IMPROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR PIANO FORTES
Year: 1885

page_text: I FREDERIC HUDSON of Hanover Lodge, New Park Road, Brixton in the
county of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN DAMPERS FOR PIANO FORTES to be as follows:-
As dampers are at present constructed and fitted in piano fortes the said
dampers are or can be applied to the wires in a level or straight row parallel with
or at an equal distance from or thereabouts one of the ends of all the wires and
this is done irrespective of the lengths of the said wires. Thus the effect of the
dampers is not the same on all the wires and when the said dampers are applied
thereto the true notes are not and cannot be in all the said wires exactly produced.
Now the object of this my invention is to obviate or remedy this evil by so fitting
the dampers that they can touch all the wires at the proper positions in proportion
to the respective lengths thereof and thus true harmonic tones will be produced.
To carry out this object the dampers which may be made in any convenient
manner are connected with the keys by the usual or other appliances but these
said appliances are so fitted and constructed and adjusted that each individual
damper can touch the wire at the exact required position whether the said position
is close to or far removed from the key. Each of these positions must obviously
be settled and arranged separately for each note and thus when these dampers
are applied to the wires of one two or more notes the true harmonic sounds are
produced. The dampers can be fitted so that they can only just touch the wires
and when as is extremely suitable the said dampers so touch the said wires at or
about the centres thereof in addition to the note produced by the full length of
the wires another note a true octave above is also produced. These dampers can
also be actuated in the usual or other manner by one or more pedals.
d

page_text: Improvements in Dampers for Pianofortes.
I FREDERIC HUDSON of Hanover Lodge New Park Road Brixton in the county
of Surrey Gentleman 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 :-
As dampers are at present constructed and fitted in pianofortes the said dampers
are or can be applied to the wires in a level or straight row parallel with or at an
equal distance from or thereabouts one of the ends of all the wires and this afore-
said arrangement obtains irrespective of the varying lengths of the said wires.
Thus the effect of the dampers is not the same on all the wires and when the said
dampers are applied thereto the true notes are not and cannot be in all the said
wires exactly produced. Now the object of this my invention is to obviate or
remedy this evil by so fitting the dampers that in all the wires only the desired
true harmonic tones will be produced.
To carry out this object the dampers which may be made in any convenient
manner are connected with the keys of the pianoforte and with one or more of the
pedals thereof by the usual or other convenient appliances but these said appliances
are to a certain extent modified and are so fitted and constructed and adjusted
that each individual damper can touch the wire or wires to which the same is
apportioned at a certain exact desired position whether the said position be close
to or far removed from the key. These positions are settled and arranged with
reference to the respective lengths of the wires and each exact position must
obviously therefore be so settled and arranged separately for each note. The
positions of the dampers can be varied in each instrument as I may desire and the
said dampers may touch the wires either at the middles or centres of the lengths
of the said wires or at one third or one fourth or one fifth of the said lengths or in
other positions but always in some and preferably in one and the same proportion
to the said lengths and these positions so settled and arranged as aforesaid divide
the said wires therefore into certain proportional parts. The dampers can be fitted
or be actuated so that the same may only just touch the wires and when as is
extremely suitable the said dampers so touch the said wires at the middles or
centres of the lengths thereof in addition to the note produced by the full length
of the wire or wires another note a true octave above is or can be also produced.
Thus when these dampers are so applied as aforesaid to the wires of a pianoforte
only true harmonic tones will be produced as is desired.
In order the more clearly to explain my invention I refer to the accompanying
drawing.
Figure 1 is a part plan of a grand pianoforte fitted with these dampers.
Figure 2 shews a convenient method of actuating the dampers.
To the iron frame A of the pianoforte or to other suitable parts thereof 1 attach
in the proper positions as hereinafter described the bars or frames B across and
above the wires which frames B carry in suitable bearings the series of rods C
parallel with the said wires or thereabouts and to each rod C are attached in the
proper positions the cranks or levers D and E. To the crank D is connected the

page_text: usual damper rod F actuated in any usual or convenient manner by the key G
preferably as shewn through the arm H and to the crank E is connected the rod I
of the damper K. Both these rods F and I are preferably so fitted as to be capable
of adjustment as shewn. A spring L secured either to one of the frames B or to
another bar M presses the damper K down on the wire N. The rods C can
obviously be made as long as is necessary or expedient to allow the dampers K to
touch the wires N in the exact desired positions as aforesaid and the bars or
frames B are placed in convenient positions to carry the said rods C and this
method of actuating the dampers therefore is very suitable for those notes in which
the dampers are far removed from the keys.
When however the dampers are close to the keys I preferably actuate the same
as shewn in Figure 3 according to which method a series of levers P each of which
carries the damper K. are pivotted on the bar or frame B placed in a convenient
position therefor as is aforesaid and the free end of each lever P is actuated by the
key G through the usual adjustable damper rod F and preferably also through the
arin H as aforesaid and in this method also it is obvious that the dampers K can
be made to touch the wires N in the exact desired positions as aforesaid.
In the drawing I have shewn the dampers as arranged to touch the wires in the
middles or centres of their lengths and when this is the case the row of dampera
would be continued as shewn at Kin Figure 1.
The dampers can all be raised by the pedal through the rod R acting on the
hinged flap T which extends right across the pianoforte and operates all the arms H
as shewn in Figure 2 or in other usual or convenient manner as may be desired.
In the same manner as hereinbefore described I can apply this. my invention to
other pianofortes such for example as upright pianofortes in which case it is
obvious that the rods C and the levers P would be vertical or thereabouts instead
of horizontal as shewn.
I have thus described and shewn what I consider to be the best methods of
fitting and actuating these my dampers but I would have it clearly understood
that I do not limit myself exactly thereto for these my dampers arranged as
herein before described may be actuated and fitted in such a manner and by such
appliances as may be convenient or desirable or suitable in each particular case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
.
1. The dampers so placed as to touch the wires of a pianoforte at certain desired
positions which positions divide the said wires into certain proportional parts
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. The combination with, the key G and the damper K of the rods F C and I
and the cranks D and E substantially as herein before described and set forth.
3. The combination with the key G and the damper K of the rod F and lever P
substantially as herein before described and set forth.