Improvements in and in the Construction of Plano-fortes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1392-Accepted. 26th Nov.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Construction of Plano-fortes.
I NATHANIEL BERRY of 135 City Road London in the County of Middlesex,
Piano-forte Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to piano-fortes and more especially relates to piano-fortes
of the character known as "upright" pianos.
Heretofore in the manufacture of such pianos it has been usual (or common
practice) to construct a very strong upright framework of wood arranged at the
back of the piano and on this upright stout wood frame the sounding board is
mounted and then in front of same a metal frame is mounted to which metal frame
the lower ends of the wires are secured while the upper ends of the said wires
are secured to pins (known as "wrest pins") capable of being turned in the " wrest
plank."
This wrest plank has heretofore been arranged and mounted (above the top of
the said metal frames where such metal frames are used) on the upper part of the
said upright stout wood frame and there secured in position by glueing and also
other constructions have been tried.
Now my present invention is as follows:-
I entirely dispense with the said stout wood frame and instead thereof I cast or
form a strong upright metal frame (which approximately coincides or thereabouts)
with the internal form and size of the piano case.
This upright metal frame has a deep rabbet or ledge on the back thereof near
the top on which the wooden wrest plank is supported-said wrest plank being
suitably secured in its position on this metal ledge (on the metal frame) by any
suitable fastenings such as strong bolts screws clamps etc. etc.
Thus I avoid any glueing of the wrest plank.
"
Suitable holes are drilled or formed in the metal frame (which is or may be solid
in front of the wrest plank) through which the "wrest
screwed into the wrest plank.
pins are passed and
Thus the wrest plank is supported on the metal frame (on a ledge or equivalent
supports) and secured in position entirely without glueing thus giving many
advantages as for instance in the course of manufacture and in the lasting power
of the piano.
The said metal frame has also formed therein or thereon, a part or support for
the sounding board viz. a rabbet or ledge is formed all round the part of the metal
frame to receive the sounding board-such sounding board being of the ordinary
shape and construction (or of any other shape or construction desired) and the part
formed to receive same being of a corresponding shape.
One or more suitable struts uprights or cross bars may be cast or formed in or on
the metal frame to give strength and rigidity to the whole metal frame.
For tropical countries pianos constructed according to my present invention
vill be found of great utility as there is no wood frame (at the back) to warp
nd the wrest plank cannot come unglued inasmuch as it is not secured in position
y glue.
Dated this 9th day of January 1999
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Construction of Piano-fortes.
I, NATHANIEL BERRY of 135 City Road, London in the County of Middlesex,
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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to pianofortes and more especially relates to pianofortes
of the character known as 66
upright" pianos.
Heretofore in the manufacture of such pianos it has been usual (or common
practice) to construct a very strong upright framework of wood arranged at the
back of the piano and on this upright stout wood frame the sounding board is
mounted and then in front of same a metal frame is mounted to which metal frame
the lower ends of the wires are secured while the upper ends of the said wires are
secured to pins (known as "wrest pins") capable of being turned in the " wrest
plank."
This wrest plank has heretofore been arranged and mounted (above the top of
the said metal frame where such metal frames are used) on the upper part of the
said upright stout wood frame and there secured in position by glueing and also
other constructions have been tried.
Now my present invention is as follows:-
I entirely dispense with the said stout wood frame and instead thereof I cast or
form a strong upright metal frame (which approximately coincides or thereabouts)
with the internal form and size of the piano case.
This upright metal frame has a deep rabbet or ledge on the back thereof near
the top on which the wooden wrest plank is supported-said wrest plank being
suitably secured in its position on this metal ledge (on the metal frame) by any
suitable fastenings such as strong bolts screws clamps etc. etc.
Thus I avoid any glueing of the wrest plank.
Suitable holes are drilled or formed in the metal frame when formed solid in
front of the wrest plank through which the "wrest pins" are passed and screwed
into the wrest plank or instead of forming the metal frame solid in front of the
wrest plank such frame may be cut away for the wrest pins to pass direct into the
wrest plank.
The wrest plank is supported on the metal frame (on a ledge or equivalent
supports) and secured in position entirely without glueing thus giving many advan-
tages as for instance in the course of manufacture and in the lasting power of
the piano.
In place of the foregoing arrangements other equivalent methods of mounting
the "wrest" plank on my metal frame may be adopted as desired for instance
the ledge (or equivalent projections) for supporting the "wrest plank" may be
on the front of the metal frame and the top of the metal frame may support the
wrest plank from behind; by bolting through a front cross bar and the wrest plank
and frame; or the wrest plank may be supported both in front and behind-the
metal frame being arranged and constructed accordingly.
