A Lever Action for the Purpose of Tuning the Strings of a Pianoforte.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Lever Action for the Purpose of Tuning the Strings of a
Pianoforte.
WALTER GRAHAM 52 Kentish Town Road N.W. Billiard Table Maker do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improvement in pianoforte, it is my intention to do away
with the tuning pin and use a lever instead, to tighten or slacken the string. The
invention is described thus. The iron frame is to have a bevelled edge on top to
form a bearing for the levers. Each lever is provided with a hook on one end & a
tapped hole at the other. The tapped hole is to receive a screw for the purpose of
moving the lever backward or forward. There is a metal plate in front of the iron
frame with a number of holes drilled, through which the screws are passed to
the levers. Each screw has a fixed nut which takes a bearing against the plate
when the strain is on the string, a key being used to turn the screw to tune the
string.
Dated this 17th day of August 1896.
WALTER GRAHAM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Lever Action for the Purpose of Tuning the Strings of a
Pianoforte.
I, WALTER GRAHAM, of 223 Clarence Road, late of 52 Kentish Town Road, in
the County of London, 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 refers to improved means for adjusting and sustaining the tension
of the wires of pianofortes, whereby the degree of tension of such wires may be
very delicately adjusted, there being no liability of any slipping of the tensioning
means, nor is any considerable force required for such adjustment while the devices
as hereafter described are cheaply and easily manufactured and applied.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon is shewn several examples of the
construction of my improved tension adjustment devices.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of so much of the
metal frame of a pianoforte as is necessary to illustrate the aforesaid devices
applied.
and
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view shewing a slight variation in the arrangement,
Figs. 4 shew a transverse section and part plan view, of another constructional
modification.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.

page_text: According to my invention I employ for each wire A a lever B, and I provide
the iron, steel, or other metal frame C with a bevilled or other edge or rib D,
to form a bearing or fulcrum, upon or about which the said levers B may have
motion.
All the levers, which are arranged parallel and adjacent to each other throughout
the length of the frame, are of similar formation to each other for each of the
arrangements shewn, that is the levers for any particular pianoforte would be
all alike.
Referring to the construction at Figs. 1 and 2, the rear end of the lever B is
provided with a hook or notch, to bear upon the edge or rib D, and about centrally
is a hooked part B', onto which the wire A is attached, while the front end of the
lever B, is upheld by a screw E, passing through a tapped hole in a bar F, which
extends throughout the length of the frame C. The screws E are formed with
heads E to take into a suitable key by which they are rotated when it is necessary
to adjust the tension of the wires A, during which operation the levers B are rocked
about their rear ends, upon the rib D. G is the lip over which the wires A pass
and H is the pressure bar as usual.
At Fig. 3 is shewn an arrangement where the levers B, are placed in a more
horizontal position, the latter being of somewhat different configuration in side
view than those shewn at Fig. 2, the parts being the same in action and effect as
those shewn at the latter figure, although the design of the frame is of somewhat
different character.
At Fig. 4 the levers B are supported or fulcrummed on the rib D of the
frame C, between the adjusting screw E and the wire A, the latter being attached
to the projection B¹ on the upper surface of the lever and passing over same
through a groove formed therein. In this case the adjusting screw E is held in or
fixed to a flange C¹ of the frame, and passes freely through the tail of the lever B,
above which the screw E is fitted with a nut E' which is operated by a key for the
adjustment of the tension of the wire.
By my invention the tension of the wires is readily altered or adjusted, and is
permanent, while the parts composing the apparatus are easily manufactured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for adjusting and sustaining the tension of the wires of piano-
fortes, the employment of levers B supported or resting at one point upon a
longitudinal rib or edge formed with, or fixed to, the metal frame of the instrument,
having the wires to be tensioned secured to the said levers at a second point in
their length, and each lever being supported by a screw at another point in the
length thereof, such screw being carried by a longitudinal flange or bar of the
frame, and operated by a key to effect the tuning of the instrument, substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawingɛ.
2. The apparatus for adjusting and sustaining the tension of the wires of piano-
fortes, all arranged and acting substantially as described and illustrated with
reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The apparatus for adjusting and sustaining the tension of the wires of piano-
fortes, arranged and acting substantially as described and illustrated with reference
to Figs. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.