A Contrivance for Strengthening the Fingers and Reducing the Sound when Practising the Pianoforte or any similar Instrument with Keys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Contrivance for Strengthening the Fingers and Reducing the
Sound when Practising the Pianoforte or any similar Instrument
with Keys.
ALEXANDER WILLIAM SMITH 181 Ferndale Road Brixton Road Lambeth
Wardrobe Purchaser do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A piece of wood or other substance is cut corresponding in length to the whole
number of octaves or notes upon a pianoforte or other instrument with similar
keys upon this wood is fixed a similar length, or lengths, (or in small sections) of
indiarubber of a more or less spongey or resilient nature (which may vary in thick-
ness) or indiarubber tubing or bands, or instead of indiarubber, several small springs
or weights corresponding in number & quantity to the exact number of keys upon
a pianoforte or other instrument (or two or more springs may be used to each note)
this length of wood or other substance with the indiarubber or springs fastened to
it is then placed inside the case of the pianoforte or any other instrument of a
similar nature, so that the indiarubber or springs press or bear upon all that part of
the notes or continuation of the keys nearest the action of the pianoforte or other
instrument, this length of wood is kept in position & the pressure upon the notes
or keys regulated by two or more round lengths of rather thick wire or rod with a
long screw cut in the centre. In actual use this contrivance can be screwed up or
down so as 'to be completely taken off or pressed upon the notes; to effect this &
regulate the pressure two or more pieces corresponding to the size of the thread
cut in the wire or rod are fixed to the wooden bar or length running across the
action of the instrument, or above the notes inside the case, the rods are then passed
or screwed into these pieces fixed to the bar, which pieces have a bore or hole in
them, & a thread similar to that inside a nut or music stool and holes at the sides
for screws to fix them on the bar. At the base of these rods small metal plates
with holes for screws are attached, in the centre of these plates the rods are
secured & revolve or turn in a boss so that when the pressure is applied or taken
off it does not displace the contrivance pressing upon the notes beyond raising or
fixing it.
Between the small plates & the wood they are screwed to, a piece of the same
indiarubber or spring intervenes, in screwing the plates into the wood, the screws
are not exactly tightened, in order to allow the intervening indiarubber or springs
full play to expand or contract according to the pressure applied. These rods can
be made long enough to pass through the lid of the instrument so that the pressure
can be regulated or taken off without lifting the lid, or they can be made to
terminate inside the instrument just beneath the lid, or the contrivance bearing
upon the notes can be connected at both sides of the instrument by means of two
metal bars or pieces, the inside ends of these two bars or pieces would in this case
be secured in the woodwork at the back of the instrument & then pass over the
contrivance bearing upon the notes extending to the front of the instrument along
the outer part of the keys at both ends, the pressure would then be regulated by
thumb screws passing through the outside ends & into the woodwork at the sides of
the notes or keys, a suitable piece with a corresponding thread being fixed in the
wood to receive the screw.
Each key as it is struck is affected by the indiarubber or springs bearing upon
it at the other end inside the case, & the more the contrivance is screwed down, the
more pressure is then required to press the keys down, the indiarubber or springs or

page_text: weights offering a resistance which, whilst making the keys more or less difficult to
press down, at the same time prevents the hammers from striking the wires or strings
with the readiness and force which would be the case were this contrivance not
fitted to the instrument.
Or instead of hearing upon the top of the keys the contrivance can be placed
underneath the keys, a wooden length, or a metal bar or rod, or weight, or weights
being fixed to or placed inside or outside the bands, or lengths of indiarubber
or springs, (or by simple weights only) so that when pressure is applied in any
manner whatsoever it would have the same effect as when the pressure is applied
on top of the continuation keys, or the contrivance or weights may be placed in any
other position in which it may be possible to obtain the necessary pressure upon
the keys to strengthen the fingers & reduce the sound when practising or playing
upon the instrument.
Dated this Third day of June 1891.
ALEXANDER WILLIAM SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Contrivance for Strengthening the Fingers and Reducing the
Sound when Practising the Pianoforte or any similar Instrument
with Keys.
ALEXANDER WILLIAM SMITH, 18 Ferndale Road, Brixton Road, Lambeth
Wardrobe Purchaser, 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 :-
A piece of wood or other substance is cut corresponding in length to the whole
number of octaves or notes upon a pianoforte or any other instrument with keys-
upon this wood is fixed a similar length, or lengths of indiarubber or spongey india-
rubber (which rubber may vary in thickness & different degrees of rigidity) or any
other substance of a spongey, springey or resilient nature may be employed. This
length of wood with the indiarubber or spongey indiarubber adhering or fixed to it
is then placed inside the case of the pianoforte or any other instrument to which
it may be adapted in a manner so that the indiarubber presses or rests upon all
that part of the notes or continuation of the keys nearest the action of the
pianoforte inside the case. This length of wood with the indiarubber underneath
is kept in position & the pressure upon the notes or keys regulated by two or
more lengths of rather thick metal rods with a long screw or thread cut in, or fixed
in or about the centre of them & thumb pieces or knobs on top of the rods.
When required for use this contrivance can be screwed up or down so as to
be completely taken off or pressed upon the continuation of the notes inside
the case.
