Improvements in the Means of Tuning the Strings of Pianos and similar Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Tuning the Strings of Pianos and
similar Stringed Instruments.
I, WILLIAM MIDGLEY, of Temple Street, Keighley, in the County of York,
Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct what is commonly known as the
wrest planks of pianos and the like, and to combine therewith tuning screws in
such a manner that, considerable tension can be put upon each string and sustained
near the pitch before the tuning screw is introduced which when applied can be
readily operated for adjusting the string to the pitch required, and for the latter
to remain unaffected by the tuning or adjusting of the adjacent strings.
I accomplish my object in the following manner. In place of an ordinary
wood wrest plank, I apply a metal plate supported in any convenient manner,
and form in the plate polygonal holes equal to the number of strings in the
instrument which are secured at one end in the usual manner.
Each string at the opposite end is secured and wrapped round a socket which
may be supported opposite a hole in the before mentioned plate by a tuning key
or the like until the desired tension is obtained, when the socket is inserted
in a polygonal hole and retained in the following manner.
The hole through the socket is threaded, and on screwing through the same
from the back of the plate a tuning pin with a collar thereon, the socket and
string are secured and by turning the said pin, the socket is adjusted in the hole
and the tension of the string so steadily and firmly regulated, that the variations
in pitch is more under control; and when screwed to the required position, it
will remain until the screw is again turned.
Dated this 21st day of April 1891.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Tuning the Strings of Pianos and
similar Stringed Instruments.
I, WILLIAM MIDGLEY, of Temple Street, Keighley, in the County of York,
Professor of Music, 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 this invention is to construct what are known as wrest planks of
pianos and the like and to combine therewith tuning pins hereafter called screws
arranged in such a manner that, on putting strings into an instrument, consider-
able tension can be put upon the strings and the tension sustained at or near the
required pitch until secured by the respective tuning screws, and to so arrange the
latter and parts combined therewith that, the screws may be readily operated and
the strings positively adjusted to the pitch required, and for the pitch to remain
unaffected by the stretching and adjustment of the adjacent strings or from other
well known causes common to instruments constructed and provided with tuning
pins of the ordinary description.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. represents a front view of a portion of a metal wrest plate of a piano
provided with tuning screws constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2. is a vertical section of same through line a b. showing a series of tuning
screws engaged with nuts or sockets in their respective holes.
Fig. 3. a detail of a tuning pin.
Fig. 4. an end view of the same.
Fig. 5. an elevation of a key suitable for stretching the strings prior to retaining
them by a tuning screw; and
Fig. 6. an elevation and end view of a socket used in combination with the key
for stretching the strings.
My invention is applicable to the ordinary wood wrest plank of a piano or other
stringed instrument, by combining with the said plank, metal sockets having holes
through same of a suitable section and pressing the said sockets into holes cut in
the plank of such form that they cannot revolve therein.
Instead of a wood wrest plank, by preference, I utilize a metal plate A.
supported in any convenient manner, and form therein holes B. of such a shape
that, a nut or socket D. may be easily inserted, but will not turn round therein.
In stringing an instrument, the nut or socket D. is first screwed on the key E.
and the end of string C. put through the small hole H. in a nut or socket D. and
wrapped round the recessed portion, in centre of nut or socket D. which is
supported by inserting the circular end at E¹ in the centre hole of the loose
socket F. placed in a hole B. so that, by turning the key E. the desired tension on
the string C. is obtained, then the nut or socket D. is inserted into a hole B.
and the loose socket F. withdrawn from the back of the wrest plank A. leaving
the nut D. in the hole B. which is retained therein by the tension of the string C.
acting on the side of the nut D. and thereby twisting same in the hole B. to such
an extent that, the nut D. is held therein until secured by a tuning screw G. in
the manner as hereinafter described.
Each nut or socket D. is retained in the wrest plate A. by a tuning screw G.
threaded for some portion of its length, screwed through the said nut or socket
from the back of the wrest plate A. and is prepared with a collar G₁ between
which and wrest plate is a washer of larger diameter than the hole B. by which
means, the threaded tuning screw G. and nut or socket D. are prevented being.
withdrawn by the tension of the string.
The strings C. are supported at the lower portion of the wrest plate by a
bridge J. in one rib of which, are cut a series of grooves P. for guiding and
keeping the strings in proper position.
On leaving the grooves P. each string C. passes direct through a curved
groove B cut in the front edge of plate A. to a nut or socket D. so that, on
turning the screw G. in connection therewith by an ordinary tuning key or the
like, the position of the nut or socket D. in the hole B. is readily and positively
adjusted, thereby steadily regulating the tension of the string C. so that the
adjustment in the variations in the pitch are under complete control and by the
nut or socket D. and tuning screw G. being held in the manner described,
the liability of the string C. or the threaded tuning screw G. slipping is obviated.
By inserting and securing the tuning screws G. in the manner described, the
tension of the strings C. is in a positive manner increased or decreased according
to the direction in which the respective screws G. are turned, which as will be
easily understood, are capable of minute and definite regulation, so that, all the
strings can be adjusted to the pitch required, and there retained, the strain being
direct is supported by the collars against the back of plate A.
The tuning screws G. are further secured in their positions by means of a
plate K. attached to the back of plate A: a piece of flexible material M. being
placed between the plate and collars G of tuning screws and held tight by
screws L. or other well known means.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wrest plank or plate A. having holes B. therein for the reception of a nut
or socket D. and string C. adjusted by a tuning screw G. all being arranged
substantially in the manner shown and described and for the purpose as herein-
before set forth.
2. The combination of a tuning screw G. and nut or socket D. with a string C.
arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.