Improvements in and relating to the Tension Keys of Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Tension Keys of Musical
Instruments.
HENRY FOOT Watchmaker 59, Fore Street, St. Clements Ipswich, Suffolk, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The said invention consists of an improvement in the means of holding firm the
tension keys of stringed musical instruments by which the possibility of slipping
back is reduced to a minimum.
click-
The improvements consists principally of a toothed ratchet wheel preferably
with very fine teeth, a click or paul working therein held in position by
screw or its equivalent and pressed down into the teeth of the ratchet wheel by
means of a click-spring or what answers equally as well a spring-click which
consists of a click and click-spring combined.
In order to carry out the said improvements we make the ratchet wheel either
with a round collar at its centre with a corresponding size and shaped hole of the
key or with a square hole. In the former way the ratchet wheel is secured to the
key by means of a pin passing through its collar and key. In the latter case
the key is squared to correspond with the hole in the ratchet, and prevented from
rising by means of a pin inserted in the key immediately over the ratchet and
extending slightly on to the ratchet, the click or spring-click is placed into position
on a plate, held in working form by means of a click-screw, by using very fine
teeth to the ratchet wheel it allows of the strings being regulated to a fraction of a
semitone.
In order to allow for the possibility of the keys being turned too far I provide
the click with a little projecting pin in its head, which allows of its being raised
out of position by the finger, thus allowing the ratchet wheel to be unturned the
desired amount, immediately it is released it is pressed into position by the spring
and thus prevents any possibility of the keys slipping.
November 17th 1890.
HENRY FOOT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Tension Keys of Musical
Instruments.
HENRY FOOT Watchmaker 59 Fore Street Ipswich Suffolk 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved means and method for adjusting the pegs or
tension keys of stringed musical instruments, such as harps, violins, banjoes &c.
The improvement consists of a ratchet wheel preferably with fine teeth and a
click which may be toothed arranged on a pivot or by means of a click screw to
work therein the toothed end of the click being pressed firm into the teeth of the
ratchet wheel by means of a spring. The ratchet wheel is provided with a hole at
its centre which may be either circular or square to allow of its being fixed on the
required part of the key or pegs the whole can be conveniently arranged upon a
small metal plate and secured to the head of the instrument it is applied to or it
may be fixed separately upon the head of the instrument without the metal plate
but would not be so rigid or so permanently secure.
It will be obvious, without description, that the relative action of the click in

page_text: ratchet wheel may be reversed without departing from the nature of the said
invention.
It will also be obvious that the click may be secured to the peg, in which case
the ratchet wheel would be a fixture, and in the same relative position, but that
instead of the ratchet wheel revolving with the key, the click would do so, and
travel with its toothed point round the ratchet wheel.
In order that this invention may be better understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1, is a front view showing the relative position of the click B, with the
ratchet-wheel C, and the manner in which the spring D, holds the click in position;
the plate A, has a circular hole at its centre in which the socket F of the ratchet-
wheel revolves.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation which shows the manner in which a peg E may be
attached to the ratchet-wheel C by means of being fitted into the socket F which
has a square hole and necessitates the peg or key being made square near the
end E.
For instruments such as banjoes the extreme end of the key is made round as
shown at E and provided with a hole G for attaching the strings thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may he performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. A stringed musical instrument key retaining mechanisın, consisting of a
ratchet-wheel and click, substantially as specified.
2nd. A fine toothed ratchet-wheel C for the purpose set forth.
3rd. A click B with two or more teeth for the purpose herein specified.
Dated this 15th ..
HENRY FOOT.
By J. R. Hughes,
10, Bartholomew Close, London, E.C.