only being a
thickness of cloth checked in at point of stroke. The incline may be made more or
less according to the depth of touch required or sett off.-Fig. 1 as applied to a
hammer Butt is claimed as novel.
Fig. 2 the stricker works up & down or back & forward on the incline Fig. 1 &
never passes outside or over the point of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 & Fig. 2 are kept together
by the spring Fig. 4 & the woven flexible metallic loop Fig. 5, as fixed in the hammor
Butt Fig. 3.
Fig. 5, as metallic is novel. The hammer Butt, Fig. 3, is prolonged below the
moving centre, about three quarters of an inch, & a wire Fig. 6, is screwed into the
lower part of Fig. 3, & is made to pass through a mortice in the stricker Fig. 2.
The front end of this wire Fig. 6, is bent upward & made to form the Check wire.
As also the Guide for the Stricker Fig. 2. The bend upward on the front of Fig. 6,
can be substituted, by à Button as Fig. 9, or as Fig. 10. A thickness of cloth Fig. 7
laid on the top face of Fig. 2 forms with Fig. 6 the Check. Fig. 7 can also be made
as a regulating Button, as Fig. 8. This form & arrangement of Check is novel
throughout. The lower end of the Stricker, Fig. 2, is fastened, to a rail, Fig. 11, by
a double hinged lever, Fig. 12. The escapement or set off, is effected, by a screwed
wire, Fig. 13, passing through Fig. 2, at an unusually sharp angle & carrying a
Button Fig. 14. A fixed rail, Fig. 15, is made to come as near as workable, to the
Stricker, Fig. 2.
:
Fig. 15 has only a slight Beval, made on the edge that meets the Button Fig. 14,
so that, untill the hammer touches the String, the regulating Button, Fig. 14, does
not touch the rail, Fig. 15.
An upper damper, having a smooth wire, Fig. 16, going through the lever, Fig. 17,
Fig. 16, is secured by a screw, Fig. 18.
The smooth wire, Fig. 16, permits of the damper head, Fig. 24, being made of
extra size, as the regulating, does not require the head, Fig. 24, to be turned round.

page_text: A piece of wood, as Fig. 19, is screwed on, Fig. 16, to carry any weight of lead
required, as also the bushed hole for damper lift wire, Fig. 20 to pass through.
An under damper, having a lever, Fig. 25, hung above the hammer head, Fig. 26,
to a rail, Fig. 27. Fig. 25 passes down, outside, the rest rail Fig. 21, & has a smooth
wire, Fig. 28, passing through, & going between, each pair of hammer shanks. The
other end of Fig. 28 is cranked & screwed into the damper head, Fig. 29. The smooth
end of Fig. 28 is secured by a screw Fig. 30. The lower end of Fig. 25 is shaped, &
has a bushed hole for the Damper lift wire Fig. 31 to pass through. Fig. 31 is in
two peices, the under peice is screwed into the regulating Button Fig. 32, the upper
part of Fig. 31 is screwed into Fig. 32 at the top, & has a smooth part to
pass through
the bushed hole. The top of the upper part of Fig. 31 can be screwed to carry a
Button.
Fig. 25, can also be made, as Fig. 33.
A lever hung above the hammer head Fig. 68.
A smooth wire or wooden shank Fig. 34, passes upward through Fig. 33, & is
secured by a screw Fig. 39, & the lower end of Fig. 34 is fastened into a stud Fig. 36.
Two smooth wires Fig. 37 & Fig. 38 passes through Fig. 36, & between each pair of
hammer shanks & have crank ends & carry the duplicate damper heads Fig. 110 &
Fig. 111.
Fig. 37 & Fig. 38 are secured in the stud Fig. 36, by screws Fig. 39 & Fig. 40.
This as an under damper, requires no spring, & can be carried throughout the entire
scale. From the lift being at the outside for the damper head Wire Fig. 37 a greatly
increased lift of the head Fig. 110 can be obtained by simply shortening the lever
Fig. 33. This extra lift power is applicable to any damper & more easily explained,
as shown by Fig. 151 an upper damper Fig. 151 with the Wire Fig. 152 being placed
at the outside or front of lever Fig. 151. By shortening the lever Fig. 151,
-or in
other words bringing the centre Fig. 153 forward to Fig. 154 the damper head
Fig. 155 could be raised an inch.
A touch regulating rail Fig. 41 can be placed over the keys, Fig. 42, & is hinged
or pivoted at both ends, so that Fig. 41 can be turned up, when a key is wanted out.
Of course, the key can be made to carry the screw, or a Button can be placed on
the screw, if prefered.
The screws used on Fig. 41, have flat heads, with a fine slot in the head, & with
the sharp edges rounded off as Fig. 43.
The key pin Fig. 45, for the middle rail of key frame, is round for the under hole,
& oval at top for the oblong square hole at top of key. The diameter from front to
back, of oval & round portions of Fig. 45, are the same, so that the oval can pass
through the round hole without doing any harm.
Methods of lengthning the Bass Strings, without increasing the height of Piano.
Fig. 46 the tuning pin plank is glued on the top of bracings Fig. 47. The Bass
Strings, can be carried over the Bridge Fig. 48, at the very top of Piano. The entire
range of Tuning Pins Fig. 49 can be carried on this plank. An economy of the
treble Bracings, as to length, can be obtained, by slanting the plank Fig. 46 from
Bass to treble, as in front top line of plank, Fig. 51. The line Fig. 52 is the plank
Bridge. With Fig. 53, the Bass Single Strings, can only be lengthened, by passing
the Strings over the Bridge Fig. 54, & round the pin Fig. 55 & returning over the
Bridge Fig. 54, to the tuning pin Fig. 56, & see the front view of Bridge Fig. 1.7.
Fig. 58 is the tuning pin, & Fig. 59 the pins round which the Strings pass &
return to the tuning pin, Fig. 58. The Strings Fig. 50 pass over the Bridge Fig. 57
twice. Fig. 60 the Sound Board is strained over a cross bar Fig. 61, by screws
Fig. 62 & Fig. 621, at top & bottom. The Strings Fig. 63 have only down bearings
& are held down to the Bridge Fig. 64 at back by screws Fig. 65. The top plate as
forming the Bridge Fig. 48, can be continued as Fig. 66 over the entire top, & down
the back, as Fig. 67, & secured to Bracings Fig. 47. The Sound Board rests on
hollow Bracings, see end section Fig. 71. The hammer head, Fig. 26, is notched
above & below to secure covering.
Another method of working Fig. 2 & Fig. is as shown by Fig. 72, as having a