•
To effect this & regulate the pressure two or more pieces or plates with screw
holes or threads cut internally in them, corresponding to the size required for
the threads cut in or fixed on the rods are screwed to the or any bar that may
be running across the action of the instrument, or above the notes inside the case,
the rods are then passed or screwed into these pieces fixed on the (or a) bar running
across the instrument.
[These plates are made in two ways to meet the requirements of differently
constructed pianofortes, thus, instead of the plates with the threads in them being
in one piece, they will be made in two pieces, thus, a plate or plates are made to
screw upon the (or any) bar that may be running across the instrument; in the
centre of these plates there are holes with threads cut in them (one hole to each
plate excepting the holes to enable them to be screwed to the bar). Adjustable
screws with threads at the ends and holes with internal threads at the other ends
are then passed or screwed into these plates, the long rods are then passed into the

page_text: projecting or outside ends of these adjustable screws, & by this means the con-
trivance can be removed at different distances from the action of the instrument so
as to clear any obstacles that may be in the way for its free action.]
At the base of these rods are small metal plates with holes to enable them to be
screwed to the length of wood holding the indiarubber, in the centre of these plates
the rods are secured so that they revolve or turn in them so that when the rods are
screwed up or down they do not displace the length of wood & rubber beyond
raising or pressing it down.
These rods with the thumb pieces or knobs on top can also be made long enough
to pass through the lid of the instrument so that the pressure can be regulated or
taken off without lifting the lid or they will be made to terminate inside the
instrument just beneath the lid.
Other methods of obtaining pressure on the wood & indiarubber can be adopted
& in case of other methods being adopted by myself or any other person it might
not be held to prejudice my exclusive or patent rights to the application of wood &
indiarubber to pianofortes or other instruments, the exact means of obtaining the
pressure being more of a secondary consideration so long as it is obtained by some
means or other, a variation being likely to arise on account of the different
construction of different instruments.
The position of this contrivance when fixed in the instrument & in use is thus ;
the indiarubber presses directly upon the inner end of all the notes, the corre-
sponding length of wood being on top of the rubber, on top of this wood the plates
in which the rods turn are screwed down in a flat position, the rods that turn in the
centre of the plates stand in an upright position whilst the pieces through which
the rods are passed in order to support the wood & indiarubber beneath & obtain
the pressure are screwed in a flat position upon or against the bar or any
substance that may be fixed or running across the instrument inside the case.
The following letters refer to the accompanying drawings & the names applied
to the different parts.
A. Thumb pieces for turning the rods up or down.
B. Rods.
C. Threads or screw cut in or fixed on the rods.
D. Plates with holes & threads cut inside the holes for rods to screw into, &
holes in them to enable them to be fixed.
E. Bar running across the action (& usually made with the instruments) upon
which the plates marked D are screwed or fixed.
F. Plates in which the rods are secured so as to turn or revolve, these plates have
holes in them so as to enable them to be screwed or fixed to the wood.
G. Length of wood to which the plates marked Fare screwed.
H. Indiarubber or spongey indiarubber adhering to the length of wood
marked G.
I. Plates for receiving adjustable screws for using instead of plates marked D,
these plates have holes in them to enable them to be screwed or fixed to a bar (only
one shewn two at least required).
J. Adjustable screws for fitting or screwing into plates marked I (only one shewn
two at least required).
K. Shewing view of adjustable screw marked J fixed in the plate marked I (only
one shewn two at least required).
When the contrivance is screwed down every key as it is struck is affected by
the indiarubber pressing upon it at the other end inside the case, thus requiring more
or less pressure of the fingers to press the keys down as the indiarubber by being
compressed offers a resistance which, whilst making the keys more or less difficult
to force down according to the pressure applied, at the same time prevents the
hammers from striking the wires with the force & readiness which would be the
case were the contrivance not fitted to the instrument, by this means the sound is
to a certain extent lessened or reduced.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. That this contrivance is a length of wood with a similar length of indiarubber
or spongey india rubber attached, or any other suitable material of a spongey,
springey, or resilient nature & sufficiently long to extend over all the notes
of a pianoforte or whatever instrument it may be applied to, that is across the
inside keys.
2. There are two or more rods with long threads cut or fixed in or about the centre
of them & with thumb pieces or knobs on top.
3. These rods are secured & turn or revolve in two or more plates (one rod to
each plate) which are fixed upon the length of wood with the indiarubber or any
other suitable substance attached.
4. There are two or more pieces or plates with a hole to each plate & a thread
cut inside each hole for the rods to pass into so as to enable them to be screwed up
or down as required.
5. These plates are screwed or fixed upon a bar usually found inside a pianoforte
near the action or hammers.
6. These plates are made in two ways, the second arrangement being a plate or
plates with a hole in the centre of them, these holes have threads cut in them in
order to receive the adjustable screws.
7. These adjustable screws besides having threads cut in them at the ends, so
as to fit into the plates, have at the other ends holes with threads cut in them, (one
hole to each screw) into these holes the rods are passed so as to enable the wood &
indiarubber to be raised or lowered when required.
Dated this 4th day of December 1891.
ALEXANDER WILLIAM SMITH.