Year: 1897

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY GRAFTON, 61, Cambridge Street, Rotherham, Yorkshire, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object, by a very simple mechanical arrangement, to
effect with greater ease, and facility, the transposition of the notes of a pianoforte ;
either horizontal, or upright, in accordance with the key, in which, it is desired the
piece of music shall be performed.
Fig. I is plan of a pianoforte frame, with part of the keys removed, so as to show
the mechanism more clearly.
Fig. II. is the end section through line A B showing movements of lever, keys
back-rail, and sliding key-frame.
D is the fixed frame of piano, on which the sliding frame, C (practically known as
key-board, and which for the purposes of this invention, will hereafter be called the
sliding key-board), is fixed.
The back-rail É or key-rest, shaped as shown at E Fig. II. supported on the
blocks, P and pivoted on bearing's attached to frame D at F.
The lever G is attached to back-rail bracket, H at joint J at one end; and to the
handle K at centre L at the other end. The handle and catch K with lever, and the
previously described attachments are moved to the required position, by means of
bracket centre M, the said bracket being attached to the sliding key-board at M¹.
The notched brass plate N containing as many notches as the scale of keys, or
the mechanism requires; is fixed to the piano frame D at O. These notches are to
regulate the distance of the travel of sliding key-board C, and also provide a means
of locking the key-board from any movement whatever, until the keys are thrown
out of gear, by means of the revolving back-rail E and thus prevent any damage
to the mechanism of any part of the piano.
To transpose the piano; the handle and catch K is pulled forward, from its
position, as shown by full lines in Fig. II. (The position which locks the sliding
key-board C) to position as shown by dotted lines K¹ Fig. II. This movement
withdraws the catch on handle K, from notch in brass plate N, and turns the
back-rail E, as shown by dotted lines at F1 which allows the keys to fall as shown, by
dotted lines at R₁ by force of gravity. But to prevent by mischance any of the
keys remaining in position of danger, a small rod S is attached to back-rail E, in
such manner as to be clear of the keys when sliding key-board C is locked, but
which will pull the keys down, as shown at S¹ when it is desired to transpose the
keys.
All now being released, and free from risk of damage, the sliding key-board may
be moved at will, either to the right, or left hand, to the key required. The distance
is exact, when the catch on handle K, drops into the notch in brass plate N, (on the
movement being reversed) and in this position, the handle K is removed out of
way of the performers knees.
the
Dated this 26th day of February 1897.

page_text: WILLIAM HENRY GRAFTON, 61, Cambridge Street, Rotherham, 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 has for its object to effect with greater ease, and facility the
transposition of the notes of a pianoforte in accordance with the key in which
it is desired the piece of music shall be performed.
Fig. 1. Plan view of a pianoforte frame with part of keys removed. Fig. 2 is an
end section through line a-b showing movement of lever, key rail, and sliding key
frame d is the fixed frame of piano on which the sliding frame c practically known
as the key board (and which for the purposes of this invention will hereafter be
called the sliding key board) is fixed.
The eccentric back rail e or key rest shaped as shown (Fig. 2) is supported on the
blocks P and pivoted on bearings attached to frame d as shown at f.
The flexible link or rod g is attached to back rail bracket hat joint j at one
end, and to the handle k at centre at the other end. The handle and catch k is
also attached to bracket m by the centre m¹. The said bracket being fixed to the
sliding key board.
The notched brass plate n containing as many notches as the scale of keys or the
mechanism requires is fixed to the piano frame d as shown at o. These notches are to
regulate the distance of the travel of sliding key-board c, and also to provide a
means of locking the key board c from any movement whatever until the keys are
thrown out of gear by means of the revolving back rail e and thus prevent any
damage to the mechanism of any part of the piano.
To transpose the piano the handle and catch k is pulled forward from its position,
as shown by full lines in section (Fig. 2). The position which locks the sliding
key frame
c to position as shown by dotted lines at k in section Fig. 2.
The movement withdraws the catch on handle k from notch in brass plate n
and turns the back rail e as shown by dotted lines at f which allows
the keys to fall as shown by dotted lines r1 by force of gravity. But to
prevent by mischance any of the keys remaining in position of danger, a small
rod as shown at 8 is attached to back rail e in such manner as shown at 8¹ so
as to be clear of the hammers and keys when the sliding key board is locked, but
which will pull the keys down when it is desired to transpose the keys as shown
at 8'.
All now being released, and free from damage the sliding key board may be moved
at will, either to the right or left hand, to the key required, and the distance is
exact when the catch on handle k is removed out of the way of the performers
knees.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combined construction of the various parts substantially as described and
illustrated herein.
2. In means for shifting the position of keys of pianoforte & such like arrangements
a movable back rail or rest operated by means of a handle through the medium of
suitable levers, said back rail being pivoted and provided with bearing surfaces,
arranged to allow the keys to fall or be moved free from the hammer action.
guard rail attached to said movable back rail for the purpose of ensuring
A

page_text: the falling of the keys from the ends of the hammers. The frame carrying the
keys being movable so that the ends of the keys may be brought under
the required hammers & thus allow for transposing; said movable frame carrying the
handle for operating the back rail which has an eccentric projection which engages
5 with notches in a locking bar for the purpose of securing the keys & sliding key
board in the required position.