Apparatus for Warming the Keyboards of Pianofortes, Organs, or Musical Instruments with similar Keys.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
DDAVISION
Apparatus for Warming the Keyboards of Pianofortes, Organs, or
Musical Instruments with similar Keys.
FRANCIS LANGHAM WILDER of Sulham Rectory, Pangbourne, Berks. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for the above purpose to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of a vessel made of metal or other material, which may
be covered with cloth or other suitable substance, and which vessel is of a shape
and size convenient to rest on the keys of the keyboard, manual or manuals (if
there be more than one) of a pianoforte, organ or other musical instrument, con-
structed with a keyboard, manual or manuals of like nature. For the purpose of
warming the keys the vessel is constructed to contain water, bran or other suitable.
substance of any suitable temperature.
Dated this 19th day of January 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Warming the Keyboards of Pianofortes, Organs, or
Musical Instruments with similar Keys.
FRANCIS LANGHAM WILDER of Sulham Rectory, Pangbourne Berkshire, Electrical
Engineer 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 :-
My invention consists in constructing a vessel of metal or other material, which
may be covered with cloth or other suitable substance, and which vessel is of a shape
and size convenient to rest on and fit against the keys of the keyboard or manual of
a pianoforte, organ or other musical instrument constructed with a keyboard or
manual of similar nature.
For the purpose of heating the keys of the keyboard or manual aforementioned, the
vessel is constructed to contain water, bran or other suitable matter of any suitable
temperature.
The vessel may also be constructed according to requirement, of such a shape and
size as to fit on two or more manuals of an organ or other musical instrument with
manuals of similar nature, so that the keys of these manuals aforementioned may be
heated simultaneously by the one vessel.
The vessel is not necessarily constructed to rest upon all the keys or every part of
cach key of the aforementioned keyboard, manual or manuals.
The vessel is preferably constructed of sheet zinc, copper, tin or other metal or
metals bent and worked into the form of a tube having longitudinal surfaces of
such a shape as to fit against the surface of the keys of the pianoforte, organ,
or other musical instrument aforementioned, as shown in the accompanying drawing
where Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view of the vessel in perspective, Fig. 2 an end view
and Fig. 3 a plan; the surface denoted by the line A B in Fig. 2 being intended to
rest upon the upper surface of the white keys, and the surface denoted by the
line CD being intended to rest upon the upper surface of the black keys of the
pianoforte or other musical instrument aforementioned, as ordinarily constructed.
The tube is in other respects constructed preferably rectangular in cross section, as
shown in the drawing, or having a curved or other convenient cross section, and
being of a length sufficient to rest upon any required length of keyboard.
ongitudinal edges of the metal sheet thus bent into one of the forms aforementioned
re joined together by soldering or otherwise, the edges overlapping a suitable
[Pil
The

page_text: amount; or they may be bent upwards or downwards a convenient amount and
joined together so as to form a longitudinal rib. to prevent any buckling of the
tube. The ends of the tube are closed with pieces of similar metal sheet soldered
or otherwise joined to them,, the said pieces preferably having flanges to overlap
the ends of the tube, or the end pieces may be inserted within the ends of the tube
or may be cut out in one piece with the rest of the tube.
For the purpose of filling the vessel, an opening is made in any part of the vessel,
preferably in one of the end pieces or. in the upper surface of the vessel, the opening
being fitted with a nozzle having a removable watertight cover; preferably a screw
top if necessary another opening provided with a nozzle of similar nature, or a
valve, may be made in another part of the tube or vessel to allow for the exit of
the air from the interior thereof.
To avoid buckling of the vessel which may occur if it is not properly filled, the
vessel may be constructed with a longitudinal rib or ribs inside or outside, or with
transverse sectional supports of metal in the interior, the aforesaid supports being
perforated to allow the water or other heating matter to fill the vessel throughout.
"The vessel may be coated outside with cloth, felt or other material for the purpose
of making a soft surface contiguous to the keys aforementioned, for regulating the
heat communicated to the same, and for preventing the heat from -becoming
dissipated too rapidly. The cloth;- felt or other material aforementioned may be
fixed to the outer surface of the vessel by means of cement or other adhesive
substance, or may be made to cover the vessel by any other convenient method.
•
The method as described herein before is one in which the apparatus may be
constructed, but other methods may be employed without departing from the nature
of. my-Invention as hereinbefore explained and hereinafter claimed.
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:-
'
An apparatus consisting of a vessel made of any suitable material which-vessel
can be filled with water or other matter of any suitable temperature, the vessel
aforesaid: being constructed of such a shape as to rest upon and fit against the keys
of the keyboard, manual or manuals of a pianoforte, organ or other musical instru-
ment with similar keys for the purpose of heating the keys aforementioned, substan
tially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Thin and day of October 1880
FRANCIS. LANGHAM. WILDER.