AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND DEVICES FOR STRINGING PIANO-FORTES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND DEVICES FOR STRINGING PIANO-FORTES."
A communication from abroad by Albert Keyes Hebard, of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND DEVICES
FOR STRINGING PIANO-FORTES." [A communication from abroad by Albert Keyes
Hebard, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
In stringing pianofortes the separate strings or wires are, as is well known,
arranged in parallel lengths stretched between and over bridges, and at one end are
either looped around or hung to hitch pins, and at the other end connected to and
wound about separate wrest pins, which are driven into holes of the iron plate and
contiguous holes in the common wrest block or plank, and by the turning of these
wrest pins in their wrest block the strings are tuned, brought to pitch, and the
separate strings of cach note put in unison. Under this method the retention of
the strings in tune, and at.pitch (and as to those of the separate notes in unison),
depends wholly upon the frictional hold between the wrest-pins and the wrest-
block, and the greater or lesser amount of frictional bearing or contact which the
wrest-pins have with the holes in the iron plate through which they are driven
caused by the tension or pull of the strings upon the wrest-pins, and as a consequence
it is impossible for the strings to remain in tune or otherwise in proper condition
for any length of time, for reasons as follows:-
First. The immense and constant strain upon the wrest-pins, which is greatly
increased when the strings are played upon, necessarily starts back the pins, which
cannot be set firm enough to resist it and still be capable of being turned to adjust
the pitch, and therefore as a consequence the pitch is lowered.
Second. The degree of hold between the wrest-pins and the wrest-block
necessarily must vary at differential parts of the block, because of soft places,
knots, and other imperfections in the wooden block, and this is the case even when
the utmost care is used in selection.
Third. That in tuning the strings have to be drawn beyond the tension at which
they are to rest finally, thereby producing more tension in the vibrating parts of
the strings than in the portions between the agraffe or bridge and the wrest-pins,
Price 77

page_text: and this difference can only be corrected or equalized by continued striking of the
strings with the action hammers by the tuner, or by the player afterwards, and
even then there is no certainty that the proper and perfect equalization of action
will be obtained, either by the tuner or the player, and consequently the piano is
out of tune.
Fourth. That the wrest-pins for a string, and each wrest-pin as to the others, are
and have to be at different distances from the agraffe or bridge and from the points
of attachment of the wrest-plank and iron plate, and consequently the wrest-pins
are differently affected by the climatic conditions, causing in moist weather some
strings to sharpen, and in dry weather others to flatten in tone, and also to lose the
unison of tone between the separate strings of a note; and while these results are
more or less affected from the frictional contact and bearing between the wrest-pins
and the holes in the iron plate caused by the pull and tension on the strings, still
such frictional contact and bearing are so uncertain that they can be in no manner
relied or depended upon.
Fifth. In winding the wire upon the wrest-pins to raise the pitch, or to get the
best quality of tone, the wire is liable to break at or near the wrest-pins. This
latter disadvantage is particularly observable in raising the pitch of pianos which
have been in use for any length of time, and is due in great measure to the fact
that strings exposed to the atmosphere, become hard and brittle, and in consequence
it has become the custom with tuners to keep the piano at the pitch they find it,
rather than to raise the pitch, and thus risk the breakage of the strings, incurring
expense and trouble to both themselves and to the owner of the piano. Further-
more this tendency and liability of the strings to break in winding them upon the
wrest-pins to raise the pitch is observable, even if the tension then on the strings
is only one half the tension they otherwise would sustain, and even if the same
turn or wind were given to the strings when not under tension, and as a con-
sequence the point of tension at which strings will break, as aforesaid, becomes
quite an important consideration in disposing and arranging the strings to secure
the best and most reliable tones, and also becomes one of interest to players, for the
reason that the greater the tension of the strings the less they are liable to break
under the blows of the action hammers, and the harder blows they will sustain
without injury.
Experience shews that strings of proper length and tension, and an absolute
rigid hold on them, are important and essential requisites for good tones, for perfect
unison between the strings of each tone, and for maintaining the pitch, and to that
end this Invention relates to means in substitution for the ordinary wrest-pins, and
to the hitch pins, and as to the means of substitution for the ordinary wrest-pins.
