IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Enoch Farr, of 40, Cavendish Street, Chorlton-
upon-Medlock, Manchester, and Isaac Gregory, of Victoria Park,
Manchester, both of the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 4th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Enoch Farr and Isaac
Gregory at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 4th September 1866.
We, ENOCH FARR, of 40, Cavendish Street, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Man-
chester,and ISAAC GREGORY, of Victoria Park, Manchester, both of the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES," to be as follows:-
In affixing the strings of pianofortes to the wrest pins, passing them over
the wrest plank, down behind the sound board, around or through the
bottom plank, returning them along the face of the sound board, and finally
attaching them to the wrest pins at which they started. A bridge, over which
the strings pass in their circuit, is affixed on both sides of the sound board,
and the position of the said board is maintained by the equal tension of the
strings on both sides of it, and is thus left free in its vibratory action without
the restraining force or rigidity arising from the use of bars or other mechanical
[Price 8d.]

page_text: appliances commonly adopted to sustain the downward pressure caused by the
mode in which pianofortes have hitherto been strung.
By this new mode of stringing pianofortes the force of the strings, arising
from their great tension, is distributed equally on both sides of the framework;
the over pullarising from the common mode of stringing pianofortes is entirely
avoided, and the use of so many bracings or supports is rendered unnecessary.
The pull on the wrest pins being equal on both sides their tendency to split
the wrest plank is avoided. The sound board may be suspended on one of its
sides only or from more sides, at option, and may be held in position and in
free vibration by the common method of stringing (namely, on one side) by the
strings, which run over the bridge attached to the front of the sounding board,
having given to them alternately an equal upward anddownwardbearing,either
in single strings or in groups of strings, by running them alternately under and
over suitable projections on the bridge or attachments to it. The bearing
caused by the tension of the strings is thus distributed equally upwards and
downwards, avoiding all strain and pressure upon the sound board.
These improvements further consist in grooving the sound board with
circular arcs, thus controlling the waves of sound and directing their force
with more precision and with greater musical effect.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Enoch Farr and Isaac Gregory in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ENOCH
FARR, of 40, Cavendish Street, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, and
ISAAC GREGORY, of Victoria Park, Manchester, both of the County of Lan-
caster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Enoch Farr and Isaac Gregory, Her special licence that we, the said Enoch Farr
and Isaac Gregory, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Enoch Farrand Isaac Gregory, our executors, administrators,and
assigns, should at anytime agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed,should and lawfullymight
make,use,exercise and vend, withinthe United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PIANOFORTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Enoch Farr and Isaac Gregory, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Enoch Farr and Isaac Gregory, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In affixing the strings of pianofortes to the wrest pins, passing them over
the wrest plank or beam, down behind the sound board or sound case, around
or through the bottom plank or beam, returning them along the face of the
sound board or sound case, and finally attaching them to the wrest pins at
which they started. A bridge, over which the strings pass in their circuit, is
affixed on both sides of the sound board or sound case, and the position of
the said board or case is maintained by the tension of the strings on both
sides of the sound board or sound case, and is thus left free in its vibratory
action without the restraining force or rigidity arising from the use of bars or
other such mechanical appliances commonly adopted to sustain the down-
ward pressure caused by the mode in which pianofortes have hitherto been
strung.
By this new mode of stringing pianofortes the force of the strings, arising
from their great tension, acts vertically on the frame, and is distributed on
both sides of the framework; the over-pull arising from the common mode of
stringing pianofortes is thus avoided. The force of the tension acting on
both sides of the wrest pins and in contrary directions obviates their tendency
to split the wrest plank. The sound board or sound case may also be held in
position and in free vibration by the strings attached to the board or case
having given to them alternately an equal upward and downward bearing,
either in single strings or in groups of strings, by running them alternately
under and over suitable projections on the bridge or attachments to it. The
bearing caused by the tension of the strings is thus distributed upwards and
downwards, avoiding all strain and pressure upon the sound board. This
method of equalising the bearing of the strings is also applicable to the
common mode of stringing pianofortes, namely, on one side only.
And in order that our Invention may be thoroughly understood we

page_text: ents
pianoforte constructed according to our Invention, showing the mode of
applying the strings thereto; Figure 2 represents a section of part of the
sound board, with bridge and attachments, showing the mode of obtaining the
upward and downward bearings.
S is the string looped to the wrest pin A, and passing in circuit round by
the side H of the beam G, down to the lower beam C, over the bridge D,
thence upwards round the other side of the beam G, and returning to the
wrest pin A, to which it is fastened, and by which the string is tuned in the
ordinary manner. K is the sound prop supporting the bridges; B is the
sound case, and L, L, the sound boards; the upper and lower beams are sup-
ported by a prop, shown in dotted lines. The frame in Figure 1, as shown in
the Drawing, is made of iron, but we do not bind ourselves to the use of any
special material for its construction; nor do we bind ourselves to the use of a
sounding case or two sound boards, as one only can be used, as shown in
Figure 2, in which the same letters of reference indicate like parts. N is an
attachment or bridge of metal; the strings S pass through suitable per-
forations for the upward bearing, and over the top for the downward bearing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Enoch Farr and Isaac Gregory, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-eighth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven
סתום nNAIR
Witness,
WILLIAM BUTTERFIELD.
ISAAC GREGORY. (L.S.)