Improvements in or connected with Pianofortes and other Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Pianofortes and other Stringed
Instruments.
We, JOHN JOHNSON DUNKLEY of Piccadilly, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Pianoforte Dealer and Importer, and ALFRED HOLT, of Rippingham
Road, Withington, in the County aforesaid, Pianoforte Tuner, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed with the object of providing means for giving a more
equal and more easily adjusted tension to the strings of pianofortes or of other
musical instruments whereby they may be tuned with greater ease and accuracy and
the tendency or liability to become slack or out of tune will be reduced.
It consists essentially in applying to the wires or strings a screw or other tension
device in addition to the ordinary tuning pins by which the strings can be depressed
between two bridges and thereby very gradually adjust the strain or tension upon
them.
In carrying out the invention as applied to pianofortes the frame of the instru-
ment is constructed in the usual way except that it is preferable to make it a little
higher or longer to allow for the insertion of a second bridge and the wires are
attached to tuning pins such as are commonly employed. Between the bridge over
which the strings are at present strung and the tuning pins to which the strings are
secured, we insert a second bridge or tension piece and between these two bridges
we apply a screw to each string by which it can be depressed.
We at present prefer to employ a screw passing down past the string unto the
plank with a washer and block or loose collar which rests upon the string and a
head corresponding to the ordinary tuning pin. This block is provided with a nick
or slot which engages with the string, preferably curved or rounded off on the
surface so as not to present any angle or sharp corner which would cut or damage
the string. The block is further made preferably with a slot or opening in one side
so that it can be placed in position on the screw without removing the screw from
the plank.
Instead however of the screw passing down into the plank a bracket may be
placed across the strings to carry the screws which can be pressed down on a block
engaging with the strings.
The invention may be applied either to mono-chord, bi-chord, or tri-chord
instruments, and either to new instruments specially constructed to receive it, or to
existing instruments where there is room to apply it.
Although primarily designed for pianofortes, the invention may be applied to
other stringed instruments such as harps, violins, zithers, etcetera.
We consider by the application of this invention greater simplicity, ease and
accuracy of tuning will be effected and the instrument will remain in tune for a
greater length of time.
Dated this 1st day of February 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: Although primarily designed for pianofortes (either ordinary or mechanical) the
invention may be applied to other string instruments such as harps, violins zithers
etcetera.
We consider by the application of this invention greater simplicity ease and
accuracy of tuning will be effected and the instrument will remain in tune for a
greater length of time as all tuning is effected by the auxiliary pins G without the
necessity of turning the pins B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner it is to be performed we wish it to be understood that we
are now aware that it has been proposed to use a slotted screw with a slit through
which the string passes and a nut thereon to depress the string for the same
purpose and such does not form part of our invention but we declare that what we
claim is :-
In pianofortes or other stringed instruments the combination with the strings and
ordinary tuning pins of auxiliary tuning pins provided with fixed heads which
screw up and down in the wrest plank, loose half washers or blocks provided with
curved grooves to rest on the strings by which they are depressed between two
bridges, and a washer which is interposed between the head of the pin and the
loose block substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 27th day of Amanat 1809
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.