IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTES." A communication from abroad
by Albert Keyes Hebard, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of
Amanine
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTES.".
[A communication from abroad by Albert Keyes Hebard, of Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pianofortes, and
more particularly to the actions or mechanism of upright pianofortes.
This said Invention comprises the following features, viz. :-
First. A jack, in one part hinged on a stationary rail and connected to the key,
and in the other part hinged to a hammer-butt and arranged to rest upon its said
hinged part, all in such manner, and in such relation to each other and to the key
and hammer, that on a depression of the finger end of the key the hammer will be
thrown toward and against its string, and at or before striking the same the part
of the jack connected to the hammer butt will of itself have changed position in
relation to the binged part of the jack and the hammer butt, so as to allow the
hammer to return from the string and to be caught against another rebound under
the same depression of the key by the then relative positions of the two parts of
the jack, and on a lift of the key to return of themselves to their normal position,
all substantially as hereinafter described.
Secondly. The combination of a fulcrum pin for the hammer-butt, or for other
parts of the action that swing about a centre inade with a rounded and with a flat
portion, and of a spring arranged to bear upon said flat portion, all substantially as
hereinafter and for the purpose described.
These are the principal features of this Invention, and I carry the same into
practice as follows, that is to say I provide a vertical socket block on the inner
end of the key, being there secured by a vertical screw pin for adjustment in height.
A round vertical rod rests at its lower end in the socket of the key block, and at
its upper end enters a socket in the underside of a horizontal lever having its
fulcrum upon the underside of a horizontal rail; this rod is the lifter of the action.
The hammer is attached to a stem, which in turn is attached to a butt piece hung
within a flange secured to the upper side of the aforesaid rail, A vertical fly arm

page_text: is at the upper end pivotted to the hammer butt, and at its lower end rests upon
the upper surface of the said horizontal lever, and with such lever makes the jack
of this action. This fly has a bent spring attached to it, which at its free end rests
against the front face of the hammer-butt, and the jack lever in front of the said
fly has a recess or depression guarded at its front end by a cushioned vertical
projection of the lever. A cushioned button head is attached to a screw threaded
pin, and arranged to screw into a rail of the horizontal rail aforesaid, and to have
the button head which it carries in position for the upper side of the jack-lever to
abut against it. A damper is secured to a vertical lever, which has its fulcrum in
a flange of the said rail, and below such fulcrum an upright extension of the jack-
lever bears against its front face. The fulcrum of the jack-lever, the hammer-butt,
and the damper lever are each of a similar construction and arrangement, consisting
in substance of a pin having a round portion and a flat or square portion respec-
tively, and a flat spring secured at one end, and at its other or free end in position
to bear and press against the flat or square portion when its respective part is
stationary. The swing of either of these parts in one direction is against the flat
spring, and in the other direction with it, and thus the part when swung in one
direction against its spring is returned by the reaction of such spring to its original
or normal position, and the arrangement of each part as above described is such as
to secure its return after the key is struck.
These several parts above described constitute in substance the pianoforte action,
and when the action and key are at rest and in their normal position the damper is
in contact with the string, the hammer is away from the string, and the jack-fly is
at rest on the upper side of the jack lever, and in such rest is substantially vertical
relatively to the horizontal direction of the jack lever.
C The damper is made to leave its string in the depression of the key by and
through the pressure of the aforesaid upright extension of the jack-lever against it,
and returns to its position of rest against the string when the key is released.
The construction of the fulcrum pins, and their combination and arrangement
with flat springs herein described, in addition to the operations, enables the several
parts to be readily removed from and inserted in their position in the action; and
again, while such construction and arrangement constitutes one part of this
Invention, it is plain that the operation of the other part making up the pianoforte
action herein described is independent of the same, except so far as they act to
return the parts as described, which could be secured, as is obvious, by means of
springs otherwise applied, as, for instance, in the usual manner practised in pianoforte
actions, but it is preferable to use the construction and arrangement described, as it
is novel, simple, and advantageous, as is obvious.
The operation of the action as to the throw of the hammer and its return is
obviously independent of the movement of the damper; and again, the damper,
although described as operated from the movement of the jack lever, may be operated
direct from the key as in other actions.
The lifter may be connected in various manners to the key and the jack lever
other than that described, and again, it may be of construction other than that
described; the lifter described, however, is suitable to secure the lift of the jack.
The piano action herein described possesses power "repeat," lightness to the
'touch, and quick movement, all, as is obvious, being essential in such contrivances.
