IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TUNING PIANOFORTES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TUNING PIANOFORTES."-A communication from
Sealed the 13th December 1864, and dated the 15th June 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th June 1864.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TUNING PIANOFORTES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in improvements upon an Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent, dated 5th Feb. 1863, No. 330.
The objects of the present improvements are, 1st, to simplify the arrange-
ment of the tuning apparatus when fitted outside the piano, in order to be
able to adapt it to all pianos without the necessity any supplementary pieces
for the pianos, and to enable it to be worked by hand without the aid of the
pedal; 2nd, to construct a portable apparatus to be applied to the outside

page_text: of pianos for the use of tuners; 3rd, to arrange a tuning apparatus to be
applied inside pianos with a sonometric dial. These improvements enable
this system of tuning apparatus to be adopted by every performer and piano-
forte tuner.
The annexed Drawings show the particular details of each improved
arrangement of the tuning apparatus.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus as constructed for
application to the outside of the pianos; Figure 2 is a transverse section showing
the new mode of fixing it; Figure 3 is another transverse section showing the
automatic finger for sounding the string; Figure 4 shows on a larger scale
the movable pinching nut or apparatus by means of which the tone or note
is changed; Figure 5 shows a portable apparatus for the use of tuners;
Figure 6 is a transverse section, and Figure 7 a plan of the same.
1st. Improved tuning apparatus when applied to the outside of pianos for
the use of the performer (Figures 1 to 4).-This apparatus is composed of the
sonometric regulator or string carrier a, carried at each end by a frame b, b',
fitted by screws c, c, to the front of the key-board. The object of the frames
b, b', is to suppress the tappets described in the Specification of the Patent
before mentioned, and which it would be necessary to add to ordinary pianos
to adapt the sonometric regulator thereto. The sonometric regulator is itself
held in the frames by screws d, d. On the regulator a is a sort of rail f formed
with notches for determining the position of the movable pinching apparatus.
These notches are arranged according to the divisions of the regulator and
relatively to the demitones of which the scale is composed. The movable
pinching apparatus which determines the tone is formed in the following
manner, see Figures 1 and 4:-A plate g, which rests on the regulator a, is bent
or formed with two pieces h, i, projecting downwards; the piece bears
against the regulator, and the piece i forms the upper part of the pinching
apparatus. Above the plate g are two lugs which support a thumb-piece j
furnished with a spring, and the inner end of which projects downwards to
pass through the plate and take into one of the notches in the rail f. The
lower part of the pinching apparatus is formed by a piece k which is pro-
longed below the regulator a to form a sort of claw. A coiled spring m
regulates the separation of the two parts k, i, and a screw 7 passing through
the spring brings the parts together to pinch the string p. To work the
pinching apparatus, the screw 7 is slightly unscrewed to free the string p, the
thumb-piece is pressed upon to disengage it from the notch, and the pinching
apparatus is made to slide up to the indication of the note which is to be
tuned. When the thumb-piece is freed the other end thereof takes into the

