Improvements in Pianofortes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application. 13th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Pianofortes.
I, EDMUND HUSTEDT, of 20 Ossington Villas, Sherwood Street, Nottingham,
Pianoforte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
To each upright pianoforte at the back of the framing to which the sound board
is attached I secure a second sound board capable of adjustment to or from the
front sound board by means of screws. A rib at or near the centre of the width
of the second sound board has a series of holes formed in it to receive the back
reduced ends of a number of sound posts. The front ends of the sound posts
either press upon the ribs at the back of the front sound board or the front ends
of the posts may be reduced to enter holes formed in the ribs of the front sound
board.
Pianofortes having horizontal or inclined sound boards, have a second sound
board and sound posts placed beneath the upper sound board. I am thus enabled
to regulate and maintain the pressure of the front or upper sound board as
required, and at the same time increase the vibration and sound.
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Agent.
1, EDMUND HUSTEDT of 20, Ossington Villas, Nottingham, 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 an improved construction of sound boards for pianos,
and has for its object to provide an arrangement by means of which the volume
of sound may be greatly increased and the tone of the piano improved.
In carrying out my invention, 1 propose to employ a double sound board, two
boards being arranged at a short distance from each other, both being secured to
the frame.
According to the arrangement I prefer, one sound board is fitted at the front or
top of the frame, and the other at the back or underside. Each sound board is
provided with a series of ribs placed at a short distance from each other, and the
boards are connected together by sound posts which regulate the distance between
the two boards. These sound posts are secured to the strengthening ribs and are
placed at short intervals thus causing the boards to vibrate together.
Instead of placing the sound boards at the back and front of the frame
respectively, I may secure both to the front, in this case placing them closer
together. When applied to horizontal pianos the sound boards are placed one
under the other, and as arranged for upright pianos one is placed behind the other,
the arrangement being otherwise similar.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross section through
D

page_text: the frame and sound board, Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the sound board
alone, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the complete arrangement, Fig. 4
shows the front sound board in elevation, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the
rear sound board, showing the method of formation, and Fig. 6 shows a slightly
modified arrangement in vertical section.
B is the front scund board which is secured to the frame A, to the back of
which according to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the second sound
board B is fixed by means of screws. Both sound boards are formed with a
series of ribs and ¹, the set of ribs on the front sound board B being placed
vertically, and those of B₁ horizontally. The sound boards are connected by
the sound posts C, the ends of which are preferably reduced to enter into the
cross ribs or bars 2, which extend transversely across the sound boards.
These sound posts are preferably screwed at the ends, so as to screw into the
ribs ². These sound posts can be adjusted so as to alter the distance between the
sound board's B and B as required.
As shown in Fig. 4 one of the sound boards can be formed with a series of
holes D to permit the sound to escape more readily. Instead of the holes, a
wedge like opening D' may be provided for the same purpose, or may be used
along with the holes.
As shown in Fig. 6 both the sound boards B and B' are placed at the front of
the frame, or in the case of horizontal pianos on the top. With this arrangement
the sound posts will be made much shorter and the sound boards placed closer
together. The screwed ends of the sound posts will also project through the front
or upper sound boards, instead of through the back as in the arrangement first
described. The cross ribs through which the sound posts pass are also placed on the
outer face of the front sound board. The second sound board may extend
completely across the frame, or may be arranged so as to cover only a portion of
the back or under side of the piano.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
(1.) Improvements in pianos, consisting of a secondary sound board, placed on
the back of or underneath the ordinary sound board, and connected to the same
by suitable means, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(2.) Improvements in sound boards for pianos, consisting in providing a
secondary sound board fitted at the back of or underneath the ordinary sound
board, and connected rigidly to the same by means of sound posts screwed or
otherwise secured in position, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(3.) Improvements in sound
secondary sound board placed at
board, and secured rigidly to the
transverse ribs on both sound
specified.
boards for pianos, consisting in providing a
the back of or underneath the ordinary sound
same by means of sound posts passing through
boards, substantially as and for the purposes
(4.) Improvements in the construction of sound boards for pianos, substantially
as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes
specified.
Deted this 12th dex of Santambor 1905
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.