Improved Piano Tuning Pin.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov.; 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improved Piano Tuning Pin.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by James Thorpe, of Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Inventor,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved tuning pin for pianos; and the invention
has for its object to provide a pin which will obviate the necessity of turning the
pin in the piano-frame when tuning the instrument.
By this invention the pin. constructed in sections. The section consists of a
stud which is adapted to be inserted in the frame of the instrument, and which is
provided at its lower end with longitudinal ribs or corrugations which hold it
against turning in the piano-frame. This pin is provided at its other end, which
projects from the piano-frame, with a tapered bearing. It is also centrally drilled
and tapped to receive a screw, by means of which a suitable cap is held upon the
tapered portion thereof. The cap has a barrel at its lower end, and a squared head
at its upper end, by means of which it can be turned. It is also provided with a
small hole to receive the end of the piano string. The screw aforementioned
passes through this cap and enters the end of the stud.
When tuning the piano, the screw is loosened, and the string tightened or
unwound by turning the cap, which can be caused to firmly grip the tapered
portion of the stud, and thus be prevented from turning by tightening the
screw.
Dated this 21st day of October 1890
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improved Piano Tuning Pin.
1, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by James Thorpe, of Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Inventor,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
Figure 1, a view in elevation of one form which a sectional tuning-pin embodying
my invention may assume, and showing also a section of the piano-frame and one
end of the piano-string;
Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view through the sectional tuning-pin.
My invention relates to an improvement in tuning-pins for pianos, the object
being to produce a durable and efficient tuning-pin adapted to be substituted with-
out any change in the piano-frame for the ordinary tuning-pin and to be manipulated
with an ordinary key.
With these ends in view my invention consists in a sectional tuning-pin having a
stul projecting from the piano-frame, a rotative cap set over the said stud, and
means for locking the cap to the stud in any position of rotation thereupon.

page_text: My invention further consists in certain details of construction and com-
binations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the
claims.
As herein shown my improved pin consists, in part, of a stud having its lower
end adapted to be driven into a piano-frame A. and provided with longitudinal ribs
or corrugations B, by which it is held against turning therein, and having its upper
end provided with tapering bearing C and with a longitudinal threaded bore D. A
stud so constructed may be driven into the holes formed in a piano-frame to receive
the ordinary tuning-pins and in place thereof. If desired, however, the studs
may be formed integral with the piano-frame in case the frame is made of
metal, or they may be otherwise adapted to be driven into it and held against
rotation.
A cap having at its lower end a barrel or sleeve E, upon which a piano-string F
is wound, and at its upper end a square and slightly-tapering head G to receive the
tuning-key, is provided with a longitudinal tapering opening H, adapting it to be
set over the tapering bearing C of the stud upon which it is rotated and to wind
the string F upon the barrel. A small hole I, formed in the lower edge of the head
of the cap, is provided to receive the end of the string, which thereby gets its initial
grip upon the pin. The cap is locked upon the stud in any desired position of
rotation thereupon by means of a screw J, which passes through it and enters the
threaded bore in the stud, the outer end of the screw having a slotted head which
bears upon the end of the cap.
It will be readily understood that by loosening the screw the cap may be turned
on the stud to wind the string upon its barrel or to unwind it therefrom and so
increase or decrease its tension as the tuning of the piano may demand.
As soon
as the string has been brought to the tension giving the desired tone, the screw is
turned down upon the upper end of the cap so as to firmly lock the cap to the
stud. Inasmuch as the stud cannot turn in the piano-frame nor the cap upon the
stud when the stud and cap are locked together, it is apparent that the piano cannot
get out of tune by any rotation of the stud. Any wear between the cap and the
stud is taken up in their tapering bearing-surfaces, so that long use of the pin and
frequent tuning of the piano will not affect the practical value of the pin, whereas
a pin screwed into the piano-frame wears every time it is turned and deteriorates in
effective value all the time without any means for compensation. It is to be noted,
also, that my improved pin is manipulated by the ordinary piano-key and requires
no special tools.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud projecting from the frame
and provided at its upper end with a longitudinal threaded bore, a cap adapted
to be set over the stud and provided with a longitudinal opening, and a screw
passed down through the cap into the bore of the stud for locking the cap
thereto.
2. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided with a tapering
bearing at its upper end a cap adapted to be set over the stud and to be rotated
thereupon and provided at its lower end with a barrel or sleeve and at its upper end
with a square head, and means for locking the stud and cap together, substantially
as described.
3. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided at its lower end with
longitudinal ribs or corrugations which hold it against turning in the piano-frame
and having a tapering bearing at its upper end, a cap adapted to be set over the
upper end of the stud and to be rotated thereupon, and means for locking the cap
and stud together, substantially as described.
4 A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud projecting from the piano-
1

page_text: frame and provided at its upper end with a tapered bearing and with a longi-
tudinal threaded bore, a cap having a barrel at its lower end, a squared head at
its upper end, a small hole to receive the end of the piano-string, and a longitudinal-
tapering opening adapting it to be set over the tapered bearing of the stud, and a
screw for locking the cap to the stud, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of Anonst 1901
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.