page_text: notch corresponding with this note, and the screw 7 is screwed up; the result
is, that the position of the pinching apparatus is invariable, and consequently
the note perfectly accurate.
As one of the present improvements consists in the suppression of the pedal
described in the Specification before mentioned, I proceed to describe the
apparatus I substitute for it.
This apparatus consists of a regulator n hinged
at one end to the frame 6; the other end works in a guide formed on the
front of the frame b¹. A tappet o fixed to the frame b' prevents the end of
the regulator from getting out of the guide owing to the pressure of the
spring 9; this spring maintains the regulator in its raised position up to the
time when the hand presses above to give the note. The automatic finger
which acts on the string to produce the sound is formed as shown in Figures
1 and 3. On the regulator n is a bar r, which bears on a piece s free to slide
in a guide t; the piece s is acted on by a spring u. The guide t is fixed to a
support connected to the sonometric regulator a by a bolt or otherwise. In
the middle of the piece s is a movable tappet y carrying the automatic
finger x. When it is desired to tune a note, the hand of the operator while
he strikes the key bears on the regulator n, and causes the piece s, tappet y,
and finger x to descend. The finger slightly pinches the string and makes it
give the typical sound by which the tuning of the note is regulated. More or
less power may be given to the finger by causing it to turn by means of
a thread with which its rod is provided. The apparatus before described is
fixed to the front of the key-board by means of the screws of the frames b, b¹;
it dispenses with the employment of an additional sound-board, as the case of
the piano forms the base of the regulator.
2nd. Movable apparatus for the use of tuners.-This small apparatus is
intended for pianoforte tuners; its small size renders it very portable. It is
composed of a case A, Figures 5, 6, and 7, closed in front by a sound-board B,
on which supports C are held by screws. Below the case two pieces D are
fixed for placing and maintaining the instrument to slide freely on the regu-
lator E; this regulator is fixed at its two ends in the case of the open piano
above the key-board. The supports C tightly hold the sonometric regulator F,
to which are fixed pins G, H, furnished with tightening keys for tightening
the string P. On the graduated regulator F a small nut is fitted free to slide,
and the fixing of which is performed by a screw K. The automatic finger for
pinching the string to produce the sound is arranged as follows:-Below the
the case A a support M is fixed, at the extremity of which is a hinge to
receive the movable piece or key L, on which is a tappet N furnished with

page_text: an arm O free to oscillate, and carrying a projection or point R, which acts as
a finger for pinching the string P. The arm O is returned to its normal
position by a weight S. To use this apparatus it is slidden along the regu-
lator E to the octave which is to be tuned; the position of the nut is determined
as has been before described, then, while striking the key of the key-board
the operator presses on the key L; the finger R pinches the typical string P
at the same time that the hammer of the piano strikes the string, which may
thus easily be regulated. The small size of the apparatus necessitates the
typical sounds being applied to the upper octaves, but it is easy to established
perfect harmony between the same notes of different octaves. To give greater
sonority to the apparatus, I place between the sound-board B and the sono-
metric regulator F a board T which unites these two parts and gives intensity
to the sound. Again, one end of the case A may be opened to produce greater
sonority.
3rd. Tuning apparatus with sonometric dial for application to the inside of
pianos (see Figures 8, 9, and 10).-The chief improvement consists in trans-
ferring the sonometric divisions from the bar described in the Specification
before mentioned to a dial with an index or pointer. All the pieces forming
this tuning apparatus are metallic, so as to preserve a permanent homogeneity.
Figures 8 and 9 are elevations of the apparatus in the position it occupies
inside the piano. The spindle of the dial a is mounted on a support b, which
is only fitted, when the piano is to be tuned, to a system of screws which con-
stitutes the tuning apparatus; when the piano has been tuned, the dial and its
support are removed. The support b carries a movable axis c with a button d;
on the axis c is a small pinion e in gear with a wheel f on the spindle g of the
dial. The spindle g projects in front of the dial, and carries a movable index
or pointer h, which by the rotation imparted by the button d is led before the
sonometric divisions of the dial; these divisions replace those on the bar of the
old apparatus, as before mentioned. On the axis c, and coupled with the
pinion e, is a bevil pinion i, which when the piano is being tuned gears into a
bevil pinion on the top of a screw 1. From this arrangement the rotation
of the button & determines, 1st, the movement of the index h and the
position in relation to the tonic division, and, second, the rotation into position
of the screw and consequently the movement of the pinching apparatus m
to the point on the string required to give the corresponding tone. At this
time the operator takes hold of the handle n fitted to the top of the rod o, and
by a rotary movement of the handle to the right the string is held between
the jaws of the pinching apparatus m, while the apparatus m is retained

