IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thomas Worton, of Newberry Place, Kentish
Town, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 13th May 1862, and dated the 16th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thomas Worton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th November 1861.
"I, ROBERT THOMAS WORTON, of Newberry Place, Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
The Invention mainly consists in combining the jack and quill of the
harpsichord action with the hammer action of the pianoforte, so as to produce
the tones of both in one instrument, which it is proposed to call the lyro-piano-
forte. To effect the above an arm of metal or other suitable material, which
is equivalent to the jack of the harpsichord, is attached by a joint pin of wire
to what is called the butt of the piano action, a little above the centre of the
same, which is free to shift up when not required for use; this is accomplished
by two metal fods or tubes, covered with soft material, one is arranged above
the arm, the other below, and these are connected so as to move together, the
under one to guide the arm or jack to the strings, and the upper one to assist
the same, and to impede the butts when in motion and prevent the hammer

page_text: from striking the strings; these rods or tubes extend from treble to bass, but
each are disunited in the centre or tenor to allow of the bass of the harpsichord
being produced to the treble of the piano, and vice versâ; these rods also
serve to produce the forte of either of the above tones by drawing the under
one from the strings by means of a pedal, which will bring the dampers from
them. The arm or jack is provided at the end opposite to the joint with a
piece of quill, india-rubber, spring steel, or other suitable material, which is
clothed or covered with felt, leather, or some such suitable material, and the
above is attached to the arm by means of a thin piece of wire or a screw.
Thus the harsh and unpleasant sound produced by the bare quill of the harpsi-
chord jack is obviated. The butt to which the arm is jointed is made of an
improved shape, the upper part serving as a socket for the hammer shank, and
the lower part as a damper for the strings, doing away with the extra work
when the damper is made to act above the hammer, as is now common.
The rail upon which the butts are arranged at equal distances from bass to
treble is also made upon a new and improved principle, it being merely a
rail or bar of wood with three or more pillars of metal or wood vertically
placed on the rail, projecting about one inch and a half above it; these have
small holes drilled in them in the same line as the rail. Each pillar is of a
diameter to admit of its passing up the gapp of a butt, so as to connect the
rods; these metal or wooden rods or tubes are equivalent to the centres of the
common rail, and they are of the length of the distance the pillars are apart,
and to connect them all in a straight line a pin is inserted in the centre of one
end of each; and this pin passes through a pillar and projects on the other
side sufficiently to enter a socket made in the centre of the end of the next
rod, and so on, with, the other, rods. The bass; and treble ends, of the rods are
fitted into sockets, made in. an, upright piece, of wood, screwed on to each end
of the rail, which press the ends of the rods compactly together between- the
pillars.
To prevent noise from contact of the metal leather is placed between the parts.
The butts, are arranged on the foregoing rods or tubes; and between each one a
washer-or-flat-ring of metal,-leather, or_card_is_placed to.keep. them at equal
distances, and to assist the working of the butts. In lieu of the common
sticker a rod or tube of metal is substituted, which is jointed to the butt by
means of a metal pin passing through a bushed hole in the butt, and is fitted
tightly in a hole in the end of the metal, rod, so that it is free to move in. the
butt and is a fixture in the metal, rod. This. rod, passes down through an
aperture in a rail projecting from the hammer rail. The rod extends a little
below this, rail, and on the end of it is screwed a piece of wood which receives

page_text: the blow from the key and answers the same purpose as the common hopper,
with the aid of a small thumb screw which works in another rail extending in
front of the rods from bass to treble, and this screw presses against a piece
of leather and cloth, which touches the rod when in action, and thus regulates
the hammer's action on the strings. On the end of each key is placed some
leather and cloth similar to that of the lever of common use.
The hammers are likewise made on an improved principle; the woodwork
of the bead is made with a flat face and tapers towards the shank; the acute.
angles of the face are cut off, and on the face is glued cork or other, suitable
material which, with the wood surface of the cut-off corners, is made to form
nearly half a circle; over this is placed the felt, which consumes less than half
the quantity that is commonly used; about an octave of the treble hammers
have the felt glued to the top part of the hammer and the other end of the
felt is glued to a small piece of wood that lays close to the under part of the
hammer head, and is attached to a screw that passes through the head of the
hammer just above the shank, by which means the felt may be strained to
any degree required.
The Invention also consists of another addition to the piano, whereby the
strings are rubbed or bowed by means of a piece of wood of the form of a
quadrant, which forms a rocking or reciprocating bow, which partially revolves
in contact with the strings, and produces a kind of violin tone. It is proposed.
to call this addition to the pianoforte, "vio-pianoforte," and with the barpsi-
chord movement added, "lyro-vio-pianoforte."
The rocking bow is made hollow where it turns against the strings, which
hollow part is covered over with horsehair or other suitable material treated
with rosin, which vibrates the strings as it turns against them. These bows
are arranged on a rail of rods similar to the hammer rail, with washers between
each; just below the bows is placed a rail, which is fixed; with respect to the
bows, the fore part of the rail serves as a check or stay to the bows after usė,
and in the lower part of it is placed a spring for each bow to return it to
position after use.
To operate the bows an arm is jointed to them in a similar manner to the
arms of the harpsichords, and the bows are hollowed where the arm works to
allow it sufficient play. The arms extend to the inner part of the hammer
shank below the head, and to set the bows in motion a pedal will be used to
shift them, and their arms opposite the hammer shanks and the hammer being-
forced towards the strings, the tone is produced. The rail will also prevent
the hammers from touching or striking the strings when the bowing move-
ment is used.

