IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, WHEREBY THEY ARE RENDERED MUCH MORE DURABLE, MUCH MORE CAPABLE OF RESISTING THE INJURIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE EFECTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (ESPECIALLY OF EXTREME CLIMATES), AND WHEREBY THE QUALITY OF THEIR TONE IS GREATLY IMPROVED AND REMAINS GOOD FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
HENRY ROBERT MOTT, of Number 96, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Pianoforte Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of
April, in the ninth year of Iler reign, did give and giant unto me, the said
Isaac Henry Robert Mott, my exors, adiñois, and assigns, Ifer especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Isaac IIenry Robert
Mott, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Man, and in all
Her Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, WHEREBY THEY ARE RENDERED MUCH
MORE DURABLE, MUCH MORE CAPABLE OF RESISTING THE INJURIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE
EFECTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (ESPECIALLY OF EXTREME CLIMATES), AND WHEREBY THE
QUALITY OF THEIR TONE IS GREATLY IMPROVED AND REMAINS GOOD FOR A MUCH
LONGER PERIOD;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso,
requiring that I, the said Isaac Henry Robert Mott, shall particularly describe

page_text: and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Isaac Henry Robert Mott, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by this present Instrument in writing,
reference being had to the Drawing in tho the margin of these Presents, and
in which said Drawing similar parts are marked and referred to by similar
parts or figures, that is to say.-
My said Invention consists of and is accomplished by means of metallic
skeletons," vertebral columns, frames (or other substance or substances,
material or materials), so fixed or applied in pianos (or other stinged instru-
ments) as that they can resist most effectually the immense pressure (or
strain, which is occasioned by the tension of the wires or strings), in a direct
or perpendicular manner or position, thus, whatever variation of heat or cold
may expand or contract the wires or strings, likewise expands or contracts
these "metallic skeletons," columns, or other apparatus, and thus the pitch of
intonation (or standing in tune) is much more uniformly preserved. This
was a great desideratum, particularly in small instruments; for, as they are at
present constructed, a slight variation of heat or cold causes a serious derange-
ment of the whole scale of sounds from grave to "acute And for the better
comprehension of my method, and terms or applications of the various parts in
detail, it may be advisable to commence by explaining the present mode of
consti ucting small instruments.
Let Figure One represent a section of a small piano, as at present con-
structed, namely,-A, "the rest plank," in which are fixed the rest (or tuning)
pins; B, the "bracing" (or "skeleton" part of the instrument), which is usually
"halved" into the "rest plank;" C, the sounding board (or belly"); D, the
"belly bridge ;" E, the "rest plank (or striking) bridge;" F, the "
"strings,"
resting upon D and E; G, the "tuning pins;" II, the "hitch pins;" I, the
'hitch-pin block." Now, it must appear evident to any mechanic that
when the enormous pressure or strain (of many tons) is exerted by drawing
up the strings to concert pitch, that the "bracings" must inevitably be forced
out of their original rectilinear into that of a curvilinear, form, see dotted line
at K, which is the case more or less with every instrument of every maker to
66

page_text: the present day, unless advantage be taken of the strong parts of the case on
which the "key frame" is laid, by connecting the bracings by means of screw
bolts or other apparatus (passing freely through the sounding board) with
these strong paits, as at L. This simple contrivance, I believe, has never been
practised by any but myself, and certainly adds prodigious strength to the old
mode of bracing. Manifold are the evils of the usual method, a few of which
may be here pointed out, namely,-first, the sound board (through the gradual
approaching of the "rest pin" and the "hitch-pin block," begins to be
crushed and distressed, and, being too weak to bear even a slight pressure end-
ways, gives way, becomes crooked, or splits, to the great deterioration of the
tone. Secondly, the instrument can never be said to be perfectly in tune
for any length of time, for a fresh or additional strain or pressure is exerted
upon the parts every time the pitch of the stings is raised by the tuner, or by
a lower temperature of the atmosphere Thirdly, there is another seriously
mischievous effect caused by the changes of the atmosphere; for heat, at the
same time that it shrinks and contracts the collateral fibres of the wood (as of
the "rest plank," "hitch-pin block," and whatever wedges may be used),
expands the metallic springs, which, being fixed at each end to the contracting
woodwork. are slackened so considerably that these instruments will vary to
such a degice in their pitch, at the extremes of winter and summer (or even
in a concert room as it becomes heated), as to become unfit for use with other
instruments, or at least for a very small period of the year without the
repeated attentions of a tuner. Fourthly, by the continual tuning and
straining of the rest pins (up in hot weather, and down in cold), the strings (or
rather wes), by being bent backwards and for waids, are so injured as often to
break, and the holes in the rest plank becoming enlarged, or of an oval shape,
the pins often lose their hold and spin round. Fifthly, it has been found
utterly impossible to keep in tune the lower octaves of any sinall instrument
upon the old construction, having very short ("bass strings"); and these
horridly discordant effects, even from atmospheric variation alone, have in
a short time taken place to the extent of from one to three semitones.
Sixthly, these bulky timber bracings," not only prevent the greater free-
dom of the vibrations of the sound board, with regard to its effect upon the
surrounding atmosphre, but they also occupy a great space in the apart-
ment, thereby causing the instrument to project many inches unnecessarily.
I trust it will appear that all these serious evils are removed by my im-
provements in the construction of these instruments as follows, namely:-Let
A, Figure 2, represent the rest plank; B, a portion of the "metallic skeleton,"
vertebral column, or other substance," (placed as nearly as possible ma duect
".

