IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Gautier, trading as Jules Gautier & Co., Pianoforte
Manufacturer, of 172, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
H
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Gautier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1880.
JULES GAUTIER, trading as Jules Gautier & Co., Pianoforte Manufacturer, of
172, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to the manufacture
of iron frame pianos which in combination with old parts constitutes, a new or
improved instrument.
My Invention consists, first, in the construction of the iron frame for pianofortes,
whereby the usual scale of keys and hammer rail can be used, obviating the
"break" or breaks in the keys and the hammer rail which has hitherto been found
necessary in all pianos manufactured with the iron frame. This iron frame is
constructed as follows:-
The said iron frame is a casting, the pattern for which is made of an irregular
plate with portions cut away for lightening the frame, and said plate acts as web
for supporting the strengthening bars. The end of the frame at the "bass" end is
strengthened by a bar of no special form, but convenient. The next intermediate
bar is special, in so far as that the length thereof upwards is reduced and run off
to a feather, so that the head of such bar shall not interfere with the action nor the
strings, so avoiding the "break" as ordinarily necessitated, and to compensate for
the reduced strength and length of the said bar a feather piece or projection is
provided on the back of the plate of the frame. The next intermediate bar as it is
towards the treble end of the frame at the point of the greatest amount of strain of
the wires must be of great resisting power, but yet it must be narrow so as not
to interfere with the wires, and therefore it is that I make it very deep or of
considerable projection, and such projection in such position that it will come
between the hammer and lever rails of the action, thereby avoiding the second
break; strengthening feathers are also placed at the back of the plate. At the
Pring B71

page_text: extreme treble end of the frame I carry up the end supporting bar to about the
level of the top row of wrest pins, and also carry up the plate to about same height,
so that I can bolt the frame by this extra portion of the plate to the "wrest plank"
and end support of the back, and this piece also acts as an abutment for the end of
the down pressure bar, which I will next proceed to describe.
As the wires have to be carried in a slightly oblique direction to pass the bars of
the frame, and the plank scale must be so divided as to allow room for the wrest
pins and tuning hammer, the down pressure bar is made with register grooves,
pins, or holes at the back thereof, which registers and regulates every string of the
pianoforte upon the smooth iron bridge, thereby obviating the irregularities caused
by any irregular plank scale, a defect which is apparent in almost every iron frame'
piano; but this down pressure is generally applicable for keeping the wires of
pianoforte in register, and all the improvements when combined constitute a new
pianoforte, which, whilst giving a higher quality of tone and greater resisting power
and strength to the construction of the piano, also considerably reduces the cost of
production.
Further, by this construction of iron frame, the "back" can be made without
bracings, thereby enabling the acoustitian to do what may be desired with or
manipulate as he pleases the sound board either for alterations for modifying the
tone or for addition of other instruments in combination with the piano, which
opens a large field for improvements, in as much as that thereby the said sound
board is rendered accessible in every one of its parts. In doing away with the
bracings the pillar bolts cannot find bearing therein, therefore I make provision for
this by carrying bracing bolts through the framing of the key bottom and through
the ironplate against which they are screwed up, so bracing the piano, and any
provision for strength can be provided in the key bottom framing.
The back of the piano consists of a beam which will be recessed into and be
supported by two end supports and bottom upon which said beam and supports
the wrest plank is glued and a back piece; and, to further secure the beam to the
supports, dowels are driven in edgewise through the supports and beam, thus
providing a back of great strength.
In this construction of piano the usual methods of applying the "celeste" are
not practicable, therefore I place and fix the celeste movement to the action frame
by means of an upright slide with slotted holes and T headed screws, which pass
through said slots and are readily removable, and an elastic cord spring is employed
to bring down the celeste rail.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jules Gautier (in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th March
1881.
JULES GAUTIER, trading as Jules Gautier & Co., Pianoforte Manufacturer, of
172, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to the manu-
facture of iron frame pianos, which improvements in combination with old parts
constitutes a new or improved instrument, which whilst giving a higher quality of
tone and greater resisting power and strength to the construction of the piano, also
considerably reduces the cost of production; the improvements being illustrated in
and by the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a front view of improved iron frame.
Fig. 2 represents the said iron frame screwed on to the back of the piano in
position and with the strings put on, but only at that portion where the "breaks"
are avoided at that part where the strengthening bars of the frame are provided.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section at line a, b; Fig. 2b, like section at c, d, and Fig. 2º,
like section at e, f, of Fig. 2.
Figs. 3, 3, and 3b show back views of the down pressure bar and its registering
grooves, pins, or holes.
Figs. 4 and 4ª show the "twin" and "triplet" bridge pins.
Figs. 5 and 5a show the improved bracing bolts for bracing the piano from the
key bottom framing.
Figs. 6 and 6 show the mode of making up the back of the piano without
bracings, Fig. 6 being end view, and Fig. 6, a partial front view of bass end with
wrest plank in position.
Fig. 7 represents the application of the "celeste " movement.
The Invention consists, first, in the construction in the iron frame for vertical
pianofortes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the usual scale of keys and
hammer rail can be used, and obviating the "break" or "breaks" in the keys and
the hammer rail which has hitherto been found necessary in all vertical pianos
manufactured with the iron frame. This iron frame is constructed as follows:-
The said iron frame A is a casting, the pattern for which is made of an
irregular plate with portions cut away for lightening the frame, and said plate
acts as web for supporting the strengthening bars B, B1, B2, B³. The end of the
frame at the "bass end is strengthened by bar B, of no special form but
convenient. The next intermediate bar B¹ is special, in so far as that the length
thereof upwards is reduced and run off to a feather at 1, so that the head of such
bar shall not interfere with the "action" nor the wires, so avoiding the "break"
as ordinarily necessitated; and to compensate for the reduced strength and length
of the said bar B¹ a feather piece or projection 2 is provided on the back of the
plate of the frame at the back of bar B', as clearly seen by the section, Fig. 2b.
The next intermediate bar B2 as it is towards the treble end of the frame at the
point of the greatest amount of strain of the wires must be of great resisting power,
but yet it must be narrow so as not to interfere with the wires, and therefore it is
that I make it very deep or of considerable projection, as at 3, and such projection
in such position that it will come between the hammer and lever rails of the action,
thereby avoiding the second "break." Strengthening feathers are also placed at
the back of the plate and of said bar B2. At the extreme treble end of the frame
I carry up the end supporting bar B³ to about the level of the top row of wrest
pins at 5, and also carry up the plate A at A¹ to about same height, so that I can
bolt the frame A by this extra portion A' of the plate, as shown, to the "wrest
plank" C and end support of the back, constructed as hereinafter described, and

