IMPROVED MEANS OF CONNECTING ORGAN PEDALS WITH THE KEYS OF PIANO-FORTES OR OTHER SIMILAR KEYED INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Chinnock Dyer, of Weston-super-Mare, in the
County of Somerset, for an Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF CONNECTING
ORGAN PEDALS WITH THE KEYS OF PIANO-FORTES OR OTHER SIMILAR
KEYED INSTRUMENTS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Chinnock Dyer at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1882.
WILLIAM CHINNOCK DYER of Weston super Mare in the County of Somerset.
"IMPROVED MEANS OF CONNECTING ORGAN PEDALS WITH THE KEYS OF
PIANOFORTES OR OTHER SIMILAR KEYED INSTRUMENTS."
This Invention relates to mechanism for connecting the bass keys of a pianoforte
or other similar keyed instrument, with pedals similar to those used in organs
placed under such pianoforte or other instrument whereby the performer is enabled
to play simultaneously with hands and feet as on the organ.
In the Drawings hereto annexed Figure 1 represents so much of the cross section
of a pianoforte as is necessary to illustrate the application of the improved
mechanism thereto and Figure 2 shows an under side view of the part of the
improved mechanism which is placed immediately under the key board in
Figure 1.
A is the pedal frame with the pedals B contained therein both constructed in
the manner usual for organ pedals or in any other suitable or convenient way, the
pianoforte being raised so as to stand on blocks A¹ A¹ so that the pedal frame can
be placed in position as shown in Figure 1.
The improved means or mechanism for connecting the pedals B with the keys C
of the pianoforte consist of the following arrangements. A stout metal wire Dis
screwed into or otherwise secured to the back end of the pedal B, the said back
end being under the body of the instrument, see Figure 1. The upper end of this
wire D is bent into the form of a loop or hook and is connected by a piece of
leather E to one end of a backfall lever F, the other end of which is connected to
one end of a second backfall lever G the opposite end of which is connected to the
.

page_text: underside of the striking part of the key C by a piece of leather H and an adjus-
table wire I passing through a hole in the end of the backfall lever G the necessary
adjustment being effected by a leather button J I prefer that the connection of the
backfall lever G to the key C should take place as nearly as possible under the
part of the said key where the finger is usually placed in playing, The two
backfall levers F and G form together what I call a double backfall lever (see
Figure 3) one of which is used for each note to which it is desired to apply a
pedal. Each of these backfall levers F and G work on a pin or spindle fulcrum in
notches formed in a wooden or other suitable frame K see Figure 2 which shows
these parts to a larger scale than in Figure and as seen from below. A pin
fulcrum is shewn at L in connection with the backfall lever F in Figure 3 a leather
button M being employed to keep the lever F in its place in the manner well
understood in connection with this class of work. A spindle fulcrum is shown at
N in connection with the backfall lever G in Figure 3 the said spindle N being
kept in place by the wire buttons or staples O in the manner also well understood
in connection with this class of work. Figure 2 also illustrates how either kind
of fulcra may be employed for the backfalls F and G. Each lever F is connected
to its corresponding lever G by means of a pin P screwed into one and working in
a slot forined in the other.
On depressing a pedal the movement is conveyed through the wire D, leather E
double backfall F, G, wire I and leather H to the striking part of the key C
drawing the same down and when the pedal is returned into its normal position
by means of the ordinary pedal spring the double backfall and key are returned to
their normal positions by the action of gravity.
It will be understood that each key it may be desired to operate in this way is
to be furnished with a pedal, connecting wires and leathers and a double
backfall lever as above described. Figure 2 shows an arrangement adapted to
connect thirty notes with a corresponding number of pedals but any other number
may be employed. It will also be understood that the arrangements above
described leave the keys C free to be operated by hand without the pedals if and
when desired.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that I am aware that various arrangements and combinations of backfalls,
springs, cords, stickers, trackers, roller-boards, squares, weights and so forth
have been employed or suggested for connecting the pedals with the keys but
they have all failed more or less so far as I am aware by reason of their
complexity or other objectionable features, and I make no claim to arrangements
or combinations of that kind nor do I confine myself to the precise details shewn as
they may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention but
what I claim is.
The employment of the double back-fall lever consisting of two single back-fall
Jevers connected together and to the pedal and key respectively the whole being
combined, arranged, applied and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the Drawings bereto annexed and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Chinnock Dyer have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty ninth day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.