IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. ·
I EMIL CAPITAINE of 89 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil-
engineer and Patent Agent of the firm: Capitaine & von Hertling do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOS to be as
follows:-
The purpose of this Invention is to secure a more clear and durable tuning than
with all improvements in this respect hitherto known.
As is seen in the accompanying Drawings-A screw h (for tuning) for every
string to be tuned is in the capodaster f upon the massive iron tuning plate a.
If this screw is screwed more or less deep into the capodaster the tension of the
respective string and consequently the height of tone will be changed.
The tuning is attained in a manner as the screw acts upon the string very slow,
only a little turning of the pin e will effect a change of tone.
The cause of the greater durability of the tuning is in the first place that the
string near the pin by employing this new screw is to be strained in such a manner
as a further yielding at this point which is most inclined to yield-is avoided as
much as possible; in the second place the screw for tuning exercises its pressure
on the string closely to the point where it touches the same near the gang-board c
of the massive iron tuning plate and so most effectually prevents any displayment
of the pins through the vibration of the strings.
The strings of our instrument are made of the very best steel, and the construction
of our piano is so substantial that by employing our iron frame with cast tuning
plate it is impossible for the instrument to get out of tune after having been once
properly tuned.
Should it be the case that the piano still gets a little out of tune the reason
is to be sought in the above said two points.
This defect in tuning however is essentially removed to a great extend by our
Invention.

page_text: I, EMIL CAPITAINE of 89 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS" and in what manger the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
These improvements which I will describe with reference to the accompanying
Sheet of illustrative Drawings relates to means for the more exact and finer tuning
of stringed musical instruments..
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively-a front and a side view of an instrument provided
with the said improvements in which a is the tuning plate, 6 the frame, (a and b
forming one body) c and d bridges, e tightening pins, f, head or block fixed over
the tuning plate by means of four screws and fitted with screws h for the purposo
of deflecting or tightening the strings or wires of the instrument.
When it is desired to tune the instrument the strings or wires are first tightened
by turning the pins e and afterwards further and more exactly tightened and set
by means of the screws h, which upon being screwed down press against the
strings or wires, and deflect them between the bridges c and d.
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:
In pianos the employment of the head or block f, in combination with the
screws / working therein, for the purpose of tuning or setting the strings or wires
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
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