An Improved Transposing Piano.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
An Improved Transposing Piano.
I, ALFRED GEORGE GIGNEY, of 2 Stanhope Street, Euston Road, London, N.W.,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object to effect with great facility and by very simple
mechanical means, the transposition of the notes of a pianoforte according to the
key in which it is desired the piece of music shall be performed.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, that
is to say:
Figure 1 is a view in plan of a portion of a pianoforte constructed in accordance
with this invention but with the keyboard removed so as to bring to view the
mechanism for transposing which I employ.
Figure 2, is a vertical section through line a b Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan in which is shown the ordinary action frame.
Figure 4 is a detail front view showing the various parts of the transposing
mechanism ail as hereinafter to be fully described.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the figures.
In accordance with this my invention I affix to the main framing A of the piano
a metal plate B in which I have a series of oval shaped apertures or holes B'.
Each of these holes or apertures represent a different key and they are so disposed
as to be on the line of the arc of a circle struck from the point D upon the back
frame E of the instrument. C is a lever with an actuating handle C' and furnished
upon its upper side and front end with a pin C which is inserted into the apertures
or holes B as required. The other end of said lever C I pivot at D to the usual
back frame E in such a manner that it is capable of being moved to a predetermined
extent both vertically and horizontally. When the lever C is depressed its pin C*
(see particularly Figure 2) is withdrawn from the hole or aperture B'in which it may
at the time be inserted, and simultaneously the rockers F pivotted in cradles F¹
will be elevated to the position shewn in dotted lines. At the ends of the rockers F are
the action pins G which come in contact with the brackets G¹ of the action frame H
whereupon the latter becomes raised. The lever C is now capable of horizontal
movement, that is from right to left or vice versa, and to allow of the necessary
amount of play for this movement the lever C is formed with a slot K cut therein,
in which works the pin K' attached to the key frame L of the instrument. The
key frame L aforesaid may now be moved bodily to the right or left to an extent
corresponding with any key desired, and then the pin C' is inserted in the required
hole or aperture B₁ and all is held firm. To ensure true lateral movement
guides M M are provided as shown. I have above referred to the apertures or
holes B' being oval shaped. The object of their being so shaped is to ensure an
accurate fit when the pin C is inserted in said aperture or hole and to prevent the
possibility of any play taking place.
As will be particularly observed on reference to the detail views Figures 5 and 6,
the action frame H is formed with V shaped cuts therein, in which for the purpose
of ensuring steadiness correspondingly shaped blocks N take.

page_text: As the frame is raised it comes in contact with the inclined plank block, which
throws it a sufficient distance outward to allow of its clearing the strings. Springs P
are fixed to the block and action frame, to ensure the latter resuming its proper
position.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1894.
An Improved Transposing Piano.
I, ALFRED GEORGE GIGNEY, of 2 Stanhope Street, Euston Road, London,
N.W., 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 :-
My invention has for its object to effect with great facility and by very simple
mechanical means the transposition of the notes of a pianoforte according to the key
in which it is desired the piece of music shall be performed.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe same with reference to the sheet of
drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification, and to the letters and figures
of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 is a view in plan of a portion of a pianoforte constructed in accordance
with this invention but with the keyboard removed so as to bring to view the
mechanism, which I employ for transposing.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through line a, 6 Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, in which is shewn the ordinary action frame.
Figure 4 is a detail front view shewing the various parts of the transposing
mechanism all as hereinafter to be fully described.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the figures.
In accordance with this invention I affix to the main framing A of the piano, a
metal plate B in which I have a series of oval shaped apertures or holes B'. Each
of these holes or apertures represents a different key and they are so disposed as to
be on the line of the arc of a circle struck from the point D upon the back frame E
of the instrument. C is a lever with an actuating handle C' and furnished upon
its upper side and front end with a pin C which is inserted into the apertures or
holes B' as required. The other end of said lever C I pivot at D to the usual
back frame E in such manner that it is capable of being moved to a predetermined
extent both vertically and horizontally. When the lever C is depressed, its piu C
(see particularly Figure 2) is withdrawn from the hole or aperture B₁ in which it
may at the time be inserted, and simultaneously the rockers F pivotted in cradles F
will be elevated to the position shewn in dotted lines. At the ends of the rockers F
are the action pins G which come in contact with the brackets G' of the action
frame H whereupon the latter becomes raised.
The lever C is now capable of horizontal movement, that is from right to left
or vice versa; and to allow of the necessary amount of play for this movement, the
lever C is formed with a slot K therein in which works the pin K' attached to the
key frame L of the instrument. The key frame L aforesaid may now be moved
bodily to the right or left to an extent corresponding with any key desired, and
then the pin C is inserted in the required hole or aperture B' and all is held firm.
To ensure true lateral movement guides M, M' are provided as shewn. I have
above referred to the apertures or holes B¹ being oval shaped. The object of their

page_text: being so shaped is to ensure an accurate fit when the pin C' is inserted in said
aperture or hole, and to prevent the possibility of any play taking place.
As will be particularly observed on reference to the detail views, Figures 5
and 6 the action frame His formed with V shaped cuts therein, in which for the
purpose of ensuring steadiness, correspondingly shaped blocks N take.
As the
frame is raised it comes in contact with the inclined plank block, which throws it
a sufficient distance outward to allow of its clearing the strings. Springs P are
fixed to the block and action frame to ensure the latter resuming its proper
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The construction, combination, and arrangements of parts forming my
invention, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The rockers F having the action pins G and being actuated by the
lever C for the purpose of raising the action frame H, and allowing of the key
frame L being moved bodily to the right or left, to enable the key to be changed;
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
Third. The lever C with set pin C₁ pivotted as above described to the back
frame E so as to be capable of vertical and horizontal movements, and the metal
plate B perforated as at B', substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Fourth. The action frame H constructed with V shaped grooves therein, and
held by the springs P, in combination with the set or guide blocks N for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth; substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 6th day of March 1894.
JAMES STEVENSON,
1, Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.