IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PIANOFORTES." - A communication from abroad by Luigi Caldera,
Mechanical Engineer, Ludovic Montu, Dealer in Pianos, and Stefano
D
L
Sealed the 28th April 1868, and dated the 6th November. 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
6th November 1867.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application to grand, square, and other pianos
of an apparatus for striking the wires by means of small hammers covered
with felt attached at the ends of steel plates and vibrated by the aid of a
cylinder to which they are attached; said cylinder being oscillated by the aid
of a spring and train for determining the vibration of the steel plates. The
steel plates provided with the small hammers on their ends, as above mentioned,
are kept continually oscillating or vibrating during the whole time the instru-

page_text: ment is being played on, which motion is however only communicated to the
small hammers at the moment the performer touches a key corresponding to
the note of which it is desired to prolong the sound. This prolongation is
produced by the continuous vibration of the wire all the time the key is
pressed on by the finger of the performer.
The following is the mode of using the instrument which I term a "melo-
piano" When it is desired to play a piece of music, an adagio for example,
having notes the sound of which should be prolonged for a time, the performer
presses on a pedal for winding up the barrel spring, and at same time touches
a small damper placed above the key board; this damper serves to permit of
the immediate oscillating motion of the small hammers for prolonging the
sound, and after this all the keys struck by the performer will produce notes
the sound of which may be prolonged or continued at will. The performer
with the said instrument may simultaneously with one hand produce simple
notes or sounds similar to an ordinary piano by striking the wires with the
large hammers, and with the other hand by slightly pressing on the key
hé may produce a prolonged noté like that of an harmonium. By this means
a great variety of sounds and expressions may be obtained in a piece of music,
and it will also be readily understood that an instrument thus constructed
may either be played so as to produce ordinary sounds like a piano or pro-
longed sounds.
.
2.
The mechanism for operating the small hammers may be arranged and
applied in various ways, for example, instead of winding the spring with the
pedal as the playing proceeds, it may be wound with a key before the piece is
played, so as to set the small hammer, in motion during the whole time the
performance lasts. The spring and train may also be replaced by an electro-
motor, compressed air, or other means suited to the purpose desired, the
Invention being based on the method of prolonging the notes or sounds.
This Invention is. illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which shows
what I term the "melopiano," Figure 1 being a cross sectional elevation of a
piano having the additional parts applied thereto; Figure 2 a longitudinal
section showing the spring and train placed in the space comprised between
the two uprights facing the lower octaves and below the sound board;
Figure 3 shows a front view of part of the bridge or support and wires, and the
arrangement of the small hammers for striking the same from behind; lastly,.
Figure 4 shows a front view of the spring and train mechanism represented in
side view, Figure 2. The same letters represent the same parts in the several
Figures.

page_text: a, bar, to which is attached by the aid of binding screws m, iron rods or wires
provided at their lower ends with small pieces of wood e jointed to the ends of
levers & carrying the dampers g; b, bar placed below a supporting a lever 6,
jointed to the fork q; f, metal stop attached at the head of lever c for pre-
venting the small hammer C, Figure 2, striking, the wires G. when desired;
n, wire stem, which by means of the part h raises the lever of the damper 9,
and also by the aid of head p raises the lever c of stop f; o, part carrying the
escapement and serving to raise the stem n by the aid of stud v; u, extension
piece jointed to o, and connected at its lower part with the keys of the
instrument; s, double fork fixed to the eross piece t; jointed to which at the
upper part is the nut carrying the stem of the large hammer y, while its lower
end is connected to part o. A, sounding board; B, bridge support on which
rest the wires G; C, leaden heads of the small hammers covered with felt for
striking the wires G with great rapidity when the keys are pressed down. by
the performer for setting in action the apparatus represented in Figure 1', that
is to say, when stop f bearing on the felt V₁ is withdrawn. The effect of these
rapid blows of the small hammers C on the wires G is to produce a continuous
sound in imitation of that produced by the violin bow or eolian harp; D, copper
cylinder, on which are fixed the steel blades X, having small projecting
hammers C. The number of these hammers is regulated by the number of
notes the sounds of which are to be prolonged. H, space between the
wires G and the sound board I; L, copper plates enclosing the mechanism;
C', lead plates placed at top and bottom of said casing; B¹, ties uniting the
several parts; M, flyer mounted on an axis driven by a pinion O gearing with
the toothed wheel Z of the spring barrel N. On the axis of flyer M is
keyed a six-sided cam P for rotating and raising intermittently at short
intervals a wheel Q, seen in Figures 2 and 4, mounted in a forked lever R,
oscillating at V. On the rotation of the flyer the lever R bearing on cam P
by the aid of wheel Q receives a very quick oscillating motion which it
transmits to axis V, having fixed on it the lever Foutside the case enclosing
the motor, said lever F is operated by the oscillating motion of axis V, it being
provided at its end with a screw R¹ on which bears the knob E forming part
of a lever S fixed on cylinder D carrying the stems of the small hammers C.
The cylinders D on receiving oscillating motion from lever S communicates it
to the blades fixed along it, but which however is not communicated to the
heads C of the hammers unless the stop f, Figure 1, is removed. A¹, axis of
spring barrel, on the end of which is a grooved pulley carrying a cord con-
nected to a pedal placed in front of the instrument to be operated on by the

