IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED SQUIRE of N° 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the County of
Middlesex Piano forte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in Check repeater Actions and
more particularly 1st to a method of obtaining a smooth set-off or escapement
2ndly a method of obtaining greater lifting power to the Damper-3rdly a method
of fully creating damping power and weight. 4thly a method of fully controlling
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and staccato
passages or effects.
According to the first part of my Invention I centre a lever on the hammer
rail at the end of which is a pin or dowel which passes through a bushed slot in
the sticker to which it acts as guide such pin or dowel presses against a screw
pin button which projects beyond a fixed arm on the front of sticker When the
lever which is centred on the hammer rail comes forward-operated upon by the
upward motion of the sticker and comes into contact with the screw pin button an
effectual set of or escapement is effected.
The second part of my invention relates to an improved method of centring
dampers and obtaining greater lifting power and I adopt the following means for
so doing Instead of the damper being centred in the usual way-that is to say
centred in the body-I use an arm at right angles or nearly so and place my
centre at end of the arm in the body-thereby gaining a greater sweep or circle-
thus bringing the damper head further away from the string.
The third part of my Invention relates to creating more damping power or
weight Instead of loading the body of the damper I elect to weight the damper
wire or knuckle of joint in damper-body-with lead or any other metal or
material-by so doing I gain an extra inch in leverage over the head of damper
thus creating prompter and heavier damping power.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a method of more fully controlling
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and staccato passages
or effects In the head of the Damper is a small clothed tongue and above the
damper heads is a rail on which rail are placed springs corresponding with the
dampers this rail is operated upon by a centred arm and moved by pedal action-
When it is desired to sustain certain notes-the pedal is to be depressed after the
notes are struck-the effect being that any such notes continue to vibrate in
consequence of the damper head heing held away from the string.
To produce a staccato passage or effect the pedal is to be depressed before
touching the notes-this brings the springs to bear on the front side of the clothed
tongue and consequently causes the damper head to return instantaneously to the
string.
Dated this 5th day of February 1884.

page_text: I ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the County of Mid-
dlesex Piano forte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO FORTE ACTIONS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to certain improvements in Check repeater Actions in all
classes of pianos and I have so prepared the drawings that the modifications
required to suit pianos of different lengths of sticker or jacks are shown in the
annexed drawings and any person in the trade will readily understand them-
trade terms being used.
1
The first part of My Invention relates to a method of obtaining a smooth and
certain set off or escapement and by referring to drawing Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 it is
shewn by what means it is accomplished to suit pianos of different height main-
taining the same escapement By an independent lever A centred on the Hammer
rail B at the end of which is a dowel or screw pin C. this dowel or screw pin 1
passing into and through a bushed hole in jack D acting as a rack or guide to
the sticker or jack bringing it into contact with the set off or escapement pin
marked I-When the finger key F of piano is pressed down it causes the jack E to
rise and by the same motion the independent lever A rises with the jack E.
Working on a centre H its position causes the jack E to leave the notch in butt I a
called escapement or set off-throwing the same into check-this is regulated by
screw pin and button I in the usual manner.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved method of centring
damper and will be seen in Drawing Figures 1.5 and 6 by this method I obtain a
greater lifting power from string and I adopt the following means for so doing 2
Instead of the damper being centred in the usual way that is to say centred in the
body I use an arm G at right angles or nearly so and place my centre K-at
end of the arm before mentioned thereby gaining a greater sweep or circle thus
bringing the damper head further away from the string
The third part of my Invention relates to creating more damping power or 2
weight Instead of loading the body of the damper 1 elect to weight the damper
wire or knuckle of joint in damper body L Figure 1. with lead or any other metul
or material by so doing I gain an inch in leverage over the head of damper thus
creating prompter and heavier damping power.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a method of more fully controlling
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and stacento passages
and effects as shewn in Figures 1. 5. 6. 7 and 8. Figure 1 damper in repose
Figure 5 Stacento. Figure 6 sustaining Figures 7 and 8 under damper and grand
piano. In the head of the damper is a small clothed tongue M and above the
damper head is a rail N on which rail are placed springs O corresponding with the 4
dampers this rail is operated upon by a centred arm P. and moved by pedal
action When it is desired to sustain certain notes the pedal is to be depressed.
after the notes are struck the effect being that any such notes continue to vibrate
in consequence of the dumper being held away from the string by the spring O.
Figure 6.
To produce a streento passage or effect the pedal is to be depressed before
striking the notes this brings the spring to bear upon the front side of the clothed
tengne M-and consequently causes the damper head to return instantaneously to
the strings as shown in Figure 5,

page_text: Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is—
The In Pianoforte Actions the method of set off or escapement-combined with
the guide for sticker or jack as shown in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
2. The method of centring damper with arm as shewn in Figures 1, 5 and 6.
3. The method of weighting damper as shown in Figures 1. 5. & G.
4. The method of controlling demper and producing sustaining and--staccato
effects as shown in Figures 1. 5. 6. 7 and 8.

