Improvements in the Construction of Horizontal Grand Pianofortes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1886
Complete Left, 4th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Horizontal Grand Pianofortes.
I WILLIAM GLEN EAVESTAFF of 14 Berners Street, Oxford Street in the County
of Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is so to construct horizontal grand pianofortes, as to
adapt them for use in a limited space, without detracting in any degree from their
quality, which is greatly determined by the length of string employed.
To this end I so form the case of the Pianoforte, that its straight or bass side will
incline inwards, and form an acute, instead of a right angle, as heretofore, with the
line of the keyboard. When, therefore, this left or bass side is brought up to and
parallel with the wall of the apartment in which the pianoforte is to be used, it will
admit of its being pushed backwards comparatively close into a corner of a room,
because the keyboard will stand askew, and afford additional space for the seating of
the player.
This change involves a re-arrangement of the strings as compared with the ordinary
Grand Pianoforte, but the bass strings will, as heretofore, approximate to the parallelism
of the left or bass side.
The inclination of the strings to the right hand will vary until a line at right angles
to the keyboard is reached.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Horizontal Grand Pianofortes.
I, WILLIAM GLEN EAVESTAFF, of 14 Berners Street, Oxford Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer, 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:
The object of this invention is so to construct horizontal grand pianofortes, as to
adapt them for use in a limited space, without detracting in any degree from their
quality, which is greatly determined by the length of string employed.
To this end I so construct the case of the pianoforte, that its straight or bass side
inclines inwards, and forms an acute instead of a right angle, as heretofore, with the
line of the keyboard; and I so modify the inclination inwards of the right or curved
side of the case, as to preserve for the case a proper internal capacity for the
arrangement of the strings.-I also give to the metallic frame which carries the strings
a shape corresponding to the now form of the case.-When, therefore, the left or bass
side of the instrument is brought up to, and parallel with the wall of the apartment in
which the pianoforte is to be used, the instrument will admit of being pushed
comparatively close into a corner of the room, because the keyboard will then stand
askew, and afford additional space for the seating of the player.
The advantage thus obtained will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawing, which shews, in plan view, with the cover removed, my new
form of pianoforte run into a corner of an apartment, the walls of which are indicated
by dotted lines. To render the advantage of my invention more evident, I have also
shewn, by dotted lines, the position which a pianoforte of the same size, as that shown
in the Figure, but of the ordinary form, would occupy, when run as near as possible
into the corner of the apartment, regard being had to the convenient seating of the
player.
The change which I have introduced into the form of the case and the metal frame,
involves a re-arrangement of the strings as compared with those of the ordinary grand
pianoforte but the bass strings will approximate to the parallelism of the left or bass
side of the case.
The inclination of the strings to the right hand will vary until a line at right angles
to the key board is reached, from which point the parallelism of the strings is
maintained.
This disposition of the strings may of course be varied at the pleasure of the

page_text: manufacturer, but his object will naturally be to distribute the strings as evenly as
possible over the available surface of the frame.
As my invention is limited to the form of the instrument, it will be unnecessary to
refer to any details of construction other than those above mentioned, and illustrated
in the drawing.
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 :—
Constructing the case and frame of Horizontal Grand Pianofortes with the bass side
forming an acute angle with the line of the keyboard, in the manner and for the
purpose above set forth.