page_text: performer for putting the spring in tension and setting the train in motion.
On the same axis A¹ there is also fixed a ratchet wheel Z, with pawl U¹ for
keeping the spring in tensión. T, vibrating plate fixed by means of screws to
the forked lever R, and provided at its lower end with a knob M¹ striking
against the felt pad U formed on a very thin plate P' fixed to axis S; on this
axis is also attached a small leather pad X in frictional contact with the
periphery of flyer M. When the knob, M¹ presses against pad U it acts on
the thin plate P¹, and the consequent friction produced by the leather pad X¹
on the flyer M regulates the motion, y¹, part represented in Figure 4, for
instantly staying the action of the mechanism, it being, in communication with
the cord I of a damper situated above the key board within reach of the
performer. O¹, small lever fixed at the lower end of screw R¹, connected by
a cord K¹ to a pedal for turning screw R', and thus advancing or withdraw-
ing more or less from the wires; G the small bammers for producing an
augmentation or diminution of sound; this arrangement of parts being termed
the expression damper; E¹, thickness of felt for preventing the vibration of
the mechanism being transmitted to the case of the instrument; G¹, wood
plate, on which the mechanism is carried, it being held in position by means
of screws F¹ passing through the wood plate D1; L', bearings provided with
pointed screws carrying the cylinder D and permitting of its free oscillation.
The chief features of the instrument I term a "melopiano," are,-
1st. Prolonging the vibration and consequently the sound of the wires in
imitation of that produced by the violin bow or eolian harp.
2ndly. The mechanism herein described and represented applicable to
pianos for prolonging the sound when desired.
3rdly. The arrangement of parts herein described for prolonging the notes,
regulating the movement, and giving more or less expression to the music
being played.
SPÉCIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence that 1, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES," a communication to me from abroad by Luigi
Caldera, Mechanical Engineer, Ludovic Montu, Dealer in Pianos, and Stefano
Brossa, Priest, all of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, refèrence being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to the application to grand, square, and other pianos
of an apparatus for prolonging the sound by producing the continuous vibration
of the wires. This apparatus is caused to strike the wires with great rapidity
by means of small hammers covered with felt attached at the ends of steel
plates and vibrated by the aid of a cylinder to which they are attached, said
cylinder being oscillated by the aid of a spring and train for determining the
vibration of the steel plates. The steel plates provided with the small
hammers on their ends as above mentioned are kept continually oscillating
or vibrating during the whole time the instrument is being played on, which
motion is however only communicated to the hammers at the moment the
performer touches a key corresponding to the note of which it is desired to
prolong the sound. This prolongation is produced by the continuous vibra-
tion of the wires all the time the key is pressed on by the finger of the
performer.