The said metal frame has also formed therein or thereon a part or support for
the sounding board viz.: a rabbet or ledge is formed (or in place thereof a number
of projecting pieces or lugs may be cast on) all round the part of the metal frame
to receive the sounding board such sounding board being of the ordinary shape
and construction (or of any other shape or construction. desired) and the part
formed to receive same being of a corresponding shape; or other suitable means
of securing the sounding board may be adopted as desired.
One or more suitable struts uprights or cross bars may be cast or formed or

page_text: mounted in or on the metal frame on the back of same to give strength and
rigidity to the whole metal frame-to assist in resisting the buckling strain of the
piano wires.
For tropical countries pianos constructed according to my present invention
will be found of great utility as there is no wood frame (at the back) to warp
and the wrest plank cannot come unglued inasmuch as it is not secured in position
by glue.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to further describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed
Figure 1 18 a front view in elevation of the metal frame a carrying the wrest
plank and sounding board ready to be fixed inside the piano case.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the reverse side of Figure 1, i.e. of the back of the
metal frame.
Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation of the metal frame as fitted and mounted in
a piano case.
"get
a is the metal frame (formed in any suitable manner) having a ledge or
back" a formed at the upper part thereof the sides of said frame being carried
right up to the top at a Fig. 1 and then joined by the crossbar a Figs. 1 and 3-in
the case illustrated all these parts are cast together in one piece.
b is the-wrest plank.
c is the ordinary thin brass (or other metal) pin plate or ornamental plate on
the front side of the wrest plank-but this plate e forms no part of my present
invention.
d are the ordinary wrest pins.
e is an ordinary or suitable wooden sounding board over which the wires are
strung in the usual way from the wrest pins d down towards the bottom of
the piano.
f are supporting rods passing through eyes or lugs 9' on the strengthening
pieces g (which are cast on or separately mounted at the top of the metal frame)
and eyes or lugs on the bottom of the metal frame-these rods being screw
threaded and a tightening nut screwed thereon so as to tighten up these rods
to the desired degree to give support or strength on the back of the metal
frame a and wrest plank 6 to assist same in resisting the enormous strain of the
piano wires.
i are small lugs or projecting pieces formed or mounted on the metal frame a to
which the sounding board e is secured by screws as shown.
In the case illustrated the metal frame a a¹ axx at the upper part thereof is
formed to receive the wrest plank on an inclined or bevelled ledge a' (as shown
in Figure 3) the sides a* and the cross bar x supporting the said wrest plank in
front.
The wrest plank 6 is formed with its lower edge bevelled so as to approximately
correspond with the bevel on the ledge a' on the metal frame and such wrest plank
having been placed in position is very firmly and permanently secured to the said
metal frame as follows:-
The bottom edge of said plank lays on the sloping ledge a¹ (see Fig. 1) and the
top part of said plank is strongly bolted to the bar by the bolts y passing right
through gb and x and by the bolts z passing through the side part a* (of the metal
frame a) and the wrest plank b. The bolts further secure the wrest plank 6 by
passing through the lower part of the wrest plank and the lower part of a see
Figs. 1 and 2 and all drawn up tight.
Thus while the wrest plank is firmly held at the top and down the sides its lower
edge is firmly secured on the bevelled or other ledge at the bottom.
It is obvious that the wrest plank 6 may be secured and mounted on the said

page_text: metal frame in other similar and equivalent manners as I do not limit myself to any
precise method of securing said, wrest plank upon the metal frame a, a, a*, x.
Suitable lugs such as m are formed or mounted on the frame a to secure same to
the piano case p.
Two struts are cast integrally with the whole frame a, a¹, a*, a, to strengthen
same but I do not confine myself hereto..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
"
1. A pianoforte having a metal frame carrying and supporting the "wrest'
plank on the upper part thereof by means of a transverse ledge and a frame or
support above said ledge cast on said metal frame to receive said wrest plank which
latter is secured thereto (with, glueing) by means of clamps or screws bolts or
other suitable clamping device as set forth.
2. A metal device for supporting the wrest plank and sounding board in piano-
fortes consisting of a cast metal frame at its upper part supporting and carrying
the "wrest" plank which is suitably bolted or clamped to same and at its lower
part carrying the sounding board mounted and secured thereon in any suitable
manner substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with a piano case of a metal frame having means at its upper
part to carry and support the "wrest" plank without glueing and at its lower part.
is capable of carrying the sounding board in any suitable or, well, known manner
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 8th day of October 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,; W.C:,
Agents for the Applicant.