Improved Means for Mounting and Adjusting the Strings of Pianofortes, Harps, and other similarly Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Mounting and Adjusting the Strings of
Pianofortes, Harps, and other similarly Stringed Instruments.
We, JOHN HOPKINSON and JAMES HOPKINSON, of 34, 35 and 36, Margaret
Street, Cavendish Square, and 44, Fitzroy Road, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturers, and BENJAMIN JOSIAH WESTON, of
97, Walford Road, South Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, Foreman to the:
aforesaid John and James Hopkinson, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for mounting the strings of pianofortes and other
musical instruments, and for facilitating their adjustment for tuning purposes.
In constructing a pianoforte, the part known as the "wrest-plank," usually
formed of beech, is fitted with "wrest-pins' to which the strings are attached;
the turning of these pins increasing or decreasing the tension of the strings. The
wrest-pins are usually formed of steel, and fit in holes drilled in the wrest-plank.
Various means have been proposed to overcome their tendency to "slack back"
under the strain to which they are subjected, as also to provide against the effect
of wear incidental to a method of mounting such as above referred to.
In fitting up a wrest-plank according to our invention, we prefer to form the
wrest-plank as an extension of the iron frame, to the lower end of which, in
upright pianos (or to the farther end from the "keyboard" in horizontal or grand
pianos), the opposite ends of the strings are secured. The iron "wrest-plank"
is drilled with numerous holes into which are tightly driven plugs of brass or like
non-oxidisable metal, and each plug is bored for the reception of a slightly taper
wrest-pin, preferably formed of tempered steel. The front end of the wrest-pin is
rectangular to suit an ordinary tuning hammer; whilst the back end passes
through the plug and wrest-plank and terminates in a screw-threaded end to which
a nut is applied. A brass washer is by preference inserted for the nut to bear
upon. By tapping the wrest-pin in front and tightening the nut behind, the wrest-
pin may be made to grip tightly in its conical socket, whilst still admitting of being
rotated in the usual way by means of the tuning-hammer.
By the employment of the improved method of construction hereinbefore
described, the operation of tuning is facilitated; the steel pin, working against the
smooth surface of the brass or like metal socket, being easier to turn and to adjust
to a nicety. The wrest-pin may, moreover, be made to fit so firmly in its socket
that no amount of tension or continued vibration will disturb it. An exclusively
metal type of construction is, in addition, less susceptible to the effect of climatic
changes than when wood is employed for any part exposed to severe strain.
Although we have described our invention as applied to a pianoforte, it will be
obvious that it is equally applicable to the stringing of a harp or similarly
stringed instrument.
Dated the 31st day of July 1895.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Mounting and Adjusting the Strings of
Pianofortes, Harps, and other similarly Stringed Instruments.
We, JOHN HOPKINSON and JAMES HOPKINSON, of 34, 35 and 36, Margaret
Street, Cavendish Square, and 44, Fitzroy Road, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturers, and BENJAMIN JOSIAH WESTON, of
97, Walford Road, South Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, Foreman to the
aforesaid John and James Hopkinson, 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:—
This invention relates to means for mounting the strings of pianofortes and other
musical instruments, and for facilitating their adjustment for tuning purposes.
In constructing a pianoforte, the part known as the "wrest-plank," usually
formed of beech, is fitted with "wrest-pins" to which the strings are attached; the
turning of these pins increasing or decreasing the tension of the strings. The
wrest-pins are usually formed of steel, and fit in holes drilled in the wrest-plank.
Various means have been proposed to overcome their tendency to "slack back
under the strain to which they are subjected, as also to provide against the effect
of wear incidental to a method of mounting such as above referred to.
"
The accompanying drawings illustrate our improved means for mounting and
securing the strings as applied to a pianoforte, whereby the slacking back of the
strings is prevented and their adjustment during the operation of tuning is
facilitated.
Fig. 1 represents an end view of the wrest-plank, whereof a part is broken away
to expose the method of mounting and adjusting the wrest-pins according to our
invention.
Fig. 1 is a view of the back end of one of the wrest-pins.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of the face of the wrest-plank corresponding
with Fig. 1.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a face view, a side view and a back view of an
alternative method of construction.
In fitting up a wrest-plank according to our invention, we prefer to form the
wrest-plank as an extension of the iron frame, to the lower end of which (not
shown), in upright pianos (or to the farther end from the "key-board" in horizontal
or grand pianos), the opposite ends of the strings are secured. The iron wrest
plank A is drilled with numerous holes into which are tightly driven plugs a of
brass, bronze or like non-oxidisable metal, and each plug a is bored for the
reception of a slightly taper wrest-pin b, preferably formed of tempered steel.
The front end 6 of the wrest-pin is rectangular to suit an ordinary tuning-hammer;
whilst the back end passes through the plug a and wrest-plank and terminates in a
screw-threaded end to which a nut c is applied. A brass washer d is by
preference inserted for the nut c to bear upon. A portion of the screw-thread on
the part of the wrest-pin is cut away to form a flat surface; the hole in the
washer d being correspondingly formed to fit. Another washer e may be placed
between the plug a and the washer d, in order to furnish a smooth working surface
for the latter. The nut c and washer d turn with the wrest-pin; the washer e
being free to turn or remain stationary.
According to an alternative method of construction, illustrated in Figs. 3, 4
and 5, the plug or socket a is dispensed with; the taper wrest-pin b being formed
of phosphor bronze or other non-oxidisable metal and being fitted directly into a
taper-hole in the iron wrest-plank A.
By tapping the wrest-pin in front and tightening the nut e behind, the wrest-pin
may be made to grip tightly in the taper-hole in the plug or socket a, or in the

page_text: taper-hole in the wrest-plank A, whilst still admitting of being rotated in the usualt
way by means of the tuning-hammer.
By the employment of the herein before described means for mounting and
adjusting the strings of stringed musical instruments, the operation of tuning is
facilitated; the taper-pin (working against the smooth surface of a taper-hole-
formed in a metal of a different character from that of the pin) being easy to
turn and to adjust to a nicety. The wrest-pin may, moreover, be made to-
fit so firmly in its taper-hole that no amount of tension on the string or of continued
vibration will disturb it. An exclusively metal type of construction is, in addition,.
less susceptible to the effect of climatic changes than when wood is employed for
any part exposed to severe strain.
Although we have described our invention as applied to a pianoforte, it will
be obvious that it is equally applicable to the stringing of a harp or similarly
stringed instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. The improved means for mounting and adjusting the strings of pianofortes,
harps and other similarly stringed instruments, arranged or operating substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In an "iron-frame" pianoforte, or like stringed musical instrument, forming
the wrest-plank as an extension of and integral with the frame, substantially as
herein described.
3. In pianofortes or other similarly stringed instruments, the employment of taper
wrest-pins furnished with means for tightening the same in their sockets, substan--
tially as and for the purposes herein described.
4. In a pianoforte or other similarly stringed instrument, the combination, with
the wrest-plank A, of the plug a, taper wrest-pin b, and means such as the nut c-
and washer d, for tightening the latter in the former, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a pianoforte or other similarly stringed instrument, the employment of
steel wrest-pins working in phosphor bronze or like metal sockets, or of phosphor
bronze or like metal wrest-pins working in iron sockets, substantially as herein:
described.
T...
1905