IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Henri Pape, of No. 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Knight of the Legion of Honour, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 25th January 1861, and dated the. 28th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Henri Pape at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1860.
I, JEAN HENRI PAPE, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Knight of the Legion of Honour, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, OF PIANOFORTES,"
to be as follows.:-
The accompanying Drawing represents a section of the improved mechanism.
A is a note or key (full-size) curved downwards, as shewn in the Drawing:
behind the name board B; C, key pin on which moves the key A. This key.
pin is drilled in C, and in the orifice thus formed is fitted a metallic wire.
The key pins thus arranged are coated with silver or copper by the electrotype
process to render them more solid and durable. D, escapement working on
the hammer nut E. This nut is connected with a rocking lever F adapted to
the hammer rail G and to the damper H. When the key is depressed it
raises the piece I with the stalk J, which presses the rocking lever F. By

page_text: this movement the damper is thrown back from the string, and the hammer
being drawn downwards is checked on the brass wire K. The hammers L
employed in this arrangement may have, two, three, and even four striking
faces instead of a single one, as in ordinary combinations, so that when one
surface is worn out a new one may be turned to the cords by means of the
centre piece M. Another advantage of these hammers is in the buffing or
leathering, which may be of one piece and uniform throughout. On the other
hand the buffing may be varied if desired on each angle, so that the tone may
at will be rendered mellow or brilliant in turning to the cords one or other of
the faces.
The height of the complete instrument is about two and a half feet. It con-
sequently offers to the player the same advantages as the grand and other
horizontal pianos. It may, if required, be fitted with a seraphin, harmonium,
or other análogous organ movement, and be surmounted by a moveable
shelving or "étagère " to serve as music or bookcase.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Henri Pape in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
HENRI PAPE, of No. 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Knight of the Legion of Honour, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Jean Henri Pape, Her special licence that I, the said Jean Henri Pape, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean
Henri Pape, 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 Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONTRUCTION OF PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Jean Henri Pape, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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

page_text: 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I; the said Jean Henri Pape, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
.formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Figures of the accompanying Drawing
(that is to say):-
Figures 1, 2, represents 1 in section the different parts of the improved
mechanism.
A is a note or key (full-size) curved downwards, as shewn in the Drawing
behind the name board B; C, key pin, on which moves the key A. This key
-pin is drilled in C', and in the orifice thus formed is fitted a metallic wire.
The key pins thus arranged are coated with copper or silver by the electrotype
process, to render them more solid and durable. D, escapement acting on the
hammer nut E. This nut is connected with a rocking lever F adapted to the
hammer rail G, and carrying the damper H. When the key A is depressed,
it raises the lever piece I with the stalk J, which presses the rocking lever F.
By this movement the damper is thrown back from the string N, and the
hammer being drawn downwards is checked on the brass wire K. The
hammers L employed in this arrangement may have two, three, and even
four faces instead of a single one, as in ordinary combinations, so that when
one surface is worn out a new one may be turned to the cords by means of the
centre piece M. Another advantage of these hammers is in the buffing or
leathering, which may be of one piece, and uniform throughout. On the
other hand, the buffing may be varied if desired on each angle, so that the
tone may at will be rendered mellow or brilliant in turning to the cords one
or other of the faces.
The height of the complete instrument comprising the mechanism above
described is about two and a half feet. It consequently offers to the player
the same advantages as the grand and other horizontal pianos. It may, if
required, be fitted with a seraphin, harmonium, or other analogous organ
movement, and may be surmounted by a shelving or "étagère," as seen in
Figure 3, to serve as music or bookcase. In many appartments this upper
section or superposed shelving may be dispensed with, but in all rooms of
ordinary dimensions and arrangement it adds so much to the symetrical
appearance of the instrument as to become almost indispensable.
Having thus described the nature of the said improvements, and the manner
of carrying them into effect, I declare that what I claim is,--

page_text: 1stly, the general constructión and arrangement of the key and hammer
mechanism of pianofortés, substantially as above described and represented in
Figures 1, 2, of the annexed. Drawing. I
. 2dly, the addition to pianos comprising the improved mechanism of a
..moveable upper section, which may serve as a music or book receptacle, while
adding to the symetrical appearance of the instrument, as above described and
represented in Fig. 3.of.the.annexed.Drawing.
F
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Henri Pape, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January,. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.