Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th July, 1887.
1, WILHELM HIRL of No. 26 Britzer Strasse in the City of Berlin and German
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following specification:
1
My invention relates to an improved and novel construction of pianos, whereby the
said piano or other similar musical instrument is provided with a double set of cords
or wires which can be operated on simultaneously or separately, by means of two rows
of peculiarly combined keys, and in order to be able to strike the cords or wires
representing the bass notes, either singly or both together, I have introduced a novel
pedal attachment, which will be more fully described further on in this specification.
By means of this novel arrangement and the coupling mechanism hereinafter
specified, it is possible to produce either a tone or sound of ordinary strength, by
striking only one row of wires or strings or by simultaneously operating on both rows
of wire, to attain a considerably increased tone, which excels, in strength, the tone
emitted by a so-called "Grand Piano," the application of the german pedals enabling
the player to fill out the cords to a much greater extent than is possible without such
said german pedals.
In order to more clearly illustrate my said invention and enable those versed in the
art to readily carry the same into effect, I have represented my improved construction
on the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure
represents the sectional side view of a pianoforte provided with the
improved mechanism, and,
Figure 2, a side view of the coupling device, in an uncoupled position, drawn on an
enlarged scale.
In the interior central part of the improved pianoforte I arrange a vertical double
sound board A and A' which said sound board carries, at its
are strung by means
pin rails B, B', on both sides of which the strings or wise at its upper ends, two tuning
of the tuning pins a, a¹. These cords or wires b, b, are struck or acted on by the
hammers CC, which latter are constructed, arranged and combined with the necessary
dampers, in the well known manner. The hammer mechanism, c, is brought in
connection with the key lever f, by means of the vertical rod d, whereas the mechanism

page_text: .
designated c', is operated by and movably arranged on the horizontal lever h, through
the connecting rod d². This lever h rests and turns on the fulcrum g and is connected,
at its lower end, with the key k by means of rod i. The key k of the lower key board
is located or fixed immediately beneath the key f of the upper manual, and is provided
with a nose or projection, which impinges against or is brought in contact with an
intermediate small lever n, the latter being movably arranged on n', which in its turn
is attached to a lever m swinging or turning on the fulcrum l. A horizontal rod or
stop o, provided with a knob or button o', is arranged between the keys and k and is
suitably connected with or attached to lever m.
If now the stop o is pulled out, the small lever n will be drawn between the
nose k¹, on the key lever k, and the key lever f, as represented in Figure 1 of
the accompanying drawings. By depressing the key k, when the mechanism
is in this position, the rods and d' will be raised and the key f and
rod d pressed up, so that the hammers C, C will be caused to simultaneously
strike the wires band, and thereby considerably increase the strength of tone:
both sets of cords or wires are naturally tuned so as to emit one and the same
tone. If the stop o is now pushed inwards, the coupling will be disconnected and only
the hammer C¹ caused to strike the wire or string by operating on the key k,
whereas, even if the lever n is in a coupled or uncoupled position, action will be
imparted only to hammer by depressing the key. The pedal prests on the one end
of a two armed lever which is pivotted at y, and which with its other end, abutts
against the lower part of the lever h, which latter, as previously mentioned is movably
attached at If pressure is exerted on said pedal, when the small lever n is in the
position shown in Figure 1, i.e. so as to couple the keys to the keys k, both cords or
wires and will simultaneously he operated.on in the manner hereinbefore set forth,
whereas, when lever n is uncoupled, as in Figure 2, only hammer C and cord 6' will
be acted on.
I desire it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the special form or
arrangement of the several parts of my improved mechanism, as it will be evident from
the foregoing specification, that these can be modified in various ways to attain the
same effect, without departing from the spirit of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A pianoforte or other similar musical instrument having a double set of wires or
strings, in combination with two rows of keys, such as f, k, and a coupling or
connecting lever, such as n, in such a manner, that by drawing the lever n between
the upper and lower keys and depressing the latter, a simultaneous action on both sets
of wires or strings is produced, whereas by disconnecting or uncoupling the lever n,
only the strings or wires belonging to the one set of keys will be operated on, sub-
stantially as described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a pianoforte or other similar musical instrument, the combination with the
mechanism set forth in claim 1, of a pedal, such as p, in such manner, that by
coupling or uncoupling the lever n, and depressing said pedal, either both or only
one set of wires or strings is or are operated on, substantially as described in the
foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of Tuna 1907