IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTING OR FIXING THE Butcher, for an invention of TUNING-PINS OR PEGS OF PIANOFORTES INSTRUMENTS." AND OTHER STRINGED MUSICALAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilde, of Selston, in the County of Nottingham,
" IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTING OR FIXING THE
Butcher, for an invention of
TUNING-PINS OR PEGS OF PIANOFORTES
INSTRUMENTS."
AND OTHER STRINGED MUSICAL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilde at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1882.
GEORGE WILDE of Selston in the County of Nottingham Butcher
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FITTING OR FIXING THE TUNING-PINS OR PEGS OF PIANOFORTES AND
OTHER STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.”
This Invention has for its object the fitting or fixing of the tuning-pins or pegs
of pianofortes and other stringed musical instruments in an improved manner so as
to render the pins or pegs less liable or capable of moving or returning after tuning
which in musical instruments as at present constructed they are apt to do owing to
the tension of the wires or strings and also to hold the pins of pianofortes and some
other musical instruments more securely and so as to prevent the tension of the
wires or strings tearing the pins or pegs out of their positions.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification the inner ends of
the tuning-pins or pegs of a pianoforte are accurately fitted into suitable holes
formed for them in a plate or bar, of metal or other suitable material which extends
the whole length of the instrument and which is hereafter termed a pinching plate.
The pinching-plate has a saw cut or cuts extending nearly the entire length‍
and passing through the centres of the holes formed to receive the tuning pins or
pegs. The pinching plate is formed of sufficient thickness or may have several
enlargements at intervals along it to admit of pinching-screws being passed
transversely through for the purpose of pinching or tightening the hold on the
tuning-pins or pegs when desired. This pinching plate is attached conveniently
to the framing of the pianoforte and in order to more securely hold the pins and to
avoid the great leverage to which they are subjected, as at present constructed,
through the tension of the wires or strings, there is a second plate or bar of metal
or other suitable material. This second plate or bar is provided with circular holes
"

page_text: formed to fit accurately the round parts of the outer ends of the tuning pins or
pegs and after the wires or strings have been connected to the tuning pins or pegs
this second plate is placed in position over the outer ends of the pins or pegs and
suitably fixed to the framing of the instrument. The square outer ends of the
tuning pins or pegs project slightly beyond the second plate so as to be accessible
for tuning as heretofore. With the foregoing improvements instruments will not
so readily get out of tune, as after tuning, the tuning pins or pegs can be rigidly
fixed by the pinching action caused by turning the screws in the pinching plate
and by employing the second plate pianofortes may be made much stronger and
stouter wires may be employed if desired.
If found preferable the pinching plate may be made in short lengths, say in
lengths equal to an octave for example, so that when tuned each octave length can
be at once tightened up by the pinching screws. Also, instead of having saw cuts
the pinching plate may be formed by longitudinal sections.
It is obvious that with but slight modification the pinching plate device is
applicable to other stringed musical instruments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wilde in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th September
1882.
GEORGE WILDE, of Selston in the County of Nottingham, Butcher, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FITTING OR FIXING THE TUNING PINS OR PEGS OF PIANOFORTES AND
OTHER STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.'
"
My said Invention has for its object the fitting or fixing of the tuning-pins or
pegs of pianofortes and other stringed musical instruments in an improved manner,
so as to render the pins or pegs less liable or capable of moving or returning after
tuning which in musical instruments as at present constructed they are apt to do
owing to the tension of the wires or strings, and also to hold the pins, of piano-
fortes, and some other musical instruments, more securely, so as to prevent the
tension of the wires or strings tearing the pins or pegs out of their positions.
In carrying out my said Invention according to one modification, the tuning-pins
or pegs of a pianoforte are fitted into suitable holes formed for them in a plate or
bar of metal or other suitable material which extends the whole length of the
instrument and which is hereafter termed a pinching-plate. The pinching-plate
has a longitudinal saw cut or cuts extending its entire length (or nearly so in some
cases) passing through the centres of the holes formed to receive the tuning-pins or
pegs. The pinching-plate has screws passing transversely through it for the
purpose of pinching or tightening its hold on the tuning-pins or pegs when desired.
This pinching-plate is attached conveniently to the framing of the pianoforte and
in order to more securely hold the pins and to avoid the great leverage to which

