IM- PROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTER
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTER." A communication from abroad by Ernst
Kaps, of Dresden, Saxony.
Sealed the 31st October 1879, and dated the 5th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton Mewburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1879.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 109, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. ." IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." [A com-
munication from abroad by Ernst Kaps, of Dresden, Saxony.]
This Invention refers to the application of sound passages above the strings of
the notes, and more particularly of the middle and treble notes of pianofortes, the
object being to increase the force and richness of the sound or tone.
The sound passages extend from the sounding board bridge to a certain extent
along the strings, toward the point where the hammers strike the strings.
These sound passages taken collectively, form what may be called a sound
hood.
The passages are formed by an upper board and a bottom board, and by vertical
diapbrugms between these boards, the bottom board at the same time constitutes
the covering board of a sound box applied between the sounding board and the
strings, and this bottom board is formed with sound holes.
Through each passage formed by two of the vertical diaphragms, and by a portion
of the upper and bottom boards, one set of strings is passed. The passages com-
mence close behind the pins of the sounding board bridge, and owing to a gradual
rise of the upper board, expand or widen up to the sound holes hereinbefore
described. The passages need not be tuned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1879
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES." (A com-
munication from abroad by Ernst Kaps, of Dresden, Saxony, Pianoforte Maker to
the Royal Court of Saxony.)
This Invention refers to the application of sound passages above the strings of
the notes, and more particularly of the middle and treble notes of pianofortes, the
object being to increase the force and richness of the sound or tone.
The improvements are represented in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1
is a section on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2, and Figure 3 a section on the line 2, 2, of
Figure 1.
The sound passages extend from the sounding board bridge a to a certain
distance along the strings towards the point where the hammers strike the strings.
Those sound passages taken collectively form what I will call a sound hood.
They are formed by an upper board b and a bottom board e, and by vertical
diaphragms c, c, between these boards; the bottom board e at the same time
constitutes the covering board of a sound box applied between the sounding board i
and the strings m, m, and this bottom board e is formed with sound holes n, n.
Through each passage formed by two of the vertical diaphragms c, c, and by a
portion of the upper and bottom boards b and e, one set of strings is passed. The
passages commenco close behind the pins of the sounding board bridge a, and
owing to a gradual rise of the upper board b, expand or widen up to the sound
holes n, n. The passages need not be tuned.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Improvements in
Pianofortes,"-
First. The construction of a sound hood between the sounding board bridge and
the point where the hammers strike the strings, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Second. The formation of sound passages by the sound hood cover, by the
vertical diaphragmns, and by the cover of the sound box, through each of which
passages one set of strings is passed, substantially as hercinbefore described and
shewn in the annexed Drawings.
Third. The construction of a sound box between the sounding board and the
strings, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
Fourth. The forming of sound holes in the cover of the sound box at the end of
the sound passages, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
annexed Drawings.
Fifth. Constructing pianofortes, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy nine