A PORTABLE PERPENDICULAR PIANOFORTE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Percival, of No. 23, Westbourne Villas,
Harrow Road, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker, for the
Invention of "A PORTABLE PERPENDICULAR PIANOFORTE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Percival at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY PERCIVAL, of No. 23, Westbourne Villas, Harrow Road,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker. "A PORTABLE PERPEN-
DICULAR PIANOFORTE."
The instrument is to be played sideways, the treble on the right-hand side and
the base on the left-hand side, with the usual pianoforte keyboard with as many
octaves as may be desired, wires to be struck with hammers by the pressure on keys,
thereby giving leverage to any action adapted for the purpose. The back can be
strung on both sides with half the keyboard on either side, or can if made in two
pieces have two separate backs strung each on one side, each being independent of
the other, or hinged so as to fold in the centre of keyboard through its entire length
with base on the left-hand side and treble on the right-hand side.
When the backs are made only strung on one side, straps of iron are placed at
intervals and riveted to iron shoes to take the strain of the front strings, so as to
have equal pressure through the entire length of the back. The tension of the
strings is adjusted by rest pius or levers at either end (or at one end alone).
The novelty and advantage of this instrument is that it is very small and light,
and can be played by the performer in a most natural and convenient manner with
one hand on either side, on the right hand for treble and on the left hand for base,
and can sing to its accompanymont facing audience, the whole being shewn by and
in the Drawings left herewith, No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Percival in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th December 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY PERCIVAL, of No. 23, Westbourne Villas, Harrow Road,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker. A PORTABLE PERPEN-
DICULAR PIANOFORTE."
"
The instrument is to be played sideways, the treble on the right-hand side and
the base on the left-hand side, with the usual pianoforte keyboard with as many
octaves as may be desired, wires to be struck with hammers by the pressure on keys,
thereby giving leverage to any action adapted for the purpose. The back can be
strung on both sides with half the keyboard on either side, or can if made in two
pieces have two separate backs, strung each on one side, each being independent of
the other, or hinged so as to fold in the centre of keyboard through its entire
length, with base on the left-hand side and treble on the right-hand side.
When the backs are made only strung on one side, straps of iron are placed at
intervals and riveted to iron shoes to take the strain of the front strings, so as to
have equal pressure through the entire length of the back. The tension of the
strings is adjusted by rest pins or levers at either end (or at one end alone), or on
either side.
The novelty and advantage of this instrument is that it is very small and light,
and can be played by the performer in a most natural and convenient manner, with
one hand on either side, on the right hand for treble and on the left hand for base,
and can sing to its accompanyment facing audience, the whole being shown in the
Drawings left herewith.
A. special feature claimed for this instrument is also its perpendicular keyboard,
as applied to a pianoforte or any other similiar musical instrument.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Percival, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this
day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed in the
presence of
JOSEPH SOTHCOTT,
81, Loftus Road,
Uxbridge Road,
Shepherd's Bush,
London, W.
WILLIAM HENRY PERCIVAL. (L.S.)

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