IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Mallinson of Selby in the county of York,
Pianoforte Maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS
OF PIANOFORTES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Mallinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1882.
JOSEPH MALLINSON of Selby in the county of York Pianoforte maker
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANOFORTES.
The object of this invention is to provide an action for Pianofortes of a more
simple construction and one less liable to get out of order than those heretofore
employed and at a great reduction in the cost of manufacture.
For this purpose at the end of each key I secure a metal wire which, at a given
distance, made with a circle or coil, or the wire is made with two, three, four, or
tmore coils; the wire after having formed the coil or coils, is brought up and at a
given distance formed with a circle or coil or with coils as hereinbefore described
and the wire, after having formed the coil or coils is bent into a curve to fit over
the hammer butt; the coils give a springing action when motion is transferred from
the key to the hammer thus preventing blocking.
The hammer butt is fixed at a given angle to the bracket of the hammer stick
or rod and the under part of the hammer butt rests on the top of the coil or coils
formed on the top of the metal wire, so that when the key is struck, the coil or
coils lift up the hammer butt and bring the end of the curved top wire in contact
with the top of the hammer butt, which holds the hammer in check, preventing
any shake or false notes and also preventing the action from getting out of order
and giving a perfect action to the hammer.
For pianofortes having sticker actions I employ similarly constructed wires
having a coil or coils which are secured in the key ends; the top coil or coils bears
or bear against the underside of each lever of the action and the top curved wire
bears against a lever or sticker.

page_text: In some cases I employ wires having coils which I do not fit into the keys, the
bottom coil or coils rests or rest on the top of a regulating screw which is fitted
in the end of the key and the wire is secured in a rail which is fitted to the action.
When a key is struck it causes the wire having the coils to lift, which lifts up
the hammer butt, causing the hammer to fall and strike the wire or wires of the
pianoforte at the same time the curved top end of the wire acts on the top of the
hammer butt giving a check which holds the hammer in position and which
prevents a false stroke.
The wires having a coil or coils can be fitted to horizontal actions as well as to
upright ones.
By these means I construct actions of pianofortes, that are simplo in
construction, not liable to get out of order and very cheap and with a perfect
repeating action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Mallinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th December 1882.
JOSEPH MALLINSON of Selby in the county of York, Pianoforte Maker
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANOFORTES
"
The object of this invention is to provide an action for pianofortes of a more
simple construction and one less liable to get out of order than those heretofore
employed and at a great reduction in the cost of manufacture.
For this purpose at the end of each key I secure a metal wire which at a given
distance is inade with a circle or coil or the wire is made with two, three, four or
more coils; the wire after having formed the coil or coils is brought up and at a
given distance formed with a circle or coil or with coils as hereinbefore described,
and the wire after having formed the coil or coils is bent into a curve to fit over
the hammer butt; the coils give a springing action when motion is transferred from
the key to the hammer thus preventing blocking.
The hammer butt is fixed at a given angle to the bracket of the hammer stick
or rod and the under part of the hammer butt rests on the top of the coil or coils
formed on the top of the metal wire, so that when the key is struck the coil or coils
lift up the hammer butt and bring the end of the curved top wire in contact with
the top of the hammer butt which holds the hammer in check, preventing any
shake or false notes and also preventing the action from getting out of order and
giving a perfect action to the hammer.
For pianofortes having sticker actions I employ similarly constructed wires
having a coil or coils which are secured in the key ends; the top coil or coils bears
or bear against the underside of each lever or sticker of the action.
In some cases I employ wires having coils which I do not fit into the keys, the
bottom coil or coils rests or rest on the top of a regulating screw, which is fitted in
the end of the key and the wire is secured in a rail which is fitted to the action.
When a key is struck it causes the wire having the coils to lift which lifts up
the hammer butt causing the hammer to fall and strike the wire or wires of the
pianoforte; at the same time the curved top end of the wire acts on the top of the
hammer butt giving a check which holds the bammer in position and prevents a
false stroke.
The wires having a coil or coils can be fitted to horizontal actions as well as to
upright ones.
By these means I construct actions of pianofortes that are simple in construction,
not liable to get out of order and very cheap and with a perfect repeating action.
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1
represents a side elevation of my improvements fitted to a pianoforte. Figure 2
front view of the same. Figure 3, represents a side elevation of my improvements
having a regulating screw fitted in the end of the key. Figure 4, represents a side
view of a metal wire having a single coil and figure 5 is a front view of the same.
Similar letters of reference represent similar parts.
To each key A, of a pianoforte I secure a metal wire B, made with a coil or
coils C, and D, (figures 4 and 2) the coils having been formed the wire is made
with a curved end E, which fits over the hammer butt F; the coils allow a spring
action when notion is transferred from the key A to the hammer G. The hammer
butt F is connected at a given angle to the bracket H, in which is secured the
hammer stick 1, of the hammer G, and the bottom part J, of the hammer butt F,
rests on the top of the coil or coils D, so that when a key A is struck the coil or
coils is or are lifted up as shewn by the dotted lines in figure 1, and the
hammer butt F is forced up, at the same time bringing the top part K of the curved

page_text: end E in contact with the top L of the hammer butt F which holds the hammer C
in check and prevents any shake or false note besides giving a perfect action to the
hammer G and also preventing the action getting out of order.
When a key A is struck it causes the wire B to lift, forcing up the hammer G
causing it to fall and strike the wire or wires M of the pianoforte and at the same
time the part K of the curved end E comes in contact with the top of the hammer
butt, checking the hammer and thus preventing a false stroke.
I may employ my wires B secured in a rail N fitted in the inside of the piano-
forte; the bottom part of cach wire is made with one or two single coils or with
double or more coils and also with a top single coil or with soveral coils also with
a curved end E, which acts in a similar manner to that herein before described on
the top of the hammer butt F, but the hammer butt in this case is made with a
dropping piece O and the hammer stick I is secured in the top of the hammer
butt F. The key A is fitted with a regulating screw P over which is placed a
piece of cloth or leather Q or other suitable material; on the piece of cloth or
leather rests the coil or coils C the screw can be set and regulated so as to give the
required lift to the wire B; when a key A is struck the screw P and cloth or
leather lift up the wire and actuate the hammer butt in a manner similar to that
hereinbefore described.
On the top of the rail N for each key and pianoforte wire or wires M is secured
a wire R having coils and to which is fitted a damper S; to the top coil is secured
a band T joined on a hook U secured in the end O of the hammer butt F, the band
removes the damper S from the wire or wires M when a key is struck.
For pianofortes having sticker actions I employ similarly constructed wires having
coils and which are secured in the key A of the pianoforte and the top coil or coils
bears or bear against the underside of each lever or sticker of the action.
The wires having coils may be fitted to horizontal actions as well as to upright
ones.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed and carried out in
practice I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shewn and described, as they may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of the invention but what I claim is :-
Firstly. The construction and employment of pianoforte actions made with metal
wires having coils and curved ends to fit over and act on the hammer butts,
substantially in the manner herein before described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The combination as herein described of the metal wires with the
haminer butts so operating as to hold the hammers in check and thus prevent
shakes or false notes, substantially as herein described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Mallinson have hereto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two
Witness.
WALTER JAS. TURNER C.E.
Patent Agent
Bradford
JOSEPH MALLINSON (L.S.)