IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cecil Collard of Oval Road Camden Town in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cecil Collard at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1883.
CECIL COLLARD of Oval Road Camden Town in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS."
The object of this invention is so to construct the "action
fortes, as to reduce the friction of the parts to a minimum.
" of upright piano-
The check lever I pivot to an adjustable link pendent from the underside of the
hammer rail, instead of allowing it, as heretofore to slide between a pair of fixed
rails provided for the purpose at the back of the action.
The check lever passes through a slot in the sticker and is secured therein by a
pivot pin, as usual. This lever has a hinged extension piece which is attached by
means of a pivot pin to a fork secured by means of a clamping screw to a fixed
rail in front of the action. Thus this lever, which carries the check, is capable of
adjustment at its opposite ends, to accord with the adjustment of the hammer on
its rail.
The button, which serves to trip the sticker lever is mounted upon the hinged
extension of the check lever its wire passing down through a bushed hole in the
tail end of the sticker lever.
By thus making the connections of the check lever with the fixed.rails adjustable,
the necessity which has hitherto existed, for building up the parts in the instrument,
is removed, and the actions may be completed without regard to the instruments
to which they are to be applied
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Cecil Collard in the Patent Office on the 2nd April 1884.
28
CECIL COLLARD of Oval Road Camden Town in the County of Middlesex
'IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS"
This Invention relates to a novel construction of the "action" of upright
pianofortes whereby the friction of the parts is reduced to a minimum, and
facilities are afforded for adapting the action to the instrument.

page_text: The nature of the improvements will be understood on reference to the accom-
panying Drawing in which Fig: 1 is a side elevation of the action in its quiescent
state and Fig: 2 is a corresponding view showing the position of the parts when a
note has been struck.
In these Figures A is the check lever which I pivot to an adjustable link B
pendent from the underside of the hammer rail C, instead of allowing it as
heretofore to slide between a pair of fixed rails provided for the purpose at the
back of the action :
The check lever A passes through a slot in the sticker D and is secured therein
by a pivot pin d as usual.
This lever A is provided with a hinged extension piece A¹ which is attached by
means of a pivot pin e to a fork E secured by means of a clamping screw e¹ to a
fixed rail F in front of the action.
It will thus be seen that the friction present under the old arrangement of a
fixed rail or rails, between which the tail end of the check lever slid, is done away
with; and that this lever carrying the check is capable of adjustment at its
opposite ends and can be made to accord with the adjustment of the hammer G on
its rail C.
The button H which serves to trip the sticker lever I is mounted upon the
binged extension A¹ of the check lever, its wire passing down through a bushed
hole in the tail end of the hopper J.
By thus making the connection of the check lever A with the fixed rails C and F
adjustable and flexible, the necessity which has hitherto existed for building up
the parts in the instrument is removed, and a number of actions may be completed
without regard to the instruments to which they are to be applied.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Pianoforte Actions" and explained in what manner the same may be carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim:
First Mounting the check levers in pianoforte actions in the manner hereinabove
described and shown in the Drawing whereby the friction of the parts is reduced
to a minimum and facilities are afforded for separately adjusting each check lever
and its attachments, to its hammer substantially as set forth.
Secondly In a pianoforte action the combination with the check lever A and
sticker D adapted to act upon the hammer in the usual way of the adjustable
link B pendent from the hammer rail C or equivalent support and the hinged
extension piece A¹ and fork, E, adjustably mounted on a fixed rail F or equivalent
support, as and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly Connecting the hopper with the check lever in the manner herein
described with reference to the Drawing for the purpose of tripping the sticker
lever after the note has been struck.
In witness whereof I the said Cecil Collard have hereunto set my hand and
seal the second day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.