An Improved Piano Action.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
An Improved Piano Action.
I, JOHANN SAUTER, of Spaichingen, Wurtemberg, in the Empire of Germany,
Pianoforte 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 :-
The cottage piano action which forms, the object of the present invention and
which is shown in three characteristic positions in transverse section in
Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings, is characterised by a spring being
arranged in a peculiar manner between the hopper and the check mounted on the
hammerbutt, which renders possible an extremely sensitive repetition even after
the slightest rise of a key, so that the playing with this improved action is extremely
easy especially for tremolos.
This spring, a so-called repeater spring, consists of a wire B inserted in the
hopper A and having two crossing arms 6 and 61, one of which is connected by a
band with the hammerbutt C whilst the other arm b¹ bears against the inner face
of the check head D mounted on the hammerbutt, both arms of the spring having
a tendency to turn the hopper in the direction of the arrow I, Figure 1, that is to
say to hold it pressed under the hammerbutt.
On a key being depressed, the action or mechanism, in the ordinary manner,
comes into the position shown in Figure 2, in which the hopper has slipped off the
hammerbutt after the hammer has struck the string, and the hammer is maintained
by the checks D and E in a raised position, a short distance away from the string.
Even in this position the two arms b and b¹ of the spring act in a similar manner
to that hereinbefore described. The consequence is that the moment the key is
released the hopper commences to descend, the spring arm 61 springs to an equal
extent laterally and also upwards, as may be seen in Figure 3, so that the check D
cannot follow the descending hopper, and the hammer remains in the position
shown in Figure 2 until the hopper has reached the point c, Figure 3, of the
hammerbutt; if then the rear end of the key sinks still to a minimum the spring
arm 6 comes into action pushes back the hopper completely under the hammerbutt
and the hammer can again be impelled against the string before the key has again
entirely returned to its position of repose, Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A cottage piano action in which the hopper is provided with a double armed
spring (B) one arm (6¹) of which tends to lift the hammer and the other arm (b)
of which tends to press the hopper under the hammerbutt in such a way that after
the hammer has struck a string, the one arm (6¹) of the spring maintains the
hammer in a raised position on the descent of the hopper, so that the other arm (6)
of the spring can bring the hopper again into engagement with the hammer before

page_text: the key has quite returned to its normal position, with the object of obtaining a
rapid and easy repetition, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 7th day of February 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.