IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Howson, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the
County of York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PIANOFORTES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Howson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th September 1880.
RICHARD HOWSON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me the 13th January 1880, No. 143,
there is described a method of constructing pianos which enables the performer to
increase or diminish the volume of sound at will. This kind of instrument I shall
hereinafter refer to as the "crescendo piano," in contra-distinction to the "piano
forte," which has no power of modifying the volume of sound after a note or chord
is struck.
Now according to the first part of my present Invention I arrange the vibration
plank in proximity to and attach it to the hitch pin plate. The belly bridge thus
occupies the same position that it does in an ordinary pianoforte; but instead
of resting on the belly itself, it rests on a vibration plank, which is bolted or
screwed at intervals to the hitch pin plate, but overhangs the same all along its
margin. On this overhanging part the bridge proper is placed, and the contact
for the propagation of sound is made between the belly and the underside or back
of the same overhanging part.
The second part of my present Invention relates to a method of constructing the
crescendo-piano with a fixed sound board, with which and the vibration plank
I combine moveable wedges, or interlocking or connecting pieces arranged inter-
nediately, and so that the contact may be produced by such intermediate wedges
or interlocking or connecting pieces when they are actuated by means of the pedal
or otherwise, as described in the aforesaid Specification in reference to the sound
board itself.
The first part of my Invention is equally applicable to the crescendo piano or
to the piano-forte, and the whole of my Invention is applicable to either upright
instruments or horizontal ones, whether square or grand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Howson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
March 1881.
RICHARD HOWSON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me the 13th of January 1880,
No. 143, there is described a method of constructing pianos, which enables the
performer to increase or diminish the volume of sound at will. This kind of
instrument I shall bereinafter refer to us the "crescendo piano," in contra-
distinction to the pianoforte, which has no power of modifying the volume of
sound after a note or chord has been struck.
In the aforesaid Specification the sound bridge is described as being separate
from the sound board, and carried across the instrument adjacent to the edge of
the wrest pin plate. Now according to my present Invention the bridge is placed
adjacent to the hitch pin plate, and-is-fixed thereto.-.
And in order that this part of my Invention may be clearly understood, I proceed
-to-describe its application_to_an_upright instrument, having reference to Sheet 1 of
the accompanying Drawings, which shews all the essential parts relating-to-my-
improvements, but excludes those which are not essential-to-an-understanding of
my Invention. In this Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 shows in front view an iron
frame divested of its strings and their attachments. A, A, is the wrest pin plate,
and B, B, the hitch pin plate; C, C, is the bridge rail (called also the vibration rail
or plank) carrying (or otherwise formed in one piece with) the bridge D, D. Fig. 2
is a cross section taken vertically, and Fig. 3 a cross section taken horizontally of
the same frame, similar letters referring to similar parts respectively. It will be
seen that the bridge occupies the position usual in ordinary pianofortes; but instead
of being fixed to the sound board, it is fixed to the frame by means of the bolts or
screws c, c, c. I have here shewn three bolts, viz., two at the treble end, and one
at the bass end as being sufficient; but other bolts may be placed at intervals if
desired, more especially at the middle or most yielding part of the bridge, as shown
in dotted lines. On the side of the bridge rail opposite to the strings I have shewn
a number of studs or sound posts d, d, (appearing in dotted lines in Fig. 1) which
project through openings in the iron frame. It is these sound posts which como in
contact with the sound board, so as to reinforce the volume of tone. The number
(as well as shape) of these sound posts may be varied, or a continuous longitudinal
strip may be substituted for them. The sound board is shewn at E (Figs. 2 and 3),
and is moveable, as described in the Specification of my former Patont already
referred to, being supported on hinges F (Fig. 3), so as to open and close after the
manner of a door or gate. The pedal action may be applied to the end of the
Bound board opposite the hinges, but its mechanism is not here shewn, as it is
capable of variation, and does not form an essential part of my Invention. The
direction of motion however will be seen by the arrow (Fig. 3), and by the dotted
lines, which represent the sound board as being thrown back a considerable
distance, which may be occasionally done for the purpose of inspection.
Although I have described this part of my Invention as applied to a vertical
instrument, I do not confine myself thereto, as it is applicable to various classes of
pianoforte, whether vertical or horizontal. Moreover I do not confine myself to the
exact form and mode of attachment of the bridge rail as shewn. It may be fixed
to a timber frame instead of an iron one, and instead of one bridge there may be
two or more bridges, as would have to be the case in an overstrung piano.
The second part of my present Invention relates to the sound board of a
crescendo piano. Such sound board has been hereinbefore, and in my former

page_text: Specification, described as suspended on hinges or moveable in such other way as
to enable the performer to bring it in contact with the bridge. Now according to
my present Invention I make the sound board fixed, but separate from the bridge,
and I obtain connection between the two by means of intermediate wedges or
contact pieces, which are moved in alternate directions by means of the pedal, so
as to produce an alternate interlocking and releasing action at the will of the
performer. Referring to Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Fig. 1 shews an outline of an
upright piano frame looking from the back with the soundboard removed;
A, A, is the wrest pin plate; B, B, the hitch pin plate, and C, C, the bridge rail,
as before; G, G, are a series of levers which oscillate on studs fixed upon the
back of the hitch pin plate. These levers are connected together at one end by
means of links, the last of the series being connected with the pedal by means
of a rod, as shewn and figured. The other ends of the levers are wedge shaped,
On the back of the bridge rail are a series of studs g, g, and on the front of
the sound board are another series opposite and corresponding to the same.
A glance. at the Diagram Fig. 2 will shew the arrangement, G being the wedge
shaped end of the lever just about to enter between the two studs.. This
arrangement enables the performer to make and break contact between the bridge
and the sound board at his option by the action of the pedal, with very much the
same effect as if the sound board itself were moveable.
Having thus described the method of obtaining contact with a fixed soundboard,
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement
figured in the Drawing, as it is obvious this part of my Invention is susceptible of
modification in various ways, but what I claim as new and secured to me by the
Letters Patent first hereinbefore in part recited is as follows:-
(1st.) In a piano of the kind hereinbefore referred to as a crescendo piano
arranging the bridge or bridges, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
(2d.) In a piano of the kind hereinbefore referred to as a crescendo piano, the use
in combination of a fixed sound board and moveable wedges, or interlocking or
contact pieces, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Howson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Soventh day of March, in the year of our Lord 1881.
RICHARD HOWSON (LS)