Improvements relating to Pianofortes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
Improvements relating to Pianofortes.
FREDERICK CHARLES STEINMETZ, Sutterton Works, Sutterton Street, Frederick
Street, Caledonian Road, London, N. Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A metallic sound resisting board placed over the top portion of the iron frame of a
pianoforte in such a way that when the hammers strike the strings, instead of
producing the metallic note as is usual in the iron frame pianos it will be a clear &
sweet tone like the pianos without the iron frame, viz.-about 80 per cent. of the
metallic sound entirely done away with.
The sound board shaped like the top portion of the iron frame, thickness about
inch the back of the sound board covered with thick felt to prevent jarring. The
sound board screwed firmly on to the upper part of the frame, which then acts as
a covering over the iron, which will prevent the metallic sound when the note is
struck.
1
1 1000
FREDERICK CHARLES STEINMETZ.
FREDERICK CHARLES STEINMETZ, Sutterton Works, Sutterton Street, Frederick
Street, Caledonian Road, London, N. Pianoforte 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:-
A sound board made of pine, any other wood, or suitable substance is placed over
the upper part of the iron frame of the piano-forte to which the "new sound board "
is applied.
The said new sound board is made to suit any shaped iron piano-forte frame and is
secured to the piano-forte by means of screws. "The new sound board" extends
downward from the bottom of the wrest plate of the piano-forte. The front of the
new sound board comes a short distance behind the strings of the piano-forte.
Between the back of the "new sound board" and the iron frame of the piano-forte a
felt padding is placed. In all cases where applied the new sound board must cover
the iron frame of the piano-forte and when necessary extend beyond it. The
thickness of the new sound board must be made to suit the description of the piano-
forte to which it is applied. The "new sound board" is shown on the accompanying
drawings.
(Fig. 1) Front view of new sound board. A the body. (a) the holes for screws
of same.

page_text: (Fig. 3) End view of "new sound board."
(Fig. 4) Front elevation of piano-forte on section line S (Fig. 5). (A) body of
new sound board." (B) iron frame of piano-forte, (C) wrest plank, of piano-forte,
a, a, screws to fasten new sound board to iron frame of piano-forte.
(Fig. 5) End view of piano-forte with end of case removed showing "new sound
board appled.
The advantages and use of the "new sound board" is to obviate the metallic
harshness of tone caused by the iron frame and to render the tone of piano-fortes,
clear, full and sweet, similar to those constructed without iron frames.
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
1st. I claim "the new sound board" as described herein and shown on the
accompaying drawings.
2. I claim the application of the said "new sound board" to any description of
piano-forte or similar instruments with iron frames.
Dated this 8th day of December 1896.
FREDERICK CHARLES STEINMETZ.