Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1887
Complete Left, 6th Dec.. 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
ALFRED GEORGE GIGNEY 2, Stanhope Street, Euston Road London N.W.
Pianoforte Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention is devised to allow of the transposing of the keyboard by a lever
which at the same time removes the action from off the keys, thereby allowing the
keys to move without injury to the action of the piano. A check plate is provided,
the object of which is to receive the lever-pins when the keys are moved to the
pitch required, which pin keeps the keys stationary, and also provents the piano
from being played when the keys are not in position.
ALFRED GEORGE GIGNEY.

page_text: I, ALFRED GEORGE GIGNEY of 2, Stanhope Street, Euston Road, London, N.W.
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 has for its object to allow of the transposing of the " keyboard" of a
Pianoforte by means of a lever, which, whilst altering the position of the keys, raises
the piano "action" therefrom."
92
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents a plan of the under
side of a «
key-bottom with iny improved appliance adapted thereto. Figure 2
shows a plan of the upper side; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same, and
Figure 4 is a section of the device drawn on line A, B Figure 3.
In carrying out my invention I provide a metal check plate A countersunk in the
under side of the front of the "key-bottom" C and having holes a a bored or other-
wise perforated therein. Into said holes a takes a pin b formed upon or secured to
the front end of a lever B; the other or rear end c of said lever B being pivoted to
the back rail C of the "key bottom." Near the centre, or at any other. convenient
part of the lever B is formed a longitudinal slot into which takes a pin d firmly
secured to the "centre-rail "D) of the "key-frame." Said "centre-rail" D, which,
by means of the lever B moves laterally from right to left, and from left to right, is
retained in position by means of small lugs or guide pieces e e covered with cloth,
felt or similar suitable material to allow of the sliding motion of said "centro-rail"
being effected without noise.
At each end of the "key-bottom" is bored or otherwise formed a smooth
hole in which take and move freely the pins 9, 9, which extend above and below the
surfaces of the "key-bottom," and upon which rests the piano action. Against these
pins g, g. press the ends of two pivoted arms F F which, overlapping at the
extremities thereof, bear against the lever B at s, and are supported in position
by means of the screws m or equivalent means.
In using the device herein described, the handle with which the front end of the
lever Bis provided, is pulled in a downward direction, which draws the pin b out of
the hole in the check plate A, in which it may at the time be resting, at the same
time, the ends of the arms F, F1, are depressed, by which means the whole piano-
forte action is raised from its seat free of the keys. The lever B may now be
moved in either direction to the right or to the left according to the key (clef) in
which it is desired to transpose the piece of music to be performed. When the
lever B is released, the entry of the pin b into one of the holes a causes the "action"

page_text: to return to its seat, and effectually prevents any further movement of the various
parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First-The improved appliance for effecting the transposition of the notes of a
piano-forte substantially as herein set forth and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second-In the device referred to in the preceding claim the combination of a
lever B pin check-plate A "centre-rail" D pin d'arms F F and pins g g sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth."
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.