This action is regulated by adjusting the screw socket block and the button head,
as is plain without further description; and again, to prevent noise, its parts are to
be properly bushed or cushioned.
In this action the "
"
escape between the hammer-butt and jack, if it may be so
termed, occurs because of the momentum which the hammer has under the
depression of the key. The projection on the jack lever may be dispensed with,
and an ordinary back-catch attached to the jack lever used in lieu thereof, but it is
preferable to use it as described.
6

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filled
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th November 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANO-FORTES."
A communication from abroad by Albert Keyes Hebard, of Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of piano-fortes, and
more particularly to upright piano-forte actions or mechanism.
The said Invention comprises a jack which is in one part hinged on a stationary
rail and connected to the key, and in the other part hinged to a hammer-butt and
arranged as to rest upon its said hinged part, all in such manner and in such
relation to each other and to the key and hammer that on a depression of the
finger end of the key the hammer will be thrown toward and against its string,
and at or before striking the same the part of the jack connected to the hammer-
butt will of itself have changed position in relation to the hinged part of the jack
and the hammer-butt, so as to allow the hammer to return from the string and to
be caught against another rebound under the same depression of the key by the
then relative positions of the two parts of the jack, and on a lift of the key to
return of themselves to their normal position, all substantially as hereinafter
described.
It also comprises the combination of a fulcrum pin for the hammer-butt or for
other parts of the action that swing about a centre made with a rounded and with
a flat portion, and with a spring arranged to bear upon said flat portion, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinafter described.
These are the principal features of the said Invention, and they as well as all
parts forming the improved piano-action are shewn in the accompanying Drawing,
in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section shewing the piano action at rest.
. Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section shewing the parts of the piano
action in their position just prior to the striking of the string by the hammer,
and in dotted lines they are shown in their position after the escape and release of
the hammer from the string.
Figures 3 and 4 are views in detail of the fulcrum-pin and its spring in con-
nection with the parts of the piano-action.
A represents a pianoforte key arranged and operated in the usual manner; a is
a vertical socket-block on the inner end of the said key, and secured thereto by a
vertical screw-pin 6 for adjustment in height; B is a round vertical rod which
rests at its lower end in the socket of the key or socket block a, and at its upper
end enters a socket d in the underside of a horizontal lever C having its fulcrum f
upon the under side of a horizontal rail D; this rod is the lifter of the piano-action;
E is the hammer attached to a stem g which in turn is attached to a butt-piece h
hung within a flange k secured to the upper side of the rail D; is a vertical
fly-arm which at its upper end is pivotted to the hammer-butt h, and at its lower
end rests upon the upper surface of the horizontal lever C, and with such lever
makes the jack of this action. This fly-arm has a bent spring c attached to it
which at its free end rests against the front face of the hammer-butt h, and the
jack-lever C in front of the said fly-arm has a recess or depression m guarded at
its front end by a cushioned vertical projection on the said lever; o is a cushioned
button-head attached to a screw-threaded pin p and arranged to screw into the
horizontal rail F of the rail D, and to have the button-head which it carries in
position for the upper side of the jack-lever to abut against, as will hereinafter
appear; G is a damper secured to a vertical lever H which has its fulcrum at in
a flange r of the rail D, and below such fulcrum an upright extension or arm S
of the jack-lever C.bears against its front face.
The fulcrum of the jack-lever, the hammer-butt, and the damper-lever, are each.

page_text: of similar construction and arrangement, consisting in substance of a pin t having
a round portion u and a flat or square portion v, and a flat spring w secured at
one end, its other or free end in position to bear and press against the flat or
square portion when stationary. The swing of either of these parts in one
direction is against the flat spring, and in the other direction with it, and thus
the part when swung in one direction against its spring is returned by the
reaction of such spring to its original or normal position, and the arrangement of
each part as above described is such as to secure its return after the key is struck
as will hereinafter appear.
The several parts above described constitute in substance the piano forte action,
and when the action and key are at rest and in their normal position the damper
is in contact with the string, the hammer is away from the string, and the jack-
fly is at rest on the upper side of the jack-lever, and in such position of rest is
substantially vertical relatively to the horizontal direction of the jack-lever.