The said Invention consists essentially in a block or lug constructed to receive one
end of the strings of a note in combination with a screw bolt and nut, all which
are severally arranged and applied together, and to the iron frame for the carrying
block or lug for the strings to be suitably operated through the said screw bolt and
nut to produce the required tension upon the strings carried by it, and to hold them
to such tension without possible variation; and as to the hitch-pin this Invention
consists essentially in a pin, which, while it holds its end of a string or strings to a
note, it is capable of being manipulated to raise or lower the tension of such string
or strings, as may be necessary.
The said Invention comprises a method of bringing the strands of a double
strand piano string to unison the same, consisting in looping the bend of the
string at the junction of the two strands around its hitch pin, and turning said pin
as required.
I will now proceed to describe the application of my Invention to three separate
notes, and this description will be sufficient to afford a clear understanding of the
nature of the said Invention as applied to all the notes of a pianoforte.
The strings pass between and over a bridge or agraffe of the iron frame, and a
bridge on the sounding board as usual, and beyond each bridge they are secured to
the iron frame as follows, that is to say:-First, as to the portion of the iron

page_text: frame covering the wrest-plank or block by means of a screw-nut, screw bolt, and
block or lug, which are constructed, the lug to receive such end or ends of the
strings, and the screw bolt and nut to enter the one into the other; and are
arranged together and are applied to and placed upon the iron frame in such
manner that the lug can be made to draw the strings connected to it to any desired
tension, and to release or reduce such tension if so desired. The screw nut passes
in and through the thickness of a vertical flange which is secured to the iron frame
by a screw, or in any other suitable manner, or it may be made in one piece with
the iron frame. The screw bolt is threaded to screw into this screw nut, and it
has a head suitably slitted to be conveniently turned, or it may be otherwise
adapted for the same purpose in many obvious ways. There is a lug or block of
upright angular shape provided with arms, and one of these arms has a hole
through its thickness suitable for the free passage of the bolt, and the other arm
has a projection at each side, each of which projections has a hole through it of
suitable size to receive a string. The screw nut may be in one arm of the lug or
block instead of being in a flange secured to the iron frame, as before described,
for the strings, and the hole for the loose passage of the screw bolt, which as before
described was in one arm of the block or lug, is in lieu thereof in a flauge of the
iron frame.
For the holes in one of the arms of this block or lug to receive the strings pins
may be substituted; one pin is provided with a head and driven into the second
block or lug, which is suitably drilled to receive it, and for it to be turned after
such insertion, and the other pin is at the end of a screw.bolt arranged to pass
loosely through a raised flange of one of the arms of this block or lug, and to receive
on the other side of such flange a screw nut.
The lug or block for the second strings rests by arms upon the iron frame, and
is between the agraffe or bridge, and the fixed flange of such frame and the screw
bolt connects another arm of this block or lug to the said raised flange. The ends
of the two lengths of strings making one string are put through the holes of the
side projection of one of the arms of the first named lug or block, and are bent
about such projection, and the two lengths of strings between such bent ends and
the agraffe run inside of said bent ends around the lower sides and rear side, and
thence over the upper side of such projections to the agraffe or bridge.
The ends of the two lengths of strings making the string of another note loop
around the pin of the lug or block to such string, and lay under the head of said
pin. The ends of two of the lengths of string making the string to the third note
loop, around the beaded pin of the lug or block to such string, and lie under the
head of said pin, and the remaining end is hitched by its eye to the pin of said
lug or block described, as at one end of a screw bolt which is arranged upon said
block.
With regard to the portion of the iron frame making the string plate, the
separate lengths of strings making the strings of the three notes are secured to said
string plate by means of a hitch pin or pins.
The hitch pin described in connection with the strings of the first note bas a
shank or stem and a head; the shank enters the string plate, and is susceptible of
being turned therein, and the head is slitted for convenience in turning the pin,
'or it may be otherwise adapted in obvious ways for the pin to be turned.
string loops around the stem of the pin and lies between its head and the string
plate.
