AN IMPROVED ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Alfred Waddington, of Stonegate, in the City of
York, Pianoforte Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ACTION
FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 2nd April 1880, and dated the 17th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Alfred Waddington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1879.
WILLIAM ALFRED WADDINGTON, of Stonegate, in the City of York, Pianoforte
Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES."
This Invention has for its object an improved action for upright pianofortes.
In upright pianofortes in which the hammers are operated by means of stickers
it is usual to apply the damper to the string at a point above that at which the
hammer strikes. According to my Invention the action of the damper on the
string is caused to take place beneath the point struck by the hammer, an arrange-
ment which presents the following advantages:-
The sound from the strings of a pianoforte after being struck with the hammers
is stopped with greater precision by applying the dampers below the hammers, the
dampers being nearer the centre of the strings the vibration is stopped quicker than
by applying the dampers above the hammers. An improvement so much required
for the sticker action to which the under damper has not been applied as a detached
damper action from the sticker action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Alfred Waddington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th April 1880.
WILLIAM ALFRED WADDINGTON, of Stonegate, in the City of York, Pianoforte
"AN IMPROVED ACTION FOR UPRIGHT PIANOFORTES."
Manufacturer.
This Invention has for its object an improved action for upright pianofortes.
In upright pianofortes in which the hammers are operated by means of stickers
it is usual to apply the damper to the string at a point above that at which the
hammer strikes. According to my Invention the action of the damper on the
string is caused to take place beneath the point struck by the hammer, an arrange-
ment which presents the following advantages:
The sound from the strings of a pianoforte after being struck with the hammers
is stopped with greater precision by applying the dampers below the hammers, the
dampers being nearer the centre of the strings the vibration stopped quicker
than by applying the dampers above the hammers. An improvement so much
required for the sticker action to which the under damper has not been applied as
a detached damper action from the sticker action.
The annexed Drawing represents my improved upright pianoforte action.
The finger key a actuates the hammer b through ordinary mechanism, and as the
Drawing clearly shows. An adjustable screw projection a¹ on the key also acts
upon a bent lever
and this in turn pushes upon the tail of the damper lever d.
The damper levers are mounted on axes which are held in the same combs with the
axes of the hammers. At the upper end of each damper lever there is a pad of
felt, and this end of the lever is pressed forward by a light spring d¹. Thus when
the key is up the padded end of the lever held against the string at a point
below that at which the hammer strikes upon it. On the finger key, however,
being put down the damper pad is removed from contact with the string by the
action of the projection a¹ on the bent lever c, and this in turn upon the damper
lever.
What I claim is,-
First. The construction of upright pianoforte actions in such manner that, as
herein described, the damper operates upon the string at a point below that at
which the hammer strikes it.
Second. My improved upright pianoforte action, substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Alfred Waddington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DINAMON
WILLIAM ALFRED WADDINGTON. (S.)