Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching the Wires of Pianofortes and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching the Wires of Pianofortes
and the like.
1, ARTHUR JOHN CRESSWELL of 12 Hucknall Road, Carrington in the Town of
Nottingham, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for applying tension to the wires of piano-
fortes and is used in place of what are known as "tuning pegs;" it has for its
object the construction and arrangement of apparatus for facilitating the process of
tuning and retaining the wires at their proper tension in a more effectual manner
than heretofore.
The invention consists of a lever pivotted near its centre on the downward
projection of a T shaped metal bracket a portion of the upper end of which nearest
the framing is reduced to fit into the ordinary peg hole of the piano framing while
the opposite end is provided with a fine threaded vertical screw which acts on the
outer end of the lever. The wire is attached to the lever at the end near the framing
in a special manner and by depressing the outer end of the lever by means of the
fine threaded screw the requisite amount of tension may be obtained.
The framing end of the lever is rounded so as not to hurt the wire which may be
passed through a hole in the lever to the end bent over.
Each wire is provided with a separate apparatus and they may be arranged
similarly to ordinary tuning pegs and either driven in the framing or secured in any
other convenient manner; the apparatus is specially adapted to old pianos where the
peg holes are worn as the old holes can be used, and when once fixed there is no wear
on the holes in the framing.
I do not however bind myself to the precise form of lever and bracket herein
described.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching the Wires of Pianofortes
and the like.
I, ARTHUR JOHN CRESSWELL of 12 Hucknall Road, Carrington in the Town of
Nottingham, Mechanic, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for straining the wires of pianofortes and the like,
and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which Fig. 1 is a side and figure 2 a front elevation of the apparatus; Figs. 3, 4 and 5
are respectively side and front elevation and plan of a modification thereof, and
figures 6 and 7 are elevation and plan of the end of a lever showing method of fastening
the wires thereto.
In this invention I employ a lever A pivotted near its centre on the downward
extension B of the T shaped metal bracket B' a portion of the upper end of which
may, particularly in the case of existing pianos, be reduced to fit into the ordinary
peg holes in the wrest plate C; the opposite end of the bracket B' is provided with
a screw D which acts on the outer end A' of the lever A the wire E is attached
to the lever A nearest the wrest plate in a manner hereinafter described, and by
depressing the outer end A¹ of the lever A by means of the screw D'the requisite
amount of tension may be obtained.
In a modification shown in figures 3, 4 and 5 levers F are placed over a beam
or bar G which I use in place of a wrest plank it is constructed preferably of
metal with an overhanging portion G¹. The inner ends of the levers F are placed
under the overhanging portion G₁ and to their outer ends are attached the
wires E at or near the outer end and passing through the boss F1 of each
lever is a screw H which when screwed down on to the beam G raises the outer
end of the lever F.
The levers F may be arranged alternately as shown in plan figure 5, bosses I
being formed at their inner ends to keep them at equal distances apart, and
also to prevent them from canting over; to keep them from slipping forward,
grooves or centres J are formed in the beam G to receive the lower ends of
the screws H.
or two
In a trichord piano the bosses F¹ and I on the levers F would have to be
reduced so as to admit of more levers being used, or if preferred one
additional wires could be inserted to each note by using the first modification in
combination with the second, holes being formed in the front of the beam G to
receive the reduced ends of the bracket B or they may be secured in any other
convenient manner.
The wires E may be secured to the levers F (see figures 6 and 7) by placing
the end E' of the wire in the groove or hole K formed on one side of the end of

page_text: the lever F, bending it under the lever to the opposite side and twining it up and
round the boss L, passing on the outside of the loose. end F over the top and
carrying it down to the lower peg; to give additional security the loose end E'
of the wire may be turned down again into the groove K thus forming a loop
over the wire E.
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
1. As a means of straining the wires of musical instruments the combination with
a lever such as A or F to one end of which the wire is fastened of a screw such as D
or H by which the power is applied substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In mechanism for straining the wires of musical instruments the bracket
such as B providing a fulcrum for the lever and a purchase for the screw
substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In mechanism for straining the wires of musical instruments the framing such
as G overhung at G¹ to provide a purchase for levers F and grooved or centred as
at J J to accomodate the screws H H substantially as described and illustrated in
figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In mechanism for straining the wires of musical instruments the lever such
as F having a boss 1 at one end to prevent it canting over a boss F¹ at or near the
centre of its length to accommodate the screw H and a boss L, at the other end to
which the wire is secured substantially as described and illustrated in figures 3, 5 and 6,
of the accompanying drawings.
5. In mechanism for straining the wires of musical instruments the method of
securing the wire to the levers A or F substantially as described and illustrated in
figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of December 1887..