1urprovешению и от гелание во градов ацино
Year: 1894

page_text: 1urprovешению и от гелание во градов ацино
A communication from CARL AUGUST EDMUND SYHRE, Manufacturer, of
Diesden, Saxony, German Empire.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 IIigh Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
'
A so-called dumb pedal" for pianos is known in various forms, which consists
essentially of a piece of felt, to be slipped in, between the hammer and the string.
The object of this invention is, in practising, to damp the tone of the piano, or
so to muffle it, that it is only just perceptible to the person practising In this
manner, there are but two conceivable positions possible for the strip of felt,
the same must either be outside of the range of the hammer, in which case the
piano is loud, as usual; or it must be within the hammer-action and then the
piano is virtually "dumb."
Its
By the present invention however a modulation of the sound is obtained
principal part, the movable list or felt ship is made wedge-shaped, and, by
suitable mechanism, can be so adjusted in position, that at one moment a thinner
cross-section, at another a thicker cross-section, of the damping device 18
interposed between the hammer and the sting and receives the blow of the
former
Thus, while, with the previous arrangement, one could do nothing more than
make the piano "dumb," with the new aangement, one can vary the strength of
the tone, by making the piano at one moment softer and more subdued, and at the
next moment louder and clearer, and so obtain effects beyond the reach of the
ordinary loud and soft pedals.
For with the advance of the strip or wedge of felt between the hammer and the
string, it is not only the strength but also the nature of the sound generated that
changes (the thicker the felt the less the sound).
Thus, as the action of the new arrangement, in comparison with the dumb-pedal,
15 clearly defined so is also the difference between it and the pedal which causes
the hammers only to stike one wie of the three, while the other pedal (the loud-
pedal) allows every wire to be vibrated at once.
The felt strip or wedge is carried on a movable or sliding bearer. The further
the bearer and felt are pushed away from the hammers the thicker becomes the
felt section through which the hammer strikes the string, and the more subdued
becomes the tone
The tapering away of the felt may be effected when the felt is manufactured,
But
and the strip may thus be cut direct from a piece running slantwise across
one can also make use of several thin felt-strips laid one over the other, cach strip
in sut cession becoming smaller and smaller m width with just the saine result.
Although, up to now, mention has been made only of felt,, other materials may
be used, such eg. as leather or silk. It may here he observed that leather, in
particular, may be cut to any required degree of fineness, and gives a beautiful
sound on the damped string. With silk also the layer-like construction of the
strip, as just described, can be adn nably caned out Two of the above-named
materials may be used in combination in such manuer that, for instance, a narrower

page_text: felt layer can be superimposed on a broader leather layer, and m this case, the
felt, with its great power of damping, would come into operation in a stup
sufficiently poinmently advanced.
It is known that from the bass upwards to the treble the felt layer on the
hammers becomes surce-81vely lighter and thinner For the same reasons, which
apply also to this case, the felt-stop is made continously mailower, from the bass
upwards to the treble or upper notes The result thereby obtained is that, with a
he advance of the damper the treble-strings are damped by a thinner cross-
section of felt than nie the bass--things.
The damping material does not requie to consist of one unbroken piece,
however, but rather for each distinct tonal change a special fold may be used on
the bearer and thereby is attained the advantage, that it is possible to regulate or
compensate for any equalities in the sounding bound, by a judicious arrangement
of cross sectional areas. Lastly one may also employ two inovable bearers with
damping stips quite separately and independent of each other, which may be
brought alone or together in front of the chords of strings,
As regards the means employed for operating this modulating device, one may
make use of a thud pedal on a level actuated by the player's knee These means
however, must be such as to leave the hands at perfect liberty, and to be actuated
by a gradual motion,
For example underneath the keyboard of the piano a lever may be pivoted
(near the centre) and operated by the player's knee, while at the same time the
foot is placed upon a sliding rest which can be diawn out from below the pinno
and works in guides The knee lever on the front aim of which a spung acts,
transmits the necessary moveurent by a second lever pivoted in the centie and
running longitudinally along the piano, to a rod which actuates one of the aims
which carry the stip damper-beater. This apparatus may either be used for
damping from above or from below.
In general this invention is applicable with like advantage to all kinds of
pianos, from the smallest pianinos cottage pianos, cabinets, grand square de up to
grands.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1894
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
A communication from CARL AUGUST EDMUND SYHRE, Manufacturet, of
Dresden, Saxony, German Empire.
J, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement
-
A so-called "dumb pedal" for pianos is known in various forms, which consists
essentially of a piece of felt, to be slipped m, between the hammer and the stung
The object of this device is in practising to damp the tone of the piano, or so to
mufle it, that it is only just perceptible to the person practising. In this mauver,
there are but two conceivable positions possible for the strip of felt, the same must
either be outside of the range of the hammer, in which case the piano is loud,
as usual, or it must be within the bamme-action, and then the piano is virtually
"dumb."
By the present invention however gradual increase or deci case of the sound is
obtained
Its pincipal part, the movable list or felt strip is inade wedge-shaped,

