IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANO-FORTES UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL AND FOR INCREASING THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF TONE IN THE AFORESAID PIANO-FORTES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Squire of 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the
County of Middlesex Piano-forte Manufacturer, for an invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANO-FORTES UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL AND
FOR INCREASING THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF TONE IN THE AFORESAID
PIANO-FORTES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Squire at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1882.
ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road Camden Road in the County of Middlesex-
Pianoforte Manufacturer IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANO-FORTES
UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL AND FOR INCREASING THE STRENGTH, AND POWER OF
TONE IN THE AFORESAID PIANOFORTES.
The first part of my Invention, applies to Improvements in Piano-forte actions,
and more particularly to check Repitition actions, and consists in the combination
of a bevil on the top of jack or Hopper and a strap of leather or any other material
being fixed on or through the butt, and the other end being hooked by a spring
such spring being regulated by means of a screw-wedge-band bent wire-or stiff
joint.
By this means a more delicate method of regulation is acquired instead of
bending the spring as is now the practice-the set off is by means of an arm
commonly known as the "Erard" escapement the spring being on either back or
front of the aforesaid jack-as the action may require.
The second part of my Invention is to regulate and strengthen the sounding
board by means of bars such bars to be brought to bear upon the back or front of
sounding board by means of screws or wedges forcing the sounding board out
& causing same to become rigid or otherwise at will-thereby rendering the full
vibratory power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Squire in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1882.
ALFRED SQUIRE of 6 Wrotham Road-Camden Road in the County of
Middlesex-Piano-forte Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTIONS OF PIANO-
FORTES UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL AND FOR INCREASING THE STRENGTH AND
POWER OF TONE IN THE AFORESAID PIANO-FORTES.
The first part of my Invention applies to Improvements in Piano-forte Actions
and more particularly to Check Repitition Actions-in all classes of Piano-fortes.
My Invention is clearly represented in the annexed Drawings. Figure 1
represents a Horizontal Action-By pressing the Key O it causes the Jack or
Hopper to rise carrying with it butt B causing the hammer A to strike the string―
When the jack C is raised to a certain position the arm escapement J touches the
regulating button K. This creates a set off-My Invention more particularly
relates to the regulation of the spring which is effected by means of a screw
passing through a small fork or Knuckle D. By this means a more delicate
method of regulation is obtained-instead of bending the spring as is now the
practice The top of the spring is hooked to a loop or band E such band being
fastened at the tail of butt B. This spring not only returns the jack but by its
position being attached to the tail of the butt and acting below the centre-holds
the hammer up for a repeat through the bevil on jack C. and is kept in check by
check P.
Figure 2, is an action similar in principle-but is differently carried out in
several respects-The compensating screw and knuckle are in front of jack-the
spring passes through the fork Land is hooked on to strap E. and is fastened on
the top of butt I. The leverage over the centre in this form has the same
advantage for repitition as the action shown in Figure 1. The spring when at its
greatest tension through pressing down Key O reinstates the jack G. and the
hammer is kept in check by button and pin X and check P.
Figure 3 represents an upright action which is similar in principle to Figures 1
and 2 having the same compensating screw on spring for fine adjustment. Q is
the jack. R the compensating spring adjustment. W the check.
The second part of my Invention relates to increasing the power of tone of
Piano-fortes for which purpose I use bars which I call auxillary bars-these bars
being so placed that they bear on the sounding board by means of sound posts
marked Z and are brought to bear through the medium of bars marked X-which
are regulated by screws Y. The figures 5 and 6 fully illustrate the method I
adopt for so doing-My object in using the before mentioned auxillary bars is as
follows viz-to regulate the increased power of tone produced through using my
Electro magnetic or magnetic steel music wire Figure 5. B. which I claim as my
Invention and with which I string piano-fortes The above mentioned Electro
magnetic or magnetic steel music wire is steel music wire which I permanently
magnetise by means of Electro magnetic or magnetic apparatus thus producing &
greater attraction between the magnetised steel wire and the atmosphere and
creating a denser magnetic halo around the wire or string When the string is
struck by the Piano-forte Hammer or set in vibration by any other means the
magnetised string or vibrator has greater power over the atmosphere thereby
creating increased waves of sound and materially sustaining the power of tone in
the aforesaid piano-fortes.
I also stamp the name of the notes on the beam or any rail of the aforesaid
actions or any other part of the small work for the convenience of toning.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed-I claim as my Improvements―
1. The spring and loop in connection with their position and the compensating
principle herein before described in Figures 1, 2 and 3.-I can also effect this
object by means of a wedge band bent wire or stiff joint.
2. I also claim the method of increasing the strength and power of tone of
piano-fortes by means of the auxillary bars hereinbefore referred to in Figure 6.
I also claim as my Invention the Electro magnetic or magnetic steel music wire-
and its application with regard to the pianoforte-I also claim the right of
using Electro magnetised or magnetised tongues bands or plates as vibratory
conductors.
3. I also claim the method of lettering the names of notes on the rails or beam
or any part of the small work or mechanism of Piano-forte actions.
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Squire have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord-One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
AT DET CAULDR