page_text: they are subjected as at present constructed, through the tension of the wires or
strings, there is a second plate or bar of wood metal or other suitable material, which
is fitted to the pianoforte so as to carry the outer ends of the tuning-pins or pegs
which project through holes formed for them in the plate or plates. With the
foregoing improvements, instruments will not so readily get out of tune, as after
tuning, the tuning-pins or pegs can be rigidly fixed by the pinching action caused .
by the screws in the pinching-plate, and by employing the second plate pianofortes
may be made much stronger and stouter wires may be used if desired.
If found preferable the pinching plate may be made in short lengths say for
example in lengths equal to an octave and also instead of having saw cuts the
pinching plates may be made in longitudinal sections.
It is obvious that with but slight modifications the pinching plate device is
applicable to other stringed musical instruments, such for example as harps, violins
and the like.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing one modification of my improved
arrangements. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan and figure, 2, is a
front elevation showing one modification of my improved arrangements, whilst
figure, 3, is a section corresponding to figure, 2. In this modification there are
seven narrow bars of iron which compose what I term pinching plates, 4, extending
the length of the instrument. These pinching plates, 4, have a series of circular
holes, 5, drilled transversely through them so that half the circumference of each
hole is in the upper bar and half in the lower one, making a complete circular hole
when the bars are put together. These holes, 5, are to receive the tuning-pins, 6,
(sometimes known as "wrest-pins") and are of slightly less diameter than the
tuning-pins they are to hold. In the pinching-plates shown the holes, 5, are in
sets of six arranged one above the other and between each set of six holes there
are headed screws, 7, passing vertically through the pinching-plates, 4, at right
angles to the holes, 5, and provided at the top with nuts, 8. To prevent the
possibility of any jarring being produced, two strips of flannel (or other suitable
material) of the breadth of the bars, are placed between each bar of the pinching
plates, 4, and surrounding each tuning-pin, 6. The tuning pins, 6, are slightly
longer than at present made and extend through the holes, 5, in the pinching-
plates, 4, and are bedded in a plank of wood or "wrest-plank," 9, against which the
pinching-plates, 4, are secured. The pinching-plates, 4, are firmly attached to the
framing, 10, of the pianoforte by means of a plate, 11, at their top and through
which the screws, 7, pass, this plate, 11, having a number of suitable holes, 12, to
receive screws for fixing to the framing, 10. The framing, 10, is formed with a
rebate to receive the "wrest-plank," 9, and pinching-plates, 4, as shown and the
lower part of the pinching plates, 4, rests upon the rebate in the framing, 10, a
groove in which receives the heads 13, of the screws, 7. With the aforementioned
arrangements when it is required to tune the instrument the nuts, 8, of the screws, 7,
are loosened and the instrument then tuned to the required pitch in the ordinary
way, the nuts, 8, are then screwed up causing the pinching plates, 4, to firmly grip
the tuning-pins, 6, so as to render them incapable of returning or being wrenched
out of position by the tension of the wires, and also rendering it possible for much
stouter wires to be employed than heretofore if desired. The pinching-plates
shown in the drawings are arranged for a trichord pianoforte but it is obvious that
the number of bars composing the pinching-plates, 4, can be decreased for the bass
notes or increased as found desirable or convenient. The herein before described
improvements are particularly suitable for use in pianofortes having the wires strung.
upon a complete metal framing, such instruments, having the improvements being
less sensitive to atmospheric or climatic changes, than instruments composed mainly
of wood. In order to still further support the tuning-pins, 6, when employing

page_text: stouter wire than usual, or when desired, there is a second plate, 14, of wood
preferably, formed with circular holes corresponding to the tuning-pins, 6. This
second plate, 14, (shown in figures 1 and 3,) is passed over the outer ends of the
tuning-pins, 6, leaving the squared ends protruding through the holes in the plate
and it is firmly secured by a bracket, 15, to the framing, 10, of the pianoforte,
thus relieving the pinching plates, 4, of some of the strain due to the tension on
the wires.
Having now particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patents is :-
1. The fitting or fixing of tuning-or " wrest "-pins or pegs of stringed musical
instruments whereby they can be rigidly fixed or pinched when desired substan-
tially as herein before described.
2. The construction and arrangement of parts forming "pinching-plates" (4)
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
3.-The employment of a second plate (14) for supporting the outer ends of the
tuning-or "wrest"-pins of a pianoforte and relieving the strain on the "wrest"-
plank (9) and pinching-plates, (4) substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to figures 1 and 3 on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said George Wilde have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.