Improvements in the Hammer Operating Mechanism or Action of Pianos.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Hammer Operating Mechanism or Action
of Pianos.
I, MADAME EMMA TITZ, Factory-Owner, of Lowenberg, Silesia, Prussia, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is an arrangement which simplifies piano
mechanism and ensures a certain repetition.
Instead of the deadeners hitherto employed, a capsule is used which is situated
on the free end of the arm of the butt of the hammer, in which capsule is sus-
pended a strut, easily moved, whose lower end is guided upon the oscillating
free end of the swinging lever or bascule, in such manner, that, when at rest,
there remains no free space between the lower end of the strut afore-named,
and the swinging lever. The said extremity of the swinging lever is perforated
and covered over with leather or felt and receives a peg, which can be regulated,
arranged in an extension of the strut. In the latter, and below its point of
suspension, a regulation screw is placed, the end of which has a stuffed button
(regulation puppet) which, at the same time, serves as a deadener and as a guide
for the hopper below the stopper of the butt of the hammer; the return of
said hopper is limited by a pin striking against a regulation bar which is ar-
anged on the hammer rail and, moreover, by the arrangement of an apparatus
or fixing the position of the hammer, consisting of the curved upper part of the
ongue-hopper, which, when the hammer is half-way back, receives the deaden-
ng button (regulation puppet) which is correspondingly shaped; and thereby
maintains the hammer fixed, after each touch, in such manner that it cannot
ibrate or strike a second time; the regulation peg placed in the extension of
he above-mentioned strut is for the purpose of preventing a regular hopping
ovement when playing tremolos or staccato.
This arrangement is applicable to grand as well as to cottage pianos.
Dated this 18th day of
1000
„provements in the Hammer Operating Mechanism or Action
of Pianos.
I, MADAME EMMA TITZ, Factory-Owner, of Lowenburg, Silesia, Prussia, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is ta
[Price 8d.]

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
-
This invention has reference to improvements in the hammer operating
mechanism or action of pianos and the objects of my invention are to ensure
certainty of action, to obviate vibration or vibratory action of the hammer,
and to provide simple means or mechanism whereby the "jack," after the hammer
has been operated in the usual manner by the depression of one of the keys, will
be again engaged with the hammer block on the return stroke of the hammer,
all these being attained in the manner and by the means substantially as herein-
after described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In the said drawing:-
-:
Fig. 1 illustrates my invention when the hammer is at rest before being
operated.
Fig. 2 illustrates my invention when the hammer has been fully operated
or is in the act of striking, and Fig. 3 illustrates my invention when the hammer
is about midway on its return movement after having been operated.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a hammer h of any usual
construction carried by the hammer block or nut the latter having an arm
or hammer-brace g at the free end of which I provide a lug or equivalent b which
pivotally carries the bar or check-rod € for the purpose hereinafter
described. To a suitable part of the jack-lever d, which latter is
operated by its relative key or key-lever in any usual manner, I
pivotally attach the jack f the upper end of which normally engages
with a notch or shoulder in or on the hammer block as will be readily
understood by reference to Fig. 1 so that by the operation of the relative key
the jack-leverd will raise the jack f and thus cause the operation of the ham-
mer h, and in order to ensure that only the complete operation of a key, shall
cause the relative hammer to be also completely operated or moved so as to
strike the wire or wires I link or connect the lower end of the check-rod e to or
with the free end of the jack-leverd the connection or linking being such that
the said check rod c may have a sufficient but limited upward movement relatively
to the jack-lever d. A simple means or connection for this purpose is shown in
the drawing and consists of a screwed rod or wire which passes through an
aperture or slot in the free end of the jack-lever d and is screwed at ¹ into the
check-rod c about as shown the end of the jack-lever as well as the wire i being
provided with felt washers or other cushioning devices so that violent concussion
between the parts is obviated.
The action of the mechanism thus far described is as follows:-When the
relative key is struck or operated, the jack-lever d is moved from its normal
position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the jack f is raised and the
hammer operated, but inasmuch as the upward movement of the lug bis
quicker than the upward movement of the free end of the jack-lever (which
is due to the fact that the upward motion of the jack f is communicated to the
block at a point comparatively in close proximity to the pivot on which the
said block is pivoted or turns) the check-rod c is raised from its normal position
of resting on the jack-lever as shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 the said
rod being now in engagement with the lower face of the lever limiting or
preventing the further forward movement of the hammer h, the adjustment
of the various parts being such that if operated as described the hammer h will
strike or sound the wires, but in the event of the key not having been completely
operated or depressed then the consequent incomplete movement of the jack-
lever will prevent the wires being struck by the hammer as the forward move-
ment of the said hammer will be limited at an earlier period by the wire i and
the washer under the lever d.
In order to prevent vibration or recoil of the hammer to such an extent as to
cause it to re-strike the wires I provide a padded button or the like e which is
adjustably supported by means of a screwed pin or equivalent which passes

page_text: through the check-rod c; I further also provide or form the jack f with a cavity
or hollow at f which is also padded or cushioned by felt or other material and
into which the button e engages as shown in Fig. 3 the said two parts e and f
thus acting as a "back-check" or catch, the action being assisted by reason of
5 the arm with which the lower end of the jack is formed coming in contact with
a stop or equivalent x.
the cavity f, the upper washer on the rod i comes in contact with the upper
At the moment when the button e engages as shown with
washer on the jack-lever and thus further assists to take up all vibration. The
movement of the button e on the return stroke of the hammer h serves also to
push the
upper end of the jack under or into the shoulder or notch of the block !.
as will be readily understood from Fig. 1, whereby certainty of repeat-action is
secured.
To prevent the jack f dropping too low I provide it with a stop pin, m, adapted
to come in contact with the padded and preferably adjustable stop o with which
I provide the hammer chair n.
I wish it to be understood that my improved action may be used in or adapted
to any kind of piano.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A piano action consisting in combination of a hammer h having a block Z
provided with an arm the free end of which has a lug pivotally supporting
a check-rod c, a jack-lever d pivotally supporting a jack having a cavity or
hollow f and adapted to engage in a notch or equivalent in the block I, a pin
passing through the free end of the jack-lever and adjustably screwing at it
into the lower end of the check-rod c said pin and the jack-lever d being pro-
vided with felt or other washers, a button e carried by a pink passing through
the check-rod c said button fitting into the cavity f', a stop pin m, and a stop o
on the hammer chair », all operating for the purposes and substantially as de-
cribed and illustrated.
2. The herein described hammer mechanism or action for pianos, arranged
nd combined substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 17th day of Anril 1000.
EMMA TITZ.
By her Agents, Charles Bauer, Imrie & Co.,
The City Patent Office, 72, Cannon Street, London. E.C.
EMMA TITZ.
By her Agents, Charles Bauer, Imrie & Co.,
The City Patent Office, 72, Cannon Street, London. E.C.