AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR CONNECTED to be as follows:- FOR WITH PIANOS THE TRANSPOSITION OF NOTES THEREIN دو
Year: 1884

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 8th day of April 1890, Amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act; 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM LOUIS HAYS of 18 Clarence Street, Greenwich, Kent Pianoforte
Tuner do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN OR CONNECTED
to be as follows:-
FOR
WITH PIANOS
THE TRANSPOSITION OF NOTES THEREIN
دو
The object of this invention is a certain improvement in the construction of
pianos, notably by making the "Back" separate from, yet movable in the case
by suitable appliances in order that the back with the strings and wires may be
shifted to the right or to the left within the case to admit of the hammers being
brought opposite strings or wires of different notes as desired.
of a piano distinct and
For the purpose of my invention I make the "back.
separate from the case or frame and form grooves and fillets on the top and bottom
or on the top edge only for the reception of a bar forming part of a frame to which
the case is attached. The lower part of the frame is or may be provided with
rollers on which the movable shiftable "back" may be slid by levers, screw or
other means from the front from the back or from the side for transposing the
notes as before mentioned.
The "back" is removable from the case at will.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
An Improved Transposing Pianoforte.
1 WILLIAM LOUIS HAYS of 18 Clarence Street, Greenwich, Kent Pianoforte
Tuner, do hereby declare (the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIANOS FOR THE TRANSPOSITION OF NOTES THEREIN."
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is a certain The improvement in of the construction of
pianos fortes notably, by in making the back separate from, yet and movable in
the case by suitable appliances in order that the back with the strings and wires may
be shifted to the right or to the left within the case to admit of the hammers being
brought opposite strings or wires of different notes as desired.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed accompanying drawings in
which Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a front or case built up as one article and
Figure 2 a perspective view of the back built up separately as another article
but capable of being set placed within the front or case. and there secured firmly as
to constitute in effect an ordinary complete piano.
The case or front can he composed of separate pieces for packing or transport
purposes in a small compass such parts ean be being put together and fastened by
screws or bolts and thus made into a rigid structure for the reception of the back.
Thus, for removals the two parts or structures when detached are easy to handle and to
shift about they are also less liable to damage particularly when the instrument has
to be taken up or down steps and through passages or windows or up or down stairs
of dwellings, the two parts being comparatively light can the more readily be carried
round corners and be caused to follow the sinuosities of the stairs and landings.
Any means or method can be adopted to secure the "back" within the "front"
or "ense" but I prefer to use screws, to fix bars in position which bure can be
recessed into the "back" and attached to the sides or ends of the case or front
frame either at the back portion or at the top as found convenient.
In drawing Figure 2 I have shown a wooden back or frame with the wires or
strings already strung upon the pins so that it can be put into the case Figure 1
the actions being then fitted in, in the ordinary manner to make the instrument
complete or instead of the back frame being of wood it may be of iron or other metal
and on the frame are fitted the usual sounding board and other appliances and this frame
and its fittings constitute the back of the pianoforte.
This system of making the caso and the frame back in two distinct articles is
conductive to another speciality of my invention, viz, that of necessary for the trans-
position of notes at the will of the player or teacher and for this purpose I make the
rear of the case of greater width (preferably) than the cheek in which the keys
are arranged thus forming an ordinary extended end Piano of ordinary width the
extra width being, say, the range of half an octave of the musical scale at each
end. Thus, if the key board be for 7 or full compass octaves I make the back for one
octave more and string it to 8 compass octaves. In By this condition arrangement
the back can when set placed in the case be shifted end ways along to the right or to
the left by mechanical appliances from the front or from the end or ends or from the
rear of the instrument and to enable this shifting of the back to be accomplished I fit
the lower inner part of the case with a pair of rollers A, B, Figures 3 and 4 on which
the back can rest. These rollers are set in an iron strap C attached to or in a piece
with uprights D, D, at the ends to give rigidity to the case at those parts. The
upper ends of the uprights are shaped to receive a transverse bar Figure 5 as a stay
or tie to the case, the said bar being lodged in a groove E of in the back to serve as

page_text: a support and as a guide to the back at the upper part or a separate skeleton frame
as at with feet for the rollers A & B. Figure 7 may be arranged to receive the back
in which case the skeleton frame and the back can be removed from the front after
loosening the binding screws.