4
The
The hitch pin in connection with the string of the second note differs in con-
struction from the hitch pin described in connection with the string of the first
note in that it has side arms upon which to hook or hang the eyes which are at the
two ends of the lengths of the second note.
The hitch pin for the string of the third note is in one case the same as the
hitch pin first described, and has the string similarly looped about it, and in the
other case it is a pin of the ordinary kind of hitch pins without a head or other
construction and arrangements such as herein described. This headed pin receives

page_text: the looped end of the two lengths of the string, which pass the one length from
the pin of the screw bolt on the second block or lug for such string, and the other
length from one side of the headed pin of such block, and the ordinary pin receives
the end of the length of the string which passes from the side of the headed pin
on block opposite to that from which the length of string passes to the headed pin
of string as aforesaid.
Under the several arrangements of connection between the three strings and the
lugs or blocks to such strings in connection with a screw bolt and nut applied
thereto, and to the iron frame the strings to each note can be brought to pitch and
put under any desired amount of tension, and in so doing the strings of each note
are simultaneously and similarly so drawn, and again after such strings have been
so put under the desired tension and at the desired pitch should it be found that
the strings to a note are not in unison, such unison can be obtained by turning the
pin to which the strings are hitched or looped, as, for instance, the hitch pins at
the string plate or the hitch pin at the second lug or block, which turning of such
pins, because of the friction between them and the strings, and otherwise, as is
obvious, plainly serves to raise the pitch of the string from the location of which
it moves in such turning, and to lower the pitch of the string towards the location
of which it moves in such turning.
The present improved arrangement of stringing pianofortes while obviating the
disadvantages herein before enumerated as belonging to the usual method of
stringing pianofortes possesses the following advantages:-
First. It is entirely free from all influence of the wood as it is directly attached
and applied to the iron frame.
Second. It secures to a great degree a perfect unison of the strings to a note for
the reason that the separate lengths of each string are attached to one and the
same block or lug rendered adjustable by screw and nut, by which the several
strings are simultaneously drawn to the same tension, and are there held without
the possibility of variation.
Third. It enables by and through the hitch pins herein described an absolute
perfect unison of the strings to a note to be secured, for the reason that under any
and all possible causes of variation of the tension, as, for instance, either by the
settling, as it were, of the strings after being drawn to pitch, or by the difference
in tone of the strings after being drawn to pitch, the tension on each string can
be adjusted as desired independent of the devices by which the several strings
are simultaneously drawn to pitch as aforesaid, or are otherwise drawn to pitch.
Fourth. It is accurate to such a degree that it is possible to determine the average
stretch of the strings and yield of the iron frame, as represented by a given turn of
the screw, and thus the screw can be turned just sufficiently beyond the proper
pitch of the string as is necessary to leave the strings at the proper pitch after
they have settled in position.
In the use of a block or lug having the side projections and holes through them
for the reception of the ends to the strings the strings are attached thereto in the
following manner :-
First. I secure the lug or block firmly to the nut by a short screw or clamp,
then pass one end of the string through the hole in one of the side projections, and
having drawn the string straight loop it around the hitch-pin and return it to
the lug, cut it, and pass its end through the hole of the other projection and turn
it up as before. I now detach the lug from the nut and turn it once over between
the lengths of string, which brings the draw of the string over the top of the side
projections, and then apply the screw bolt to the lug or block and enter it into
the screw nut, and the parts are ready for bringing the string carried by the
block or lug up to pitch by the joint operation of the screw and nut applied
thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND DEVICES
FOR STRINGING PIANO-FORTES." A communication from abroad by Albert Keyes
Hebard, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
In stringing pianofortes the separate strings or wires are as is well known
arranged in parallel lengths stretched between and over bridges, and at one end are
either looped around or hung to hitch pins, and at the other end are connected to
and wound about separate wrest pins which are driven into holes in the iron plate
and contiguous holes in the common wrest block or plank; by the turning of these
wrest pins in their wrest block the strings are tuned and brought to pitch, and the
separate strings of each note put in unison. Under this method the retention of
the strings in tune and at pitch (as well as those of the separate notes in unison)
depends wholly upon the frictional hold between the wrest-pins and the wrest
block, and the greater or lesser amount of frictional bearing or contact which the
wrest pins have with the holes in the iron plate through which they are driven,
caused by the tension or pull of the strings upon the wrest pins, and as a
consequence it is impossible for the strings to remain in tune or otherwise in
proper condition for any length of time for the following reasons:-
First. The immense and constant strain upon the wrest pins which is greatly
increased when the strings are played upon, necessarily starts back the pins which
cannot be set firm enough to resist it, and still be capable of being turned to
adjust the pitch, and therefore as a consequence the pitch is lowered.
