Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I, JOHN LEGG, of No. 1 Anglers Lane Kentish Town in the County of Middlesex,
Pianoforte Action Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my new pianoforte actions is to get a better set off to relieve the
stickers or jacks from the butts of the hammers directly the hammers have struck
their blow on the strings and I gain other advantages I also get more ease in
repetition as well as more smartness and freedom of blow to the hammer. According
to the first part of my Invention as to pianoforte actions I centre a lever on the
hammer rail which passes through a slot in the sticker to which it acts as guide on
the said lever is an incline which the screw pin button operated upon by the upward
motion of the sticker and comes into contact an effectual set off or escapement is
effected. The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket or
connection from the outer end or other point on the centred lever before mentioned
with greatly increased effect in the action of removing the damper.
In the second part of my Invention I screw a pin in the hammer rail which passos
through a slot in the sticker to which it acts as guide, the spring is passed through
a hole bored in the solid check and is held by a loop in the usual manner. On the
said sticker is an incline, which, operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker
and comes into contact with a covered button on the said pin an effectual set off or
escapement is effected.
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket or
connection from the check arm which is jointed or dowelled to the solid check on
the sticker.
In the third part of my Invention, I centre a lever on the hammer rail which is
centred to the sticker, to which its acts as guide. On the top of the sticker is centred
a jack and on the said jack there is an incline.
I screw a pin in the hammer rail which passes through a slot in the said jack when
operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker and comes into contact with a
covered button on the said pin, an effectual set off or escapement is effected.
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket or connection
from the outer end or other point on the central lever before mentioned, which,
operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker thereby gaining a greater sweep
or circle thus bringing the damper head further away from the string.
Dated 12th day of November 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I JOHN LEGG of No. 1 Angler's Lane Kentish Town in the County of Middlesex,
Pianoforte Action Maker 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 :-
The object of my improvements in pianoforte actions is to obtain a better set off to
relieve the stickers or jacks from the butts of the hammers directly the hammers
I also
have struck their blow on the strings and to gain other advantages.
secure greater ease in repetition as well as smartness and freedom of blow to the
hammer.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention in upright pianoforte actions I centre a lever on the
hammer rail, which lover passes through a slot in the sticker to which it acts as guide.
On the said lever is screwed a pin which passes through the sticker, also on the said
sticker is an incline which is operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker and
comes into contact, with a covered button on the said pin whereby an effectual set off
or escapement is effected. The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a
suitable socket or connection from the outer end or other point on the centred
lever before mentioned with greatly increased effect in the action of removing
the damper.
Or I screw a pin in the hammer rail which passes through a slot in the sticker to
which it acts as guide.
The spring is passed through a hole bored in the solid check and is held by a loop
in the usual manner.
On the said sticker is an incline which is operated upon by the upward motion
of the sticker and comes into contact with a covered button on the said pin whereby
an effectual set off or escapement is effected.
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket or con-
nection from the check arm which is jointed or dowelled to the solid check on the
sticker.
Or I centro a lever on the hammer rail which passes through a slot in the sticker
or centred as the case may require and to which part it acts as a guide.
of the sticker is centred a jack, and on the said jack there is an incline.
On the top
I screw a pin on the hammer rail which passes through a slot in the said jack when
operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker and comes into contact with a
covered button on the said pin whereby an effectual sot off or escapement is
effected.
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket or connection
from the outer end or other point on the centred lever before mentioned which is
operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker, whereby gaining a greater
sweep or circle this bringing the damper head further away from the string.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
37
Fig. 1 shews by sectional elevation one of a set of parts of an upright pianoforte
action provided to rack key in position of rest. Fig. 2 shews the same in
"check" a indicates one of the keys centred at a¹ on a pin a². bis the sticker or
jack resting on the key a. bis the ordinary prolongo rail and lever arm to the
sticker. is the "check connected to the sticker by a slotted arm 6³. d is the
hammer bingol at d¹ to the hammer rail ². e indicatos the string. is a lever
centred to the hammer rail d³ at c¹. This lover e carries adjustably the end f¹ of the
rod connected to the lever g', carrying the damper g on the arm g³ and centred to
the damper rail g₁ at g³. On the hammer d is mounted the balance head which
engages with the check 62 in the "check " position as indicated by Fig. 2. On the
lever is also mounted adjustably the set off pin on which is mounted the turn
button which button sets off against the inclined surface of the projection 6* of the
sticker b. This set off pin h also passes through a slot 6 and serves as a guide and
lateral support to the sticker b. i is a spring fixed in the sticker b at 6 and
which spring passes through a slot formed in the arm to and is hooked in
a loop attached to the hammer and serving to keep hammer and sticker in
contact.
Fig. 3 shews a sectional elevation of a modification of the arrangement shewn by
Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 shews the same in "check."
In this action the end of the damper arm or wire is carried by a pro-
longation 6 of the "check " arm 6 and the "set off" pin is fixed into the
hanimer rail d³.
Fig. 5 shows in like sectional elevation another modification of the arrangement
shewn by Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 shews the same in "check."

page_text: In this action the sticker b is formed in two lengths jointed at 68 and the set off pin
is fixed into the hammer rail d' at a higher point than in Fig. 3 and passes through.
the upper part of the sticker which is slotted at 6 accordingly and the inclined
plane 6 is correspondingly placed on the upper end of the sticker b.
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
I claim is :-
1. In an upright pianoforte action a sticker or jack having an inclined or angular
part, against which presses the adjustable button of a set off pin affixed to a lever c
hinged to the hammer rail, said set off pin and lever c passing through and serving as
a guide to the jack and said lever c, also serving as the means of operating the
damper in combination with hammer and check parts as set forth in respect and
Figures 1 and 2.
2. In an upright pianoforte action a sticker or jack, having an inclined projection
against which presses an adjustable button carried by a set off pin fixed in the hammer
rail said pin passing through and serving as a guide to the said jack, in combination
with check and hammer parts arranged as set forth in respect of Figs. 3 and 4
and 4 and 5.
3. In upright pianoforte actions the arrangement or combination and use in the
various modifications described of set off, hammer check and damper parts as and for
the purposes hereinbefore set forth.