The appliance which I prefer to use for shifting the back along is an horizontal
lever F as at Figures 4 and 6 this being pivotted at G on the underside of the key-
bottom aud capable of being moved by the handle H by the player into any of the
notches of a segmental plate J fixed under the front keybottom. The opposite end K
of the lever is forked and engages in or over a stud or staple L on the back, see
Figure 8, and a pin M with an index finger projectings through the case as at
Figure 6 indicating the shift of the back to a higher or to a lower pitch as desired by
the performer, and the shift being back is then locked by a foot lever P of pedal shape
whose inner end is arranged to enter the required tooth of a serrated plate by a
pedal P a tooth whereon engages in a rack N fitted on the back. P' is a rod connected
with the pedal P for removing the dampers from the strings and the lever from the
serrated plate simultaneously while while the pedal P is disengaged from the rack N as
the shift takes place.
When therefore the pedal P is depressed and thus disengaged from the rack N the
back can be shifted along to the right or to the left as far as may be desired or allowed
by moving the handle H of the horizontal lever F to the left or to the right and then the
pedal P can be released and allowed to engage in the rack N and the back is locked in
this position and the required transposition of the notes of the pianoforte has been
accomplished.
The above described are what I deem the simplest for the purpose-mentioned,
but I do not limit myself to their use as other mechanical-means-may be adopted
such as a long serow behind-the instrument worked by a handle or key would-be
equally applicable although not so handy.
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
First Making the "back" of a piano as a distinct structure from the "ease"
and in such a manner that it can be put into the ouse of a piano and
secured therein or removed at will as and for the purpose-or-purposes
described.
Secondly Making the "ease" of a piano as a distinct structure from the "back"
and in such a manner that it can receive the "back" with means of
scouring the back therein as described.
Thirdly Making a detachable back in such a manner that it can when fitted
in a case be moved to the right or to the left, endways along, for the
transposition of notes by such movement substantially by the means above
described and represented in the annexed drawings.
1. In a pianoforte the combination of the case having an horizontal lever F provided
with a forked inner end K and an outer handle H with the adjustable back having a stud
or staple L for making a detachable connection with the said lever F substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The transposing pianoforte substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawing.

page_text: I WILLIAM LOUIS HAYS of 18 Clarence Street, Greenwich, Kent Pianoforte
Tuner do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIANOS
to be as follows:-
FOR THE TRANSPOSITION OF NOTES THEREIN
"
The object of this invention is a certain improvement in the construction of
pianos, notably by making the "Back" separate from, yet movable in the case
by suitable appliances in order that the back with the strings and wires may be
shifted to the right or to the left within the case to admit of the hammers being
brought opposite strings or wires of different notes as desired.
For the purpose of my invention I make the "back" of a piano distinct and
separate from the case or frame and form grooves and fillets on the top and bottom
or on the top edge only for the reception of a bar forming part of a frame to which
the case is attached. The lower part of the frame is or may be provided with
rollers on which the movable shiftable "back" may be slid by levers, screw or
other means from the front from the back or from the side for transposing the
notes as before mentioned.
The "back" is removable from the case at will.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
An Improved Transposing Pianoforte.
"
1 WILLIAM LOUIS HAYS of 18 Clarence Street, Greenwich, Kent Pianoforte
Tuner, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIANOS FOR THE TRANSPOSITION OF NOTES THEREIN
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is a certain The improvement in of the construction of
pianos fortes notably, by in making the back separate from, yet and movable in
the case by suitable-appliances in order that the back with the strings and wires may
be shifted to the right or to the left within the case to admit of the hammers being
brought opposite strings or wires of different notes as desired.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed accompanying drawings in
which Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a front or case built up as one article and
Figure 2 a perspective view of the back built up separately as another article
but capable of being set placed within the front or case. and there secured firmly as
to constitute in effect an ordinary complete piano.
The case or front can be composed of separate pieces for packing or transport
purposes in a small compass such parts can be being put together and fastened by
screws or bolts and thus made into a rigid structure for the reception of the back.
Thus, for removals the two parts or structures when detached are easy to handle and to
shift about they are also less liable to damage particularly when the instrument has
to be. taken up or down steps and through passages or windows or up or down stairs
of dwellings, the two parts being comparatively light can the more readily be carried
round corners and be caused to follow the sinuosities of the stairs and landings.