page_text: The chief points claimed as forming the principle on which the Invention is
based are,-
1st. The means employed for effecting the simultaneous vibration of a number
of steel plates provided at their ends with small felted hammers and fixed on a
shaft or cylinder of copper, to which a very rapid and uniform oscillating motion
is imparted by means of a spring and train or otherwise. The small hammers
mounted on the steel strips or plates are prevented from vibrating by means
of a part resting in bearings at either side, which is removed at the desired
time by depressing the key or note. In this manner the desired result is
attained, viz., that of setting the parts in rapid motion without any noise
which would be objectionable in a musical instrument, at same time avoiding
the disagreeable effect of restriking the note for continuing the sound.
2ndly. The means employed for determining in an exact and certain manner
the most favorable point at which the small hammers should act, so that
by means of their rapid action they may keep the strings in a state of
continual vibration, and so produce the effect of a violin or similar instru-
ment.
One of the essential conditions of success in the improved instrument of this
Invention is the determining of this point as above mentioned, for it is evident
that if the wires were struck by the small hammers at the same point acted on
by the ordinary hammers, instead of producing a continuous sound agreeable
to the ear, it would be on the contrary barsh, tremulous, dead, and disagreeable
on account of the point being too far from the bridge. At this distance
the vibration of the string is already ample, and the blows following quickly
one after the other the vibration has not sufficient time to extend itself, while
the small hammer which is intended to keep the string continually vibrating
would on the contrary prevent it and act merely as a damper.
The following is the mode in which I determine the striking line of
the small hammers, supposing, for example, it is desired to prolong the
sound of the notes over a compass of five octaves commencing at the

page_text: the treble as above indicated. At these two points C, D, I draw perpendicular
lines, the one in the treble clef having a length of 65 decimillimetres, each
equal to 3 of an inch, while that for the bass clef is of a length equal to
390 decimillimetres. Lastly, I unite these two points by a line E, F, extending
from one side to the other of the sound board, and representing the line of the
bridge, while the line C, D, represents the striking line of the small hammers.
Further, in order to find the line of striking for the large hammers, I set off
on the line A, B, for each division representing the space between the strings,
the ordinary distance between the bridge and the point of striking for the
large hammers. In this manner I obtain a curved line G, B, which will
serve as the line of the bar carrying the large hammers, which in ordinary
pianos is made straight.
The following is the mode of using the instrument which I term a "melo-
piano." When it is desired to play a piece of music, an adagio for example, having
notes the sound of which should be prolonged for a time, the performer
presses a pedal for winding up the barrel spring and at same time touches a
small damper placed above the key board. This damper serves to permit of
the immediate oscillating motion of the small bammers for prolonging the
sound, and after this all the keys struck by the performer will produce notes the
sound of which may be prolonged or continued at will. The performer with
the said instrument may simultaneously with the one hand produce simple
notes or sounds similar to an ordinary piano by striking the wires with the
large hammers, and with the other band by slightly pressing on the key he
may produce a prolonged note like that of an harmonium. By this means a
great variety of sounds and expressions may be obtained in a piece of music,
and it will also be readily understood that an instrument thus constructed may
either be played so as to produce ordinary sounds like a piano or prolonged
sounds.
Any known arrangement of the ordinary mechanism may be adopted, for
example, instead of placing the dampers above the large hammers as shown in
the Drawing I may place them below said hammers if desired, it being under-
stood that I make no claim to improvement on this point.
The mechanism for operating the small hammers may be arranged and
applied in various ways, for example, instead of winding the spring with the
pedal as the playing proceeds, it may be wound with a key before the piece is
played, so as to set the small hammers in motion during the whole time the
performance lasts; or an arrangement of toothed wheels and endless or other
chains may be employed in connection with a spindle or barrel placed below,

