Year: 1888

page_text: I, STEPHEN HARTLEY, of No. 8, Mount Street, Halifax, in the County of York,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to the backs of pianofortes, which, until recently, were
composed entirely of wood. To the use of wood backs, however, there were several
objections, such as the expansion and contraction of the said wood; and consequently
piano backs are at present composed of cast metal, but to the use of cast metal backs
there are also many objections, not only in consequence of the great weight thereof,
but in practice it is found that they frequently crack, whilst the tone of the instrument
is never equal to that of wood.
It is my intention to combine steel bars, preferably I shaped, with a facing
of wood on each side, clamped together by bolts or other suitable means, such
clamped bars being placed vertically in the frame, the extreme ends thereof being
afterwards secured by wood cross rails.
By combining steel rails with wood for piano backs, I am enabled to obtain great
strength with less weight than cast metal, whilst the tone of the instrument is more
mellow than when backs are composed entirely of metal.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in the Backs of Pianofortes.
I, STEPHEN HARTLEY, of No. 8, Mount Street, Halifax, in the County of York,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, 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 has reference to the backs of pianofortes, which, until recently, were
composed entirely of wood. To the use of wood backs, however, there were several
objections, such as the expansion and contraction of the said wood; but these
objections were overcome by making piano backs of cast metal; but to the use of
cast metal backs there are also many objections, not only in consequence of the great
weight thereof, but in practice it is found that they frequently crack, whilst the tone
of the instrument is never equal to that of wood.
It is my intention to combine steel bars, preferably I shaped, with a facing of
wood on each side, clamped together by bolts or other suitable means, such clamped
bars being placed vertically in the frame, the extreme ends thereof being afterwards
secured by wood cross rails.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now refer to the
annexed sheet of drawings, which illustrates the geometrical view of the back of a
pianoforte constructed according to my improved method, which consists in the
employment of a steel or other metal bar A having a facing of wood at B and C on
each side of the said metal bar, the three parts A, B, and C being afterwards clamped
together by means of screws or bolts D. These vertical bars, made of the combined
materials of metal and wood, are connected together in the ordinary manner of
making wood piano backs by means of the crossbars E and F.
By combining steel rails with wood for piano backs, I am enabled to obtain
greater strength with less weight than when the backs are composed entirely of metal,
whilst the tone of the instrument is greatly improved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to any particular section of metal bar employed, but
what I do claim.is :-
The manufacture of piano backs where the bars are made partly of metal and
partly of wood in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.'
Dated this 12th day of December 1888.