page_text: in place by the movement of a slide p, see the transverse section, Figure 10.
The rotation of the handle n to the left frees the pinching apparatus and the
string, which receives the tone due to its whole length.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th December 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TUNING
PIANOFORTES," (communicated to me from abroad by François Delsarte, of Paris,
France,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archi-
bald Brooman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in improvements upon an Invention for which I

page_text: obtained Letters Patent, dated Fifth February, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three, No. 330.
The objects of the present improvements are, first, to simplify the arrange
ment of the tuning apparatus when fitted outside the piano, in order to be
able to adapt it to all pianos without the necessity of any supplementary
pieces for the pianos, and to enable it to be worked by hand without the aid
of the pedal; second, to construct a portable apparatus to be applied to the
outside of pianos for the use of tuners; third, to arrange a tuning apparatus
to be applied inside pianos with a sonometric dial. These improvements
enable this system of tuning apparatus to be adopted by every performer and
pianoforte tuner.
The annexed Drawings show the particular details of each improved
arrangement of the tuning apparatus.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus as constructed for
application to the outside of pianos; Figure 2 is. a transverse section shewing
the new mode of fixing it; Figure 3 is another transverse section showing
the automatic finger for sounding the string; Figure 4 shows on a larger
scale the movable pinching nut or apparatus by means of which the tone or
note is changed; Figure 5 shows a portable apparatus for the use of tuners;
Figure 6 is a transverse section, and Figure 7 a plan of the same.
First. Improved tuning apparatus when applied to the outside of pianos for
the use of the performer (Figures 1 to 4).-This apparatus is composed of the
sonometric regulator or string carrier a, carried at each end by a frame b, b',
fitted by screws c, c, to the front of the key-board. The object of the frames
b, b', is to suppress the tappets described in the Specification of the Patent
before mentioned, and which it would be necessary to add to ordinary pianos
to adapt the sonometric regulator thereto. The sonometric regulator is itself
held in the frames by screws d, d. On the regulator a is a sort of rail f
formed with notches for determining the position of the movable pinching
apparatus. These notches are arranged according to the divisions of the
regulator and relatively to the demitones of which the scale is composed. The
movable pinching apparatus which determines the tone is formed in the fol-
lowing manner, see Figures 1 and 4-A plate g, which rests on the regu-
lator a, is bent or formed with two pieces h, i, projecting downwards; the
piece h bears against the regulator, and the piece i forms the upper part of
the pinching apparatus. Above the plate g are two lugs which support a
thumb-piece furnished with a spring, and the inner end of which projects
downards to pass through the plate and take into one of the notches in the
rail f. The lower part of the pinching apparatus is formed by a piece k,

page_text: which is prolonged below the regulator a to form a sort of claw. A coiled
spring m regulates the separation of the two parts k, i, and a screw / passing
through the spring brings the parts together to pinch the string p. To work
the pinching apparatus, the screw 7 is slightly unscrewed to free the string p,
the thumb-piece is pressed upon to disengage it from the notch, and the
pinching apparatus is made to slide up to the indication of the note which
is to be tuned. When the thumb-piece is freed the other end thereof takes
into the notch corresponding with this note, and the screws is screwed up;
the result is, that the position of the pinching apparatus is invariable, and
consequently the note perfectly accurate.
As one of the present improvements consists in the suppression of the
pedal described in the Specification before mentioned, I proceed to describe
the apparatus I substitute for it. This apparatus consists of a regulator n
hinged at one end to the frame b; the other end works in a guide formed on
the front of the frame b¹. A tappet o fixed to the frame b¹ prevents the end
of the regulator from getting out of the guide owing to the pressure of the
spring ; this spring maintains the regulator in its raised position up to the
time when the hand presses above to give the note. The automatic finger
which acts on the string to produce the sound is formed as shewn in Figures
1 and 3. On the regulator n is a bar r, which bears on a piece s free to slide
in a guide t; the piece s is acted on by a spring u. The guide t is fixed to a
by a bolt or otherwise.
support connected to the sonometric regulator a
In the middle of the piece s is a movable tappet y carrying the automatic
finger a. When it is desired to tune a note, the hand of the operator while
he strikes the key bears on the regulator n, and causes the piece s, tappet y,
and finger & to descend. The finger slightly pinches the string, and makes it
give the typical sound by which the tuning of the note is regulated. More
or less power may be given to the finger x by causing it to turn by means of
a thread with which its rod is provided. The apparatus before described is
fixed to the front of the key-board by means of the screws of the frames b, b';
it dispenses with the employment of an additional sound-board, as the case of
the piano forms the base of the regulator.
closed in front by a sound-board B,
Below the case two pieces D are
instrument to slide freely on the
Second. Movable apparatus for the use of tuners.-This small apparatus is
intended for pianoforte tuners; its small size renders it very portable. It is
composed of a case A, Figures 5, 6, and 7,
on which supports C are held by screws.
fixed for placing and maintaining the
regulator E; this regulator is fixed at its two ends in the case of the open
piano above the key-board. The supports C tightly hold the sonometric

