Improvements in Means for Tuning Pianos and other Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Tuning Pianos and other Stringed
Musical Instruments.
I, FRANK LEE GEORGE, of No. 238, Main Street, Salt Lake City, County of
Salt Lake, State of Utah, United States of America, Piano Tuner, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in means for tuning musical instruments,
more particularly pianos.
It has for its object, among other things, principally, to promote simplicity; to
reduce friction to the minimum; to render the device almost absolutely non-
frictional; to secure ease or facility of tuning; to effect the tuning operation to
micro-metrical exactness; to obtain uniformity of tension of wires or strings
throughout; to provide for tuning either sharp or flat; to effect the maximum
retention of the tune; to reduce liability of breaking of wire or string to the
minimum; to effect the spacing apart of the wires or strings with absolute correct-
ness; to obviate false vibrations on dead end of wire or string; to effect great
saving of wire or string; to maintain the same length of wire for unison notes; to
effectually discard all frictional bearings; to prevent the possibility of the tuning
pins or screws "jumping" during the tuning operation; to obviate the expense
of replacing broken pins; and to facilitate the stringing of new wires in replacing
broken wires.
The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of certain parts,
substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed and specifically pointed out in the
claims.
It is here remarked that I reserve the right to vary the details of the construc-
tion and arrangement of the parts as circumstances may require, and the invention
yet remain intact.
In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred form of carrying out
my invention,-
Figure 1 is a side view of certain parts of a piano, showing the application of
my invention thereto.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figures 3, 4, and 5, are detail views of the same, showing certain individual
parts of the invention, the nature of which will fully appear hereinafter.
1, is a cast iron or metal, string-frame, preferably, constructed as shown, with
its forward straight or horizontal end-portion bolted or secured to the frame of the
piano, and inclined upward therefrom a certain distance, and thence again extended
straight or horizontal and also bolted or secured to the frame of the piano.
3, 3, are the levers for putting the strings or wires, 4, of the piano under tension
or stress, as practiced in effecting the tuning operation, having, preferably, their
fulcrumed ends circular or disk-like in form. Said circular portions are extended
laterally into hub-like portions, as at 3ª, provided with peripheral grooves, 3b, to
receive and retain thereon the strings or wires passing thereover to, and through

page_text: transverse passages in, studs, 3°, projecting from the underside of said levers,
and there secured as shown.
The disk or circular portions of the levers 3, have, each, a radial slot, 3d, with
its flared open end opening through the periphery of said disk, to permit the
pivoting or fulcruming of said levers upon à common or single rod or fulcrum, 3º,
resting and supported in gudgeons or bearings, 5, of a bracket, 5%, screwed as at 8,
or otherwise suitably secured to an offset or abutment, S, of the string-frame.
The bearings or gudgeons, 5, are arranged at suitable intervals apart, to provide
for the reception of the requisite number of levers between each two bearings or
gudgeons, according to the arrangement of the strings or wires in groups of three
and two in unison, and the use of a single wire or string, as for the lowest or
heaviest tones. The bracket, 5, is anchored, or let into, a transverse recess or
channel, 5b, produced in the spring frame, 1, to more effectually secure it in place
against possible dislodgment under strain or stress.
6, 6, are the screws, or screw-threaded pins, bearing or working in the string
frame, 1, and adapted to permit of the application of a wrench thereto for their
manipulation.
These screws or pins have thereon fixed collars, 6, near their upper ends. Also
arranged upon said screws or pins, below said fixed collars, are sleeves, 7, each
provided with lateral parallel flanges or plates, 7", having a stout transverse pin
bar, 7b, extending across the intervening space between them and securely held
at its ends in said flanges or plates to rest upon the free ends of said levers,
received between said plates or flanges, as will be seen, whereby, as the screws or
pins are screwed downward, of course, by a suitable wrench, or it may be by any
improvised implement, said plates or flanges, will be carried thereby downward,
causing said cross pins or bars to press upon said ends of said levers. This action
of parts, it will be seen, will draw upon the strings or wires, 4, taking up any slack
or looseness therein and putting them under stress or tension, thus providing for
the proper tuning of the same, as will be understood.
10, is the sounding board, unlike the arrangement of the sounding boards hereto-
fore used, is adapted to extend clear forward of the strings or wires and below the
same, its forward end being secured to the frame of the piano, somewhat in advance
of the lever-actuating-screws, is adapted to provide a wholly unobstructed space
below the entire length of the strings or wires, thus greatly increasing the sound
vibrating or transmitting surface of the sounding board. Thus also the full sound
of the vibrations of the strings or wires throughout will be secured, obviating any
defective or false sounds, and prevent the interference of the vibrations of one
string with those of another.
It will be seen, that there being no contact between the string or wire tension
levers, all friction whatever, is obviated.
Also it will be seen from the foregoing, that great simplicity is secured; facility
in tuning the instrument obtained, and the same tuned to micrometrical exact-
ness; that the tension of the wires or strings can be kept the same or uniform
throughout; also that the instrument is adapted to he tuned either sharp or flat,
while it can be held in tune at the maximum length of time.
Also that the breaking of the wires or strings is reduced to the minimum, and
that the spacing of the strings or wires is effected with absolute correctness that
a great saving of wire is secured, and that the possibility of the tuning pins or
screws jumping" is entirely overcome; also that the removal of broken pins is
obviated, while the stringing of new wires, replacing broken wires, is effected with
facility or ease.
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. In a piano, or stringed instrument, tuning device, the combination of the 5
string levers, the tension screw or nin and the clams L

page_text: tension screw or pin, having connected lateral extensions or flanges, adapted to
receive between them the free end of said tension-lever, to hold it against possible,
lateral displacement, as also to hold it down, substantially as set forth.
2. In a piano, or stringed instrument, tuning device, the combination of the
string lever, the tension screw or pin having a fixed collar thereon, and the sleeve,
through which passes said pin or screw, having connected lateral flanges or exten-
sions between which is received the free ends of said lever, said sleeve arranged
below said collar, substantially as specified.
3. In a piano, or stringed instrument, tuning device, the tension-lever adapted
to draw upon the wire, and the sleeve having connected lateral flanges or exten-
sions adapted to engage said lever, and means to cause said flanges to bear upon
and force said lever downward, substantially as set forth.
4. In a piano, or stringed instrument, tuning device, the tension-lever adapted
to draw upon the string or wire, the screw or pin having a fixed collar or enlarge-
ment, and the sleeve arranged upon said pin or screw, below said collar, and having
lateral flanges or plates with an intermediary cross bar or pin, adapted to engage
said lever at its free end, substantially as specified.
5. In a piano, or stringed instrument, tuning device, the combination of the
lever having a lateral grooved circular portion provided with a radial slot opening
through its periphery, the bracket having a rod or pivot held in bearings thereon
and passing through the slot of said circular portion of said lever, the pin or screw,
a sleeve arranged on said pin or screw and adapted to act upon said lever, and
said screw or pin adapted to act upon said sleeve, substantially as specified.
Dated this 16th
T
1000
FRANK LEE GEORGE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.