IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alessandro Capra of the firm of Capra Rissone and
Detoma of Clerkenwell in the County of Middlesex Mechanical Pianoforte
Manufacturers
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alessandro Capra at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1882.
«
ALESSANDRO CAPRA of the firm of Capra Rissone and Detoma of Clerkenwell
in the County of Middlesex Mechanical Pianoforte Manufacturers IMPROVE
MENTS IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO AND FOR PLAYING PIANO-FORTES
"
This Invention relates to improvements in mechanism applicable to and for
playing piano-fortes and consists of a new method of playing the pianoforte by
means of improved mechanical arrangements.
The playing mechanism or apparatus forms a separate instrument which can be
applied to any ordinary pianoforte by being wheeled or otherwise moved into
position over the key board.
The action on the pianoforte is vertical and its touch closely resembles that of
the hand.
This improved playing mechanism or apparatus consists of a pin barrel and a
key frame. The pin barrel is similar to those placed in any ordinary mechanical
pianoforte and turned in the same way by a handle but according to my
improvements is arranged above the key board.
The key frame consists of a series of levers arranged in a horizontal position in
connection with the barrel, each lever being drawn by means of a spring so as
to touch the pins of the barrel and in such a way that as the barrel revolves the
pins raise the levers. These levers are in connection with striking rods which are
jointed and pliable in the centre and are arranged in a vertical position above the
key board leaning against the tops of the levers and in such a manner that when
the levers in connection with them are raised the striking rods slip under the levers
and are thereby pressed down sharply on the key board but immediately (owing
to their pliability) slip back into their original positions.
This improved mechanism causes the instrument to play with the greatest
accuracy and almost perfect touch.
The pin barrel is worked as other pin barrels combined with mechanical pianos
and no claim is made thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alessandro Capra in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June
1883.
ALESSANDRO CAPRA of the firm of Capra Rissone and Detoma of Clerkenwell
in the County of Middlesex Mechanical Pianoforte Manufacturer IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO AND FOR PLAYING PIANOFORTES
ss
"
This invention relates to improvements in mechanism applicable to and for
¡playing pianofortes and consists of a new method of playing the pianoforte by
means of improved mechanical arrangements.
The playing mechanism or apparatus forms a separate instrument which can be
applied to any ordinary pianoforte by being wheeled into position over the
key board.
T
The action on the pianoforte is vertical and its touch closely resembles that of
the hand.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed which show
so much of the keyboard of a pianoforte having portable mechanism or apparatus
applied thereto as will enable me to describe the nature of my invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a transverse section of my improved playing mechanism or
apparatus mounted upon or over the keyboard of a piano-forte.
This improved playing mechanism or apparatus consists of a pin barrel a and a
key frame b. The pin barrel a is similar to those placed in any ordinary
mechanical pianoforte and turned in the same way by a handle but according to
my improvements is arranged above the key-board A of the pianoforte.
The key-frame b consists of a series of levers 6' arranged in a horizontal position
in connection with the barrel a each lever b¹ being drawn by means of a spring b²
so as to touch the pins a' of the barrel a and in such a way that as the barrel a
revolves the pins a raise the levers b¹. These levers 61 are in connection with
striking rods c. which are jointed and pliable in the centre and are arranged in a
vertical position above the keyboard A leaning against the tops of the levers bl
and in such a manner that when the levers or keys of the piano:forte in
connection with them are raised the striking rods c slip under the levers b' and are
thereby pressed down sharply on the corresponding. key of the key board A but
immediately (owing to their pliability) slip back into their original positions.
This improved mechanism causes the instrument to play with the greatest
accuracy and almost perfect touch.
The pin barrel a is worked or actuated in like manner to other pin barrels
combined with mechanical pianos and no claim is made thereto. One pin barrel
can be readily substituted for another.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice I would remark that I make no claim to any
of the mechanical or other parts separately which are well known and in common
use But what I claim is: :
The improved arrangement and application of mechanism or apparatus to piano-
fortes for playing the same in which a series of levers such as 6' are actuated by

page_text: a pin barrel a to give motion to a series of striking rods or fingers such as c
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and
represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Alessandro Capra have hereunto set my
hand and seal this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ALESSANDRO CAPRA (L.S.)