IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTION OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Stewart, of Old Saint Pancras Road, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ACTION OF PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 13th January 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Stewart at
the office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his petition, on
the 1st October 1852.
I, JAMES STEWART, of Old Saint Pancras Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTION OF PIANOFORTES " to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, First, of an improvement in the action, in
order to obtain a repeat, by applying a stop for the hammer on a
cranker spring at the back of the crank or lever, carried by the key,
and which gives motion to the hammer. Secondly, an improvement in
the apparatus which moves the damper, by applying the damper wire
or stem on a lever, which at all times rests on the key, and offers a
constant resistance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Stewart, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES STEWART, of Old Saint Pancras Road, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent,Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Stewart, Her special licence that I, the
said James Stewart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Stewart, my executors, 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 THE ACTION OF
PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Stewart, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 James Stewart, 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 (that is to say):
This Invention consists,-First, of an improvement in the action, in
order to obtain a repeat, by applying a stop for the hammer on a cranked
spring at the back of the crank or lever carried by the key, and which
gives motion to the hammer. Secondly, of an improvement in the
apparatus, which moves the damper, by applying the damper wire or
stem on a lever which at all times rests on the key, and offers a constant
resistance. And in order that my said Invention may be most fully

page_text: WHION
530
according to my said improvements, and applied to the key of a piano-
forte; a, is the key; b, is the lever or crank which actuates the hammer;
this lever is supported at its underside by the spring c, as shown; d, is
a cranked spring which is fixed at its lower end to the back of the
crank or lever b; at the upper and cranked end of the spring d, is fixed
a stop e, as shown, and the crank or elbow of the spring rests within a
recess in the leather f, fixed to the back of the crank or lever b. By
this very simple combination a very excellent stop is formed for obtain-
ing a repeat of the action of the hammer g. At the back end of the
key a, there is a lever h, hinged at i, and which rests by its fore end on
the key. The hinge or axis of the lever h, is fixed to a bar j, which
can be raised by a pedal, but whether the bar j, be raised or down the
weight of the lever h, will be constant on the back end of the key.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,-First, the mode herein described of applying a stop to the
hammer; and secondly, I claim the combination of the lever h, with
a bar to be lifted as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Stewart, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JA STEWART. (L.S.)
Witness, S. CARPMAEL.