Second. The degree of hold between the wrest-pins and the wrest block
necessarily must vary at different parts of the block because of soft places, knots,
and other imperfections in the wooden block, and this is the case even when the
utmost care is used in selection.
>
Third. In tuning, the strings have to be drawn beyond the tension at which they
are to rest finally, thereby producing more tension in the vibrating parts of the
strings than in the portions between the agraffe or bridge and the wrest pins, and
this difference can only be corrected or equalised by the continued striking of the
strings with the action hammers by the tuner or by the player afterwards, and
even then there is no certainty that the proper and perfect equalization of tension
will be obtained either by the tuner or the player, and consequently the piano will
be out of tune.
Fourth. The wrest pins for a string (and each wrest-pin as to the others) are and
have to be at different distances from the agraffe or bridge, and from the points of
attachment of the wrest plank and iron plate, and consequently the wrest pins are
differently affected by the climatic conditions causing in damp weather some strings
to sharpen, and in dry weather others to flatten in tone, and also to lose the unison
of tone between the separate strings of a note, and while these results are more or
less affected by the frictional contact and bearing between the wrest-pins and
the holes in the iron plate, caused by the pull and tension on the strings,
still such frictional contact and bearing are so uncertain that they can be in
no manner relied or depended upon.
Fifth. In winding the wire upon the wrest-pins to raise the pitch or get the best
quality of tone, the wire is liable to break at or near the wrest pins. This latter
disadvantage is particularly observable in raising the pitch of pianos which have
been in use for any length of time, and is due in a great measure to the fact that

page_text: strings exposed to the atmosphere become hard and brittle, and in consequence it
has become the custom with tuners to keep the pianos at the pitch they find them,
rather than to raise the pitch and thus risk the breakage of the strings and the
consequent expense and trouble to themselves and to the owner of the piano.
Furthermore this tendency and liability of the strings to break in winding them
upon the wrest-pins to raise the pitch is observable, even if the tension then on the
strings is only one half the tension they otherwise would sustain, and even if the
same turn or wind is given to the strings when not under tension, and as a
consequence the point of tension at which strings will break as aforesaid, becomes
quite an important consideration in disposing and arranging the strings to secure
the best and most reliable tones, and also becomes one of interest to players, for the
reason that the greater the tension of the strings the less they are liable to break
under the blows of the action hammers, and the harder the blows they will sustain
without injury.
Experience shows that strings of proper length and tension, and with an absolute
rigid hold on them, are important and essential requisites for good tones, for perfect
unison between the strings of each tone, and for maintaining the pitch, and to that
end this Invention relates to means in substitution for the ordinary wrest pins, and
to the hitch-pins. As to the means in substitution for the ordinary wrest pins, the
said Invention consists essentially in a block or lug constructed to receive one end
of the strings of a note in combination with a screw bolt and nut, all of which are
severally arranged and applied together and to the iron frame for the carrying
block or lug for the strings to be suitably operated through the said screw bolt and
nut to produce the required tension upon the strings carried by it and to hold them
to such tension without possible variation, and as to the hitch-pin this Invention
consists essentially in a pin which while it holds its end of a string or strings to a
note is capable of being manipulated to raise or lower the tension of such string
or strings as may be necessary and as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view, shewing the strings for three separate notes as it
were of a piano forte.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 are sectional views in the direction of the length of the said
strings on the lines x², x², x³, x³, and x, x¹, Figure 1.
-
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 1.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are longitudinal vertical sections of the lugs with their bolts
and nuts, shewn in Figure 1.