page_text: by which means the movement of the pedal while playing is rendered
unnecessary. The spring and train may also be replaced by an electric motor,
compressed air, or other means suited to the purpose desired, the Invention
being based on the method of prolonging the notes or sounds.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which shows
what I term the "melopiano," Figure 1 being a cross sectional elevation of
a piano having the additional parts applied thereto; Figure 2, a lateral section
showing the spring and train placed in the space comprised between the two
uprights of the frame facing the lower octaves and below the wrest plank ;
Figure 3 shows a front view of part of the bridge or support for the strings
and the arrangement of the small hammers for striking the same from
behind; Figure 4 shows a front view of the spring and train mechanism
represented in side view Figure 2, while Figure 5 is a diagram showing
how the line of striking of the small hammers is determined. The same letters
represent the same part in the four first Figures.
a, bar to which is attached by the aid of binding screw m iron rods or
wires provided at their lower ends with small pieces of wood e jointed to the
ends of levers d carrying the dampers g; b, bar placed below a supporting
a lever c jointed to a fork q; f, metal stop attached at the head of lever c for
preventing the small hammer c, Figure 2, striking the wires G when desired;
n, wire stem which by means of the part h raises the lever of the damper 9,
and also by the aid of head p raises the lever c of stop f; o, part carrying
the escapement and serving to raise the stem n by the aid of stud v; u,
extension piece jointed to o and connected at its lower part with the keys of
the instrument; 8, double fork fixed to the cross piece t, jointed to which at the
upper part is the nut carrying the stem of the large hammer y, while its lower
end is connected to part o. A, wrest plank; B, bridge support on which rests the
wires G; C, leaden heads of the small hammers covered with felt for striking the
wires G with great rapidity when the keys are pressed down by the performer
for setting in action all the apparatus represented in Figure 1, that is to say,
when stop bearing on the felt V₁ is withdrawn. The effect of these rapid
blows of the small hammers C on the wires G produces a continuous sound
in imitation of that produced by a violin bow or eolian harp; D, copper cylinder
on which are fixed steel blades X having small projecting hammers C. The
number of these hammers is regulated by the number of notes, the sounds of
which are to be prolonged; H, space between the wires G and the sound
board I; L, copper plates enclosing the mechanism; C¹, lead plates placed at
top and bottom of said casing; B', ties uniting the several parts; M, flyer

page_text: mounted on an axis driven by a pinion O gearing with the toothed wheel Z of
the spring barrel N; on the axis of flyer M is keyed a six-sided cam P
for rotating and raising intermittently at short intervals a wheel Q, seen in
Figures 2 and 4, mounted in a forked lever R oscillating at V. On the
rotation of the flyer M the lever R bearing on cam P, by the aid of wheel. Q,
receives a very quick oscillating motion, which it transmits to axis V having
fixed on it the lever F outside the case enclosing the motor; said lever F is
operated by the oscillating motion of axis V, it being provided at its end with
a screw R¹ on which bears the knob E forming part of a lever S fixed on
cylinder D carrying the stems of the small hammers C; the cylinder D. on
receiving oscillating motion from lever S communicates it to the plates fixed
along it, but which however is not communicated to the heads C of the
hammers unless the stop f, Figure 1, is removed; A¹, axis of spring barrel, on
the end of which is a grooved pulley carrying a cord connected to a pedal
placed in front of the instrument to be operated on by the performer for putting
the spring in tension and setting the train in motion. On the same axis A¹
there is also fixed a ratchet wheel Z' with pawl U¹ for keeping the spring in
tension; T, vibrating plate fixed by means of screws to the forked lever R,
and provided at its lower end with a knob M¹ striking against the felt pad U
formed on a very thin plate P¹ fixed to axis S. On this axis is also
attached a small leather pad X¹ in frictional contact with the periphery of
flyer M; when the sphere M¹ presses against pad U it acts on the thin
plate P¹, and the consequent friction produced by the leather pad X' on the
flyer M regulates the motion y', part represented in Figure 4, for instantly
staying the action of the mechanism, it being in communication with the cord I'
of a damper situated above the key board within reach of the performer. O',
small lever fixed at the lower end of screw R³ connected by a cord K¹ to a
pedal for turning screw R', and thus advancing or withdrawing more or less
the small hammers from the strings G for producing an augmentation or
diminution of sound, this arrangement of parts being termed the expression
damper; E, thicknesses of felt for preventing the vibration of the mechanism
being transmitted to the case of the instrument; G', wood plate on which
the mechanism is carried, it being held in position by means of screws F¹
passing through the wood plate D¹; L', bearings provided with pointed screws
carrying the cylinder D and permitting of its free oscillation.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―

page_text: Ist. Prolonging the vibration and consequently the sound of the wires in
imitation of that produced by a violin bow or eolian harp.
2ndly. The mechanism herein described and represented applicable to pianos
for prolonging the sound when desired.
3rdly. I claim the mode herein described of determining in an exact manner
the point at which the small hammers should strike the wires as' and for the
purpose described.
4thly. The arrangement of parts herein described for prolonging the notes,
regulating the movement, and giving more or less expression to the music being
played..
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)