IMPROVEMENTS IN PEDAL PIANOFORTES
Year: 1884

page_text: :
I JAMES RUSHTON of No. 11 Albert Terrace Notting Hill Gate in the County of
Middlesex Pianoforte and Organ Tuner and Regulator do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PEDAL PIANOFORTES to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to the employment of organ pedals in connection with.
pianofortes. Differing from all others that I have seen known or heard of in that
they are not attached to the keys of the pianoforte. It consists of and in the
application of a set of hammers similar to those used in a piano for producing tone.
The hammers are glued into a sticker or single action, or into a check or double
action, which is fitted and fixed inside the bottom of the pianoforte on the left or
bass side and secured in its place by two buttons or thumb screws one each side.
Thus allowing the action to be taken out and replaced at pleasure. The hammers
in connection with the pedals strike the wires of the pianoforte above the belly or
sound board bridge. The pedals used are identical with those described in my
application N° 59 January 1* 1884 for "Improvements in Organ Pedals." The
back falls in the Specification mentioned by me in my application raising a wire
tapped at each end one end being screwed into the back-fall, the other end having
a covered bevelled block screwed on to it. The wire working through a rail with
elongated bushed holes. The rail being screwed on to the pedal frame thereby
bringing the covered bevelled blocks into direct communication with the action
inside the piano. The action aforementioned has no dampers as the pedal action
connected the piano upon being played by the pedals strikes the same to wires
which are struck by the hammers of the key action which action has dampers so
that dampers in the pedal action would be useless because if raised off from the
string by the pedals the wires would not vibrate as the damper of the corresponding
note of the key action rests upon the same wires. Thus free vibration could not
be obtained unless the dampers in the pedal and key actions were attached by a
long wire or otherwise when they would work simultaneously, thereby spoiling the
touch and efficiency of both actions and preventing either of them from being
taken out except at the expense of a considerable amount of time and trouble
necessarily expended in the detachment and re-adjustment of the wires connecting
the dampers in both actions. I therefore use the dampers in the key action and
have made them thoroughly effective by the means which I employ and now
describe. I use two wires, each tapped at both ends; the levers in the pedal

page_text: action are cut out and wires inserted through them; and an oblong button about
one inch in length bored at one end to admit of one of the tapped wires being
turned into it and forked at the other end which admits it being forced on to the
wire which is inserted through the lever by which means the wire can be detached
from the lever at any time. This wire works through a bushed rail which is
grooved into the action standards it is then cranked and a cloth covered button
screwed on to the other tapped end which meets an oblong button the same as
already described having a wire turned into one end and working through a
bushed rail which is screwed on to the key bottom immediately under the keys,
holes being previously bored through the key bottom to allow of this wire working
through the sides of the keys and the bushed rail keeping it in position, and
rendering its action noiseless. The top of this wire is cranked over and in action
raises the lever of key action just enough to bring the damper of the wire ensuring
the full vibration of the wires without interfering with the blow of the key action.
To prevent noise a small punched cloth is glued on to the underside of the lever in
key action at that point where the crank beds and lifts it. This crank cannot
move right or left out of the position in which it is placed as the oblong button at
the other end of this wire work through a bushed rail with oblong holes, either of
these wires can be taken out if required at any time, as also any one of the keys.
and the key action as there is no attachment whatever. The lengths of wire after
cutting to size are regulated by their being turned into the oblong buttons which
are bored to nearly their lengths.
The advantages I claim for my Invention are (1st) It is noiseless, and can be
applied to the best pianoforte made without the least injury to the instrument.
(2nd) The touch, blow, escapement, and repetition, is equal to, and in some cases,
better than that of the action already in use in any pianoforte to which it may be
applied. (3rd) My Invention not touching the keys gives the effect of an
independent pedal thus enabling the performer to use all the bass keys with his
hands. (4th) Pedals detached or attached by merely pulling them out or pushing
them into their place. (5th) The blocks on which the pianoforte stands have two
dowels fixed in each corresponding holes being bored in the bottom of the piano.
The pianoforte being placed on the blocks the dowels fit into it and keep it firm,
while the holes for the castors or rollers of pianoforte are morticed out of the
blocks and the bottom of the pianoforte rests level on the blocks so that at any
time it can be completely detached from blocks and pedals by simply lifting it off
the blocks, and moved about with perfect freedom without the slightest fear of
deranging or putting any of the work out of order. (6th) Any part or portion of
my pedal action can be readily detached and re-adjusted.
Dated this 1st day of January 1884

