Improved Tuning Wedge for Pianofortes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Tuning Wedge for Pianofortes.
I, JOHN ERNEST WILKINSON, of 47, Wilkinson Street, Nelson, in the County
of Lancaster, Musical Instrument Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved tuning wedge to be inserted between two
adjacent wires of a pianoforte while the third is being tuned.
For this purpose,
I take two strips of lancewood or other suitable material say about six inches
long, and hinge or joint them at one end. An inch or so from the other end of
one of the strips, I secure a blade spring bent so as to press against the opposite
strip. This has the effect of causing both strips to spring open somewhat. These
ends of the strips are tapered slightly on their exterior sides, their tapered surfaces
being somewhat corrugated, so that when they have been compressed, they will
spring back and seize the adjacent wires, and thereby stick in position. The
third wire is now tuned without the auxiliary wires interfering with the tone.
In a modification, the spring may form the hinge part. In this form, the spring
is coiled to fit into semicircular recesses in the two strips of wood, and about
midway of their length. The two ends of the coiled spring are bent upwards so
as to embrace each respective strip of wood thus bringing them together. A
groove may be formed around the sides of the strips for the bent ends of the
wire to rest in. The bottom portion of the two strips are tapered outwards, and
consequently have to be sprung together previous to being inserted in the piano-
forte wires.
D 1
1
1000
RICHMOND & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
12, Standish Street, Burnley.
I, JOHN ERNEST WILKINSON, of 47, Wilkinson Street, Nelson, in the County
of Lancaster, Musical Instrument Dealer, 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;
-
This invention relates to an improved tuning wedge to be inserted between
the adjacent wires of a pianoforte while another is being tuned, so as to seize
such wires, and prevent them interfering with the tone.

page_text: For this purpose, I take two strips of lancewood or other suitable material, say
about six inches long, and hinge or joint them at one end. An inch or so from
the hinged end of one of the strips, I secure a blade spring bent so as to press
against the opposite strip. This has the effect of causing both strips to spring
open somewhat.
These ends of the strips are tapered slightly on their exterior sides, their tapered
ends being notched, so that when they have been compressed, they will spring
back and seize the adjacent wires, and thereby stick in position. The other wire
is now tuned without the auxilliary wires interfering with the tone.
In a modification, the spring may form the hinge part. In this form, the
spring is coiled to fit into semi-circular recesses in the two strips of wood, and
about midway of their length. The two ends of the coiled spring are bent
upwards, so as to embrace each respective strip of wood, thus bringing them
together. A groove may be formed around the sides of the strips for the bent
ends of the wire to rest in The bottom portion of the two strips are bent outwards,
and consequently have to be sprung together previous to being inserted in the
pianoforte wires.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a pianoforte tuning wedge constructed in accordance
with my invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are modifications thereof.
-Referring to Fig. 1, the two strips of lancewood or other material A A are
hinged or jointed at their top ends B, and they taper towards their
lower extremities C. Blade spring D is secured by screws or pins as shewn at E
to one of the strips about an inch or so from the hinged part, and is bent so as
to bear against the other strip.
1
I prefer the taper extremities C of the two strips to be notched at F on the
outside, so that when sprung together and released, they will seize the wires of
the pianoforte, thus dispensing with felt or leather, which has a tendency to
come off.
In the modification shewn in Fig. 2, the spiral spring H is employed in substi-
tution of the blade spring D.
A further modification is shewn in Fig. 3, in which the hinged joint is dispensed
with, and the spring is arranged to serve not only the purpose of springing open
the limbs of the wedge, but also for jointing the two strips A A together. For
this purpose, I make corresponding semi-circular recesses J J in the two strips A A,
into which is inserted the coil spring K, whose extremities L are bent to embrace
the sides of the strips, and to retain them firmly together, the said bent ends of
the spring enter grooves M formed in the strips A A.
A particular advantage of my invention consists in the fact that the damper
wire, whether under or over damper action, can be included with the space G
between the limbs of the wedge instead of having to be pushed aside as is the
case with such wedges whose limbs are arranged to cross each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improved construction of a pianoforte tuning wedge consisting of two
tapered strips A A, sprung apart by blade spring D, and hinged or jointed at one
end (such strips not being arranged to cross each other) substantially as described
and illustrated in Fig. 1.
2. The improved construction of a pianoforte tuning wedge consisting of two
tapered hinged pieces A. A, jointed at one end, and provided with a spiral or other
spring for opening the legs of the wedge, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
.

page_text: 3. In a pianoforte tuning wedge, the improved construction represented in
Fig. 3, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 24th day of May 1898.
RICHMOND & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 12, Standish Street, Burnley..