IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, of the Firm of
J. Brandt and G. W. von Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of 124, Leipziger Strasse,
Berlin, in the German Empire, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PIANOFORTES." A communication by Charles Alexander Schusterius, of.
Konigsberg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von
Nawrocki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May
1880.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W. von
Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of 124, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the German
Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." A communication by Charles
Alexander Schusterius, of Konigsberg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pianofortes, and
consists in the application and use thereto of supplementary sounding boards
which occupy the space not hitherto utilised, and are placed on the same level
with the principal sounding board, being connected with the same by suitably
arranged cross pieces, the ends of which are fastened by screws on prepared bands
glued to the sounding boards as perpendicularly as possible.
This arrangement produces an equality in the fulness of sound, the cross pieces
being fastened by the screws where the necessary fulness of sound is deficient, and
loosened where the fulness of sound exists.
The Invention is applicable to every description of pianoforte, table shaped or
grand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th November 1880.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W. von
Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of 124, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the German Empire.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." (A communication by Charles Alexander
Schusterius, of Konigsberg, in the German Empire.)
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pianofortes, and
consists in the use and application thereto of supplementary sounding boards
which occupy the, space not hitherto utilised, and are placed on the same level
with the principal sounding board, being connected with the same by suitably
arranged cross pieces, the ends of which are fastened by screws onto the prepared
or shaped bands or bars, which are glued to the sounding boards as perpendicularly
to the grain as possible.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a
back view of a part of a pianoforte fitted with such supplementary sounding boards;
Figure 3 is a section through A, B, Fig. 1. C is the chief sounding board, and D and
D' the supplementary sounding boards, which latter occupy the space not hereto-
fore utilized, that is, D' to the left of C, and D to the right of C, as shown. All
the sounding boards rest with about one to one and a half inch width along the
edge, for which purpose there are beads d¹ on the bracings R for the arched part
of the sounding boards to rest on, as shown in Fig. 3.
The supplementary sounding boards D, D', are connected with the main sounding
board C by means of the cross pieces M (Figs. 2 and 3). These are at their ends
fastened to the shaped bars F by means of screws. The bars F are glued to the
sounding boards C, D, and D₁ as perpendicularly to the grain of the same as
possible.
This arrangement produces an equality in the fulness of sound of the instrument,
the cross pieces M being connected to the bars F by the screws m, which latter are
screwed up tight in such places where the necessary or desired fulness of sound is
deficient, but left loosened or slackened where the fulness of sound exists. By
tightening up these screws, more or less, the 'fulness of sound can be regulated as
desired.
In a few places, viz., where shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there are recesses cut in the
bracings R for the cross piece M.
In order to get the frame E quite clear of the sounding boards there are pegs
a, b, c, d, Figs. 1 and 3, screwed into the bracings R, and the frame E rests on their
heads. The frame E is fastened to the bracing R by means of the screws f, as
shown in Fig. 3. The sounding board C is cut out, so that the pegs and screws
pass clear through it.
This Invention is applicable to every description of pianoforte, table shaped and
grand.
I claim as the Invention communicated to me,-
The application to pianofortes of one or more supplementary sounding boards,
which by means of cross pieces are so connected to the main sounding board that
the fulness of tone can be equalized as desired, all substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI. (L.S.)