IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHMENTS FOR THE STRINGS OF PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1885

page_text: similar Instruments.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of 67 Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
ATTACHMENTS FOR THE STRINGS OF PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS, a com-
munication to me from abroad by Augustinus Uhlig of Pegau, in the kingdom
of Saxony, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
These improvements relate to string screws or pegs for pianos and similar
instruments and have for their object to remove the drawbacks, contained in the
string fastening hitherto used. The requirements, which may be made for a tuning
screw-device, provided with a bolt, are:
1) to secure the end of the string to the bolt in a manner enabling the fastening
to resist the strain of the string.
2) to enable the bolt to be easily removed out of the tuning screw hole in the
case of rupture of a string.
3) to ensure a uniform action in straining or loosening the strings.
The said purposes are obtained by the following two types of tuning screws.
One of the same consists of a tuning screw contrivance, which includes a spring
bolt, with which the tuning screw is not rigidly connected, and, by removing the
screw, the bolt gets automatically out of the screw hole. The other fastening
consists of a tuning screw, connected with the bolt. Figs. 1-6 of the annexed
drawing illustrate both types of fastening.
For fastening the end of the string to the bolt 6 placed under the tuning screw a,
the string is hung in a groove h at the lower end of the bolt, by means of an eyelet
(Fig. 1).
For enabling to place the extremity of the eyelet or string in the tuning screw
hole, the bolt is cut out above the groove h to half of its thickness, so as to afford
room for the end of the eyelet (Fig. 1), which surrounds the string and prevents
friction of the string, which would disturb the action of the same.
Price &dl

page_text: For allowing the bolt 6 to be easily taken out in case of rupture of the string, a
helical spring c preferably of steel wire is placed under the bolt in the tuning screw
hole, which spring tends to press the bolt constantly upward.
By removing the tuning screw a, the bolt b is naturally lifted out of the tuning
screw hole by the pressure of the spring c, so as to allow the bolt to be easily
seized and withdrawn.
•
The uniform action in straining and loosening the strings is likewise ensured by
the spring c, which presses the bolt always uniformly against the point of the
tuning screw (Fig. 1), owing to the strain caused, when the bolt is pressed down by
the tightening of the string, or, as in Fig. 2, by pressing the point of the bolt or
pin into the recess of the tuning screw.
Consequently in tightening or loosening the string, the slightest turning of the
screw has an influence on the tension of the string, whereby even the minutest
variation of a tone can be easily and surely obtained..
The described advantages with tuning screws can also be obtained by providing
the tuning screw at the lower extremity with a pivot (Fig. III), which is sunk
into the socket f, situated at the upper end of the bolt b. The pivot has an
annular groove g, into which project two diametrically opposite pins d, fastened
radially in the bolt b. By means of these pins, the bolt is drawn out in turning
the screw a outward.
Having now particularly 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
1. The combination of a screw α, with a bolt b having at its lower end a groove h
adapted to hold the eyelet of the string, the said bolt being cut out above the
groove h to allow space for the extremity of the string so as to prevent friction.
2. The employment of a helical spring c below the bolt b, for securing an easy
and reliable working and to facilitate the removal of the bolt, when the respective
string is broken.
3. A screw a, connected with the bolt 6 by a pine and locking pins d, for the
purpose of drawing out the bolt, when the screw is being turned out of its socket.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of August 1885.