A depression of the finger end of the key raises its inner end and through the
lifter B lifts the jack-lever C which raises the fly-arm and through it swings the
hammer toward the string, and when the key has reached the limit of its dip or
when the jack-lever has come to a rest against the button-head o, the hammer,
owing to the momentum it has acquired through the operation of the parts as
above described, continues its movement toward the string. The jack fly l. is
thus caused to leave its bearing upon the upper side of the jack-lever, and under
the action of its spring c swings forward against the cushioned projection of the
jack-lever, and as the hammer then returns from the spring, because of its rebound
and the reaction of its spring w, the said fly enters and comes to a rest within
the depression m which allows such escape of the hammer from the string and
against the cushioned projection n of the jack-lever C, which holds the hammer
against movement until the pressure on the finger end of the key is released and
in such respect acts similarly to the ordinary back catch of a piano action.
The damper G is made to leave its string J during the depression of the key by
and through the pressure of the upright extension S of the jack-lever against it,
and returns to its position of rest against the string when the key is released.
The forward swing of the hammer, the upward swing or lift of the jack-lever,
and the swing of the damper from its position of rest against the string are
severally against the springs w which bear upon their respective fulcrum-pins, and
the backward swing of the hammer, the downward swing of the jack-lever, and the
return of the damper to the string are severally by reason of the reaction of the
same springs. In each instance when these several parts are in their normal
positions of rest the springs bear against the flat side of their respective fulcrum-
pins, and as the several parts are swung in the operation of the piano-action above
described, this relative position of the flat side of the fulcrum-pins and the springs
changes, and thus they are placed in position for a reaction of the springs to secure
a return of the parts as described. The return of the hammer to its normal
position carries the jack fly back to its normal position of rest upon the jack-lever.
The construction of the fulcrum-pins and their combination and arrangement
with flat springs, as herein described, in addition to the operations above stated,
enables the several parts to be readily removed from and inserted in their position
in the action, and again while such construction and arrangement constitute one
part of this Invention it is plain that the operation of the other part making up
the pianoforte action herein described is independent of the same, except so far as
they act to return the parts as described, which could be secured, as is obvious, by
means of springs otherwise applied, as, for instance, in the usual manner practised
in pianoforte actions, but it is preferable to use the construction and arrangement
described, as they are novel, simple, and advantageous, as is obvious.
The operation of the action as to the throw or swing of the hammer and its
return is obviously independent of the movement of the damper; and again the
damper although described as operated from the movement of the jack-lever may
be operated direct from the key, as in other actions.

page_text: The lifter B may be connected in various ways to the key and the jack-lever
other than that described; and again its construction may be other than that
described; the lifter shown, bowever, is suitable to secure the lift of the jack
described.
The piano-action herein described possesses power, "repeat," lightness to the
touch, and quick movement, all, as is obvious, being essential in such contrivances.
This action is regulated by adjusting the screw-socket-block a and the button
head o, as is plain without further description; and again to prevent noise its
parts are to be properly bushed or cushioned.
In this action the "escape" between the hammer-butt and jack, if it may be so
termed, occurs by reason of the momentum which the hammer has under the
depression of the key. The projection n on the jack-lever C may be dispensed
with and an ordinary back-catch attached to the jack-lever used in lieu thereof,
but it is preferable to use it as described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In piano-forte-actions, a jack composed of a lever which is hinged to a
stationary rail and recessed as at m (and with or without the shoulder as at n),
and a fly which rests upon the said lever and is hinged to and rests by a spring c
against a hammer-butt in combination with a piano-key connected to the said
jack-lever to lift it on the depression of the key and to allow it to return to its
normal position as the key lifts, all substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Second. In piano-forte actions, a jack composed of a lever which is hinged to a
stationary rail and is recessed as at m, and of a fly which rests upon the said lever
and is hinged to and rests by a spring c against a hammer-butt in combination
with a piano-key connected by a lifter-rod to the said jack-lever, to lift it on a
depression of the key and to allow it to return to its normal position as the key
lifts, all substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. A piano-forte action composed of a piano-key, a lifter-rod, a jack-lever, a
jack-fly and its spring c, a hammer and its butt, and a damper and its lever, each
and all constructed and arranged together to operate under the movements of the
key, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a piano-forte-action, the application of a fulcrum-pin having a
rounded portion and a square or flat portion in combination with a spring w
arranged to bear upon the said flat portion of the fulcrum-pin, and otherwise
combined with and arranged upon the swinging part or parts of the action to
operate substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a piano-forte-action, a jack and a damper combined and arranged
together for the jack to lift the damper from its string and to allow its return
thereto, substantially as above set forth.
Sixtb. In a piano-forte-action, a jack-lever and a damper so arranged that the
former by its arm S will press against the latter and thus lift it from its spring as
the jack-lever moves to throw the hammer and otherwise, all substantially as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.