Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILHELM FISCHER of Leipzig in the Kingdom of Saxony, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved device for holding and tensioning the strings
or wires of musical instruments. The device consists essentially of an angular piece
or block one for each string and adapted to pivot in any suitable manner upon its
vertex in the framing of the instrument. The rear shank of the said angle piece is
adapted to be screwed down onto the framing so as to move radially the other shank
which is provided with a pin to which the string or wire is secured. The said pin
may either be made in one piece with the angle piece or it may consist of a screw
engaged in the same by means of which a preliminary tension may be given to the
string or wire, it being finally adjusted or tuned by means of the screw in the rear
shank of the angle lever.

page_text: of Musical Instruments.
I WILHELM FISCHER of Leipzig in the Kingdon of Saxony, Manufacturer 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 musical instruments having strings or wires held in tension
and is more especially applicable to pianofortes. It consists in a novel device for
holding the wires in tension, one for each wire so that the wires may be more
readily tuned and more easily retained at their proper tension.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawing illustrating the device.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view thereof, Fig. 2 is a front elevation and Fig. 3 a side
elevation.
Each device consists essentially of an angular lever or block pivoted in a suitable
manner on its vertex in the frame of the instrument and carrying the end of the
string secured to one end, and adapted to be screwed down at the other end more
or less to the frame so as to move the string carrying end radially about the pivotal
axis of the block and so tension the string.
In the drawing A is the block aforesaid having a semicylindrical portion a at its
vertex lying in a suitable recess in the string frame, the string is attached to the fore
end of the block A in any suitable manner, in this case by means of a cylindrical
pin e threaded to engage in a hole tapped in this end of the block and perforated
to receive the end of the string wound a few times about it. In the rear arm of
the block A is a slot d through which passes the shank of the screw bolt B screw
threaded to engage in a hole, tapped in the string frame. The head of the bolt B
bears upon the upper face of the arm above the slot and the said face may be and
preferably is so curved that the head of the bolt bears squarely upon it, whatever
the position of the block A so that lateral pressure on the bolt is as far as possible
avoided.
The string fixed to the pin e may be tuned almost to the pitch required by turning
the pin the final tension being given by screwing down as far as necessary the
bolt B.
The pin e instead of being screw threaded may be smooth and the hole in the block
receiving it also smooth. The pin e may then be perforated and a hole may be
provided laterally in the block through which a cross pin may be passed into the
pin e so that the latter may be fixed thereby in the position given to it.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In a stringed musical instrument
1. The combination with a string of an angular block pivoted at its vortex and
connected at one end with the string and means for fixing said block for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination with a string and string frame of an angular block having a
cylindrical pivotal face, a recess in said string frame to receive said face, a pin on one
end of the block to receive the string, a slot in the other end of the block and a screw
bolt passing through said slot and engaging in said string frame for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination with a string of a vibrating bell crank lever A connected at one
end to said string, and screw for vibrating said lever in a direction contrary to the
tension of the string and holding said lever in the position given to it for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 28th day of June 1888.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.