A2, A3, and A represent the strings for the said three separate notes of a
piano-forte: These strings pass between and over a bridge or a graffe B of tho
iron frame and a bridge C on the sounding board as usual, and beyond each bridge
they are secured to the iron frame as follows, that is to say, with regard to the
portion of the iron frame D covering the wrest-plank or block by means of a
screw-nut,. screw-bolt, and block or lug, which are so constructed that the lug
receives the end or ends of the strings, and the screw bolt and nut enter the one
into the other, and are arranged together and are applied to and placed upon the
iron frame in such a manner that the lug can be made to draw the strings
connected to it to any desired tension and to release or reduce such tension, as may
be desired.
The Drawing shews these several parts, namely, the screw nut, the screw bolt,
and the block or lug in two different forms, but each form, as will hereinafter
appear, is the same in principle and operation.
In the form shewn in connection with the strings A2, a is the screw nut, b the
screw bolt, and c the block or lug. The screw nut a passes in and through the
thickness of a vertical flange d, which is secured to the iron frame by a screw e, or
in any other suitable manner, or it may be made in one piece with the iron frame.
The screw bolt b is threaded to screw into this screw nut a, and it has a head f
suitably slitted to be conveniently turned, or it may be otherwise adapted for the
same purpose in many obvious ways. The lug or block c is of rectangular shape

page_text: and provided with arms g, g¹; one of its arms g has a hole h through its thickness
suitable for the free passage of the bolt, and the other arm g¹ has a projection at
each side, each of which projections has a hole m through it of suitable size to
receive a string.
In the form shown in connection with the strings A³ and A, the screw nut a is.
in one arm d' of the lug or block c', instead of being in a flange secured to the iron
frame, as above described for the strings A² and the hole h, for the loose passage of
the screw-bolt b, which, as above described, was in one arm g of the block or lug.c,
is in lieu thereof in the flange E of the iron frame D. Instead of the holes m in
the arms g¹ of the block or lug c to receive the strings, pins F, F', may be substituted,
as shewn in Figures 1 and 4; the pin F is provided with a head n and is driven
into the block or lug c', which is suitably drilled to receive it and allow it to be
turned after such insertion, and the other pin F1 is formed at the end of a screw
bolt G arranged to pass loosely through a raised flange O on the arm f¹ of the
block or lug c and to receive on the other side of such flange a screw nut P
The lug or block c¹ rests by its arm f¹ upon the iron frame and is located between
the agraffe or bridge B and the fixed raised flange E of such frame, and the
screw-bolt connects the arm d¹ of the block or lug c¹ to the said raised
flange.
The ends of the two lengths of strings forming the string A² are put through
the holes m in the side projections 7 of the arm g¹ of the lug or block c and are
bent about such projections 7; the two lengths of strings between such bent ends
and the agraffe B run inside of the said bent ends around the lower sides q and
rear side q¹ and thence over the upper side q² of the said projections to the agraffe
or bridge B.
The ends of the two lengths of strings forming the string A³ loop around the
pin F of the lug or block cl to such string As and lie under the head n of the said
pin. The ends or end portions of two of the lengths of string forming the string A
loop around the headed pin F of the lug or block c¹ to such string A and lie under
the head of the said pin, and the remaining end is hitched by its eye r to the pin FI
of the said lug or block c¹ above described as formed at one end of a screw bolt G
which is arranged upon the said block.
With regard to the portion of the iron frame forming the string plate shown
at H, the separate lengths of strings forming the strings A2, A3, and A¹ are secured
to the said string-plate by means of a hitch pin or pins. The Drawing shews these
hitch pins in different forms.
The hitch pin K, shewn in connection with the strings A², has a shank or stem s
and a head s. The shank s enters the string-plate, and is capable of being turned
therein. The head s¹ is slitted for convenience in turning the pin, or it may be
otherwise adapted in obvious ways for the pin to be turned: The string A² loops
around the stem of the pin, and lies between its head s¹ and the string-plate.
The hitch pin M shewn in connection with the string A³ differs in construction
from the hitch pin K above described in connection with the string A² in that it
has side arms t upon which to hook or hang the eyes w which are at the two ends
of the lengths forming the string A³.
