Improvements in and relating to the Sounding-boards of Pianos and other similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in and relating to the Sounding-boards of Pianos and
other similar Musical Instruments.
I, THOMAS HENRY RUSHTON, of 34, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, in the County
of Lincoln, Piano Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the sounding-boards or bellies of
pianos and other musical instruments in which such parts are employed. The
sounding-boards as commonly constructed are liable, after being in use for some
time, to change their shape and sink away from the strings or wires of the
instrument, the tone of which is thereby materially deteriorated.
The object of my invention is to prevent this change of shape or sinking of
the sounding-board, or in the event of such having already taken place to remedy
the defect in a simple and effectual manner.
For this purpose I provide the sounding-board with a series of wires or cords
of any suitable material, the ends of each wire or cord being fixed at opposite
sides or ends of the board and being stretched tightly over the top of a peg or
support placed at or about the centre of the said wire or cord and resting on the
bars of the sounding board. These pegs or supports need not be fastened in any
way, but are kept in place by the downward strain of the wires or cords which
preferably rest in notches or holes formed on or in the upper ends of the said
pegs or supports, and in some cases guy-lines may be provided for the purpose
The tension of the wires
of assisting in keeping the pegs or supports in place.
or cords may be varied as required, by means of ratchet devices provided at one
or both ends of each wire or cord.
41
1
1900
Improvements in and relating to the Sounding-boards of Pianos and
other similar Musical Instruments.
I, THOMAS HENRY RUSHTON, of 34, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, in the County
of Lincoln, Piano Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: 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 improvements in the sounding-boards or bellies of
pianos and other musical instruments in which such parts are employed.
The sounding-boards as commonly constructed are liable, after being in use
for some time, to change their shape and sink away from the strings or wires
of the instrument, the tone of which is thereby materially deteriorated.
The object of my invention is to prevent this change of shape or sinking of
the sounding-board, or in the event of such having already taken place to remedy
the defect in a simple and effectual manner. For this purpose I provide the
sounding-board with a series of wires or cords, the ends of each wire or cord
being fixed at opposite sides or ends of the board and being stretched tightly over
the top of a peg or support placed at or about the centre of the said wire or cord
and resting upon the sounding-board. The tension of the wires or cords may be
varied as required by means of ratchet devices provided at one or both ends of
each wire or cord.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will now describe same
with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is a back
elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation of the sounding-board of an ordinary
upright piano with my invention applied thereto.
A represents the sounding-board, B the wires or cords stretched tightly over the
pegs or supports C; these pegs or supports need not be fastened in any way,
but are kept in place by the downward strain of the wires or cords which prefer-
ably rest in notches or holes formed on or in the upper ends of the said pegs or
supports, and in some cases guy lines may be provided for the purpose of assisting
in keeping the pegs or supports in position.
For the purpose of tightening the wires B any suitable device may be employed
and for example I show in the drawing ratchet wheels and pawls 1) whereby the
wires or cords are tightened to the required degree.
It will now be understood that in the event of a sounding-board having assumed
a curved surface, the requisite number of wires or cords and pegs or supports
are placed in position on the back or convex surface of the said board together
with their relative ratchet wheels and pawls, the wires or cords are then stretched
over or through the pegs or supports by turning the ratchet wheels until the
sounding-board has returned more or less to its original state. The wires or
cords may pass across in the sounding-board in any direction that may facilitate
the accomplishment of the object in view.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
First. In sounding-boards the application of wires or cords B tightly stretched
over or through pegs or supports C combined and operating substantially as and
for the purpose described with reference to the drawings.
Second. In sounding-boards, the application of wires or cords B tightly stretched
over or through pegs or supports C by means of ratchet wheels and pawls D
or the equivalent, combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1899.