page_text: and by suitable mechanism can be so adjusted in position, that at one moment a
thinner cross-section, at another a thicker cross-section, of the damping device is
interposed between the hammer and the sting and receives the blow of the
former.
Thus, while with the previous arrangement one could do nothing more than
make the piano "dumb," with the new arrangement, oue en vary the strength of
the tone, by making the piano at one moment softer and more subdued, and at the
next moment louder and clearer, and so obtain effects beyond the icach of the
ordinary loud and soft pedals.
For with the advance of the strip or wedge of felt between the hammer and
the string, it is not only the strength but also the nature of the sound generated
that changes (the thicker the felt, the less the sound).
Thus, as the action of the now arrangement in comparison with the dumb pedal,
is clearly defined, so is also the difference between it and the pedal which causes
the hammers only to strike one wire of the three, while the other pedal (the lou
pedal) allows every we to be vibrated, at once.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying diawings, a indicates the head of the hammer,
the string, aud c the movable or sliding bener carry mng the felt-strip or wedge d
This latter is as will readily be seen from the diawing, wedge-shaped.
с
The neater the bearer c and telt d are pushed towards the hammers the thicker
becomes the felt-section through which the hammer strikes the string, and the
more subdued becomes the tone.
The tapening away of the felt d may be effected when the felt is manufactured
and the strip may thus be cut direct from a piece running slantwise across as shown
in Figure 1.
But one can also make use of several thin felt strips land one over another, each
strip in succession becoming narrower and natlower, as shown in Figure 2, with the
same result
Although herein before mention has been made only of felt, other materials may
be used, such eg as leather or silk. It may here be observed that leather, in
particular, may be cut to any required degree of fineness, and gives a beautiful
sound on the damped string. With silk also the layer-like construction of the
strip, as just described, can be admirably carried out Two of the above named
materials may be used in combination in such manner that, for instance, a
nariowe felt layer can be superimposed on a broader leather layer, and in this
case, the felt, with its great power of damping would come into operation in a stup
sufficiently prominently advanced.
It is known that from the bass upwards to the treble the felt layer on the
hammers becomes successively lighter and thinner. For the same reasons, which
apply also to this case the felt-strip d is made continuously narrower, from the
bass (B) upwards to the treble or upper notes (D) as may be seen in Figure 3.
The result thereby obtained is that, with a like advance of the carrier c the treble
strings are damped by a thinner cross section of felt than are the bass-strings.
The damping material does not however reque to consist of one unbroken piece
of gradually increasing thickness as last described as foi cach distinct tonal change
a special stup may be added on the carrier c, and thereby is attained the advantage
that it is possible to regulate or compensate for any inequalities in the sounding
board, hy a judicious arrangement of cross sectional areas.
Lastly one may
also employ two movable bearers e with damping stips d quite separately and
independent of each other, which may be brought alone or together in front of
the chords of strings.
As regards the means employed for operating this regulating device, one mny
make use of a third pedal oi of a level actuated by the player's knee
These means
however inust be such as to leave the hands at perfect liberty and to be actuated
by a gradual motion.
Foi example, in Figure 4 it is assumed that underneath the keyboard of the
piano a levei e 16 pivoted (near the centre) and operated by the player's kuce,

page_text: while at the same time the foot is placed upon a sliding rest y which can be diawa
out from below the piano and works in guides The knee levere on the front
arm of which a spring acts, transmits the necessary movement, by a second leveri
pivoted in the centre and running longitudinally along the piano, to a 1od k which
actuates one of the arms which carry the damper bearer c. This apparatus in
Figure 4, is shown in its application to a pianino for damping from above, whereas
the situation of the parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is adapted to an aliangement
for damping from beneath.
In general this invention is applicable with like advantage to all kinds of
pianos, from the smallest pianinos, cottage pianos, cabinets, grand squaies etc up
to grande.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.-
1. The combination with a piano o hike instrument of a taper or wedge-shaped
damper for the purpose described.
2. A damper for a piano or like instrument which is tape or wedge-shaped
and constructed of a number of superposed layers of felt or material substantially
as described
3 A damper for a piano or like instrument which is taper or wedge-shaped and
the length or inclination of the taper of which varies from the bass to the treble
end substantially as and for the purpose described
4 A sound regulating device for pianos and like instruments compusing a taper
or wedge-shaped damper such as d aanged to extend over one or more of the
piano wires and a longitudinal bearer adapted to advance the damper more or less
between the hammer and the sting so as to allow the notes struck to be
modulated according to the thichness of damping material iutei posed between the
hammer and we
5. In a piano or like instrument the combination with a damper-bearer such as c
of a leve e adapted to be operated beneath the key-board by the knee of the
performer and a lever 1od and arms all connected and operating substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of September 1895,
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.