The hitch pin N for the string A is in one case the same as the hitch pin K
above described for the string A2, and has the string similarly looped about it, but
in the other case it is a pin L of the ordinary kind of hitch pins without a head or
other construction and arrangements such as herein described. The headed pin N
receives the looped end of the two lengths of the string which pass the one length
from the pin F of the screw bolt G on the block or lug c for the said string A*,
and the other length from one side of the headed pin of such block. The ordinary
pin L receives the end of the length of the string which passes from the side of
the headed pin on the block c' opposite to that from which the length of string
passes to the headed pin N of the string as aforesaid.
Under the several arrangements of connection between the strings A2, A³, and A,
and of the lugs or blocks c, c¹, to such strings in connection with a screw bolt and

page_text: nut applied thereto and to the iron frame, it is obvious that the strings on each
note can be brought to pitch and put under any desired amount of tension, and
that in so doing the strings of each note are simultaneously and similarly drawn,
and again after such strings have been so placed under the desired tension and at
the desired pitch should it be found that the strings of a note are not in unison,
such unison can be obtained by turning the pin to which the strings are hitched or
looped, as, for instance, the hitch pins K, N, at the string plate H, or the hitch
pin F at the lug or block c¹, which turning because of the friction between the
hitch pin and the strings, and otherwise, as is obvious, plainly serves to raise the
pitch of the string from which it moves in such turning, and to lower the pitch of
the string towards which it moves in such turning.
The present improved arrangement of stringing pianofortes, while obviating the
disadvantages hereinbefore enumerated as belonging to the usual method of
stringing pianofortes possesses the following advantages:-
First. It is entirely free from all influence of the wood, as it is directly attached
and applied to the iron frame.
Second. It secures in a great degree a perfect unison of the strings to a note, for
the reason that the separate lengths of each string are attached to one and the
same block or lug, rendered adjustable by a screw and nut by which the several
strings are simultaneously drawn to the same tension, and are there held without
the possibility of variation.
Third. It enables by and through the hitch pins herein described an absolutely
perfect unison of the strings of a note to be secured, for the reason that under any
and all possible causes of variation of the tension, as, for instance, either by the
settling as it were of the strings after being drawn to pitch, or by the difference
in tone of the strings after being drawn to pitch, the tension ou each string can
be adjusted as desired independently of the devices by which the several strings
are simultaneously drawn to pitch as aforesaid, or otherwise.
Fourth. It is accurate to such a degree that it is possible to determine the
average stretch of the strings and yield of the iron frame, as represented by a
given turn of the screw, and thus the screw can be turned just sufficiently beyond
the proper pitch of the string as is necessary to leave the strings at the proper
pitch after they have settled in position.
In the use of a block or lug c having the side projections and holes m through
them for the reception of the ends of the strings; the said strings are attached
thereto in the following manner :-
I secure the lug or block firmly to the nut by a short screw or clamp, then pass
one end, of the string through the hole in one of the side projections and turn up
its end, and having drawn the string straight, loop it around the hitch pin and
return it to the lug c; I then cut it and pass its end through the hole of the other
projection and turn it up as before. I now detach the lug from the nut and turn
it once over between the lengths of string which brings the draw of the string
over the top of the side projections, and I then apply the screw bolt b to the lug or
block c and enter it into the screw nut, and the parts are ready for bringing the
string carried by the said block or lug up to pitch by the joint operation of the
screw and nut applied thereto.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A double strand-piano-string tension device consisting of the block c with
side projections b, l, formed with holes m to receive the ends of the strings which
are passed through the said holes and wound round the projections, and a screw
bolt passed through the block and through a vertical flange upon the frame, covering
the wrest-block, substantially as above set forth.
Second. The above described method of bringing the strands of a double strand
piano string to unison, the same consisting in looping the bend of the string at the

page_text: junction of the two strands around its hitch-pin, and turning the said pin as
required, substantially as above set forth.
Third. A hitch pin to which to hitch or connect the strings to a piano-forte
constructed and applied to act upon the string or strings connected to it, substantially
as and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
('S'T)
' 'II
TATATATT