page_text: The piano will be produced by the whole action being shifted by pedal to
the right similarly to the usual mode in the harpsichord movement.
The Invention is applicable to horizontal, vertical, and oblique pianofortes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Thomas Worton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th May 1862.
.
1. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I; ROBERT
THOMAS WORTON,, of Newberry Place, Kentish Town, in the County. of
Middlesex, send greeting..
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Thomas Worton, Her special, licence that .I, the said Robert
Thomas Worton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Robert Thomas Worton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Thomas Worton, my executors or administrators, by, an instrument in
writing under .my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Robert Thomas Worton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention copsists, firstly, in the combination of the jack and quil of
the old harpsichord action with the hammer action of the pianoforte, so that
the tones of. both may be produced from one instrument. To effect this an
arm of metal or other suitable material, a, (Fig. 1 of the Drawings hereto
annexed,) which is equivalent to the jack of the harpsichord, is attached to what

page_text: is called the butt 6 of the pianoforte action by a pinned joint a little above
the centres of the same, which is free to shift upwards when not required for
use. This is accomplished by two metal rods covered with soft material; one
is arranged above the arm, the other below, and these are connected so as to
move together, the under one to guide the arm or jack to the strings c, and
the upper one to assist the first, and to impede the butt when in motion, and
so prevent the hammer from striking the strings. These rods extend from
bars to treble, but each is disunited in the centre or tenor to allow of the bass
of the harpsichord to be performed to the treble of the pianoforte tones, and
vice versa. These rods will also serve to produce the forte of either the
hammer or quil tones by shifting (with a pedal) the under one a little from
The arm or jack
the strings, which will bring the dampers d from the same.
is provided at the opposite end from the joint with two pieces of quil e, Fig. 2,
bound to the same so as to form a sort of arrow barb; at the end of this barb
a small piece of leather f is attached, which, when forced towards the strings,
the barb goes between the unisons or strings, and presses the leather closely
to its sides, so that the elasticity of the quil barb and the substance of the
leather cause the strings to vibrate; when having passed the strings, the
leather springs from the sides of the barb, and allows it to repass the strings
without touching them. The end of the arm may be also prepared in the
same form with india-rubber, spring steel, or other adaptable material; these
harpsichord notes may be produced also by a distinct action from that of the
hammers. The butt b, to which the arm or jack is attached, is made of an-
improved and economical shape, the upper part serving as a socket for the
hammer shank, and the lower part as a damper d for the strings, doing away
with the extra work, when the dampers are made to act above the hammers,
as now common. The rail g, upon which the butts are arranged at equal
distances from bass to treble, is also made upon a new and economical prin-
ciple, it being a rail or bar of wood, with three or more pillars h, Figs. 1
and 3, of metal or wood vertically placed in the bar projecting about
inches above, and these have a small hole drilled in them in the line of the
bar. Each pillar is of a diameter to admit passing up the gap of a butt, so.
that no other space shall be required to, connect the rods i, Fig. 3; these rods
are equivalent to the centres, as they are termed, of the ordinary rail, and
they are of the length of the distance the pillars are apart, and to connect
them all in a straight line one has a small pin inserted in the centre of one
end, and this pin passes through a pillar, and projects on the other side suffi-
ciently to enter a socket made in the centre of the next rod, and so on with-
the other rods.

