Improvements in Keys for Pianofortes, Organs, and other Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Stecification Left, 17th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
Improvements in Keys for Pianofortes, Organs, and other Musical
Instruments.
I CHARLES HERBERT SUTTON of 21 White Ladies Road in the Town of Swansea
and County of Glamorgan do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the application of material having a Vitrified or enamelled
surface to the outer face of the keys used upon Pianofortes, Organs, & other
Musical Instruments, for the purpose of cheapening their cost retaining their colour,
and being more cleanly and durable instead of using ivory, celluloid, or other
material now generally used, I provide and affix in any required position on the Key
a suitably shaped plate of glass which may be transparent opaque, and of any desired
colour or tint, or in some cases instead of using glass I use plates of metal or other
material having an enamelled or Vitrified surface, I prefer to secure the above
mentioned plates to the keys by a suitable cement but in some cases I form a rib
or ribs on the underside of the plates which said ribs slide into properly shaped
grooves formed in or upon the Keys, or the plates may be secured to the Keys by
screws, the plates being suitably shaped for that purpose.
I do not confine myself to the exact method mentioned for securing the plates as
other well known means may be used for that purpose.
Dated this 11th day of November 1896
CHARLES HERBERT SUTTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keys for Pianofortes, Organs, and other Musical
Instruments.
I CHARLES HERBERT SUTTON of 21 White Ladies Road in the Town of Swansea
and County of Glamorgan Pianoforte 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 :-
My invention relates to the application of Material having a Vitrified or enamelled
surface to the outer face of the Keys used upon Pianofortes, Organs, and other
Musical instruments, for the purpose of cheapening their cost, retaining their colour

page_text: and being more cleanly and durable. Instead of using Ivory, Celluloid, or other
materials now generally used, I provide and affix in any required position on the Key,
a suitably shaped plate of glass, which may be transparent or opaque, and of any
desired colour or tint, or in some cases, instead of using glass, I use plates of Metal
or other Material having an enamelled or Vitrified surface, I prefer to secure the
above mentioned plates to the Keys by a suitable cement, but in some cases, I form
a rib or ribs on the underside of the plates, which said ribs slide into properly shaped
grooves formed in or upon the Keys, or the plates may be secured to the Keys by
screws as shewn on the drawings, the plates being suitably shaped as shewn for that
purpose, but I do not confine myself to the exact method mentioned for securing the
plates as other well-known means may be used for that purpose.
Figs. 1 and 3. shews plan views and Fig. 2. an edge view of two forms of plates,
and Fig. 4. an edge view of a plate arranged for screwing to the Keys by screws as
shewn at A and A¹.
Fig. 3 shews an end view of the plate secured to the Key by the screw A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
clain is-
The application or use of Glass or other material having an enamelled or Vitrified
surface to the Keys of Musical Instruments, substantially as described and shewn on
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 15th day of June 1897.