IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simms, of Gay Street, Bath, in the County of
Somerset, Music Seller, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 10th September 1867, and dated the 18th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simms at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th March 1867.
I, HENRY SIMMS, of Gay Street, Bath, in the County of Somerset, Music
Seller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of certain
apparatus by the use of which (in conjunction with the ordinary glass
insulators on which the feet of pianofortes are placed) the instrument to
which it is applied is perfectly insulated, and the tone réflected or carried
into the apartinent in accordance with the laws of acoustics, thus obviating an
objection which frequently applies to upright pianofortes.
The apparatus is formed of wood, papier maché, metal, or any other material
which will reflect and not absorb sound, and is constructed in the form of a
shell, shield, or extended surface, such surface being curved or angular
according to the requirements of each particular case. The apparatos is
placed at the back of the instrument, and extends above and beyond the

page_text: top and sides thereof, it being fixed to glass insulating attachments which
are secured to the case. Perfect insulation is insured by the space between
the lower portion of the apparatus (which is fixed to similar insulators)
and the case of the instrument being occupied by means of a projection from
the latter, thus preventing the sound from passing through or beyond such
space to the floor.
This Invention is applicable to pianofortes whether new or old, and in
whatever portion of an apartment they may be placed, but it is especially
valuable in those cases in which the instrument is placed near a wall. In
such a position the tone of the instrument is to a certain extent destroyed
by reason of its proximity to the adjacent surfaces, whilst by the use of the
apparatus which is the subject of this Invention, the instrument is completely
insulated, and the whole tone and power thereof concentrated and reflected
or carried as before mentioned towards the auditors.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Simms in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
SIMMS, of Gay Street, Bath, in the County of Somerset, Music Seller, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Simms, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Simms, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Simms, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Simms, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
...NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Simms, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of certain
apparatus by the use of which (in conjunction if preferred with the ordinary
glass insulators on which the feet of pianofortes are placed) the instrument
to which it is applied is perfectly insulated, and the tone reflected or carried
into the apartment in accordance with the laws of acoustics, thus obviating
an objection which frequently applies in an especial degree to upright
pianofortes.
The apparatus is formed of wood, papier maché, metal, or any other
material which will reflect and not absorb sound, and is constructed so as
to present an extended surface, such surface being curved or angular according
to the requirements of each particular case. In the case of upright instruments
the apparatus is placed at the back thereof, and extends above and beyond
the top and sides, it being fixed to glass or wood insulating attachments which
are secured to the case. Insulation is insured by the space between the lower
portion of the apparatus (which is fixed to insulators similar to those before
mentioned), and the case of the instrument being occupied by a projection
from the latter, thus preventing the sound from passing through or beyond
such space to the floor. In the case of horizontal pianofortes the apparatus is
placed at the bottom of the instrument, and is substantially the same as that
before described, such variations only being made therein as may be rendered
necessary by the difference of position, and which will be readily understood
by any pianoforte maker.
My said Invention is applicable to pianofortes whether new or old, and in
whatever portion of an apartment they may be placed, but it is especially
valuable in those cases in which the instrument is placed near a wall. In
such a position the tone of the instrument is to a certain extent destroyed
by reason of its proximity to the adjacent surfaces, whilst by the use of the
apparatus, which is the subject of my said Invention, the instrument is completely
insulated, and the whole tone and power thereof concentrated and reflected or
carried as before mentioned towards the auditors.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in

page_text: conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as
constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the construction and arrangement of the before.
mentioned apparatus in the nianner and for the purposes, substantially
herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simms, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
HENRY SIMMS. (L.B.)