page_text: this piece A¹ also acts as an abutment for the end of the down pressure bar D at
the bass end of the iron bridge E, and just below same a small portion of the
frame A is cutaway, that is, a recess is made into which the end of the wooden
base bridge is received and rests, as is clearly seen in Fig. 2.
As the wires have to be carried in a slightly oblique direction to pass the bars
B1, B2, of the frame at that point, and the plank scale must nevertheless be so
divided as to allow room for the wrest pins and tuning hammer, the down pressure
bar D is made with register grooves, pins, or holes at the back thereof, as shown in
Figs. 3, 3, and 3b, so as to register and regulate the direction of every non-covered
string of the pianoforte upon the smooth iron bridge E of the frame, thereby
obviating the irregularities caused by any irregular plank scale, a defect which is
apparent in almost every iron frame piano, but this registering down pressure
bar is generally applicable for keeping these wires of a pianoforte in register; the
dotted lines x, x, Fig. 2, represents the striking line of the hammers, and it will be
seen that all the wires will from this construction be regularly in register without
"breaks," and any ordinary "action" will be able to be used, thus saving the cost
and imperfections of specially made actions.
"
In making up the piano with this iron frame, the wires have to pass close to the
bars B1, B2, of the frame A, and thus the lower bridge pins which regulate the side
'draught" of the wires, have to come very close to the ends of the "belly-
bridges" F, where there is consequently but little wood left in which said pins can
hold; I therefore use what I call twin or triplet pins G, as shown in Figs. 4 and 4*,
these pins G being made with a connecting head, the two or three pins whereof are
driven into the bridge F, and support each other against the "side draught" of the
strings, the importance whereof will be recognised by every practical man.
Further by this construction of iron frame, the "back" of the piano can be made
without intermediate bracings, thereby enabling the acoustitian to do what may be
desired with or manipulate as he pleases the sound board either for alterations for
modifying the tone, or for addition of other instruments, in combination with the
piano, which opens a large field for improvements, inasmuch as that thereby the
said sound board is rendered accessible in every one of its parts. In doing away
with the bracings, the "pillar bolts" cannot find bearing therein, therefore I make
provision for this by carrying bracing bolts H through the framing, or as shown in
Figs. 5 and 5, with flat shanks which are bolted over or under the intermediate
rail of the key bottom, and through the iron plate, against which they are screwed
up by means of the front and back nuts H¹ thereon, which nuts H¹ grip the iron
frame through which the bolts H are passed, one nut being on the front, and the
other on the back of said frame.. The end of the shanks of the said bolts are
turned up as at H³, and take up position in a mortice in the front rail of framing,
60 bracing the piano, and any provision for strength can be provided in the key
bottom framing. The construction of the "back" of the piano is shown in Fig. 6
and 6, and consists of a beam I, which will be recessed at 7 into and be supported
by two end supports K and bottom bar L, upon which said beam I and supports K
the wrest plank C is glued, as also is the back piece M; and to further secure the
beam I to the supports K, dowels K¹ are driven in from the sides through the
supports K, and into bearing beam I, thus providing a back of great strength.
In this construction of piano, the usual methods of applying the "celeste" or
mute pedal are not practicable, therefore I place and fix the celeste movement to
the action frame by means of an upright central slide N which supports the celeste
rail; said slide N has therein slotted holes O, and screws are provided, one on the
hammer rail, and another on the lever rail, which screws pass through said slots,
and so the celeste is readily applied and removed, and an elastic cord spring P is
employed to bring the celeste down when not acted upon by the "pedal "; the ends
of the "celeste" rail work in recesses in standards of the "action;" the pedal
movement is in this case effected by an upright rod Q from the pedal without
necessity for rockers or levers, which said pedal rod Q will work in eyes or guides
at the back of the "key-bottom."

page_text: Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be readily carried into practical effect, I claim,―
First. The improved iron frame for pianofortes, constructed as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shown by the Drawings.
Second. The registering down pressure bar D for keeping in register and regulating
the wires of the pianoforte, as herein described in reference to and shown by Figs. 2,
3, 3, and 3 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Third. In an iron frame pianoforte, the twin and triplet bridge pins G, as and
for the purpose herein set forth and shewn by the Drawings.
Fourth. The means of bracing the iron-frame from the key bottom framing
by the bolts H and their nuts H', as herein set forth and illustrated by Figs.
5 and 5º.
Fifth. The construction of the back as herein set forth in combination with the
iron frame, as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown by the Drawings.
Sixth. The "celeste" action, as set forth and shown by the Drawings, Fig. 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Gautier, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.
JULES GAUTIER. (L.S.)