An Improvement in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1898
La
AQU
An Improvement in Pianoforte Actions.
We, JOHN GLOUGH MURDOCH, Junior, of St. George's Road, Regent's Park,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, and JouN JULIAN LOUIS FUREY, of 43, Constantine
Road, Hampstead, Pianoforte Maker, both in the County of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
..
Our invention relates to pianoforte actions and particularly to the arrange-
ment of the parts by which the hammer is caused to return from the string and
the sticker or fly" to resume engagement with the notch of the hammer-
butt after each depression of a key. Hitherto in all actions these return move-
ments have been effected by spring action, and these spring-return check-actions
have not proved serviceable or reliable owing to the deterioration or failure of
the springs.
When a spring fails the key is rendered temporarily useless and this is a
source of annoyance and inconvenience to the performer, and can only be
repaired by a skilled workman. By our improvement we are enabled to dis-
pense with springs, and we so arrange the parts referred to that the return
actions are effected by gravity only; hence there is no part liable to get out
of order and the action is strengthened, simplified, and its cost decreased.
In carrying out our invention we provide the hammer with a counter-weight
arranged to return it to normal position after operation. This may be con-
veniently disposed in or upon the usual forwardly projecting check arm or other-
wise suitably, and we apply to the "sticker" or "Hy" a counter-weight dis-
posed upon or near its inner side by the action of which the "sticker or "fly
is caused, after each operation, to automatically and instantly resume its initial
position with its nose engaging the notch in the butt of the hammer. By the
above described improved arrangement an exceedingly smooth and easy escape-
ment to the hammer results, and a delicate feel" and quick repetition of the
key are ensured.
"
Our improvement may be applied to any existing check action, but is
particularly applicable as a substitute for "
spring and loop" check action.
Dated this Eighth day of November 1898.

page_text: Road, Hampstead, Pianoforte Maker, both in the County of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
"
Our invention relates to pianoforte actions and particularly to the arrange-
ment of the parts by which the hammer is caused to return from the string, and
the "sticker or "fly" to resume engagement with the notch of the hammer-
butt after each depression of a key. Hitherto in all actions which have been
efficient these return movements have been effected by spring action, and these
spring-return check-actions have not proved serviceable or reliable owing to the
deterioration or failure of the springs, and also to the friction and tensional
strain between the moving parts.
When a spring fails the key is rendered temporarily useless and this is a
source of annoyance and inconvenience to the performer, and can only be
repaired by a skilled workman. By our improvement we are enabled to dis-
pense with springs and we so arrange the parts referred to that the return
actions are effected by gravity only; hence there is no part liable to get out
of order and the action is strengthened, simplified, and its cost decreased;
at the same time the friction of the parts due to the tensional strain of the
springs is reduced to a minimum.
In the accompanying drawing the figure is a side elevation partly in section
of the improved action which is employed with each key.
In carrying out our invention we provide the hammer H with a counter-
weight W arranged to return it to normal position after operation. This
weight W may be conveniently disposed in or upon the usual forwardly pro-
jecting check-arm or otherwise suitably, and we apply to the sticker or fly S
a counter-weight W₁ disposed upon or near its inner or rearward side and acting
oppositely and independently of the weight W on the hammer so as to cause the
sticker or fly after each release of the key to automatically and instantly resume
its initial position with its nose s engaging the notch in the butt of the
hammer H. In its normal position the sticker S is disposed at an angle to the
hammer H in order to provide for positive motion and render the weight W
always effective in various positions of the sticker.
In use the operation of the combined counterweighted parts is as follows.-
The depression of the key K of the instrument (shown as partly broken away for
convenience of space) acting either directly or through the pivotted shoe Bas
shown, raises the sticker or fly S and impels the hammer H sharply forward
against the string C (as shown in dotted lines). The weight W then acts to
retire the hammer a short distance from the string C whilst the weight W
Being oppositely disposed to that of the hammer acts independently on the
sticker S to keep same with its nose s in engagement with the notch h¹ in the
hammer-butt, so that a quick repetition may he had without fully raising the key.
At full release of the key the oppositely acting weights act independently
on the hammer and sticker to return them to normal positions which are shown
in hard lines.
By the above described arrangement it will be seen that, apart from the
engagement at the hammer-butt, the sticker and hammer are entirely free from
one another in their movements, and by the use of weights combined and acting
independently as described an exceedingly smooth and easy escapement to the
hammer, and a delicate "feel" and quick repetition of the key result.
Our improvement may be applied to any existing check action but is
particularly applicable as a substitute for "spring-and-loop” check actions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: :-
In an upright pianoforte-action the combination of a hammer having a counter

page_text: weight adapted to return it to normal position, and a sticker or fly having a
counterweight acting in an opposite direction to that of the hammer, the
arrangement being such that the hammer automatically and instantly returns
from the string and the sticker or fly resumes engagement with the notch of
the hammer-butt after each depression and release of the key, substantially as
herein set forth.