page_text: neck, & the check wire Fig. 73, is made double, & Fig. 72 works between the wires
Fig. 73.
The depth of check is regulated by a clothed Button screwed on the top face of
Fig. 72. This clothed Button is similar to Fig. 8 & for the same purpose.
The action as modeled for a Horizontal Piano. Fig. 74 is the incline, on which
the Stricker Fig. 75, works up & down, or back & forward. The hammer butt Fig. 76
& Stricker Fig. 75 being kept together by a spring Fig. 77, & metallic loop Fig. 78.
The incline Fig. 74 may be made more or less according to the depth of touch or set
of required. A wire Fig. 80 is screwed through the lower part of Fig. 76, & is made
to pass through a morice in Fig. 75. Fig. 80 is bent upward & made to form the
Check wire, as also the Guide for Fig. 75.
A thickness of cloth, Fig. 81. is laid on the top of Fig. 75, & this, with the bent up
portion of Fig. 8 forms the Check. The lower end of Fig. 75, is centred on a
Stud Fig. 82, which is fastened to the Key Fig. 83. The escapement is regulated by
a Button Fig. 84, on a wire Fig. 85, which is screwed into Fig. 75, & Fig. 84 works
up against Fig. S6 a fixed rail. In cases where insufficient space or other causes
would operate to prevent the use of a back escapement, as in Fig. 14 & Fig. 15, a
front escapement arm as Fig. 88, could be worked with the incline, as shown on
Fig. 87. Fig. 88 is a double centred lever, with one end glued into Fig. 89, & the
other end screwed on to a rail Fig. 90, & regulated back & forward by a Screw Fig. 112.
The Stricker Fig. 89, is made with a hinge or centre Fig. 93, & has butt ends, so that
it controls itself that it can only move in the one direction, & has a thickness of cloth
Fig. 94 between the butt ends. Fig. 89 is returned into position by a Spring Fig. 95,
& a metallic loop Fig. 96.
The hammer Butt Fig. 102, is assisted by a Spring fastened into the hammer rail,
Fig. 103 & coming up between the hammer Brasses, as Fig. 97 the Spring. The
regulating Check, is formed by a thickness of cloth, Fig. 98, on the top of Fig. 89, &
a clothed Button, Fig. 99, screwed on an arm, Fig. 11, coming from & fastened in
the Butt Fig. 102. Fig. 89 is attached at the lower end to a rail Fig. 104, by a
double centred lever Fig. 105.
The Bottom Plate Fig. 69, as going up & secured to Bracings 146, renders it
impossible for the plate to be pulled over by the strain of the Strings Fig. 63.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, &in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is as novel.
1st. Fig. 1 as applied to a hammer Butt.
2nd. Fig. 2 as carrying Fig. 7 & in conjunction with Fig. 6 & as carried by Fig. 3
forming the Check. Also & for the same purpose Figs. 8.-9 & 10, & Figs. 72 & 73.
3rd. Fig. 5 the loop being metallic & flexible.
4th. Fig. 26 as being notched above & below.
5th. Fig. 25 with 28 mode of regulating & passing between each pair of hammer
Shanks, & as an under damper without any spring.
6th. Fig. 31 as in two peices.
7th. Fig. 15 as to size, position, & beval as applied.
Sth. Figs. 41 & 43 as regulating each Key touch.
9th. Fig. 16 as carrying Fig. 24 & Fig. 19, & mode of regulating.
10th. Fig. 48 as Bridge described, & with Figs. 66 & 67 as top plate.
11th. Figs. 53-54-55-56 as Bass Single String, Plank Bridge.
12th. Fig. 51 as slanting from Bass to treble.
13th. Fig. 45 round & oval Key Pin.
14th. Fig. 69 as going up & secured to Fig. 146.
15th. Fig. 60 as strained or tightened over an intermediate Bar Fig. 61.
16th. Fig. 64 with Fig. 65 as applied to Sound Board Bridge.
17th. Figs. 34, 36, 37, 38, 110, 111 as designed for a duplicate or as under
damper.

page_text: 18th. Fig. 97 as to position of Spring.
19th. Fig. 98 with Fig. 99 as forming the two parts of a regulating Check.
20th. Fig. 88 & Fig. 89 as forming a front escapement, workable on Fig. 1 or
Fig. 87.
21st. Fig. 93 as a peculiar hinge or centre.
22nd. Fig. 88 as used for an escapement arm.
23rd. Figs. 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 84, 86, as modeled for Horizontal
Piano.
24th. Fig. 152 as placed on Fig. 151 & as Figs. 34, 36, 37, 38, with centres as
placed as Fig. 154 or Fig. 156.
Dated this 1st day of March 1888.