Improvements in or connected with Tuning Dampers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Tuning Dampers.
I, JOHN HENRY Papps, of 105 St. James' Road, Southsea, in the County of
Hants, Pianoforte Tuner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention refers to improvements in or connected with dampers for use when
tuning trichord pianos and like instruments, whereby the damper is composed of a
less number of parts than heretofore, being thus of simpler construction, more
easily made, stronger, and at the same time easily applied and effective in use.
Heretofore dampers have been made with one rigid member, the other member
being composed of two separately fulcrumed co-acting levers, thus having three
main parts; now according to my present invention I form a damper composed of
two pieces, one part being centrally slotted and the other part passing through the
said slot, the two being pivoted together by a through pin. The acting ends of the
two members form blades or tongues for insertion between the wires of the instrument
to be tuned, while the rear ends form handles. The handles and consequently the
blades are kept normally apart by a spiral or other suitable spring, and the distance
apart is regulated by a pin in one of the members passing though a slot in the other
member; the outer surfaces of the blade tips are slightly hollowed, so that on the
handles being pressed together, and the thereby closed blades inserted between the
wires and upon the said handles being released, the wires will be received in
the aforesaid hollows of the opened blades.
Dated this 24th day of August 1893
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Tuning Dampers.
I, JOHN HENRY PAPPS of 105 St. James Road, Southsea, in the County of
Hants, Pianoforte Tuner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention refers to improvements in or connected with dampers for use when
tuning trichord pianos and like instruments, whereby the damper is composed of a
less number of parts than heretofore, being thus of simpler construction, more easily
made, stronger, and at the same time readily applied and effective in use.
My invention will be readily understood by the following description having
reference to the accompanying drawing of which
Fig. 1 is a plan, showing the application of my invention,
Fig. 2 a similar view partially in section showing the instrument closed and about
to be put into operation, and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
Heretofore dampers have been made with one rigid member the other member
being composed of two separately fulcrummed co-acting levers, thus having three
main parts; now according to my present invention I form a damper (Figs. 1, 2
and 3) composed of two pieces A and B one part A being centrally slotted and the
other part B passing through the said slot, the two being pivotted together by a
FD... 017

page_text: through pin C. The acting ends A¹ B' of the two members form blades or tongues
for insertion between the wires D of the instrument to be tuned while the rear ends
form handles A2 B. The handles A2 B2 and consequently the blades A¹ B' are
kept normally apart by a spiral or other suitable spring E, and the distance apart
is regulated by a pin F in the member A passing through a slot F¹ in the other
member B, the outer surfaces of the blade tips A' B' are slightly hollowed, so that
on the handles A2 B2 being pressed together the thereby closed blades A' B' may
conveniently be inserted between the wires D D and upon the said handles A² B²
being released the wires will be received in the aforesaid hollows of the opened
blades A¹ B' as shown at Figure 1. It is advisable not to place the instrument in
a slanting position when wedging the strings, but to place the said instrument in
position as squarely as possible leaving only one hammer head between the wedge
and the note being tuned. Instruments constructed according to my invention will
fit any upright piano, are not liable to catch in the damper wires, and do not jump
out; the construction as described permits the appliance being used with greater
quickness than heretofore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A tuning damper composed of two parts, one being centrally slotted and the
other part passing through said slot, a through pin for pivotting the two parts
together, means for controlling the expansion of the acting ends, and a spring for
holding the instrument normally expended substantially as set forth.
2. The tuning damper composed of two articulated members and parts in
combination all constructed arranged and acting substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1894.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.