IMPROVEMENTS IN UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL PIANOFORTES.
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Samuel Nosworthy, of 79, Coleman Street,
in the City of London, Pianoforte Manufacturer, for the Invention of
T
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL PIANOFORTES.
"
Sealed the 29th August. 1862, and dated the. 10th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Samuel Nos-
worthy.at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th March 1862.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL NOSWORTHY, of 79, Coleman Strect, in the City of
London, Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL PIANOFORTES," to be
as follows:-
The objects of the improvements are to bring the pianist whilst sitting at
the instrument to the height (or thereabouts) of the vocalist or other artist
while such vocalist or other artist is standing on the ordinary level of the
room, and to enable the vocalist or other artist to read from the copy of music
used by the pianist without stooping and compressing the chest. A vocalist
may also accompany himself on the instrument in a standing position without
bending the body.
For these purposes, in the case of upright pianofortes, I fix the pedals in
the bottom door or panel below the keys at the required distance above the

page_text: bottom of the instrument, with a raised seat, and a step or footboard attached
thereto; otherwise I fix a footboard to the instrument, which will not extend
beyond the keyboard, into which I fix the pedals, so that the vocalist or other
artist shall stand on the ordinary level of the room. The seat may be attached
to the footboard to fold or shift beneath the keyboard.
The improvements are also applicable to horizontal pianofortes, by increasing
the length of the legs, trusses, or other supporters of the instrument.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Samuel Nosworthy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SAMUEL NOSWORTHY, of 79, Coleman Street, in the City of London, Pianoforte
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Samuel Nosworthy, Her special licence that I, the said
William Samuel Nosworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Samuel Nosworthy, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the, term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL PIANOFORTES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Samuel
Nosworthy, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Samuel Nosworthy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
'be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: its support to the "bottom door;" or small legs or trusses may be hinged to
the front part of the footboard, so as to form a pilaster or other ornament
when such footboard is folded.
Figure 2 represents a side view of an upright pianoforte, with the pedals a
at the desired elevation, without a footboard. In this case a step or ledge
may be applied to the seat, if desired, as a rest for the feet of the performer,
or an ordinary footstool may be placed beneath the pedals to serve as a
foot rest.
Figure 3 represents a side view of a horizontal pianoforte. a is a pedestal,
which may extend to any desired distance across the end of the pianoforte ;
b, the footboard; c, shews one of the pedals. Figure 4 represents a portion
of a side view of a horizontal pianoforte, with an ordinary lyre for the pedals.
The lyre is not shewn, but is simply of the ordinary construction, except that
it is raised with the instrument, for the purpose before mentioned, by the
increase of the length or height of the legs or trusses. a is the pedal, or one
of them, at its elevation. In this case an ordinary footstool placed beneath
the pedals, or a slip attached to the seat can be applied, as in the case of
'Figure 2.
For the purpose of distinction I call pianofortes arranged according to my
improvements "the concord pianofortes."
In witness whereof, I, the said William Samuel Nosworthy, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
W. S. NOSWORTHY. (L.S.)