Improvements in Grand Piano Actions.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grand Piano Actions.
I, JOSEPH HERRBURGER of No. 16 Rue de l'Evangile, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of grand piano actions
and consists in replacing the leather rollers beneath the hammer by a semi-
cylindrical piece of hard wood which comes in contact with the upper side of a
movable catch or tappet suitably covered, while the jack acts against the underside
of this catch or tappet which is jointed to a suitable support or upright.
Dated the 23rd day of July 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grand Piano Actions.
I, JOSEPH HERRBURGER, of 16, Rue de l'Evangile, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of grand piano actions
and consists in replacing the leather rollers beneath the hammer by a semi-
cylindrical piece of hard wood which comes in contact with the upper side of a
movable catch or tappet suitably covered, while the jack acts against the underside
of this catch or tappet which is jointed to a suitable support or upright.
The leather rollers underneath the hammers of grand pianos have always given
rise to numerous complaints because it was almost impossible to make them exactly
as required. They were either too hard and made a noise or else were too soft and
consequently soon cut by the jack and the key became excessively hard.
In any case this system occasioned a perfectly perceptible noise and a much too
rapid wearing of the rollers.
With my novel construction there are no such objections.
The accompanying drawing is an elevation partly in section of a grand piano
action embodying my improvements.
a is the semi-cylindrical piece of hard wood which I provide beneath the hammer
in place of the leather roller heretofore employed which piece a comes in contact
with the upper side 6 of a suitably covered moveable catch or tappet e jointed to
the support or upright d and resting on the lever e, whilst the jack facts against
the underside У of the said catch or tappet.
I thus obtain a minimum of friction, great lightness of keys, an almost indefinite
durability of covering and a remarkable absence of noise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) A grand piano action in which the under sides of the hammers are provided
with semi-cylindrical pieces in place of the leather rollers hitherto employed,
moveable, covered and pivotted catches or tappets being interposed between the said

page_text: pieces and the jacks substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
(2) The improved grand piano action hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 1st dow of Anril 1801
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.