Improvements in and relating to Tuning-Pins for Pianos and other Musical Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tuning-Pins for Pianos and other
Musical Instruments.
I, LEVI WALKER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Joseph
Street in the City of Chatham, County of Kent and Province of Ontario, Canada,
Piano-turner, 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:-
Figure 1 is a view of one of my improved piano tuning pins, set in wrest
plank, in section, showing the mode of attaching the wire to the pin, the other
end being secured in the usual way.
Figure 2 is a view of a full sized pin, showing the hole through the collar, and
the groove for leading the wire to the shank.
My invention relates more particularly to that class of tuning pins used in
pianos, and the improvement consists in its novel construction, the head being
formed the proper size to fit the ordinary tuning instrument, the enlarged collar
through which the hole is drilled, the reduced diameter of the shank, and the
increased diameter of the body of the pin has many advantages.
The objects of my invention are-
Firstly, A pin that when adjusted in position by the tuner will retain its set
position.
Secondly, A pin that has a reduced leverage or wire strainer.
Thirdly, A pin that is not impaired by reducing the diameter of the shank,
which effects the reduction of the leverage.
I attain these objects by the details of construction illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings, in which similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the
several views.
In the drawings, A, represents the pin block or wrest plank, a is a suitable
straight hole bored into the said wrest plank A for the engagement of the pin 1;
C represents the iron frame, the said frame C having the hole c, which is of
greater diameter than the body of the pin B, so that the said pin B may not come
in contact with the said metal frame C; the pin B is preferably constructed with
its enlarged milled lower portion or body b about 11/32 of an inch in diameter and
preferably straight, the shank 61 is preferably made about 8/32 of an inch in
diameter, the collar 62 is about the same diameter as the body b. d is a suitable
hole drilled through the said collar 6 for the engagement of the wire or string e,
is a channel cut in the said collar & running from the hole & to the upper
edge of the shank b', and is for the guidance and retention of the string e. The
edges or angles of the hole d are rounded so as not to cut the said wire e; the
upper end or head f is made bevelled on the four sides to fit the square socket of
the ordinary tuning hammer, and is the same shape, size and dimension from the
collar 6 up, as is the ordinary tuning pin, which is about 9/32 of an inch, or
1/32 of an inch larger in diameter than the shank 6', the body b being straight
and milled or finely threaded permits it to have the desired number of turns, and
also to penetrate the desired distance into the wrest plank, and all the surface

page_text: within the hole a is subjected to restraint, which is essential to perfectly resist the
strain of the wire.
The ordinary tuning pin is about 9/32 of an inch in diameter.
The improved pin is used in the ordinary way, the engagement of the enlarged
body with the hole a in the wrest plank A is efficient, the increased circumfer-
ence of its surface over the ordinary pin is about 1/3, which gives it fully 1/3
more resistance. The shank 6 being 1/32 of an inch in diameter than the ordinary
pin reduces its leverage about 1/6, the collar 6 being increased in diameter over
the ordinary pin, which frequently proved insufficient, its strength being reduced
by the hole. It is at once seen the advantage of the enlarged collar b³ having
the hole d, the top of the collar be, also forms a rest for the end of the tuning
hammer and keeps it from getting fast on the said pin.
It can be readily understood the many advantages this improved pin has over
others, having given perfect satisfaction after being subjected to the most severe
tests.
+
I do not make any claim to a tuning pin having an enlarged tapered body, as
they will frequently not admit of a sufficient number of turns of the wire before
they get set in the wrest plank, they having so great a resistance that they can-
not be turned to obtain the desired tension without breaking, and a part of a
turn backwards loosening it, so that it loses its resistance and efficiency. Nor do
I claim a tuning pin having an enlarged body and a reduced string winding
portion and an ordinary head, as they have also proved impractical, having
insufficient strength.
Nor do I lay any claim to a tuning pin having an enlarged body and a reduced
string, winding portion having a hole, as it has proved insufficient because of its
weakness, being weakened by the hole, rendering it unable to resist the friction
on the wrest plank in the process of tuning.
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:-
A tuning pin for pianos having an enlarged straight milled body or lower part,
a reduced shank or string winding part, an enlarged collar containing the hole
for the engagement of the wire and having the head or upper portion made to fit
the ordinary tuning instrument, substantially as specified and hereinbefore set
forth.
Dated this 2nd dow of An
100
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.