Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I JOHN LEGG of No. 1 Anglers Lane Kentish Town in the County of London
Pianoforte Action Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my new pianoforte combination actions is to get a better set off to
relieve the stickers or jacks from the butts of the hammers directly the hammers have
struck their blows on the strings and I gain other advantages. I further attain
increased facility of repetition and greater smartness and freedom of blow to the
hammer from my improved construction of the parts.
In the first part of my invention I fix a pin in the top part of the check which passes
through a slot in the shank of the balance hammer to which it acts as guide. The
spring is passed through a hole bored in the check arm and is held by a loop in the
usual manner.
On the bottom of the sticker is jointed a block through which there is a regulating
screw. The bottom of the sticker may be clothed or black leaded as the case may be
thus avoiding the trouble of application or removal of papers or cloths under the keys
as is usual in ordinary actions also the stickers may be movable thus getting the trade
term "touch regulator."
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket from the
check arın before mentioned.
The regulating screw in the block at the bottom of the sticker can be applied to all
pianoforte check sticker actions.
In the second part of my invention I centre an arm to the hammer rail at the
end of the said arm I screw a pin which passes through a slot in the sticker to
which it acts as guide. On the said sticker is an incline which, operated upon
by the upward motion of the sticker, comes into contact with a covered button on
the said pin screwed into the end of the arm. An effectual set off or escapement is
thus effected.
When
In the third part of my invention the spring is passed through a hole bored in the
On the sticker I joint an
check arm and is held by a loop in the usual manner.
inclined block.
Through front of the said block I make a slot. The set off pin, or guide is screwed
in a rail, the said rail is fastened to the hammer rail by means of arms.
operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker the inclined block comes into
contact with the covered button on the said pin and an effectual set off or front
escapement is thus effected. The upright or wire to the damper may be carried
in a suitable socket or connection from the outer end or other point on the said
check arm before mentioned.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianoforte Actions.
I, JOHN LEGG, of No. 1, Anglers Lane, Kentish Town in the County of London,
Pianoforte Action Maker 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 my new pianoforte combination actions is to obtain a better set off to
relieve the stickers or jacks from the butts of the hammers, directly the hammers have
struck their blows on the strings, and I gain other advantages. 1 further attain

page_text: increased facility of repetition and greater smartness and freedom of blow to the
hammer from my improved construction of the parts.
I fix a pin in the top part of the check, which passes through a slot in the shank of
the balance hammer to which it acts as guide.
The spring is passed through a hole bored in the check arm, and is held by a loop
in the usual manner.
On the bottom of the sticker is jointed a block through which there is a regulating
screw. The bottom of the sticker may be clothed or black leaded, as the case may be
thus avoiding the trouble or application or removal of papers or cloths as is usual in
ordinary actions, also the stickers may be movable thus getting the trade term " touch
regulator."
The upright or wire to the damper may be carried in a suitable socket from the
check arm before mentioned.
The regulating screw in the block at the bottom of the sticker can be applied to all
pianoforte check sticker actions.
Or I centre an arm to the hammer rail at the end of the said arm. I screw a pin
into, which passes through a slot in the sticker to which it acts as guide. On the said
sticker is an incline which is operated upon by the upward motion of the sticker, and
comes into contact with a covered button on the said pin screwed into the end of the
arm, an effectual set off, or escapement is effected.
Or the spring is passed through a hole bored in the check arm, and is held by a
loop in the usual manner.
On the sticker I joint an inclined block. Through the front of the said block
I make a slot. The set off pin, or guide, is screwed in a rail; the said rail is
fastened to the hammer rail by means of arms, and then operated upon by the
upward motion of the sticker and comes into contact with the covered button on
the said pin-an effectual set off or front escapement is effected.
The upright or wire to the damper, may be carried in a suitable socket or connection
from the outer end or other point on the said check arm before mentioned.
and
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. shews by side view an action according to my invention, in a state of rest,
Fig. 2 shews a like view of those parts as they appear when "in check" after having
delivered a blow by the hammer.
Fig. 3. shews a like view of same of the parts of the preceding arrangement, some-
what modified in construction and
Fig. 4 shows by another modified construction an arrangement of the invention
adapted to carry out the invention.
Fig. 5 shews the touch regulator.
In Figure 1 and other of the figures where the respective parts occur :-
a is the haminer head, a' is the staff thereof, a' the butt, as the hinge thereof to a
piece secured to the hammer rail b, and at is the balance shank slotted to admit of the
passage therethrough of the pin. ³ projecting from the upper part c² of the check
support e, as is the balance hammer, a is a loop attached to the hammer butt a³ and
engaged in the hook of the spring c² fixed in the sticker c. c' is the check arm from the
sticker c slotted for the passage of the spring and forming a support for the check c'.
c³ is the set off pin screwed for adjustability in the sticker c and carrying a head c
which sets off against the inclined surface 61 of the hammer rail b. The sticker c is at
its lower part e jointed by two hinged pieces d¹, d² to the rail d. The check arm c¹
carries the wire f and adjusting button f¹ operating the damper lever, being
connected thereto by the piece f, the said lever carrying the damper head by the
wire f. 9 indicates the strings.
This arrangement of parts for actuating the damper, as well as the method of
actuating the sticker c by the key e centred at e' are old and well understood.
The bottoms of the stickers c may be provided each with a block c³ (Fig. 5) in which

page_text: is tapped a regulating screw c¹0 by which the bearing of the sticker on the inclined
parte of the end of the key levere may be regulated and thereby the touch varied.
Fig. 3 shews a modified arrangement of parts.
In this arrangement an arm 63 is centered at 63 to the hammer rail b. and a screw
pin crides in a slot c" formed in the sticker and is at its rear end screwed into the
centred arm 62. On this pin is carried the set off button which rides against an
inclined block c", also slotted, carried by the sticker c and an efficient set off or
escapement easily regulated from the front is provided, whilst at the same time
support laterally is given to the sticker.
Fig. 4 shews another modification in which a spring c² (as in Fig. 2) passes through
a slot in the check arm and hooks into a loop a' on the hammer butt. 6, 6 are arms
projecting from the rail b and carrying the bar 6 into which are screwed pins c³, one
of which is shewn, carrying the adjustable set off button c. The sticker carries an
inclined block c¹³ on its front and most accessible side and the button c* presses on the
upper side of the incline of the block whilst the pin e traverses a groove formed in
the front of the block as the block with the sticker rises, and an efficient set off is
effected.
In Figs. 1. & 2. I have also shewn an improved method of effecting regulation of
the set off inclined on the hammer rail by hinging a flap or part of that rail at 66 so
that by inserting any slight wedge or substance into the joint at 67 an alteration of
inclination may be produced, or a screw therethrough into contact with the fixed part b
may be turned to alter the position of the hinged part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The various arrangements or combinations of parts for effecting the checking of
the haminer in upright pianoforte actions so as to obtain increased facility of repetition
and greater smartness and freedom of blow substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the lower end of the sticker of an upright pianoforte action
of a screw adapted to be used to adjust the length of the sticker and an incline on the
key lever as set forth.
3. The combinations or arrangement and use of parts as indicated by Figs. 1, 2
and 5 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combinations of parts as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4 and their use in upright
pianoforte actions substantially as set forth.
Dated the 19th day of August 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.