page_text: line with the face of the rest plank into which it may be sunk, or in any other
convenient position), whose length is equal to the strings or to the vibrating
parts of them or thereabouts; for this metallic skeleton work is capable of much
variation, and may be used either complete or incomplete, or with some part
or parts omitted, or others added, or it may stop short at and butt against the
edge of the rest plank, but I prefer to have them joined (by formung the
Joining into the "rest" plank (or striking) bridge" at one end (see E, Figure 3);
and also by cutting notches in it for the strings I obtain a firm support for
them and obviate the necessity of drilling and pinning the rest plank bridge,
and by forming the string (or hitch pin) plate at the other (see II, Figure 3.
Let C, Figure 2, represent the sound board (or "belly"). D, the "belly
bridge," which is cut out so as to allow the metallic columns or other sub-
stances to pass freely through it, without danger of touching in any part, and
by this contrivance it will be seen that the resistance to the pressure or tension
of the strings is infinitely more powerful and effectual than that of the wood
bracings B, at Figure 1, however bulky. Variations may also be made in the
form of these metallic skeletons, columns, framework, or other substance; for
instance, they may be round, half round, oval, triangular, or oblong, which
last shape I at present profer; or the belly may be so glued up or formed as
to accommodate other shapes or forms of the metallic skeleton work, and in
various other manners which will require no demonstration to a proper work-
man. Some of the advantages arising from this method of construction may be
noticed as follows, namely:-
First, great strength and security of firmly standing are obtained from
these perfectly straight or perpendicular columns, or other substances.
Secondly, being constructed of similar metal with the wires or strings,
a mechanic will see at once, that should heat cause the strings to expand
these columns or supports would soon be similarly affected, and thus the
"tension" ("or pitch") of the strings would be retained.
Thirdly, in very small pianos where (in the bass) several ratios are drawn
into one (for want of length to carry out nature's own requirements for a perfect
scale), this method has surprising advantages over the old; for instance, let us
suppose that the vibrating part of the highest C is three inches long, the
second C (descending) six inches, the third twelve, the fourth twenty-four, the
fifth forty-eight, the sixth ninety-six, and the seventh one hundred and
ninety-two inches; but instead of these required lengths, we can have but
thirty-two inches (notwithstanding the required difference also in the weight of
the string to sound so grave a note, this pitch of the short string, if supported
by wood, will be raised or lowered about seven times as much by atmo-

page_text: spheric variations, as those stings whose vibrating lengths are consistent
with the laws of nature. Hence the total impossibility of such small pianos
ever keeping in tune upon the old construction, even supposing that the
"bracings" were of the best material and workmanship; whereas so completely
does my new method obviate this evil that it excites the admiration and
astonishment of all who have witnessed the difference, and raising the pitch
even beyond the tenacity of the stings seems to have no effect upon these
metallic supports.
Thirdly, the absence of all necessity for winding the stings up and down (in
order to accommodate the fickelness of the atmosphere) renders them far
more durable, inasmuch as any hard wire becomes fragile by fiequent bending
(as in the action of tuning) the holes also (for the reception of the tuning
pins), are preserved from being gulled or enlarged and remain film to their
office of holding the pins
Fourthly, it having been shewn that these straight metallic columns most
effectually bear the burden of all the tension or pressure independantly of the
woodwork or of the sound board, the result to the latter is the greatest free-
dom of vibration, whereby the quality of the tone is much improved and much
more continuous.
Fifthly, from four to six inches are saved by the non-necessity of the usual
great projection of the instruments
Sixthly, by means of the application of such strings (wire springs, reeds,
tongues, plates, screws, pins, or other apparatus) which have been properly
subjected to the operations of "electio metallurgy," or other process or pro-
cesses, to pianos (harps, seraphines, organs, harmonicans, colophans, concertinas,
accordians), or other musical instruments, whereby the corrosive effects of
atmospheric noxious vapours (fogs, damps, salts, acids, gasses, and so forth),
are obviated, prevented, or counteracted by the coating of gold, silver, platina,
zinc, or other metal or metals, substance or substances in which they are
enveloped. Thus the hammers (or other agents for producing the vibration),
not being liable to incrustation by the rust from off the strings, the tone
remains good for a much greater length of time, such insti uments may be termed
chrysargyreochord, piano, or other musical instrument.
Seventhly, by means of hammers, plectrums, springs, or other apparatus, as
in pianos or harpsichords, so contrived or connected with the keys, touches,
levers, or other parts of the mechanism as at once to agitate the "reeds," springs,
tongues, wires, plates, or other vibrators, especially in harmonicans, seraphines,
and other instruments, the tones of which are produced or continued by means
of bellows or wind acting upon "reeds," springs, or other vibrating substances,

page_text: and thus is produced more instant and successively rapid intonation called
"prompt speaking."
Eighthly, by means of a moveable budge of metal or other substance, so
placed-as that when the strings are diven against it by the hammers they pro-
duce a loud, sonorous, bell-like quality of tone, and thus greater variety of
effects from the same instruments, all of which it is presumed will require no
further demonstration to an intelligent mechanic acquainted with his business.
of
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Henry Robert Mott, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
ISAAC HENRY ROBERT (LS) MOTT.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the
within-named Isaac Henry Robert
Mott, in the presence of (the follow-
ing interlineations being first made,
namely, the first in the twenty-sixth
line from the bottom of the second
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of October,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Isaac Heniy Robert Mott came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose
Enrolled the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.