AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND DEVICES FOR STRINGING AND TUNING PIANO FORTES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyprian Frank Southack of Rathbone Place Oxford
Street London W. Organ Expert for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF, AND DEVICES FOR STRINGING AND TUNING PIANO FORTES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cyprian Frank Southack
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1883.
CYPRIAN FRANK SOUTHACK of Rathbone Place Oxford Street London W. Organ-
Expert "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND DEVICES FOR STRINGING, AND TUNING
PIANO-FORTES."
The object of my Invention is to improve the method of stringing and tuning
piano-fortes. The means which I employ for effecting these purposes are as
follows. I provide a metal base-plate of suitable width and length for each note,
and I fix this base-plate by screws or other convenient attachments to the iron
frame or wrest plank. Upon said base-plate, are cast or mounted three upright
projections for the purposes hereinafter described. Through one of these pro-
jections I pass one or more screws longitudinally each fitting into a threaded block
which is caused to slide over a part of said base-plate by turning said screws to
the right or left. In the upper part of each sliding block is a pin, around which
one end of the string of the instrument is passed or looped, the other end being
secured in the usual way. I provide a metal arm or tongue of a convenient shape,
one end of which works on a hinge or fulcrum, the other end being bent down-
wards, so as to touch the strings. The necessary pressure on the strings from
said arm, or tongue is obtained by means of a screw in an upright position passing
through the said arm or tongue into the upper part of the central one of said
upright projections which is threaded to receive it. Or instead of the arm, or
tongue already described I may obtain the downward pressure upon the strings
by means of a straight bar held in position as described for the arm or tongue, and
through one end of which is passed a screw with tongue attachment. The turning
of said screw causes the aforesaid tongue to press down more or less upon the
strings. The central upright projection being higher than the strings I provide
holes therein on a line with the top, of the sliding block to facilitate the passage
D

page_text: of the strings. The top of the third upright projection which serves as a bridge for
the strings is on a line with the top of the sliding-block or blocks herein before
described. The advantages resulting from the use of my invention are an equal
tension or unison of the strings by means of the screws, and sliding-block herein-
before mentioned and a simultaneous tuning of the strings to the required pitch
by means of the downward pressure of the tongue. My invention can be applied
to any piano whether with an iron or wooden frame. The strings may be separate
or one continuous string for each note. The instrument will rarely require tuning.
The strings are held rigid, and being very short from the bridge to the fastening
or pin there is no liability to what is termed an "after tone," The strings on each
note being perfectly level receive an equal blow from the hammer. The unisons
being obtained by means of a screw removes the possibility of the strings slackening
as is the case with the old method of wrest-pins. The strings forming each note
being brought to perfect unison can all be tuned simultaneously by the tongue or
arm actuated by one screw. The iron plate or wrest-plank is not weakened by
means of this invention as is the case when many holes are bored or drilled to
receive the wrest-pins. The device can be placed in any position oblique or
otherwise. A bridge need not be cast' on the iron plate of the instrument, (many
plates being spoiled through imperfection in this particular); the making and filing
notches to receive the strings are rendered unnecessary, and when a wooden wrest-
plank is used the bridge may be dispensed with as my invention is provided with
a bridge. By means of my invention the tone of the instrument will be rendered
greatly superior to that of any instrument strung in the ordinary manner.

page_text: Figure 6 Is a top view of the tongue B B 6igure 1
Figures 7, 8, & 9-are respectively side and end views of the sliding block F
figures 1, 2, & 3.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.
I provide a metal base-plate A. figures 1. 2. & 3. of suitable width and length for
each note, and I fix this base-plate by screws or other convenient attachments to
the iron frame or wrest-plank of the piano. Upon said base-plate are cast or
mounted three upright projections C, C', C³ figure 1 for the purposes hereinafter
described. Through the projection C I pass longitudinally one or more screws G
figures 1. 2. 3 & 4, each screw fitting into a threaded block F figures 1, 2, 7 & 8
which block is caused to slide over a part of the said base-plate by turning said
screws to the right or left. In the upper part of each sliding-block are two holes
as shown in dotted lines in figures 1. 2. 7. & 8 through which the string is passed,
the end of which string is bent or clinched against the end of the said sliding-block
(or I may use a hitch-pin on the top of each sliding block around which a loop
may be passed as shown in F figure 2) By this means I dispense with the ordinary
loop which is invariably used when hitch-pins are employed. To facilitate the
stringing I provide an opening on each side of the central upright projection C¹
by filing away a part of the same as shown in L figure 10 in line with the holes
which receive the strings of each note to the sliding blocks before applying them
to the device itself. I provide a metal arm or tongue B figure 1, of a convenient
shape, or I may make the central upright projection C₁ of the form shown in
figure 2 with which to hold the screw D, and mount thereon a tongue constructed
as shown in figure 5, and arranged to be pressed upon the string by the screw D,
the two upright wires of said tongue fitting into holes of suitable size in the hori-
zontally projecting arm of the upright projection C figure 1, immediately on each
side of the screw D. One end of the metal arm or tongue B figure 1 works on a
pivot or fulcrum, the other end being bent downward as shown in figure 1, so as
to touch the string or strings. The necessary pressure on said string, or strings
from said arm or tongue is obtained by means of the screw D figs 1. 2 & 4, in
an upright position passing through a slot in said arm or tongue as shown in
figs 1 & 6, into the upper part of the upright projection C' which is threaded to
receive it, or instead of the arm or tongue already described I may obtain the down-
ward pressure upon the string or strings by means of a straight bar held in position
as described and shown in figure 2 for the said tongue, and through one end of
which I pass a screw with tongue attachment as shown in figure 2.

page_text: The turning of the screw D figs 1. 2 & 4 causes the aforesaid tongue or tongue
attachment to press more or less upon the string or strings. The top of the upright
projection C being higher than the string or strings I provide holes therein as
shown by the dotted lines figs 1 & 2 to facilitate the passage of the string or
strings. The top of the upright projection C2 which serves as a bridge for the
string, or strings is preferably on a line with the lower hole or holes in the sliding
block or blocks hereinbefore described.
Having now fully described the nature of my said invention and the means by
which it can be carried into practice, and having illustrated the same in the accom-
panying drawings I wish it to be understood that what I claim as new and therefore
secured to me by the hereinbefore recited Letters Patent is-1st In a piano an
adjusting screw, a sliding block fitted to and moveable by said screw, and provided
with two string receiving holes in combination with a string passed twice through
said block and having it's end bent or clinched against the end of said block sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the drawings. 2nd The combination of a
detachable base-plate for each set of unisons, two or more sliding blocks mounted
thereon, and each provided with two string receiving holes, two or more adjusting
screws, two or more unison strings each connected to one of said blocks by being
passed twice through each of the string receiving holes, and having its end bent
for clinching against said blocks, and a screw operated tongue arranged and
adapted to press upon all of the strings of said unison set substantially as described.
3rd In a piano a sliding block with a hitch-pin and an adjusting screw for each
string of the set of unisons substantially as described. 4th In a piano the combi-
nation of a detachable base-plate for each set of unisons provided with three
upright projections extending transversely across the same, the central of said
upright projections having two openings as illustrated to facilitate the insertion of
the strings, an adjusting screw and a sliding block provided with two string
receiving holes, a string for each block passed through both of said plates, and
having its end bent or clinched against the end of said block, a single pivoted
tongue for each set of unisons and a screw for operating the same all constructed
arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described―
In Witness whereof I the said Cyprian Frank Southack have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight
Hundred and Eighty three.