page_text: I ALFRED SQUIRE of N° 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the County of
Middlesex Piano forte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention.
for IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS to be as follows:—
My Invention relates to certain improvements in Check repeater Actions, and
more particularly 1stly to a method of obtaining a smooth set-off or escapement
2ndly a method of obtaining greater lifting power to the Damper-3rdly a method
of fully creating damping power and weight. 4thly a method of fully controlling
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and staccato
passages or effects.
According to the first part of my Invention I centre a lever on the hammer
rail at the end of which is a pin or dowel which passes through a bushed slot in
the sticker to which it acts as guide such pin or dowel presses against a screw,
pin button which projects beyond a fixed arm on the front of sticker When the
fever which is centred on the hammer rail comes forward--operated upon by the
upward motion of the sticker and comes into contact with the screw pin button an ·
effectual set of or escapement is effected.
The second part of my invention relates to an improved method of centring
dampers and obtaining greater lifting power and I adopt the following means for
so doing Instead of the damper being centred in the usual way-that is to say
centred in the body-I use an arm at right angles-or nearly so and place my
centre at end of the arm in the body-thereby gaining a greater sweep or circle―.
thus bringing the damper head further away from the string.
The third part of my Invention relates to creating more damping power or
weight Instead of loading the body of the damper I elect to weight the damper
wire or knuckle of joint in damper-body-with lead or any other metal or
material by so doing I gain an extra inch in leverage over the head of damper
thus creating prompter and heavier damping power.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a method of more fully controlling.
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and staccato passages
or effects In the head of the Damper is a small clothed tongue and above the..
damper heads is a rail on which rail are placed springs corresponding with the
dampers this rail is operated upon by a centred arm and moved by pedal action―
When it is desired to sustain certain notes the pedal is to be depressed after the
notes are struck-the effect being that any such notes continue to vibrate in
consequence of the damper head being held away from the string.
To produce a staccato passage or effect the pedal is to be depressed before
touching the notes this brings the springs to bear on the front side of the clothed
tongue and consequently causes the damper head to return instantaneously to the
string.
Dated this 5th day of February 1884.

page_text: I ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the County of Mid-
dlesex Piano forte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO FORTE ACTIONS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to certain improvemeets in Check repeater Actions in all
classes of pianos and I have so prepared the drawings that the modifications
required to suit pianos of different lengths of sticker or jacks are shewn in the
annexed drawings and any person in the trade will readily understand them-
trade terms being used.
The first part of my Invention relates to a method of obtaining a smooth and
certain set off or escapement and by referring to drawing Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 it is
shewn by what means it is accomplished to suit pianos of different height main-
taining the same escapement By an independent lever A centred on the Hammer
rail B at the end of which is a dowel or screw pin C. this dowel or screw pin
passing into and through a bushed hole in jack D acting as a rack or guide to
the sticker or jack bringing it into contact with the set off or escapement pin
marked I-When the finger key F of piano is pressed down it causes the jack E to
rise and by the same motion the independent lever A rises with the jack E.
Working on a centre H its position causes the jack E to leave the notch in butt I
called escapement or set off-throwing the same into check-this is regulated by
screw pin and button I in the usual manner.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved method of centring
damper and will be seen in Drawing Figures 1. 5 and 6 by this method I obtain a
greater lifting power from string and I adopt the following means for so doing-
Instead of the damper being centred in the usual way that is to say centred in the
body I use an arm G at right angles or nearly so-and place my centre K at
end of the arm before mentioned thereby gaining a greater sweep or circle thus
bringing the damper head further away from the string.
The third part of my Invention relates to creating more damping power or
weight Instead of loading the body of the damper I elect to weight the damper
wire or knuckle of joint in damper body L Figure 1. with lead or any other metal
or material by so doing I gain an inch in leverage over the head of damper thus
creating prompter and heavier damping power.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a method of more fully controlling
before mentioned damper with a view of producing sustaining and staccato passages
and effects as shewn in Figures 1. 5. 6. 7 and 8. Figure 1 damper in repose
Figure 5 Staccato. Figure 6 sustaining Figures 7 and 8 under damper and grand
piano. In the head of the damper is a small clothed tongue M and above the
damper head is a rail N on which rail are placed springs O corresponding with the
dampers this rail is operated upon by a centred arm P. and moved by pedal
action When it is desired to sustain certain notes the pedal is to be depressed
after the notes are struck-the effect being that any such notes continue to vibrate
in consequence of the damper being held away from the string by the spring O.
Figure 6.
To produce a staccato passage or effect the pedal is to be depressed before
striking the notes-this brings the spring to bear upon the front side of the clothed
tongue M and consequently causes the damper head to return instantaneously to
the strings as shewn in Figure 5.

page_text: Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim is-
1. The method of set off or escapement-combined with the guide for sticker or
jack as shewn in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
2. The method of centring damper with arm as shewn in Figures 1.-5 and 6.
3. The method of weighting damper as shewn in Figures 1. 5. & 6. -
4. The method of controlling damper and producing sustaining and staccato
effects as shewn in Figures 1. 5. 6. 7 and 8.