Improvements in Resonating Supports for Pianos.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Resonating Supports for Pianos.
I, HERMANN RICHARD SCHREIBER, of 80, Wigmore Street, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawing, that is to
say:―
My present invention relates to resonating supports for pianos, and it has for its
object a novel method of construction by which the resonating soundboard is made
entirely separate from the piano itself, but at the same time is readily connected to
the latter when in use in such manner as to greatly strengthen and improve the
quality of the tone of the piano.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 is a view
from above of my improved resonating support; Figure 2 is a view of the same from
the back, showing the connecting wedges; Figure 3 is an end view; and Figure 4 is a
transverse section through the line x-y, Figure 1; Figure 5 is a vertical section
through the line 2-2, Figure 1.
A is the resonator or sound box, which is carried upon a separate wooden frame,
entirely distinct from the piano, provided with castors at its corners, by which it can
be readily moved about, together with the piano; which is placed upon it but can
be easily lifted off when desired.
The frame consists of two strong wooden end beams c, c, having recesses d, d, to
receive the ordinary castors of the piano which drop into them, but without
touching them. The end frames c, c, are connected by a narrow wooden beam e
at the back, and a similar beam f at the front, either straight or curved (as shown
in Figure 1) to suit the shape of the piano and the position of the player. Above
the frame so formed is fitted and fixed a thin flat (or slightly arched) sounding
board a, and below the frame is fitted and fixed a similar flat sounding board g,
which is acoustically connected with the upper one a by one or more sound posts i.
The ends of the piano rest firmly upon the end beams c, c, the upper surfaces of
which are raised somewhat above the upper surface of the upper soundboard a.
In order that the desired effect may be obtained from the separate sound box
or resonator, it is necessary that the back of the piano, which contains the sounding
board proper and the strings, should be acoustically but solidly connected with it.
As already explained, the ends of the piano rest upon the end beams c, c, which
carry its whole weight, the castors hanging freely in the recesses d, the lower edge
of the back of the piano at h being somewhat above the back edge of the sounding
board a, leaving a longitudinal space k, between them.
In order to connect the back of the piano with the sound-board a of the resonator,
I use a number of wedges l, of wood or other good conductor of sound, the narrow
edges or points of which I introduce into the opening k from the back, and I drive
the wedges gently in, until (without taking any perceptible part of the weight of
the piano off, the end beams c, c) perfect acoustic connection is made by them
between the back of the piano and the sound-board g.
In this way, I obtain results much superior to any which have ever heretofore
been obtained, without straining or injuring the piano itself in any way, and with
facility for tightening, adjusting, or varying the pressure between the piano and the
sound box or resonator, whenever desired.

page_text: Instead of four wedges as shown, any desired number may be used. For instance,
a single wedge, extending the full length of the opening k, may be used.
As the piano, when placed upon the resonator, is raised some distance from the
floor, the ordinary pedals would be too high to be conveniently used. Accordingly,
I sometimes arrange additional pedals in front of the sound-box A, which are
connected with the pedals n of the piano by adjustable wires or rods. p, p,
represent transverse stays below the sounding-board a.
I prefer, however, to use an adjustable foot-board, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5.
In these figures, r is a foot-board or support for the feet of the player, which can
slide in and out through an opening in the front f of the soundbox A. The back
of this foot-board is provided with lateral pivots 8, 8, which can move along the
grooves formed by fixed bars or strips of wood t, t. The front of the foot-board ŕ has
a vertical flange u which when the board is drawn out, as shown in Figures 3 and 4,
rests upon the floor, the foot-board being then at the right height for the feet of the
player, (who can then easily use the ordinary pedals of the piano), and its back
edge turning sufficiently upon the pivots 8, 8.
When not in use the footboard is pushed back through the opening in the front f
of the sound-box, into the position shown in Figure 1.
I am aware that it has been proposed to use an additional sound-box arranged at
the bottom of the piano, of which it forms an integral part, but it has never been
found possible to make a simple and effective connection between the sound-board of
the piano and the additional sound-box or resonator, and such arrangements,
therefore, have been more or less unsuccessful.
By my present invention, however, the connection is very simply and easily made,
and the piano can be removed or replaced and connected with the sound-box without
the slightest difficulty, and a great increase of power and fulness of tone are
obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of the separate sound-box or resonator for pianos (consisting
of end frames c, c, having recesses d, d, to receive the castors of the piano, back e
and front f, upper sounding-board a, lower sounding-board g and sound-posts i), with
the opening between the back h of the piano and the upper sounding-board a, and
the wedges fitting and driven into said opening, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In combination with the separate sound-box described and claimed in claim 1,
the moveable footboard r, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of March 1897.
5th day of March 1897.
EDWARDS AND CO.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.