IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NOTE PEDALS, FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NOTE PEDALS, FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production of short or shortened note pedals,
wherein, by the novel mechanical construction and action embodied, and herein-
after described, the length of pedal heretofore necessary, is much reduced, and
it may be thus described:-
I first prepare the main frame upon or over which the pedals are to work; and,
(the length of this being according to the usual scale and compass.) the width of
this frame, from front to back, need not be more than sixteen inches, or thereabout,
and may consist, mainly, of two broad horizontal pieces, for the "touch rails" ;-
one placed at or near the front, for the "naturals," and the other near to the back,
for the "sharps"; and into or upon these, I fit,-" crossways,"-long guide pieces
or studs, for the pedals to work upon.
I next fit and fix firmly into the side pieces of this frame, and at, ("flush with ")
the back, a pair of "uprights," say about two and a half inches broad, and ten or
eleven inches high; and near the top of these I fit a strong cross rail, or bar, also
flush" with the back edges or faces,
66
I now construct the pedals suitable for the before-described frame, and these
consist of two pieces each, jointed firmly to each other, at or about a "right angle,"
so as to resemble the letter L, or so that each pedal will have,-when in position,―
a vertical piece or "upright," about nine or ten inches high, at its back end; the
horizontal part or "limb" constituting the pedal, and being of different lengths and
levels, for "naturals" and "sharps."
Having placed the pedals into position, upon the before-described frame, and
each pedal upon its own guide pin or stud, I "pack" them to the requisite beight
for the "touch," and I take pieces of webbing, leather, oil cloth, or other suitable
material or equivalent, and I fix these, horizontally, from the back top edge or
angle of the strong cross rail, to the front top angle of each of the pedal " uprights,"
and I take similar pieces or equivalents, and fix these from the back bottom corner
Din 631

page_text: or angle of the "uprights" or L pedals, to the back face of the back "touch rail"
of the main frame, or other convenient stationary part; the horizontal pull of these
thus being reversed, the top ones forward, and the bottom ones backward, and
causing the pedals to have a vertical and uniform movement and touch.
or
For the springs to support the pedals I prefer to use "helical" or coiled "check
springs," and I attach these to the under side or edge of the before-named cross
rail and the lower back portion of the pedal "uprights," which are "notched
recessed for this purpose; though in some cases I substitute thin elastic bands of
metal, for one or both of the sets or ranks of webbing or other soft material, and
thus obtain the spring or lifting action in a very simple and permanent manner.
I prefer also to use a pulling or "check strap" action, in lieu of an inverted
" touch "
or "thump" rail, for determining the "rise" of the pedals; and I employ
this, by preference, underneath the pedals, and about midway from front to back.
In some cases apply the foregoing construction in its entirety, to the "natural
notes only; pivotting or hinging the "sharps" at the front end, after the usual
manner.
"
D
11
2
1004

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NOTE PEDALS FOR ORGANS AND OTHER MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS," and in what manner the same to.be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this Invention is the production of short, or shortened note pedals,
wherein, by the novel mechanical construction and action embodied and herein-
after described, the length of pedal heretofore necessary is much reduced, and it
may be thus described:-
I first prepare the main frame, upon or over which the pedals are to work, and
(the length of this being according to the usual scale and compass, for, say, thirty
notes,) the width of this frame, from front to back, need not be more than sixteen
or seventeen inches, or thereabout, and may cousist, mainly, of two broad horizontal
longitudinal pieces, for the "touch rails"; one placed at or near the front for the
"naturals," and the other near the back, for the "sharps"; and into or upon one
or both of these, I fit, crossways, long guide pieces, studs, or blocks, for the pedals
to work upon or between.
I next fit and fix firmly into the end pieces of this frame, and "flush" with the
back, a pair of uprights, about two and a half inches broad, and ten inches high;
and near the top of these, I fix a strong longitudinal rail or bar, with one of its
faces also about "flush" with the back of the frame.
I now construct the pedals suitable for the before-described frame, and these
consist of two pieces each, jointed firmly to each other, at or about a "right angle,"
so as to resemble the letter L, or so that each pedal will have,-when in position,―
a vertical piece or "upright," about seven or eight inches high, at its back end; the
horizontal part constituting the actual pedal, and being of different lengths and
levels, for naturals" and "sharps."
Having now placed the pedals into position, upon the before-described frame,
and each pedal upon or between its own guide stud or block; I "pack" them to
the requisite height for the "depth" of "touch," and I take pieces of webbing,
leather, oil cloth, or other suitable material or equivalent, and I fix these,-horizon-
tally, from the back, top, edge or angle of the before-named strong rail or bar,
to the front top angle of each of the pedal "uprights," and I take similar pieces or
equivalents, and I fix these from the back, bottom corner or angle of the uprights
or pedals, to the back "touch rail" of the main frame, or other convenient
stationary part, the horizontal pull of these being thus reversed,-the top ones
forward, and the bottom ones backward, causes the pedals to have a vertical and
uniform movement and touch, wherever the pressure upon them may be applied.
For the springs to support the pedals, I prefer to use "helical" or spiral "check
springs," and I attach these to the under side or edge of the before-named rail or
bar, and the lower, back portion or angle of the pedals, which are notched or
recessed for that purpose; although in some cases, I substitute thin, elastic, bands of

page_text: steel or other metal for one or both of the sets or ranks of webbing or other soft
pliable material and thus obtain the spring or lifting action, with the horizontal
pull, in a simple and permanent manner.
I prefer also to use a pulling or "check strap" action, in lieu of an inverted
touch or "thump" rail, for "stopping," or determining the "rise" of the pedals ;
and I employ this, by preference, underneath the pedals, as may be most
convenient.
In some cases I apply the foregoing construction, in its entirety, to the "natural"
notes only; pivotting or hinging the sharps" at the front end, after the usual
manner..
"
In the accompanying illustrations, Figure 1, is a reduced side elevation of the
first-named arrangement of my Invention; Figure 2, a front elevation of a portion,
and Figure 3 a plan of the same; Figure 4 being a reduced elevation, wherein the
lower horizontal sustaining pull is obtained by a thin strip of steel, which also
constitutes the lifting spring, as in the second or modified arrangement herein before
described; and in all these, a is the frame, b one of the two "uprights," fixed into
the same, c the strong cross rail or bar for sustaining the upper horizontal pull,
d the horizontal portion of the pedal, e the vertical portion, and ƒ and g the top
and bottom horizontal pulling or supporting straps or pieces, for causing the pedals
to move" bodily," in a vertical line, h being the "check strap" for stopping or
determining the upward rise or lift of the pedal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The construction of note pedals wherein, by the adoption of the letter L or
right angle form or contour, and the reversed horizontal pull or support, at the top
and bottom of the vertical portion,-the pedal is caused to move, "bodily," in a
vertical or perpendicular line; thus giving uniformity of travel and "touch," and
obviating the necessity for the heretofore required length of pedal; and the use of
the pulling or "check strap" action, in lieu of the inverted "touch" or "thump
rail, for determining the rise or lift of the pedal; virtually as or after the manner
herein before described and set forth.
Dated this seventeenth day of Annil 100K
"