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.
W₂, 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 for regulating,
with more or less delicacy, the tension of the strings.
"
"
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 "key-board" in horizontal or grand
piano), the opposite ends of the strings are secured. The iron "6 wrest-plank
has attached to it carriers, whereof (in upright pianos) the lower extremities abut
against ledges or shoulders with which the iron plank is provided and which serve
to take the greater part of the strain. Or the back of the carrier may be formed
with a stud which fits tightly into a hole in the wrest-plank; a screw being added
to secure the carrier in position and to prevent it rotating upon the stud. Each
carrier is formed with two projections or flanges between which a sliding block is
arranged. A fine threaded steel screw or stud passes, parallel with the string,.
freely through the outer projection or flange, and also through the sliding block,
the latter being tapped to fit the screw. The stud is provided with a shoulder
which takes a bearing against one or the other of the projections or flanges; the
screw terminating in a tang which fits a socket or hole drilled in the inner
projection or flange. Upon the outer face of the sliding block is formed a boss*
about which the string is wound, and to which it is attached in the same manner as
to a wrest-pin of the ordinary type. The outer end of the screw-stud is formed
with a square head, whereby the stud may be turned with the aid of a box spanner
or tuning-key. By turning the screwed stud, the sliding block is moved forwards
or backwards in the longitudinal direction of the string; the tension of the latter
being thereby diminished or increased as desired for tuning purposes. By these
means, the tension of the string may be regulated with great ease and to the
utmost nicety, and, when adjusted, it is impossible for the strain of the string to
bring about any movement of the block. Owing to the minute longitudinal
motion of the sliding block in comparison with the length of the arc through
which a tuning key is ordinarily rotated at each movement, the effect of

page_text: adjustments become but gradually and almost imperceptibly appreciable as regards
the pitch of the note.
Instead of each carrier being made as a separate part and independently
attached to the wrest-plank, a number of carriers may be grouped together into a
single piece and attached to the wrest-plank, the fastenings being, under such
circumstances, diminished in number and a firmer construction resulting.
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 8th doo of Aunt 1005
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 "wiest-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 for regulating,
with more or less delicacy, the tension of the strings.
לי
The accompanying drawings illustrate methods of construction adapted for
carrying our invention into effect.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a side and a face view respectively of a portion of the
wrest-plank of a pianoforte fitted with our improved means for mounting and
adjusting the strings; one of the string-straining devices being shown in
longitudinal section.
Fig. 3 is a plan looking at the operating end of the straining device.
Figs. 4 and 5 are side and face views respectively of a modified method of
construction wherein all the string-straining devices pertaining to one note are
grouped or arranged in a single piece.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of an alternative method of constructing the
string-straining device.
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 "key-board in horizontal or grand pianos),
the opposite ends of the strings are secured. The iron wrest-plank A has attached
"

page_text: to it carriers B, whereof (in upright pianos) the lower extremities abut against
ledges or shoulders a with which the iron wrest-plank is provided and which serve
to take the greater part of the strain. The carriers may be arranged to work
parallel to or at a slight angle with the strings. Or the back of the carrier may
be formed with a stud which fits tightly into a hole in the wrest-plank; a screw
being added to secure the carrier in position and to prevent it rotating upon the
stud. Each carrier B is formed with two projections or flanges bb between which
a sliding block c is arranged. A fine-threaded steel screw or stud d works freely
in the projection or flange b, but engages with the sliding block c, the latter being
tapped to fit the screw d. The screw or stud is provided with a shoulder d¹ which
takes a bearing against the projection or flange b; the screw d terminating in a
tang d (not screw-threaded) which fits a socket or hole in the projection or
flange. Upon the outer face of the sliding block c is formed a boss about
which the string e is wound, and to which it is attached in the manner adopted
with wrest-pins of the ordinary type. The outer end of the screw or stud dis
formed with a square head do whereby the stud may be turned with the aid of a
box-spanner or tuning-hammer. On turning the screwed stud d, the sliding block c
is caused to move forwards or backwards in the longitudinal direction of the
stringe; the tension of the latter being thereby diminished or increased as may be
desired for tuning purposes. By these means, the tension of the string may
be regulated with great ease and to the utmost nicety, and when adjusted, it
is impossible for the strain or vibration of the string to bring about any movement
of the sliding block c. Owing to the minute longitudinal motion of the sliding
block in comparison with the length of the are through which a tuning-hammer
or -key is ordinarily rotated at each movement, the effect of adjustment becomes
but gradually and almost imperceptibly appreciable as regards the pitch of the
note.
Instead of each carrier B being made as a separate part and independently
attached to the wrest-plank A, a number of carriers (three are shown in the
drawings hereto) may be grouped together into a single piece BX (Figs. 4 and 5)
and attached to the wrest-plank A, the fastenings being, under such circumstances,
diminished in number, and the construction rendered firmer; a more compact
arrangement resulting. In this arrangement, the wrest-plank A is provided with
only one ledge or shoulder a against which the inner end of each piece B* bears.
The flanges may be made as extensions of the parts into which latter the
tangs d² of the screws d are inserted.
According to the construction illustrated in Fig. 7, the ledges or shoulders a, on
the wrest-plank A, are dispensed with; the carrier B being formed with a stud bo
which fits tightly into a hole in the wrest-plank A; whilst its tail-end is secured
by means of a screw 6*. The projection or flange b' is formed with a screw-threaded
hole in which fits the screw-threaded portion d* of the screw or stud d; a shoulder
being formed at the inner end of the screw d* to furnish a bearing for a washer c*,
against which the sliding block c rests. A square head or nut do is provided at
the outer extremity of the stud d for enabling the latter to be turned for the
purpose of adjusting the tension of the string. The head or nut do is secured by
means of the lock-nut d.
•
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 inven-
tion 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 mounting and adjusting the strings of a pianoforte or other similarly
stringed instrument, the employment of a carrier such as B, provided with a

page_text: sliding block such as c to which the string is attached and a screw-stud d which on
being rotated imparts a longitudinal movement to the block, substantially as
.herein described.
3. In mounting and adjusting the strings of a pianoforte or other similarly
etringed instrument, the employment of a screw-stud d which threads a sliding
block c and operates to move the latter longitudinally, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth
Dated this 7th day of May 1896.
For the Applicants,
G. G M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.