IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES.
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Thompson, of Regent Street, W., in the
County of Middlesex, and Samuel Thompson, of the same Place, Piano-
forte Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES.'
Sealed the 30th April 1858, and dated the 11th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Thompson and
Samuel Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 11th November 1857.
We, HENRY THOMPSON, of Regent Street, W., in the County of Middlesex,
and SAMUEL THOMPSON, of the same Place, Pianoforte Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
These improvements are applicable to all kinds of pianofortes, and are
intended greatly to increase the effectiveness of such musical instruments, and
to facilitate the performance thereon, by enabling the performer to produce an
octave or a chord at will by merely striking a single key.
This effect is produced by applying additional mechanism to each key, which
mechanism is so arranged as to strike the octave or chord above or below
simultaneously with the note answering to the key which has been struck.
This additional mechanism is intended to be so arranged as to be capable of
being thrown in and out of action by means of a pedal, but if desired it may
be so constructed as to remain always in action. It will be evident that the

page_text: above-named desired effect may be obtained in a variety of ways without
deviating from the principal characteristic features of our Invention, and that
the mechanism will necessarily vary in different constructions of pianofortes.
For example, in a cabinet or upright pianoforte, each key may be furnished
with an additional "sticker" passing upwards in a diagonal direction, its upper
end passing through a "bushed" rail, and acting upon the lever corresponding
with the thirteenth key or octave above or below, and a modification of the
same arrangement may be used to produce chords instead of octaves; but the
same end may be obtained by any other suitable double or multiplying action
or mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Thompson and Samuel Thompson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 11th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
THOMPSON, of Regent Street, W., in the County of Middlesex, and SAMUEL
THOMPSON, of the same Place, Pianoforte Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Henry Thompson and Samuel Thompson, Her special licence that we, the
said Henry Thompson and Samuel Thompson, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Thompson and Samuel
Thompson, our 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 Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Henry Thompson and Samuel Thompson, our executors or administra-
tors, by an instrument in writing under our, or one of our, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Thompson and Samuel Thompson,
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 in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:-
These improvements are applicable to all kinds of pianofortes, and are
intended greatly to increase the effectiveness of such musical instruments, and
to facilitate the performance thereon, by enabling the performer to produce an
octave or chord at will by merely striking a single key.
1
This effect is produced by applying additional mechanism to each key, which
mechanism is so constructed as to strike the octave or chord above or below
simultaneously with the note answering to the key which has been struck. This
additional mechanism is intended to be so arranged as to be capable of being
thrown in and out of action by means of a pedal, but if desired it may be so
constructed as to remain always in action. It will be evident that the above-
named desired effect may be obtained in a variety of ways without deviating
from the principal characteristic features of our Invention, and that the
nechanism will necessarily vary in different constructions of pianofortes. For
example, in a cabinet or other upright pianoforte each key may be furnished
with an additional "sticker," passing upwards in a diagonal direction, its upper
end passing through a "bushed" rail, and acting upon the lever or hammer
corresponding with the thirteenth key or octave above or below, and a modi-
fication of the same arrangement may be used to produce chords instead of
octaves; but the same effect may be produced by any other double or
multiplying action or mechanism.
But in order that the manner of carrying our Invention into practical effect
may be perfectly understood, we have annexed hereunto a Drawing, represent-
ing two views of the action of a "piccolo". pianoforte with our Invention
applied thereto, drawn to a geometrical scale of about three inches to the foot,
and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation thereof.
Figure 1 is a front view of the mechanism, and Figure 2 is a vertical
section of the same. A, A, is the frame; B, B, are the keys; C, C, the
."hoppers;" D, D, the "sticker" levers; E, E, the "stickers;" F, F, the
hammers; and G, G, the dampers. Thus far the mechanism is of the ordinary
construction. H, H, are the additional "stickers." It will be perceived that
each key is furnished with one of these additional. " stickers," excepting (for
obvious reasons) the twelve highest and the twelve lowest keys. These
"stickers" H, HI, are inclined in a diagonal direction, so that their upper ends

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come opposite to the thirteenth key, above or below the one to which their lower
ends are connected; those for the bass keys inclining to the octave below, and
those for the treble inclining to the octave above. The upper ends of these
additional "stickers" pass through holes in a moveable rail I, I, which are
bushed with felt or cloth. It will be seen, upon referring to Figure 2, that.
when this rail is pushed inwards or towards the wires by the pedal (to which
it is connected in any convenient manner), the upper ends of these additional
"stickers" come under "lifters" K, K, attached to the upper end of the
ordinary stickers" E, E, and thus the two notes of the octave are simul-
taneously sounded upon striking a single key. Upon removing the foot from
the pedal the springs L, L, will throw the "bushed" rail I, I, forward into the
position in which it is drawn in Figure 2, and the keys will then strike single
notes only. The lower ends of the additional "stickers" H, H, are connected
to the keys B, B, in the following manner :-Each key has a piece of india-
rubber cemented thereon, and the lower ends of the "stickers" are furnished
with needle points, which are pressed into the india-rubber by small springs
M, M, holding into a notch cut in the lower end of the "sticker."
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention of
Improvements in the Construction of Pianofortes," together with the manner
of carrying the same into practical effect, we would remark, in conclusion, that
we claim as our Invention, the application of additional mechanism to the keys
of a pianoforte, for the purpose of striking the octave or chord above or below,
simultaneously with the note answering to the key which has been struck, as
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Thompson, on behalf of myself
and the said Samuel Thompson, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol & Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.
HENRY THOMPSON. (L.S.)