A NEW OR IMPROVED ATTACHMENT TO PIANO- FORTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF SOUNDS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer for an Invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED ATTACHMENT TO PIANO-
FORTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF SOUNDS
communicated, to him from abroad by Emil Höfinghoff, of Barmen, in the
German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
"A NEW OR
IMPROVED ATTACHMENT TO PIANO-FORTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING
DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF SOUNDS," a communication to me from abroad by Emil
Höfinghoff; of Barmen, in the German Empire,
i
This invention consists in a contrivance, which enables the piano player to
change at will the original tone of the piano into the tone of the harp or other
musical instruments by treading on a pedal made for this purpose.
This tone appears, when the player, using the above mentioned pedal plays in
the usual pianoforte manner, that is to say not in broken .accords ("arpeggio").
as is the usual manner with harp players. The tone of the harp or of other
instruments is produced on the piano forte by small india rubber plates or knockers
striking against the strings of the pianoforte.
The mechanism of this invention comprises an ordinary pedal as generally
applied to piano fortes, which in the interior of the piano forte is provided with a
cross bar, to which is attached a sheet made of light material. This sheet is cut
out at the lower part in little squares or formed accordingly. These little squares
are provided on the side facing the hammer mechanism of the piano with a hard
lining and on the side facing the strings with india rubber plates. Instead of the
above sheet little knockers made of indiarubber or rubber-plated knockers may be
n .
•

page_text: used. By putting the foot on the pedal the sheet with the india rubber plates or
the heads of the india rubber knockers appear near the level of the heads of the
felt haminers of the piano action; so that they are suspended just between the felt
hammers and the strings. Now, when the player touches the keys, the felt
hammers of the pianoforte mechanism are prevented from directly striking the
strings but strike the little squares of the sheet or the knockers, which are thrown
against the strings with the rubber-lined side, whereby the tone of the harp or
other instruments is produced. This invention does not in all cases require a third
pedal for pianos having originally two pedals, but may be adopted without a third
pedal, where the construction of the piano allows the attachment of the described
harp tone producing mechanism to one of the existing pedala.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Patent Office on the 19th May 1884.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer
" A NEW OR
IMPROVED ATTACHMENT TO PIANO-FORTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING
DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF SOUNDS," a communication to me from abroad by Emil
Höfinghoff, of Barmen, in the German Empire,
This invention consists in a contrivance, which enables the piano player to
change at will the original tone of the piano into the tone of the harp by treading
on a pedal made for this purpose.
By aid of this same contrivance the player may likewise produce a sound on the
piano, which has some resemblance with that of the violin, organ, harmonium, or
other instruments.
This sound appears, when the player, using the above mentioned pedal plays in
the usual pianoforte manner, that is to say, not in broken accords ("arpeggio") as
is the usual manner with harp players.
The tone of the harp and a tone resembling in some way that of the afore-
mentioned instruments (Violin, Alto, Violoncello, Harmonium and Organ) is
produced on the pianoforte by small india rubber plates or knockers striking
against the strings of the piano.
This invention thus consists essentially in the application of india rubber plates
or india rubber knockers for the purpose of producing on the piano the tone of the
harp or a tone resembling that of the aforementioned instruments.
The apparatus embodying this invention is illustrated by the accompanying
drawing.
It comprises an ordinary pedal A (as generally applied to pianos) connected in
the interior of the piano with a bar B, to which is attached a sheet C of a light
material.
In the lower part of this sheet or strip are formed or cut out little squares D
(see Fig. 2). These little squares are provided, on the side facing the hammer
mechanism of the piano, with a hard lining E, see Fig. 1, and on the side facing
the strings, with india rubber plates F.
Instead of the above sheet, little knockers G made of or lined with indiarubber
(Fig. 3) may be used, the said knockers being connected with the beam B by short
arms or equivalent means.
.
By putting the foot on the pedal, the sheet with the india rubber plates, or the
heads of the india rubber knockers are placed level with the heads of the felt
hammers H of the piano action, so that they are suspended just between the felt
hammers and the strings K. Now, when the player touches the keys, the
felt hammers of the piano action are prevented from directly striking the strings,
but strike the little squares of the sheet or the knockers, which are thrown against
the strings with the rubber lined side, whereby the tone of the harp or other
instruments is produced.
This invention does not in all cases require a third pedal for pianos having
originally two pedals, but may be adopted without a third pedal, where the
construction of the piano allows the attachment of the described harptone producing
mechanism to one of the existing pedals.
'

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The application of rubber-plated knockers for changing the sound of pianos, said
plates or knockers being fixed to strips or sheets of light material or to short levers
or equivalent mechanism, substantially as described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 19th day of May A.D. 1884.
T
T TADDAN
T
ADDAN (2.5.)