Improvements in Harps.
Year: 1895

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5
COMPLE
Improvements in Harps.
I, PAUL STARK of Markneukirchen, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer,
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 present invention relates to pedal harps and consists of a device by means
of which the pedal mechanism is considerably simplified, and the harsh tones as at
present caused by the sudden stretching of the strings when the petal is employed,
is avoided.
And in order to render the present Specification more easily intelligible,
reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters denote
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the harp.
Figs. 2 and 3 sectious through two forms of guides for the pedal arms.
Fig. 4 a side elevation of the pedal arms with pins to actuate the strings.
Figs. 5 and 6 similar section to those of Figures 2 and 3 showing the pedal arms
jp position in the guide.
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical representation,
Fig. 8 is a detall hereinafter referred to and
Figs. 9 to 12 show pedal arrangements for actuating the arms, as hereinafter
more particularly referred to.
The mechanism for raising or lowering the pitch to which the harp is set,
consists of the following parts:-
A guide having U-shaped mutilated circular or other section (Figs. 2 and 3)
is fixed in the casement a of the harp in suitable hearings and so as not to
contact with the sounding board at any point which would depreciate the tone
of the instrument.. Within this guide are arranged seven thin battens or rods f
(Fig. 4) ane beside the other, said rods corresponding to the notes B F C G D A E,
when the harp is tuned to E major. The arms or rods are provided with teeth
or pins g (Fig. 5) along their length, said pins being arranged at such distance
apart as to embrace all the strings of an octave between each two pins, so that
the first pin will rest op, or contact with the first string of an octave, the second
pin with the 8th, the third with the 15th and so on.
The arms are very thin and arranged directly side by side; being shewn a
small distance apart in the drawing merely for the sake of greater clearness.
The rods from B to A major are each provided with 6 pins g, and at E major
with seven pins (Fig. 7) since the harp has six' octaves and consequently
43 strings.
Fig. 8 shows the shape of the orifice at the foot of the harp through which each
pedal lever projects. The said openings are provided with steps or rests so that
0 the pedal lever may be arrested in any one of the different heights. The pedal
lever is placed on the first step or rest when the pitch is to be raised half a tone,
and if several or all the pedals are placed in this position so that the pitch of the
harp is varied, then by placing one in the next step higher the respective strings
may
be pitched half a tone higher still.
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In Fig. 1 of the drawings the six octaves are represented by the first string of
each octave. The arms serving to vary the pitch of the strings when depressed by
the pedals which actuate the said arms downwards, causing their pins g to press
against and stretch the strings with which they contact as may be seen from the

page_text: diagrammatical representation in Fig. 7. Thus for instance if the E string is to be
raised half a tone the E pedal must be depressed thus stretching the 1st, 8th, 15th,
22nd, 29th, 36th, and 43rd strings and rendering them half a tone sharper.
Fig. 7 shows how the arms affect the strings thus: The pedal will operate the
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 86th, 43rd strings.
The A pedal strings No. 5, 12, 19, 26, 33 and 40.
The D pedal strings No. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 37.
The G pedal strings No. 6,, 13, 20, 27, 34, 41.
The C pedal strings No. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38.
The F. pedal strings No. 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and
The B pedal strings No. 4, 11, 18, 25, 32, 39.
The pedals are advantageously arranged 4 on one side and 3 on the other side of
the harp foot being mounted on the fixed pivots i and k, the arms having pin and
slot connection at i, thus on depressing the pedal lever m the corresponding arm f
will also be depressed stretching its strings.
If it is desired to actuate all the arms from one pedal (Figs. 11 and 12) then the
ends of all the pedal levers n should be arranged in one plane and provided with
holes through which a conical rod o may be extended. Said rod is passed through
the lever ends with the foot and will depress all the levers when operated by means
of the pedal p.
When playing on a harp of the present construction the strings are set to the
key of the piece the levers-all or part-as the case may be being in their central
position vertically, further adjustment of any one or several pedals-for accidentals
may then be effected by raising or lowering the said pedal or pedals.
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. In a pedal harp the combination of a series of arms having pins arranged as
specified to actuate the strings, a common guide for all said arms, a pedal device to
actuate said arms, and means for retaining said pedal device in a position to raise
or lower the pitch of the harp and to vary the various strings half a tone in one of
two directions substantially as described.
:
2. The combination of a series of thin armsf having pins to contact with the
harp strings as specified, a guided in the harp casement for said arms, and pedal
device to operate said arms in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
described.
'
3. The combination of a series of thin arms having pins 9 to contact with the
harp strings as specified a guided in the harp casement for said arms, and pedal
device to operate said arms consisting of a series of pedal levers attached to said
arms and having their ends perforated and extending in one and the same plané, a
conical rod to enter said perforations and a pivoted pedal to operate said. rod
substantially as described.
'ST 100
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant..