Improvements in or applicable to Pianofortes, Organs, Harmoniums, and like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
Improvements in or applicable to Pianofortes, Organs, Harmoniums,
and like Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM WILLERINGHAUS, of 13, Hamsell Street, Falcon Square, in the
City of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the combination with pianofortes, organs, harmoniums
and like keyed instruments of means whereby the act of playing will communicate
to the performer a current of electricity.
The invention may be carried out in various ways, for example a battery may be
placed in any convenient part of the instrument and be joined up to suitable
conductors introduced into the face of the keys and assuming that one pole of the
battery be connected to one half of the keys and the other pole to the remaining
half, then as the instrument is played with both hands the circuit would be com-
pleted and a current would be passed through the body of the performer; or all
the keys may be connected to one pole of the battery, and a suitable contact piece
adapted to be applied to any convenient part of the person might be arranged in
connection with the other pole of the battery.
Dated thin 14th
Ostalo 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Pianofortes, Organs, Harmoniums,
and like Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM WILLERINGHAUS, of 13, Hamsell Street, Falcon Square, in the
City of London, Merchant, 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 combination with pianofortes, organs, harmoniums
and like keyed instruments of means whereby the act of playing will communicate
to the performer a current of electricity.
This invention may be carried out in various ways, for example, an electric
battery may be placed in any convenient part of the instrument and be joined up
to suitable conductors introduced into the face of the keys and assuming that one
pole of the battery be connected to one half of the keys and the other pole to the
remaining half, then as the instrument is played with both hands the circuit would
be completed and a current would be passed through the body of the performer ;
or all the keys may be connected to one pole of the battery, and a suitable contact
piece adapted to be applied to any convenient part of the person might be arranged
in connection with the other pole of the battery.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of a pianoforte having my improvements applied
thereto :
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section on the line 2-2 Figure 1; and,
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Figure 1:

page_text: Figure 4 is a sectional side view illustrating the arrangement of the conductors
introduced into the faces of the black keys.
a is the case of the pianoforte, b, b are the keys for playing the naturals
and c, e those for playing the sharps and flats. d is the usual balance rail, and e, e
are the key-pins projecting above the said rail. These pins e, e are not fixed to the
balance rail as hitherto but to two metal plates f, f¹ fixed beneath the said rail,
boles being formed through the rail through which the said pins project, as shewn
most clearly in Figure 2; the pins for the keys usually played by the right hand
being connected to the plate fand those which are played by the left hand to the
plate, the said two plates f, f being out of electrical contact.
The "natural" keys instead of being covered with ivory as hitherto are faced
with a conductor of electricity such, for instance, as nickel which is advantageously
silver-plated or, if desired, the said keys may be partly covered with ivory, strips
of metal being introduced into the same in such a manner that when the keys are
touched by the fingers they will come into contact with the said metal strips. The
keys c, c for playing the sharps and flats may also be covered with metal on their
upper faces but in practice I prefer to introduce strips of metal into the surfaces of
the same, as shewn most clearly in Figures 1 and 4. These surface pieces or strips
are electrically connected, for instance, by wires g, g with the key-pins upon which
they are carried.
1, h indicate the cells (twelve being shewn in the drawing and preferably dry
cells) of an electric battery, which cells are arranged in some suitable part of the
case of the instrument, for instance, between the bracings of the framing, as shewn.
These cells are connected with one another in the ordinary manner for intensity,
that is to say, the zinc of one cell is connected to the carbon of the other; the
positive pole of the left hand cell is also connected by a wire i with the plate f¹
whilst the negative poles of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth cells are connected
by separate wires,,,, respectively to the terminals k, k¹, k³, k³ of a four pole
switch. The lever 7 of this switch is connected by a wire m with the plate fin
such a manner that, when the said lever l is in contact with the terminal k three of
the cells will be in circuit, when in contact with k¹ six cells will be in circuit, when
in contact with 2 nine will be in circuit, and when in contact with ³ twelve will
be in circuit, the movement of the said lever to make contact with one or the other
of the said terminals thus serving to increase or diminish the intensity of the
current.
With the arrangement herein before described it will be readily understood that
when a performer places his fingers simultaneously in contact with any of the keys
connected with the bar f and the bar f¹ the circuit will be completed through the
body of the performer. If no current is required it is only necessary to move the
lever out of contact with the terminal pins.
Although I have described my invention as being applied to pianofortes it will
be readily understood how it can be also applied to organs, harmoniums and like
keyed musical instruments as also to type-writing machines and like apparatus.
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. A pianoforte, organ, harmonium or like keyed instrument the keys of which
are provided with electric conductors and joined up with an electric battery or
other suitable source of electricity in such a manner that the act of playing the
instrument will complete the circuit so as to communicate a current of electricity
to the performer, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a pianoforte, organ, harmonium or like keyed instrument providing the
keys with suitable conductors, such as metal facings or insertions, joined up to a
battery, the keys usually played by one hand being in connection with one pole of
the battery and the keys played by the other hand in connection with the other