page_text: I JAMES RUSHTON of N° 11 Albert Terrace Notting Hill Gate in the County
of Middlesex, Pianoforte and Organ Tuner and Regulator do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PEDAL PIANOFORTES and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My Invention relates to the employment of organ pedals in connection with
pianofortes, differing from all others that I have seen known or heard of in that
they are not attached to the keys of the pianoforte. It consists of, and in the
application of a set of hammers similar to those used in a piano for producing tone.
The hammers are glued into a "sticker" or single action, or into a "check" or
double action which is fitted and fixed inside the bottom of the pianoforte on the
left or bass side, and secured in its place by two buttons or thumbscrews, one on
each side, by reason of which arrangement the action may be taken out and
replaced at pleasure.
"
The.
The hammers in connection with the pedals strike the wires of the pianoforte
above the belly, or sound board bridge. The pedals used are identical with those
described in the Specification accompanying my application for Letters Patent for
Improvements in Organs Pedals dated 1 January 1884 N° 59. The back falls
in the said Specification raise a tapped wire at each end, one end being screwed.
into the back fall; the other end having a covered bevelled block screwed on to it.
The wire working through a rail provided with slotted and bushed holes.
rail being screwed on to the pedal frame, thereby bringing the covered bevelled
blocks into direct communication with the action inside the piano.-The action
has no dampers, as the pedal action connected to the piano, upon being played by
the pedals strikes the same wires which are struck by the hammers of the key
action, which action has dampers; so that dampers in the pedal action would be
useless, because if raised off the string by the pedals, the wires would not vibrate,
as the damper of the corresponding note of the key action rests upon the same
wires. Thus free vibration could not be obtained unless the dampers in the pedal.
and key action were attached.
I therefore make use of the dampers in the key action and have made them
thoroughly effective by the means which I employ and now describe.-I use two
wires, each tapped at both ends; the levers in the pedal action are cut out and
wires inserted through them, and an oblong button about one inch in length, bored.
at one end to admit of one of the tapped wires being turned into it, and forked at
the other end, which admits of its being forced on to the wire which is inserted
through the lever; by which means the wire can be detached from the lever at
any time. This wire works through a bushed rail which is grooved into the
action standards. It is then cranked and a cloth covered button screwed on to the
other tapped end which meets an oblong button, the same as already described,
having a wire turned into one end and working through a bushed. rail which is
screwed on to the key bottom immediately under the keys; holes previously being
bored through the key bottom to allow of this wire working through the sides of
the keys, and the bushed rail keeping it in position and rendering its action
noiseless-The top of this wire is cranked over and in action raises the lever of
the key action just enough to bring the damper off the wire, insuring the full
vibration of the wires-To prevent noise a small puuched cloth is glued on to the
underside of the lever in the key action, at that point where the crank "beds"
and lifts it-This crank cannot move to the right or left of the position in
which it is placed, as the oblong button at the other end of the wire works through
a bushed rail with slots. Either of these wires can be taken out if required at

page_text: any time as also any of the keys and the key action as there is no attachment
whatever. The lengths of wire after cutting to size are regulated by their being
turned into the oblong buttons which are bored to nearly their lengths.
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying Drawing. a is the block on which the
pianoforte rests, b is the pedal frame, c shews the upper edge of the block a and
pedal frame, the piano being raised the distance of the block from the floor. d is
one of the pedals, e is an adjusting screw which passes through the pedal, and has
a covered button on the end, which, when the pedal is pressed down, depresses that
end of the back fall f and consequently raises the further end of f, which in its
turn, raises the lift g-This lift g is a tapped wire attached to the back fall with a
bevelled block at its upper end; the wire works in a slot in the bushed rail h,
which is secured on and to the pedal frame--The screw el regulates the depth of
touch, and beds on the spring rail o. i is a lever raised by the block on the wire g
which causes the hammer k to give a blow on the string and raises the damper
wire, which in its turn raises the damper lift m-This lift works through and
between the key spaces and raises the lever n of the action belonging to the keys,
just sufficiently to bring the damper of the key action off the string and allow of
free vibration.
The advantages arising from the use of my Invention are:-
1. It is noiseless and can be applied to the best form of pianoforte without the
least injury to the instrument.
2. The touch, blow, escapement and repetition, is equal to, and in some cases,
better than that of the action already in use in any instrument to which it may be
applied.
3. My Invention not touching the keys gives the effect of an independent pedal
action, thus enabling the performer to use all the bass notes with his hands.
4. Pedals detached or attached by merely pulling them out or pushing them into
their place.
5. The blocks on which the pianoforte stands are morticed to receive the castors
the pianoforte being placed on the blocks the castors fit into the morticed holes
and thus keep it firm and the bottom of the pianoforte rests level on the blocks so
that at any time it can be completely detached from blocks and pedals by simply
lifting it off the blocks and it can be moved about with perfect freedom without
the slightest fear of deranging or putting any of the work out of order.
6. Any part or portion of my pedal action can be readily detached and
readjusted.
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 method and means of applying pedal actions to pianofortes, which are
capable of being applied thereto, and detached therefrom without disturbance of
the connections and mechanism substantially as described and shewn on the
Drawings.
.
2. The general construction and arrangement of the several parts together
forming my improvements in pedal pianoforte actions hereinbefore described and
shewn on the Drawing or any mere modification thereof.
.תנ.י.ת
ثيم
1
....
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.