page_text: regulator F, to which are fixed pins G, H, furnished with tightening keys for
tightening the string P. On the graduated regulator F a small nut I is fitted
free to slide, and the fixing of which is performed by a screw K. The
automatic finger for pinching the string to produce the sound is arranged as
follows: Below the case A a support M is fixed, at the extremity of which
is a hinge to receive the movable piece or key L, on which is a tappet N fur-
nished with an arm O free to oscillate, and carrying a projection or point R,
which acts as a finger for pinching the string P. The arm O is returned to
its normal position by a weight S. To use this apparatus it is slidden along
the regulator E to the octave which is to be tuned; the position of the nut is
determined, as has been before described; then while striking the key of the
key-board the operator preses on the key L, the finger R pinches the typical
string P at the same time that the hammer of the piano strikes the string,
which may thus easily be regulated. The small size of the apparatus neces-
sitates the typical sounds being applied to the upper octaves, but it is easy to
establish perfect harmony between the same notes of different octaves. To
give greater sonority to the apparatus, I place between the sound-board B
and the sonometric regulator F a board T, which unites these two parts and
gives intensity to the sound. Again, one end of the case A may be opened to
produce greater sonority.
Third. Tuning apparatus with sonometric dial for application to the inside
of pianos (see Figures 8, 9, and 10). The chief improvement consists in
transferring the sonometric divisions from the bar described in the Specifi-
cation before-mentioned to a dial with an index or pointer. All the pieces
forming this tuning apparatus are metallic, so as to preserve a permanent
homogeneity. Figures 8 and 9 are elevations of the apparatus in the position
it occupies inside the piano. The spindle of the dial a is mounted on a
support 6, which is only fitted when the piano is to be tuned to a system of
screws which constitutes the tuning apparatus; when the piano has been
tuned, the dial and its support are removed. The support 6 carries a move-
able axis c with a button d; on the axis c is a small pinion e in gear with a
wheel on the spindle g of the dial. The spindle 9 projects in front of the
dial, and carries a movable index or pointer h, which by the rotation imparted
by the button d is led before the sonometric divisions of the dial; these
divisions replace those on the bar of the old apparatus, as before mentioned.
On the axis c, and coupled with the pinion e, is a bevil pinion i, which when
the piano is being tuned gears into a bevel pinion j on the top of a screw 1.
From this arrangement the rotation of the button d determines, first, the
movement of the index h and the position in relation to the tonic division,

page_text: and, second, the rotation into position of the screw 7, and consequently the
movement of the pinching apparatus m to the point on the string required to
give the corresponding tone. At this time the operator takes hold of the
handlen fitted to the top of the rod o, and by a rotary movement of the
handle to the right the string is held between the jaws of the pinching
apparatus m, while the apparatus m is retained in place by the movement of
a slide p, see the transverse section, Figure 10. The rotation of the handle n
to the left frees the pinching apparatus and the string, which receives the tone
due to its whole length.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)