Improvements in Grand Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left 9th Mar 1897 Accented 15th Mov
1807
I, JOSEPH HERRBURGER, of 16, Rue de l'Evangile, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Pianoforte Action Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved action for grand pianofortes.
In this improved action I employ an arched or curved lever pivoted directly to
the rider, the position of the pivot and the curve of the lever being such that the
friction, existing in the grand pianoforte actions as hitherto generally constructed,
under the regulating screw and under the hammershank knuckle on the lever at the
moment the action escapes is entirely avoided. The said lever rests on a cloth
washer and is regulated by means of a screw which screws into an upright post on
the rider. This screw is used not only as a regulating screw, but also as a guide for
the lever, keeping it always in its proper position under the hammershank knuckle
which cannot be effected in the ordinary grand pianoforte action when the centre
has become somewhat worn off.
In conjunction with the said form of lever I am enabled to employ a spring which
operates at the same time on the lever and on the fly. The length of the spring
prevents it becoming weak and gives an elasticity to the touch not hitherto obtained.
The spring is so placed that it can be regulated with great facility..
Dated this 13th day of Tule 1206
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Grand Pianoforte Actions.
I, JOSEPH HERRBURGER, of 16, Rue de l'Evangile, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Pianoforte Action 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved action for grand pianofortes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is an elevation of my improved action:
Figure 2 is an elevation of an improvement applicable to the centre rail of grand
pianoforte actions; and,
Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating a modification of such improvement.
In my improved action illustrated in Figure 1 I employ an arched or curved lever I
pivoted directly to the rider C, the position of the pivot and the curve of the lever
being such that the friction, existing in the grand pianoforte actions as hitherto
generally constructed, under the regulating screw P and under the hammershank
knuckle R on the lever I at the moment the action escapes, is entirely avoided.
1

page_text: The said lever bears against a cloth buffer or washer and is regulated by means of
a screw V which screws into the upright post T on the rider C. This screw is
used not only as a regulating screw, but also as a guide for the lever, keeping it
always in its proper position under the hammershank knuckle which cannot be
effected in the ordinary grand pianoforte action when the centre has become
somewhat worn off.
In conjunction with the said form of lever I I am enabled to employ a very
long spring a, b, c which operates at the same time on the lever and on the
fly E. The length of this spring prevents its becoming weak and gives an elasticity
to the touch which could not hitherto be obtained. The spring is so placed that it
can be regulated with great facility.
In actions for grand pianofortes of the Erard system, the centre rail A 'is
generally provided with escapement pins B, which possess the disadvantage of being
fastened into the said rail A the result of which is that it is very difficult to reach
the regulating screw K with a tool.
To obviate this objection I dispense with the said pin and employ a movable
rail D, Figure 2, into which are screwed the regulating screws. In order to facilitate
the removal of this rail D the centre rail A is provided with a few metal brackets S
fastened by means of screws M. The rail D can then be screwed very quickly and
easily to the said brackets S.
Or instead of the said pins B, Figure 1, I may employ a movable rail D,
Figure 3, screwed directly underneath the centre rail A. This rail D' is provided
with metal regulating screws H. In this case the tail of the fly operating on the
regulating screw H is suitably covered or padded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a grand pianoforte action the combination and arrangement of
(a) the curved lever I centred or pivoted directly upon the rider C and guided
and regulated by means of the screw V
(b) the rider C fitted with the upright post T and having the lever I, pivoted
at the point O
(c) the spring a be secured to the rider C and operating simultaneously upon
the curved lever I and the fly E.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved grand
pianoforte action hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 9th day of March 1897
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.