page_text: pole of the said battery, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved pianoforte hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th day of May 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Pianofortes, Organs, Harmoniums,
and like Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM WILLERINGHAUS, of 13, Hamsell Street, Falcon Square, in the
City of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the combination with pianofortes, organs, harmoniums
and like keyed instruments of means whereby the act of playing will communicate
to the performer a current of electricity.
The invention may be carried out in various ways, for example a battery may be
placed in any convenient part of the instrument and be joined up to suitable
conductors introduced into the face of the keys and assuming that one pole of the
battery be connected to one half of the keys and the other pole to the remaining
half, then as the instrument is played with both hands the circuit would be com-
pleted and a current would be passed through the body of the performer; or all
the keys may be connected to one pole of the battery, and a suitable contact piece
adapted to be applied to any convenient part of the person might be arranged in
connection with the other pole of the battery.
Dated this 14th day of October 1892..
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Fiusbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Pianofortes, Organs, Harmoniums,
and like Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM WILLERINGHAUS, of 13, Hamsell Street, Falcon Square, in the
City of London, Merchant, 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 combination with pianofortes, organs, harmoniums
and like keyed instruments of means whereby the act of playing will communicate
to the performer a current of electricity.
This invention may be carried out in various ways, for example, au electric
battery inay be placed in any convenient part of the instrument and be joined up
to suitable conductors introduced into the face of the keys and assuming that one
pole of the battery be connected to one half of the keys and the other pole to the
remaining half, then as the instrument is played with both hands the circuit would
be completed and a current would be passed through the body of the performer;
or all the keys inay he connected to one pole of the battery, and a suitable contact
piece adapted to be applied to any convenient part of the person might be arranged
in connection with the other pole of the battery.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of a pianoforte having my improvements applied
thereto :
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section on the line 2--2 Figure 1; and,
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Figure 1:

page_text: gure 4 is a sectional side view illustrating the arrangement of the conductor
introduced into the faces of the black keys.
a is the case of the pianoforte, b, bare the keys for playing the natural
and c, e those for playing the sharps and flats. d is the usual balance rail, and e,
are the key-pins projecting above the said rail. These pins e, e are not fixed to the
balance rail as hitherto but to two metal plates f, ffixed beneath the said rail
holes being formed through the rail through which the said pins project, as shewn
most clearly in Figure 2; the pins for the keys usually played by the right hand
being connected to the plate and those which are played by the left hand to the
plate, the said two plates f,f being out of electrical contact.
The "natural" keys instead of being covered with ivory as hitherto are faced
with a conductor of electricity such, for instance, as nickel which is advantageously
silver-plated or, if desired, the said keys may be partly covered with ivory, strips
of metal being introduced into the same in such a manner that when the keys are
touched by the fingers they will come into contact with the said metal strips. The
keys c, e for playing the sharps and flats may also be covered with metal on their
upper faces but in practice I prefer to introduce strips of metal into the surfaces of
the same, as shewn most clearly in Figures 1 and 4. These surface pieces or strips
are electrically connected, for instance, by wires g, g with the key-pins upon which
they are carried.
h, indicate the cells (twelve being shewn in the drawing and preferably dry
cells) of an electric battery, which cells are arranged in some suitable part of the
case of the instrument, for instance, between the bracings of the framing, as shown.
These cells are connected with one another in the ordinary manner for intensity,
that is to say, the zinc of one cell is connected to the carbon of the other; the
positive pole of the left hand cell is also connected by a wire i with the plate fl
whilst the negative poles of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth cells are connected
by separate wires j,,,, respectively to the terminals k, 1, 2, 3 of a four pole
switch. The lever 7 of this switch is connected by a wire m with the plate fin
such a manner that, when the said lever is in contact with the terminal three of
the cells will be in circuit, when in contact with six cells will be in circuit, when
in contact with 2 nine will be iu circuit, and when in contact with twelve will
be in circuit, the movement of the said lever to make contact with one or the other
of the said terminals thus serving to increase or diminish the intensity of the
current.
With the arrangement hereinbefore described it will be readily understood that
when a performer places his fingers simultaneously in contact with any of the keys
connected with the barf and the bar f¹ the circuit will be completed through the
body of the performer. If no current is required it is only necessary to move the
lever out of contact with the terminal pins.
Although I have described my invention as being applied to pianofortes it will
be readily understood how it can be also applied to organs, harmoniums and like
keyed musical instruments as also to type-writing machines and like apparatus.
4
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 4
claim is :-
1. A pianoforte, organ, harmonium or like keyed instrument the keys of which
are provided with electric conductors and joined up with an electric battery or
other suitable source of electricity in such a manner that the act of playing the
instrument will complete the circuit so as to communicate a current of electricity 5
to the performer, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a pianoforte, organ, harmonium or like keyed instrument providing the
keys with suitable conductors, such as metal facings or insertions, joined up to a
battery, the keys usually played by one hand being in connection with one pole of
the battery and the keys played by the other hand in connection with the other 55

page_text: pole of the said battery, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved pianoforte hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th day of May 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.