IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rolfe, of Regent Street, London, Pianoforte
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 2nd October 1857, and dated the 9th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rolfe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th April
1857.
I, THOMAS ROLFE, of Regent Street, London, Pianoforte Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-
FORTES," to be as follows:-
The improvements consist in the application of india-rubber of suitable
thickness and shape as an elastic material at the ends of the keys, for the
purpose of a "check" in pianoforte actions, in place of a wire, as heretofore
▸ used.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Rolfe, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Rolfe, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Rolfe, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Rolfe, 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 per-
formed, 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 Thomas Rolfe, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The principal object of this Invention is to prevent the vibration of the
hammer after it has struck the strings, and the improvements consist in
substituting a piece or pieces of india-rubber, vulcanized or galvanized india-
rubber, or any other similar elastic material, suitably formed, and rigidly
supported on the key, or otherwise, in lieu of the elastic or yielding wire, as
heretofore used, the description of which will be best understood by referring
to the Drawings annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
observing that the same parts are marked with the same letters as they occur
in each Figure.
Figure 1 shows a section of so much of an upright pianoforte action as will
enable me to explain my Invention. a represents the key; b, the lifter block;
c, the lifter; d, the hammer butt, and e, the check button constructed
according to my Invention, which is firmly supported and secured to the key
by means of a right and left handed adjusting screw f, one end of the said

page_text: screw being inserted into the key a, suitably cut to receive it, and the other
end of the screw inserted into the lower part of the wood button e, which is
surmounted with a piece or pieces of galvanized or vulcanized india-rubber, or
other similar elastic material e' secured thereon by glue or otherwise. A hole
is punctured through the centre of the elastic cushion e', or its surface is
suitably hollowed out, for the purpose of weakening it at that point, and thus
enabling it to bite or "check" the bammer butt d firmly before and behind its
centre when in contact with it at the time the hammer strikes the string, and
also to allow for the casual risk of the india-rubber or its substitute being
displaced or forced off the wood button e through any inequality in the
adjustment of the screw f. Figure 2 shews a side view of an isolated key,
fitted according to my Invention.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, I wish
it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the details; but what I claim,
is the use of galvanized or vulcanized india-rubber, or other similar elastic
material, rigidly supported on the key or otherwise, as herein-before described,
for the purpose of steadying, holding, or "checking" the vibration of the
hammer after it has struck the strings, in the place of the elastic or yielding
wire with its usual appurtenances heretofore used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rolfe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
THOMAS ROLFE. (L.S.)