Improvements in Pianoforte-actions.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Pianoforte-actions.
We, THOMAS FREDERICK REEVE, Pianoforte Maker, of 26, Despard Road, High-
gate, in the County of London, and HENRY KATTMANN, Agent, of 9, Lady Mar-.
garet Road, Kentish Town, in the County of London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in pianoforte actions and has for its
object to cause the hopper or sticker to be more readily released when the hammer
nears the strings.
In accordance with this invention the rod which forms the hopper or sticker
is slotted so that a bar may pass through the same. This bar is hinged on the
hopper or sticker and its front end is of such length that when the hammer nears
the strings and the moment has arrived for the hopper or sticker to be released,
the said front end strikes a rail fixed in suitable position and causes the bar to
swing round its fulcrum in the hopper. The rear end of the said bar carries
a wire or rod extending upwards at the rear of the hopper nearly to the point
at which the end of the hopper touches the notch in the foot of the hammer. At
the point at which this wire or rod strikes the hopper, as will presently appear,
the hopper carries a disc of felt, leather, or the like to prevent the impact
becoming audible.
Now the operation of this device is as follows: When the key is depressed in
the usual way, the hopper rises and carries with it the bar hereinabove mentioned
and fulcrumed in the slot of the hopper. When the hopper has carried the
hammer to the proper distance from the wires, the front end of the bar strikes
the rail placed in its path for that purpose, the rod or wire on the rear end
being thereby forced against the corresponding face of the hopper causing the
hopper to come away from the hammer.
On the rail against which the front end of the bar strikes, buttons may be.
placed, or other suitable means may be adopted in order to regulate the operation
of the parts hereinabove referred to.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1899.
BERNHARD DUKES,
Agent for the Applicants..
226, High Holborn, London, W.C.

page_text: in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to improvements in pianoforte actions and has for its
object to cause the hopper or sticker to be more readily released when the hammer
nears the strings. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows
one hammer and key and the parts connected there with, the full lines showing
the parts in the position of rest, the dotted lines showing the position of the
parts immediately after the hammer has struck the wires, and when the key is
fully depressed.
The drawing shows so much only of the mechanism as is necessary to make
the present invention clear. In the same A, is the key; B, is the hopper or
sticker; C, is the hammer; D, is the wire against which the hammer strikes;
E, indicates a portion of the damper mechanism.
In accordance with this invention the rod which forms the hopper or sticker B,
is slotted so that a bar F, may pass through the same. This bar F, is hinged
in or on the hopper or sticker as shown, and its front end is of such length that
when the hammer C, nears the strings and the moment has arrived for the
hopper or sticker B, to be released, the said front end of bar F, strikes a rail G,
known as the "front set off" fixed' in suitable position and causes the bar to
swing round its fulcrum in the hopper. The rail G, is preferably fitted with
adjustable buttons H; as shown and readily understood from the drawing. The
rear end of the said bar F, carries a wire or rod I, extending upwards at the rear
of hopper B, to a convenient point near to where the end of the hopper B, touches
the notch in the butt of the hammer C. At the point at which this wire or
rod I; strikes the hopper B, as will presently appear, the hopper carries a disc J,
of felt, leather, or the like to prevent the impact becoming audible.
Now the operation of this device is as follows:--When the key A, is depressed
in the usual way, the hopper' B, rises and carries with it the bar I, hereinabove
mentioned; and fulcrumed in or upon the hopper B. When the hopper B, has
carried the hammer C, to the proper distance from the wires D the front end
of the bar F, strikes the rail G, or the stud H, placed in its path for that
purpose the rod or wire I on the rear end being thereby forced against the
corresponding face of the hopper B. or the disc J, causes the hopper B, to come
away form the butt of the hammer C.
On the rail against which the front end of the bar F, strikes, buttons H, may
be placed, or other suitable means may be adopted in order to regulate the opera-
tion of the parts herein 'above referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
claim:
_
In a pianoforte action the bar F, carrying a rod or wire I, and fulcrumed
in or on the hopper or sticker B, arranged and operating as set forth and as illus-
trated in the drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1800.
BERNHARD DUKES,
Agent for the Applicants,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C.