Improvements in Piano-fortes.
Year: 1892

page_text: CUM DEID DI BOLTTOAIVA.
Improvements in Piano-fortes.
I JOHN WARNER REED of No. 2219 Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Piano Manu-
facturer 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 :-
This invention relates to the frame portion of upright pianos, to which the
sounding board, piano strings, &c., are attached and supported in proper position.
The object of the present improvement being to provide an improved arrange-
ment and construction of the framing parts, embodying a strong and rigid form,
and mode of attachment of the string plate; a simple and efficient attachment of
the sounding board, whereby extra sounding surface is attained; and a simple,
strong and durable attachment of the pin block in position.
I attain such object by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, in which :
Figure 1, is a front elevation of a portion of the framing part of a piano,
illustrating my present invention.
Figure 2, a longitudinal section of the same at line -a, Figure 1.
Figure 3, a transverse section of the same, at line -, Figure 1.
Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.
Referring to the drawings, 1, represents the string plate of any usual construction,
so far as the openings for the passage of the sounding board bridges, and the
manner of stiffening and strengthening the margins of such openings are concerned.
In the present invention the plate is formed with side and bottom flanges or
checks, 2, and 3, to afford a wide bearing surface to the side and bottom edges of
the frame, and furnish substantial means for attachment to the outer and marginal
wooden frame 4, and 5, that carry the sounding board 6.
In the present invention this marginal frame consists of wooden side and bottom
rails, of the required size, screwed or bolted to the flanged edges of the string
plate, as shown, the rear faces of such rails projecting backward from the rear of
the string plate, the requisite distance, so as to form a substantial means for the
attachment of the sounding board 6, which is firmly attached thereon by means of
the marginal rim 7.
At top the side rails 4, of the marginal frame project up the proper distance, to
receive and aid in supporting the pin block or wrest plank 9, in proper position,
the main support for such pin block, however, being the socket formation at the
back of the string plate, near its top, which is formed by the rearwardly projecting
horizontal rib 10, on the back of the plate, on which the lower edge of the pin
block is supported, the face of such pin block, resting against the back of the
string plate, as shown.
11, are the usual series of holes through the string plate, for the passage of the
tuning pins into the pin block or wrest plank.
At its top the sounding board is supported in front by the horizontal rail 12,
on the back of the string plate and at back by the top member of the marginal
frame or rim 7.
With my present improvement the usual heavy wooden piano back for supporting
the sounding board is dispensed with, and in addition to the great lightness resulting
from such omission, the present construction admits of the piano being made much
thinner and yet preserve its tone and volume, owing to the comparatively larger
sized sounding board, and the omission of the framing timbers back of the same,
that interfere with and break the sound in a great measure.

page_text: In the practical construction of the present improvement it is not necessary that
the string plate, extend up and wholly cover the pin block, and such plate inay be
cut down, so as to embrace and cover only the lower front edge of the pin block
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. In a frame or back for piaños, the combination of a piano string plate, an
outer marginal wooden frame secured thereto, so as to enclose the same and project
rearwardly, and a sounding board secured to the back of the outer marginal frame,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of the piano string plate,
having marginal cheeks or flanges, the outer marginal wooden frame secured thereto,
so as to enclose the same and project rearwardly, and the sounding board secured to
the back of the outer marginal frame, substantially as set forth.
3. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of the piano string plate,
having marginal cheeks or flanges, and horizontal rearwardly projecting flange,
near its top, the outer marginal wooden frame secured to the marginal flanges of
the plate, so as to enclose the same and project rearwardly, the sounding board
secured to the outer marginal frame, and the pin block resting upon the horizontal
flange of the string plate, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Amil 1900
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agents to Applicant