Improvements in or Pertaining to Pianofortes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Pertaining to Pianofortes.
I FREDERICK HULBERT of 8 Gladstone Street Wyvil Road Tambeth in the county
of Surrey Pianoforte Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
The object of my invention is so to fit pianofortes and with such appliances that
the keys in which the same are being or are to be played can be altered as
desired.
To carry out this object on or in the upper surface of the key bottom I mount a
number of rollers or balls on which the key frame rests and on the underside of this
key frame is preferably secured a metal frame to ensure easy movement. This key
frame is fitted with any usual appliance or device whereby it can be moved on the
rollers or balls transversely and horizontally. For example a vertical post can pass
up behind the nan:e board to the top whereof is jointed an arm which can pass
horizontally through a long horizontal slot in the name board whereto also are
connected a series of short vertical slots in one of which the arm can be held.
To alter the key in which the pianoforte is being or is to be played the arm can
he disengaged from one of the vertical slots and he moved transversely and horizontally
along the long slot wherewith or in other manner the key board of the pianoforto
also is caused to move transversely and horizontally on the rollers or balls until it has
reached the desired position when the arm can be caused to engage in another vertical
slot or otherwise the key frame is retained in this position.
It is obviously desirable that the key board should be absolutely free to move as
aforesaid.
According to one method any suitable and usual appliance such for example as a
bar or lift like the usual damper lift is fitted whereby all the lower ends of the action
are lifted off the inner ends of the keys during this movement.
According to another method the action is supported on and by the key frame and
bodily moves therowith and only the dampers are raised in the usual manner from
the strings during this movement by the pedal or otherwise.
Dated thin 15th day of December 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Pertaining to Pianofortes.
1 FREDBRICK HULBERT of 8 Gladstone Street Wyvil Road Lambeth in the county
of Surrey 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 :-
The object of this my invention is so to fit pianofortes and with such appliances
that the keys in which the same are being or are to be played can be altered as may
be desired.
In order the more clearly to explain this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a
transverse vertical section of part of a pianoforte as constructed for and fitted with
my invention in and according to one and what I consider to be an extremely
convenient and suitable form and arrangement thereof shewing a side élovation of
one note with part of its action Figure 2 is a front elevation of the central part of
the keyboard and the nameboard of the pianoforte and Figure 3 is a diagram of the
kerbottom of the pianoforte.

page_text: -
On or in the upper surface of the keybottom A of the pianoforte [ horizontally
mount in the proper positions four or more rollers or balls B in such wise that they
are capable of revolving in the direction of the breadth of the pianoforte on which
rollers B the keyframe Crests and also in the proper positions I vertically mount on
the keybottom A four or more rollers D preferably formed with flanges on their upper
ends in such wise that they can engage the sides of the rails of the keyframe (and
act as guides thereto and therefor which rollers D can be fitted with supporting
brackets D as shewn in Figure 4 to render them quite rigid.
When the rollers B are fitted as is shewn in the drawing under the outside rails of
the keyframe C only it is obvious that there is no support under the central keyrail F
on which the keys E are pivoted and rest and 1 therefore preferably fit on the under-
side of the keyframe C any suitable metallic frame to stiffen the saine and rendor it
perfectly rigid. This metallic frame also subserves another desirable object in making
the keyframe C heavier than would otherwise be the case thus ensuring that no
jarting or noise shall be occasioned by this keyframe C leaving or rising off its
supporting rollers B as it would or might have a tendency to do when the pianoforte
is being played upon towards which advantage the flanges on the rollers D also assist
and therefore in all cases I preferably add some weight to the keyframe C even if the
aforesaid metallic frame is not required by reason of other rollers being fitted under
the central key rail F or otherwise.
The keyframe is fitted with any usual and convenient appliance or device whereby
it can be moved on the rollers or balls horizontally and longitudinally in the direction
of the breadth of the pianoforte the case thereof being of such a proportionate breadth
as will allow this movement. In the drawing I have shewn one very suitable
appliance for this purpose that is to say a vertical post G is secured to the keyrail F
and passes up between the keys E to the top of which post G is jointed an arm H
which passes out horizontally through a slot K in the nameboard of the pianoforto
and this slot K consists of and is a long horizontal slot with a series of short vertical
slots connected thereto which vertical slots correspond with the number of alterations
of key for which the pianoforte is designed and a spring can very conveniently be
applied to the arm H to force the same into one of theso vertical slots.
To allow the keyframe with its keys so to move as aforesaid it is very convenient to
make the blocks that are usually placed at the extremities of the keyboard against the
checks of the case hollow so that the keyboard can slide thereunder and thereinto.
When therefore it is desired to alter the key in which this pianoforte is being or is
to be played the arm H is disengaged from one of the vertical slots and is moved
horizontally along the slot K wherewith the keyframe C with its keys E also is caused
to move longitudinally on the rollers B being guided by the rollers D until it has
reached the desired position when the arm H is caused or allowed to engage in another
of the vertical slots and the keyframe C is locked in this position and the pianoforte
can be played in the desired key.
It is obviously desirable that the whole keyboard should be absolutely free so to
move as aforesaid without causing or creating any risk of damage to the action of
the pianoforte wherefor I fit a rail L the whole breadth of the pianoforte which rail L
is horizontally pivoted at M to the frame or case thereof by its upper edge and the
lower edge of this rail L is connected by the link N with the lower end of the sticker
or other part of the action of each note that rests on the inner end of each key E
and to the lower edge of the rail L may also be fitted the rod P which passes through
an aperture in the nameboard of the pianoforte. When therefore this rod P is drawn
out or in other manner the rail L is moved on its pivots M this rail L lifts the lower
ends of all the actions off all the keys as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and
then the keyboard can be moved as hereinbefore described.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing as is afore-
said an extremely convenient and suitable form of this my invention and a very
appropriate method of fitting the same in and to a pianoforte but it is sufficiently
obvious that I do not limit myself thereto for the rollers may be placed in such
positions on the keybottom and such number of rollers may be so placed as is suitable

page_text: or convenient in each particular case having regard especially to the construction and
style and form of the keybottom and of the keyframe and again as is aforesaid any
appliances or devices may be fitted whereby to move the keyframe and the pivoted rail
and again of whatever description or shape or kind the lower parts of the actions that
rest on the keys may be they can be properly connected with the pivoted rail and
thereby be lifted off the ends of the keys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination in and between and with the keybottom A and the keyframe C
of a pianoforte of the rollers B and D substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and declared.
2. The combination with the movable keyboard of a pianoforte of the pivoted rail L
connected with the lower ends of all the actions substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and declared.
3. The improvements in or pertaining to pianofortes substantially as herein before
described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th
A 1000