Improvements in Pianoforte Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Frames.
THOMAS HAVELOCK HUTCHINSON, Pianoforte Maker and Dealer, 1 and 2 Clarence
Place, Newport, Mon. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An upright or oblique iron frame without bars for pianos the purpose being to
obtain à more perfect tone.
In pianos commonly constructed a frame is used with one or two bars making it
necessary to cut the bridges in one or two sections thereby causing a break in the
tone of the instrument.
DJ 24th day of October 1896
T. B. BROWNE LIMITED,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, THOMAS HAVELOCK HUTCHINSON, Pianoforte Maker and Dealer, 1 and 2,
Clarence Place, Newport, Monmouthshire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and the manner in which the same is to performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in pianoforte frames and consists essentially
in constructing an upright or oblique iron frame for pianofortes without bars the
object being to obtain a more perfect tone.
In pianofortes as commonly constructed a metal frame is used with one or two
bars crossing same and these bars coming in contact with the bridge fixed to the
sounding board necessitate the cutting or dividing of this bridge into three sections
technically termed "breaks" thus causing the tone of the notes on either side of the
bars to vary and become defective.
It is the object of my invention to remedy this defect and this end is attained by
dispensing with the bars and in their place I use abutments which fit into grooves
cut in the bracings at the back of the pianoforte and attached to the frame top and
bottom for the purpose of giving the necessary strength to the same, and I wish it
to be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction and
arrangement of the parts shewn in the accompanying drawings which may be varied
in shape and material without however departing from the spirit of my invention.
I will now describe my invention referring in so doing to the accompanying
drawings, Figure 1 of which is a front elevation of the metal frame of a pianoforte,

page_text: shewing the bars removed in accordance with my invention, and Figure 2 is an end
elevation, partly in section and illustrating the metal frame in its position relative
to the wooden bracing at the back of the pianoforte with the grooves therein to
receive the abutments as before described.
A, A, Figures 1 and 2 is the frame and B, Figure 1, is the bridge before referred
to. C, Figure 2 are the abutments shewn fitted into the grooves a, Figure 2
formed in the bracings D Figure 2, to receive them at the back of the pianoforte.
E, E, Figure 2, are lugs or projections cast upon or otherwise suitably fixed to the
metal framo A, A and supporting the same in its position. The metal frame, A, A
rests by means of these lugs E, E upon the abutments C, Figure 2.
By this means the use of the bars is entirely obviated, the abutments taking their
place and leaving the bridge in one unbroken length, thus preserving uniformity
of tone without in any way deteriorating the frame or imperilling its strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In metal pianoforte frames a frame so constructed without bars that the bridge
is undivided in its whole length and therefore uniformity of tone is obtained while
the strength and rigidity of the frame remain unimpaired, all as hereinbefore
described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of abutments fitting into grooves formed in the bracings at
the back of the pianoforte which support the metal frame by means of lugs or other
suitable projections cast or otherwise suitably fixed thereon all as hereinbefore
described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1897.
T. B. BROWNE LIMITED,
163, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for Applicant.