IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PIANOFORTES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Squire, of 94 Cunden Street, Camden
Town, in the Parish of Saint Paneras, in the County of Middlesex, Pianoforte
Manufacturer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ACTIONS FOR
PIANOFORTES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Squire at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY SQUIRE, of 94 Camden Street, Camden Town, in the Parish of
Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, Pianoforte Manufacturer,
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ACTIONS FOR PIANOFORTES
"
In Pianos as usually constructed, after a note has been struck, and the hopper
has been set off from under the butt of the hammer, the hopper does not return
to its first position so as to be ready to drive the hammer forward again, until the
key has been allowed to return to its normal position, so that when a player desires
to repeat a note very rapidly, it is necessary to raise the finger sufficiently to allow
the key to rise considerably before striking again.
Now the object of my invention is to obtain a very quick return of the hopper
or jack, and also to otherwise improve the construction of the parts known as the
Action.
According to my invention, I attach the Sticker to two levers, one near each
extremity of it, that at bottom serving merely as a guide, and that at top serving
the double purpose of a guide for the sticker, and a set off for the Hopper or
Jack. One end of this upper lever I centre to the back of the hammer rail, while
the other end, working in a slot in the sticker, serves as a guide for the latter, and
enables me to dispense with other supports or guides which in instruments as
usually constructed are a source of friction. The lower or free end of this lever,
when the Sticker rises, moves forward and operates as a set off to the Hopper or
Jack.
I also provide a check of the usual construction, and a slight spring, attached
both to the hopper or jack, and to a loop on the butt of the hammer, in such
manner as to bring the hammer backwards when the key begins to rise, and at the
same time, to assist in causing the hopper or jack to reinstate itself under the
notch of the butt as soon as it is set free by the retiring of the above mentioned
lever;
and as this latter takes place rapidly immediately the key begins to rise,
the hopper is almost immediately returned to its place, ready for the next blow,
before the key has risen more than a fraction of its whole distance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Squire in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th May 1883.
WILLIAM HENRY SQUIRE of 94 Camden Street, Camden Town' in the Parish
of Saint Pancras in the County of Middlesex Pianoforte Maker IMPROVEMENTS
IN PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
In the Actions of Pianofortes as usually constructed after a note has been
struck, and the hopper or Jack has been set off from under the butt, the
hopper or Jack does not return to its first position so as to be ready to drive the
hammer forward again untill the key has been allowed to return to its normal
position, so that when a player desires to repeat a note very rapidly it is necessary
to raise the fingers sufficiently to allow the key to rise almost the whole depth of
the touch before it can be struck again.
Now the object of my Invention is to obtain a firm blow of the hammer, a very
quick repeat of the note, and to avoid the friction that occurs in actions Generally
of Pianofortes
According to my invention shown in Figure 1 of the drawing I attach or centre
the sticker M of the action to two levers, one at or near each extremity of it, the
bottom lever D serving merely as a guide for the sticker, and the top lever O serving
the double purpose of a guide for the sticker M and a set off or escapement to the
hopper or Jack L, which hopper or Jack I fasten or centre to front of the above
mentioned sticker M, one end of the upper lever I centre and attach to back of
hammer rail A while the other end of the same lever I centre in a slot in the
sticker E which serves as a guide to top of sticker E and enables me to dispense
with other guides or supports which in pianoforte Actions are sourse of friction and
noise, the lower end of this top lever F when the key is pressed down advances
towards the hopper or Jack and acts as a set off or escapement to the same as
shown in Figure 1, I fix a slight spring in the hopper or Jack L the other end of it
being formed with a hook, I also fix a loop H in hammer butt into which the hook
of the above mentioned spring is passed and acts in such such a manner as to bring the
hammer backwards when the key begins to rise, and at the same time to assist in
causing the hopper or Jack to reinstate itself under the notch of the hammer butt
as soon as it is set free by the retireing of the above lever, and as this latter takes
place rapidly, immediately the key begins to rise, the hopper or Jack is almost
immediately returned under the notch of the hammer butt ready for the next blow
of the hammer before the key has risen more than a fraction of the whole distance.
I also provide an ordinary check on hopper or Jack and check button in hammer
butt so as to receive the hammer after the string has received the blow from it.
The ordinary arrangement is made either for the under or over damper as shown in
figures 1 and 2 K. and P
In Witness whereof I the said William Henry Squire have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 16th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand
night hundred and eighty three
WILLIAM HENRY SQUIRE (L.S.)
Witness.
FREDERICK, R. SQUIRE