IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF NOTE PEDALS TO PLANO-FORTES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
"
I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Cobourg Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Professor
of Music, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPLICATION OF NOTE PEDALS TO PLANO-FORTES," to be as follows:-..
The object of this Invention is the attaching or coupling "of note pedals to
the keys or "action" of the instrument in such a manner that the putting down
of the pedal, however, or at whatever speed or strength that may be done,—
shall give one uniform, definite, and predetermined "blow" of the hammer, upon
the wire or "string" of the instrument; thus ensuring safety and freedom from
damage to the instrument, and, at the same time, an equal freedom from .missed or
imperfect notes, through imperfect or unequal pedalling, and it may be thus
described :-
"
Having provided and fixed my pedals and frame complete, I convey the force or
"action" from the ends of these, upwards, to the underside of the "key-frame
and keys, by means of trackers, and I attach to the keys of the instrument, wire
or other "pull-downs," of sufficient length to reach through the "touch-rail" and
key-frame; and, the mechanism I employ to complete the connection between the
before-named parts, constitutes the main feature of my Invention, and consists of
a partially or slightly wound or pressed spring, a pulley, a lever, and a catch, so
constructed and employed as to further wind the spring, by the putting down of
the pedal; and, the instant before the full " touch or travel of the pedal is
completed, the said spring, being suddenly released from the catch, gives, by its
reactionary force upon a lever or other equivalent, the necessary blow, with the
hammer, for producing the note, and this independently of the amount of force
employed by the foot in putting down the pedal.
"
"
The disengaging or escapement" action I employ, for releasing the spring from
the catch, as herein-before explained, consists,-by preference, of another smaller
roller, carried by the larger or main roller or pulley, an adjustable disengaging or
escapement strut, catch, wedge or lever, and a small spring for restoring it into
position, on the rising of the pedal, the whole constituting a complete "pedal
escapement " action, as, and for the purpose at first set forth.
I would also further explain that the first-named roller or pulley, the main lever,
and the retaining catch of the escapement, are fixed to or upon, stationary rails or
cross-bearers; and that, by "splaying" or placing at varying angles, the before-
described parts, to agree with the trackers and the " pull-downs," I do not require
"roller-board" and rollers, for condensing the spaces or "rack-rail .distances
the pedals, to those of the keys of the instrument.
Dated this 1nd dow of Ta7001
31
of

page_text: I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Cobourg Street Leeds, in the County of York, Professor
of Music, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPLICATION OF NOTE PEDALS TO PIANO-FORTES," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
"
"
The object of this Invention is the attaching or "coupling" of note pedals to the
keys or action of the instrument in such a manner that the putting down of
the pedal, however, or at whatever speed or strength that may be done, shall
give one uniform, definite and predetermined "blow" of the hammer upon the
wire or "string" of the instrument; thus insuring safety and freedom from
damage to the instrument, and at the same time an equal freedom from missed
or imperfect notes, through imperfect or unequal pedalling; and it may be thus
described
33
"
"
Having provided and fixed my pedals and frame complete, I convey the force or
" action
from the ends of these, upwards, to the under-side of the "key-frame
and keys, by means of "trackers or stickers," and I attach to the keys of the
instrument, wire or other " pull-downs," of sufficient length to reach through the
"touch-rail" and key-frame; and, the mechanism I employ to complete the
connection between the before-named parts, constitutes the principal feature of
my Invention, and consists, mainly, of a partially or slightly wound or compressed
spring, and a retaining catch, so constructed and employed, in connection with this
spring, as to cause the further winding or compressing of it, by the putting down
of the pedal; and, the instant before the full "touch or travel of the pedal is
completed, the said spring being then suddenly released from the catch, gives,-by
its reactionary force upon a lever or other equivalent, the necessary blow, with
the hammer, for producing the note, and this, independently of the amount of
force employed by the foot, in putting down the pedal, as before explained.
"
The disengaging or "escapement "action I employ for releasing the spring from
the retaining catch, consists, by preference, of a small roller, carried by either a
larger roller or pulley, or an adjustable disengaging or escapement strut, wedge, or
lever, and a slight spring for restoring the catch into position, on the rising of the
pedal; the whole constituting a complete "pedal escapement" action, as and for
the purpose at first set forth.
I would also further explain, that the main levers, the retaining catches, and
the releasing struts, levers, or other equivalents, constituting the escapement action,
are fixed to or upon stationary rails or cross bearers; and, that, by "splaying" or
placing at varying angles, either the before-described parts, or separate levers,
splayed" to agree with the positions of the trackers or stickers and the "pull-
downs," I do not require "roller boards" and unequal lengthed rollers, for
condensing the spaces or "rack rail distances" of the pedals, to those of the keys
of the instrument.
"
In the accompanying illustrations, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, are vertical
elevations, as seen from the treble end,-of an arrangement of my Invention
suitable for " grand" pianos, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, is an arrangement for
"
cottage or "vertical" pianos; Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, being
some of the separate parts or details; and, in these a is the pedal, b the tracker or
sticker, c the "pull-down," attached to the key, d the main, or "remontoir"
spring; e, small roller, f the retaining catch, g the disengaging strut or wedge
action, the spring for restoring or replacing the catch, i a spring for relieving the
weight of the pedal, and the "splayed "levers.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Baid
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be, or may be,-performed; I
declare that what I claim is :-
The attaching or "coupling" of note pedals to piano-fortes, by, or through the
medium or means of an intervening "safety escapement action," which, by the
reactionary force of a spring or springs, pressed or "wound," and held or retained,
by a catch, during the downward movement of the pedal, and then released, gives,
_ by the said reactionary force,-the necessary movement or "blow," for producing
the note, on what is known in Horology, as the "remontoir" principle; and thus,
whilst securing the making or sounding of the note, also protects the instrument
from damage, whatever may be the strength or weight of the blow or thrust,
given to the pedal; virtually as, or after the manner hereinbefore described and
set forth.