IMPROVEMENTS TN TUR HAMMER RAILS OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robert Butcher, Frederick Stevens, William
Thomas Johnson, and Theophilus Jarvis, of Frome, in the County of
Somerset, Pianoforte Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
TN TUR HAMMER RAILS OF PIANOFORTES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Thomas Robert Butcher,
Frederick Stevens, William Thomas Johnson, and Theophilus Jarvis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition and
Declaration, on the 15th November 1858, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
ROBERT BUTCHER, FREDERICK STEVENS, WILLIAM THOMAS JOHNSON,. and
THEOPHILUS JARVIS, of Frome, in the County of Somerset, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE HAMMER RAILS OF PIANOFORTES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto us, our executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn declaration that we verily believo our-
selves to be the true and first Inventors thereof:

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Robert Butcher, Frederick
Stevens, William Thomas Johnson, and Theophilus Jarvis, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification under our hands and seals, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to certain improvements whereby a greater amount
of firmness, combined with perfect freedom of action, is obtained in what are
called the "butts," connected with that part of the action of pianofortes known
as the hammer rail. As hitherto constructed and arranged, the "butts," (to
which the hammers are attached,) are placed between the prongs of the metal
plate, which is fastened to the hammer rail, the whole series being connected
together by means of a wire passing from one end of the plate to the other,
and upon which wire the "butts" work, as upon an axis.
Our improvements are as follows:-Instead of placing each "butt" between
two of the metal prongs, as heretofore, we construct them so as to work over
or embrace the prongs, that is to say, the "butts" are made of a greater width,
slots being formed in the bottoms of the "butts," instead of the ordinary back
hole, so that each "butt" embraces one of the metal prongs, the series being
connected in the ordinary manner by means of a wire passing through the
whole length of the plate. We also construct the metal prongs themselves of
a much greater width than has been previously done, thus giving increased
firmness, while the construction and arrangement of the "butts," as before
described, allow a greater amount of freedom of action as well as firmness to
be attained, the result being that the touch is lighter, and that the hammers
strike with greater precision and certainty. With respect to the metal of
which the plate is constructed, we may here state that, although brass or any
other suitable metal may be employed, yet that we prefer the use of zinc, the
latter metal being much more economical than brass, but it must be distinctly
understood that we do not claim the use of any particular metal for this
purpose.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we would observe, in conclusion, that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details herein-before described, as variations
may be made therefrom without departing from the main principles of our
Invention; neither do we claim the use of any particular material or materials;
but what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as our
Invention, are the construction and arrangement of that part of the action of
pianofortes called or known as the "butts," so as to work over or embrace the
prongs of the metal plate, as horein-before mentioned and described; and also

page_text: the construction of the prongs of the metal plate of a greater width than
beretofore for the purpose of obtaining additional firmness and strength, as
berein-before in that behalf mentioned.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Robert Butcher, Frederick
Stevens, William Thomas Johnson, and Theophilus Jarvis, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.