page_text: .
The bars and treble ends of the rods are fitted into a socket made in an
upright piece of wood j, which is screwed to each end of the rail, and presses
the rods compactly together; to prevent noise from the contact of the metal
leather or other suitable material is placed between the parts. The butts are
arranged on the foregoing rods, and between each one a washer or flat ring
of metal, leather, or card is placed to keep them at equal distances, and to
assist the working of the butts. To make the hammer rail still cheaper with
butts of the same form, instead of a centre bushed hole, a slit k, Fig. 5, is
made all along the butts on the surface nearest the strings parallel with the
socket end of the same, in which is inserted leather or cloth to act as a hinge;
this leather is tightly screwed between two bars, one of iron, l, Figs. 5 and 6,
of of an inch square, or thereabouts, and eight holes or more are drilled in
it; the other is of wood m, of triangular form, so as to allow the butts to
work, which are arranged along them at equal distances apart. Instead of
the sticker in common use, a piece of metal rod n, Fig. 1, is introduced,
which is jointed to the butt by means of a metal pin that passes through a
bushed hole in the butt, and fitted tightly in a hole in the end of the metal
rod, so that it is free to move in the butt, and is a fixture in the metal rod.
The rod extends two or three inches below the hammer rail, and on the end
of it is screwed a piece of wood o, four or five inches in length, in the centre
of which a narrow slot p, Fig. 4 (front view), is cut and clothed; through
this slot a short piece of wire p¹ passes, one end of which is fixed in a rail q,
Fig. 1, and prevents the piece of metal rod and wood from moving to the
right or left; the same is prevented from moving forward by a leather
button r, that works on the piece of wire by means of a thread; this button
regulates the blow of the hammer on the strings the same as the ordinary
hopper pin. On the piece of wood the continuation of the metal. rod just
below the position of the button, an abruptly bevelled piece of woods, is
glued, which presses up against the button when the key is struck, and
prevents the hammer from blocking, as it is termed. Still lower on this
same piece of wood, and on the opposite surface to the bevelled notch, is
placed a spring t, that presses against an inclined edge u of the rail in which
the button wire is fixed, and thus keeps the rod and its appendages in their
proper horizontal and vertical position, so that the action might be turned
upside down, and work as well if the other parts were suitably arranged. The
bottom of this substitute for a sticker is shaped so that when covered it
will be of the form of the covered part of a common lever, and on this the end
of the key w, Fig. 7, strikes. The hammers & are likewise made on an
economical and improved principle. The woodwork of the head is made of a

page_text: flat face a, and tapering towards the shank; the acute angles of the face are
cut off, and on the face is glued cork y, or other adaptable substance,
which, with the wooden surface of the cut-off corners, is made to form a semi-
circle; over this is placed the felt y', which needs less than half the quantity
that is commonly used. About an octave of the treble hammers. have the felt
stuck to the top part of the hammers, and the other end of the felt.is glued to
a small piece of wood, which lays close to the under part of the hammer, and
is attached to a screw that passes through the head of the hammer just above
the shank, and this is capable of straining the felt to any degree required.
My Invention further comprises an accompaniment to the pianoforte, which
consists in rubbing or bowing the strings with a piece of wood z, of the form of a
segment of a circle, which turns when just in contact with the strings, being some-
what similar to the bowing of violin strings. This turning bow, as I term it, is
made hollow where it turns against the strings, which hollow part is covered
over with horsebair or other suitable material, and is rosined so as to vibrate
the strings as it turns against them; these bows are arranged on a rail z²
similar to the hammer rail, Fig. 6. On the rail above the bow is placed a
spring, which returns it to its proper position after use. To move or use the
bows, an arm is jointed to them in the same way as the harpsichord arms,
and the bows are hollowed where the arm works; the arms extend towards
the hammer shanks' centre, and to set them in motion a pedal shifts the arms
of the bows directly opposite the shanks of the hammers, and the hammers
being towards the strings the tone is produced. In consequence of the very
small amount of horizontal space g¹, which this action will occupy, it being
under two inches from the butts downwards, and also in consequence of the
keys being hopperless, a very compact and unique pianoforte, Fig. 8, can be
made, which is done by curtailing the instrument of its cheeks, fall, and legs,
and the keys w¹ (see also Fig. 7), when not wanted for use, can be turned up
on a spindle or pivot w, at the back part of the key frame w³, in front of the
action a', and the silk frame or doór 6' can be made to slide down and enclose
the whole. The property of this improved action, in being capable of working
upside down or against gravity by means of the springs t¹, can be the means
of constructing a still more compact and reduced form of pianoforte, the
action of which will be below the front part of the keys c, Fig. 9, and they
will be no longer than six or seven inches, with a leather or cloth hinge d¹ at
the ends or backs in lieu of a balance pin, and a spring under each to return
them in place after use. The instrument will be no higher than the fall of
an ordinary pianoforte, and to obtain as much power as in the bass of a
piccolo, the wrest plank and pins e will be at the bottom of the instrument,

page_text: and the metallic plate f at the top of the same, so that the strings will turn
round a smooth metallic edge or corner g, both at top and bottom, thus allow-
ing the same distance between the bridges at bass, as in a piccolo.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I do not limit myself to the
exact detail and configuration of parts herein expressed and shewn, but I
claim the general combination of parts constituting my "Improvements in
Pianofortes," substantially as herein described and illustrated by the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Thomas Worton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two..
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Agent for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
R. T. WORTON. (L.S.)