Improvements in Pianofortes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1892--Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, OTTO SPAETHE, trading under the style of Wilhelm Spaethe, of Gera, Reuss,
in the German Empire, Musical Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new mechanism for pianofortes-upright, grand or
square-by which the tone of a zither, harp, mandoline, or similar stringed
instrument is obtained.
The construction consists in a moulding running above the strings of the
pianoforte. The moulding is provided with small elastic membranes made of wood,
metal, celluloid or other suitable material corresponding exactly to the hammers
and strings or wires of the piano. The moulding is connected by a lever and bar
with a pedal or kneeswell so that it can be raised or lowered in order to place its
membranes between the hammers and the strings. Upon pressing a key of the
piano the hammer strikes against the membrane and through this against the string
thus producing the tone of an instrument such as those referred to.
The membranes are elastic and of peculiar shape.
Their elasticity is adjusted to bring the hammer quickly back.. The tone depends
upon the material of which they are composed. Metal gives a sharp tone, wood a
less sharp tone and varying according to the thickness of the wood.
The membranes may also be distributed over several mouldings in order to
govern a limited number of notes and to obtain the effect of several instruments-
piano in accompaniment with harp, zither, mandoline, etcetera.
Dated this 29th der of October 1891
T. R. SHILLITO,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, OTTO SPAETHE trading under the style of Wilhelm Spaethe, of Gera, Reuss,
in the German Empire, Musical Instrument Manufacturer, 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 a novel mechanism for application to all kinds of
pianofortes-upright, grand or square-by which the tone of a zither, harp,
mandoline or similar stringed instrument may at any time be readily obtained.
The invention consists in the combination with the strings and hammers or
ordinary tone producing devices of a pianoforte of a hinged rail, provided with an
elastic tongue for each string, the elastic tongues each carrying a plate or
membrane of any suitable material such as metal, wood, paper, parchment, celluloid,
etcetera, the material differing according to the tone it is desired to obtain, the
plates or membranes being at any time readily brought by mechanism operated by
the performer from a pedal, between the hammers and strings, so as to cause the
hammers to strike the plates and press them against the strings whilst striking the
strings through the same.
The accompanying drawings shew so much of an upright piano as is necessary to
illustrate the invention, Figs. 1, 2, 3 being vertical cross sections of the same with
the working parts, or some of them in different positions, Fig. 4 a sectional plan,
and Fig. 5 a vertical longitudinal section through line A-B of Fig. 2.

page_text: a are the strings; 6 the hammers; the hammer rods; d the hammer rest; all
these parts being located in the usual way; e the hinged rail hinged or pivotted
at e to each side of the pianoforte casing; g, spring tongues carried by and pro-
jecting downwards from rail e cach in front of a string a; h small plates each fixed
to the lower part of one of the spring tongues g; ia bell crank lever or levers
turning on and operated from pedal through connection m lever n and rod o.
There may be one or two sets of these latter parts connected together for operating
the hinged rail, one set at each side of the instrument worked from a single pedal.
When it is desired to obtain the tone due to the hammers striking the strings
through the plates / pedal is depressed whereby bell crank levers i are brought
into the position shewn in Figs. 2, 3, allowing rail e to descend to the position shewn
in these figures and with plates h directly in front of the strings and in the paths
of the hammers (Fig. 3). When a key of the pianoforte is struck the corresponding
hammer strikes one of the plates and through this the string (Fig. 2) thus
producing the desired effect. As soon as a hammer is withdrawn, the spring force
of the tongue g withdraws the plate h from the string to the position shewn
in Fig. 3. Normally the weight of pedal lever n (at one end) and rod o keeps the
bell crank lever (or levers) i and movable rail e in the raised position in which the
hammers strike the strings below the plates or membranes h.
The mechanism or device of this invention may be adapted to any number of
strings and all kinds of pianofortes. The player has it completely under control
and can at any time produce the novel effect by pressing down the pedal and then
pressing the keys of the instrument.
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 :
1. In a pianoforte the combination with the strings and hammers, of a movable
rail carrying spring tongues to which plates or membranes are fixed, said tongues
and plates being movable to a position near to and away from that part of the
strings that is struck by the hammers, for the purpose specified substantially as
described and shewn.
2. In a pianoforte the combination with the strings and hammers, of a movable
rail a series of spring tongues on same, a plate or membrane attached to each
tongue, which plates and tongues may be arranged between the strings and hammers
when the latter are at rest, lever or levers supporting said rail, and pedal mechanism
for moving said rail into the desired position, for the purpose specified substan-
tially as described and shewn.
Dated this 28th day of July 1899
T. R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.