IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Howson, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North
Riding of the County of York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PIANOFORTES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICA ON left by the said Richard Howson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1880.
RICHARD HOWSON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North Riding of the
County of York, Engineer, " IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
My Invention has reference to a mode of construction in pianofortes whereby a
"crescendo" and "diminuendo " effect may be produced at the will of the performer.
The mode of construction is as follows:-
Instead of placing the sound bridge on the sound board in the usual manner I
place it on a separate board (which I shall hereafter call the "vibration plank"),
the latter being superficially of such small dimensions that, although it is able to
vibrate freely, it is not capable of emitting very loud sounds. The sound board
proper is disconnected from the vibration plank, but capable of being pressed
against it by mechanical means. Thus when the sound board is gradually forced
into contact with the vibration plank the vibrations of the latter are transmitted
to the former, whereby the volume of sound is augmented, and a crescendo effect
produced. On the other hand, when the two are gradually released from one
another a diminuendo effect is the result. It will be readily understood that
pressure of the foot on a pedal or of the hands on the keyboard will furnish the
means of actuating the sound board in its motions. It will also be evident that
by the above means all those other musical effects which depend on the more or
less sudden change from soft to loud and from loud to soft may be produced, and
that the ordinary soft pedal may be dispensed with.
In order to make the nature of my Invention more clear I proceed to describe
its application to an upright or cabinet instrument. In this case the vibration
plank carrying its bridge may be conveniently placed immediately below the wrest
plank. Adjacent and parallel to its under edge will come the upper edge of the
sound board, with a slight interval between the two when the latter is out of
action. The vibration plank is of necessity stationary and fixed in position, but

page_text: the sound board is suspended on hinges in such a manner that when the lower
part is pulled (or otherwise pushed) by the act of the performer, its upper edge
approaches the under edge of the vibration plank, and comes in contact therewith,
whereby the joint between the two is forcibly closed, and they become united
as one.
I do not however confine myself to any particular mechanism for actuating the
sound board as the exact nature of this will depend in a great measure on the class
of instrument to which it has to be applied. Nevertheless, in all cases the
essential feature of my Invention may be preserved, which consists in the general
construction whereby the sound board of a pianoforte can be brought into con- .
nection with or disconnected from the source of vibration so as to enable the
performer to increase or diminish the volume of sound at will.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Howson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th July
1880.
RICHARD HOWSON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North Riding of the
County of York, Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
My Invention has reference to a mode of construction in pianofortes whereby a
"crescendo" and "diminuendo" effect may be produced at will by the performer.
The mode of construction is as follows:-
Instead of placing the sound bridge on the sound board in the usual manner, I
place it on a separate narrow board or rail (which I shall hereafter call the
"vibration plank"), the whole being of such small superficial dimensions that,
although it is able to vibrate freely, it is not capable of emitting very loud sounds.
The sound board proper is disconnected from the vibration plank, but capable of
being pressed against it by mechanical means; thus, when the sound board is
gradually forced into contact with the vibration plank, the tremulous motion of the
latter when a note or chord is struck is transmitted to the former, and the volume
of sound is augmented and a crescendo effect produced; on the other hand, when
the two are gradually released from each other a diminuendo effect is the result. It
will be readily understood that pressure of the foot on a pedal, or of the hands on
the key board will furnish the means of actuating the sound board in its motions.
It will also be evident that by the above means all those other musical effects which
depend on the more or less sudden change from soft to loud or from loud to soft
may be produced, and that the ordinary soft pedal may be dispensed with if thought
proper.
In order to make the nature of my Invention more clear, I proceed to describe
its application to an upright or cabinet instrument. In this case the vibration
plank with its bridge may be conveniently placed immediately below the wrest
plank. Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 shews a cross
section of that part of the instrument which refers to my Invention, all the other
parts being removed for the sake of clearness. A is the cast iron frame over which
the strings I are stretched; B, the wrest plank; C, the wrest pins, and D, the
hitch pins. The vibration plank and bridge is shewn at E forming a rail which
stretches from side to side of the instrument. Immediately adjacent to this but
separate from it is the sound board proper F, which is shewn suspended from
hinges G, one of which only is seen; H is the pedal so connected with the lower
part of the sound board that when the foot is pressed upon it the sound board is
pulled towards the performer, and the upper part of it comes in contact with the
back of the vibration plank and the sound is re-inforced. When the foot is released
from the pedal the sound board falls out of contact. The two positions are shewn
respectively in the two sections Fig. 1 and Fig. 1 A.
Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 A represent a modification where the upper edge of the sound
board is immediately below and parallel with the lower edge of the bridge, and is
by the motion of the pedal caused to press upwards against it.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 3 A represent a modification wherein the sound board is mounted
on levers in such a way that it is caused to rise and fall in a vertical line by the
pressure of the pedal. The essential feature of my Invention is in fact capable of
many modifications in detail, which will readily suggest themselves to a competent
mechanic, and I do not confine myself to any one of them. Moreover, it is evident
that the general arrangement as well as details of mechanism will greatly depend
upon the class of instrument to which my Invention is to be applied.
With regard to the nature and extent of the contact between the sound board
and the vibration plank, I would remark, 1st, that if it only takes place at a
single point the reinforcement of sound is very considerable, nevertheless, there

page_text: may be many points of contact in some cases with advantage, or the two may
touch over their entire length; 2nd, that although I have described touching or
pressing contact only (which is effectual so long as it is firm), still this does not
preclude me from using pulling, sliding, rolling, grasping, or interlocking contact,
all which contrivances for obtaining the same object will readily suggest them-
selves to a mechanician of ordinary skill. In order also to soften the crescendo
effect, and prevent its coming on too suddenly, any elastic substance may be
introduced between the points of contact, or other means may be taken to effect the
same purpose. The dimensions of the vibration plank or bridge will depend upon
the amount of contrast desired between the soft tones and the loud ones. I have
found a very good effect produced by diminishing its cross section to the lowest
dimensions consistent with the requisite strength, so that the whole then assumes
the form of a simple rail. I have found also that it is better to make the cross
section more substantial at the treble end than at the base end. The vibration
plank, as stated above, stretches from side to side of the instrument, and is of
necessity a fixture; it may therefore be attached to the two sides of the cast iron
frame at both ends, or to one side only and at one end (provided it is the treble end),
or it may be fixed to the cross part of the frame which carries the wrest plank. I
do not confine myself to any particular mode of attachment.
In reference to the action of the pedal, it is obvious that this may be reversed if
thought proper, that is to say, the pressure of the foot may release the contact
instead of making it.
Moreover the pressure of the hands on the key board may be substituted for the
pressure of the foot on the pedal, as will be readily understood by those who are
conversant with instruments having a key-board.
01
It will thus be seen that many of the details which are involved in the carrying
roy Invention may be varied according to the class of instrument, whether
upr
, or graud, and also according to the option of the maker, without
in any wa, parting from the essential feature of my Invention, as respects which,
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me
under the Letters Patent hereinbefore first in part recited is,-
1. Arranging the sound board of a pianoforte so that it can be brought into
connection with or disconnected from the source of vibration so as to enable the
performer to increase or diminish the volume of sound at will, substantially as
described.
2. The particular arrangements hereinbefore described with reference to and
shewn in Figs. 1 and 1 A, Figs. 2 and 2 A, and Figs. 3 and 3 A, respectively of
the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Howson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty
RICHARD HOWSON. (L.S.)