Year: 1801

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ANTO-
NIUS BEMETZRIEDER, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Master of Arts;
ROBERT SCOTT, JOHN SCOTT, and ALEXANDER SCOTT, all of Margaret Street;
Cavendish Square, in the said County of Middlesex, Musical Instrument
Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third in and
by His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date the Tenth day of November, in the forty-second year of His reign, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, did give and grant unto us, the said
Antonius Bemetzrieder, Robert Scott, John Scott, and Alexander Scott, our
executors, administrators, or assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that we, the said Antonius Bemétzrieder, Robert
Scott, John Scott, and Alexander Scott, our executors; administrators, or
assigns, by ourselves or themselves, or by our or their deputy. or 'deputies;
servants or agents, or such others as we, the said Antonius Bemetzrieder,
Robert Scott, John Scott, and Alexander Scott; our executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time' agree with; and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "MAKING!

page_text: PIANOFORTES, ENTIRELY NEW, BOTH IN PRINCIPLE, CONSTRUCTION, AND SHAPE;" in
which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging us, the said
Antonius Bemetzrieder, Robert Scott, John Scott, and Alexander Scott, in
and by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be made, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance..with the said proviso, we, the said
Antonius Bemetzrieder, Robert Scott, John Scott, and Alexander Scott, do
describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be made and performed, as follows, that is to say :-
First, the strings are fixed upon a frame, which has the shape of an irregular
hexagon, in a way or method similar to and imitating as nearly as possible the
office of an horizontal harp. This string frame is strong enough in itself to
resist fully the drawing of all strings used either in grand or square piano-
fortes, and although the front and right sides of the frame are apparently
connected with the exterior circumferences, yet they require no additional
strength from it or from the bottom to resist their respective drawing forces,
the front side of the frame being circular to resist effectually its proportion of
the.drawing forces.
Secondly, the belly with it's two respective bridges is fixed within this string
frame at the upper or widest part thereof, but an additional bridge can be
added, dividing the compass of strings into three equal parts, and may be
placed on the same belly or on a separate small belly at the lower or narrow
extremity of the string frame.
Thirdly, the width of the string frame is determined by the extension and
compass of strings contained and placed on its respective bridges, viz', three
unison strings to each note want eighteen inches for the largest width, and
fourteen inches are sufficient for two unison strings to cach note of an
additional keyed instrument of sixty-eight keys.
Fourthly, the exterior circumference or outward cave of the instrument is
rectangular, the front side circular, and the back, right, and left sides straight;
but this circumference could be oval or triangular if so desired or required.
The length and width are comparatively smaller than any one possible upon
the old construction.
Fifthly, the front and back of the instrument have both doors in the middle
nbar-the string frame. From the front doors the keys are. drawn out for the.

page_text: player, and from the door in the back all the parts of the action can be
regulated or mended when required.
Sixthly, the frame of the action is unconnected with the string frame;
each frame is independant of the other.
Seventhly, besides the ordinary motions up and down, the keys have au
horizontal motion from the back to the front, and vice versa from the front to
the back.
Eighthly, the dampers are above the strings, but may also be under them.
When above the strings they may be taken out one by one, being loosely
suspended on the strings in an upper and under sockett, which socketts are
fixed in the front side of the string frame in an horizontal position. When
under the strings they draw out at the back opening. In both cases their
lifters are independent of the keys..
Ninthly, the top of the instrument opens at the back by means of a swelling
pedal, and at it's front is a music desk which rises out of the top itself,
equidistant from the extremities of the keys. This desk is. first separated
from the top and afterwards affixed to the opening made by such separation
by means of two small hinges there, capable of being elevated to any degree
of inclination the player may choose, being supported when elevated by a
moveable back foot, which, together with the whole desk, shuts down within
the limits of the said opening. The whole top is made to be taken off with
the greatest case, by unfastening the turn buckles or strong brass hooks which
fasten it at it's two ends or greatest extremities. These differences from the old
construction are not merely works of chance, they are grounded on principles
cither hitherto unknown or neglected-First, besides the known proportions,
there is a maximum that is a more advantageous point where the hammer ought
to strike the string. This maximum requires the action in the middle of the
instrument. Secondly, strings riding upon a sonorous plank can give but a
thin and stiff tone, but strings riding upon a sonorous body must give a finer,
full, and singing tone. This is the reason that the new string frame has all
the solidity wanted to resist fully and by itself all the drawing forces, in order
that a light and sounding back may form a sonorous body with the bridge
belly. Thirdly, the pianoforte music is harmony, and harmony proceeds in it's
propagation from the treble to the bass, and ought to go directly and
without reflection from the action of the player to the ears of the auditors.
This is the reason why these new instruments have the bass and swelling at
their back. Fourthly, the pianoforte takes its name from it's peculiar move-
ment, which must be simple, free, and elastic, in order that the player has
under his fingers the piano's forte's, more piano's, more forte's, pianissimos,

page_text: portissimos. This is the reason that all the parts of the instrument are inde-
pendent one from another, and the whole so constructed as to obey the player
who has taste and feeling at the end of his fingers:
In witness whereof, we, the said Antonius Benetzrieder, Robert Scott,
John Scott, and Alexander Scott, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and one.
Inrolled the same Ninth day of December, in thic year above written.