AN IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTION PIANOFORTE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
DOUBLE-ACTION PIANOFORTE." -A communication from abroad by John
Joseph Bender, Henry Joseph Bang, and George Müller, all of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 14th September 1866, and dated the 3rd April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
3rd April 1866.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, South-
ampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTION PIANOFORTE," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar kind of pianoforte in which one set of
keys is made to perform the part of playing two pianofortes at one and the
same time, or one or either of them as desired, the said pianoforte being in
external shape and size similar to that of an ordinary pianoforte; and this I

page_text: operation and at the same time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the Drawing A represents a pianoforte key with damper a for the
reception of the pole of the hammer; B is the balance rail with its balance
pin b which sustain the keys; C, the back rail or key rest; D, the front or
stop rail with its pin d; E is a player or tripping lever, having an adjusting
screwe and weighted end for the purpose of actuating the hammer or
striker F. The striker F it will be observed is weighted also at its tail end f
for the purpose of bringing the hammer after striking back to its previous
position in relation to the key and strings. There is also in connection with
the key and striker, but attached to the key, what pianoforte makers term a
catcher G, the object of the catcher being to retain the hammer F about
midway between the springs and keys after the hammer has struck,
and while the key A yet rests on the front or stop rail D; this catch in
relation to the key and striker I claim as new. In connection with the
weighted end of the striker F is the pedal lever H operated in the 'usual
manner; I is the bridge plane in which the straining pins i are inserted, and
to which the strings are attached; J is a bridge on the bridge plane I, over
which the strings pass; K is the sound board, on which is placed the sound
board bridge and the iron pin plate in the ordinary manner; M is the
damper rail to which the damper lever N is hinged, and O is the damper
lifter attached to the key A, the said damper lifter being operated by a pedal
connected by the damper rail.
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The above description relates to the lower pianoforte or set of strings
with their appendages, and to describe the upper pianoforte or set of strings
with their appendages would be but a repetition, with the exception that the
hammers of the upper pianoforte strike upward in the usual manner, while
the hammers of the lower pianoforte strike downwards on touching the keys;
as shewn in the Drawings, and this action in the pianoforte I also claim' as
new.
I would here remark that for the purpose of repairing the machinery of
as well as for tuning my pianoforte the framework is divided into sections,

page_text: shown by the lines x, x, and y, y, in which the upper section V with the cover
is entirely removed from the frame, and the middle section W turned
backward on its hinge or pivot w when required for the purposes already
stated. On touching the key A the weighted player or tripping lever E of
the lower piano as well as the tripping lever of the upper piano actuate the
hammers or strikers of the lower piano and strikers of the upper piano at
the same time, the sets of hammers on rebounding from the strings being
caught by the catchers of the upper and lower pianos and held between the
said strings and keys until the key is again raised, when the poles of the
hammers will rest on or against their respective dampers.
From the above it will be seen that with one set of keys and the appendages
connected therewith I produce an instrument equal to two pianofortes, which
can be played together at one and at the same time, or one or either of them as
desired, and by one performer. One of the pianofortes may be so constructed
or tuned as to play a third, fifth, or an octave above or below the other, and
thus a powerful body of harmony is obtained, which renders my pianoforte
of great value and importance to concert halls, theatres, and other large
public rooms..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George
Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others. as I;
the said George Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make,, use, exercise, and. vend, within the United Kingdom of Great

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTION PIANOFORTE," (a communication,) upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors
or administrators, by. an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 a peculiar device in which one set of keys is made
to perform the part of playing two pianofortes at one and the same time, or
one or either of them as desired, said pianofortes being in external shape and
size similar to that of an ordinary pianoforte; and this I accomplish by placing
in a pianoforte case two sets of strings with their appendages, and between
them the set of keys or levers with their hammers, which on touching the
keys will strike the upper pianoforte or set of strings and the lower piano-
forte or set of strings at one and the same time, and thus two pianofortes are
played by one performer and by one and the same operation and at the same
time.
Having described the nature of my Invention I will now describe its
construction and mode of operation.
In the accompanying, Drawings forming part of this Specification A
represents a pianoforte key, with damper a for reception of the pole of the
hammer; B is the balance rail, with its balance pin 6 for sustaining the keys;
C, the back rail or key rest; D, the front or stop rail, with its pin d; E is a
player or tripping lever, having an adjusting screw e and weighted end e¹ for
the purpose of actuating the hammer or striker F. The striker F it will be
observed is weighted also at its tail end f for the purpose of bringing the
hammer after striking back to its previous position in relation to the key and
strings. There is also in connection with the key and striker, but attached
to the key, what pianoforte makers term a catcher G, the object of the
catcher being to retain the hammer F about midway between the strings and
the keys after the hammer has struck and while the key A yet rests on the.
front or stop rail D. This catcher in relation to the key and striker I claim

page_text: as new.
In connection with the weighted end of the striker F is the pedal
lever H, operated in the usual manner; I is the bridge plane, in which the
straining pins i are inserted, and to which the strings are attached; J is
a bridge on the bridge plane I, over which the strings pass; K is the
sound board, on which is placed the sound board bridge k and the iron pin
plate in the ordinary manner; M is the damper rail, to which the damper
lever N is binged, and O is the damper lifter attached to the key A, the
said damper lifter being operated by a pedal connected with the damper
rail.
The above description relates to the lower pianoforte or set of strings with
their appendages, and to describe the upper pianoforte or set of strings with
their appendages would be but a repetition, with the exception that the
hammers of the upper pianoforte strike upward in the usual manner, while
the hammers of the lower pianoforte strike downward on touching the keys,
as shown in the Drawings, and this action in a pianoforte I also claim as new.
I would here remark that for the purpose of reparing the machinery
of as well as for tuning my pianoforte the framework is divided into sections,
shown by the red lines x, x, and y, y, in which the upper section V with
the cover is entirely removed from the frame, and the middle section W turned
backward on its hinge or pivot w when required for the purposes already
stated.
The operation of my pianoforte is very simple, and is as follows:-On
touching the key A the weighted player or tripping lever E of the lower
piano as well as the tripping lever of the upper piano actuate the hammers
or strikers of the lower pianoforte and the strikers of the upper pianoforte
at one and the same time, both hammers on rebounding from the strings
being caught by the catchers G of the upper and lower pianofortes and held
between the said strings and key until the key is again raised, when the poles
of the hammers will rest on or against their respective dampers.
From the above it will be seen that with one set of keys and appendages
connected therewith I produce an instrument equal to two pianofortes, which
can be played together at one and the same time (or one or either of them as
desired), and by one performer.
One of the pianofortes may be so constructed or tuned as to play a third,
fifth, or an octave above or below the other, and thus a powerful body of
harmony is obtained, which renders my pianoforte of value and importance to
large public concert halls, theatres, etc.
Having described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure

page_text: by Letters Patent is, the above construction and arrangement of an in-
strument combining two pianofortes, which are played together at one
and the same time and by one set of keys, substantially as described and set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.s.)
Witness,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.