Any means or method can be adopted-to-secure-the-back- within the front"
or "ease" but I prefer to use screws, to fix-bars in position which bars can be
recessed-into-the "back" and attached to the sides or ends of the case or front
frame either at the back portion or at the top-as-found convenient.
In drawing Figure 2 I have shown a wooden back or frame with the wires or
strings already strung upon the pins so that it can be put into the case Figure 1
the actions being then fitted in, in the ordinary manner to make the instrument
complete or instead of the back frame being of wood it may be of iron or other metal
and on the frame are fitted the usual sounding board and other appliances and this frame
and its fittings constitute the back of the pianoforte..
This system of making the case and the frame back in two distinct articles is
conductive to another speciality of my invention, viz, that of necessary for the trans-
position of notes at the will of the player or teacher and for this purpose I make the
rear of the case of greater width (preferably) than the cheek in which the keys
are arranged thus forming an ordinary extended end Piano of ordinary width the
extra width being, say, the range of half an octave of the musical scale at each
end. Thus, if the key board be for 72 or full-compass octaves I make the back for one
octave more and string it to 8 compass octaves. In By this condition arrangement
the back can when set placed in the case be shifted endways along to the right or to
the left by mechanical appliances from the front or from the end or ends or from the
rear of the instrument and to enable this shifting of the back to be accomplished I fit
the lower inner part of the case with a pair of rollers A, B, Figures 3 and 4 on which
the back can rest. These rollers are set in an iron strap C attached to or in a piece
with uprights D, D, at the ends to give rigidity to the case at those parts. The
upper ends of the uprights are shaped to receive a transverse bar Figure 5 as a stay
or tie to the case, the said bar being lodged in a groove E of in the back to serve as

page_text: a support and as a guide to the back at the upper part or a separate skeleton frame
as at with feet for the rollers A & B. Figure 7 may be arranged to receive the back
in which case the skeleton frame and the back can be removed from the front after
loosening the binding screws.
The appliance which I prefer to use for shifting the back along is an horizontal
lever F as at Figures 4 and 6 this being pivotted at G on the underside of the key-
bottom and capable of being moved by the handle H by the player into any of the
notches of a segmental plate J fixed under the front keybottom. The opposite end K
of the lever is forked and engages in or over a stud or staple L on the back, see
Figure 8, and a pin M with an index finger projectings through the case as at
Figure 6 indicating the shift of the back to a higher or to a lower pitch as desired by
the performer, and the shift being back is then locked by a foot lever P of pedal shape
whose inner end is arranged to enter the required tooth of a serrated plate by a
pedal P a tooth whereon engages in a rack N fitted on the back. P₁ is a rod connected
with the pedal P for removing the dampers from the strings and the lever from the
serrated plate simultaneously while while the pedal P is disengaged from the rack N as
the shift takes place.
When therefore the pedal P is depressed and thus disengaged from the rack N the
back can be shifted along to the right or to the left as far as may be desired or allowed
by moving the handle H of the horizontal lever F to the left or to the right and then the
pedal P can be released and allowed to engage in the rack N and the back is locked in
this position and the required transposition of the notes of the pianoforte has been
accomplished.
The above described are what I deem the simplest for the purpose mentioned,
but I do not limit myself to their use as other mechanical-means may be adopted
such as a long screw behind-the-instrument worked by a handle or key would be
equally applicable although not-so-handy.
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
First Making the "back" of a piano as a distinet-structure from the "ease"
and in such a manner that it can be put into the ease of a piano-and
secured therein or removed at will as and for the purpose-or-purposes
described.
Secondly Making the "ease" of a piano as a distinct structure from the "back"
and in such a manner that it can receive the "back" with means of
securing the back therein as described.
Thirdly Making a detachable back in such a manner that it can when fitted
in a case be moved to the right or to the left, endways-along, for the
transposition of notes by such movement substantially by the means-above
described and represented in the annexed drawings.
1. In a pianoforte the combination of the case having an horizontal lever F provided
with a forked inner end K and an outer handle II with the adjustable back having a stud
or staple for making a detachable connection with the said lever F substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The transposing pianoforte substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawing.
mi