A.D. 1842, May 24. - N° 9362.
STEWART, JAMES. - "Improvements in hinges for pianofortes and other purposes."
"In applying hinges to parts of pianofortes, as well as to some other purposes, it is found that the shrinking of the wood disarranges the accurate shutting or closing of the parts hinged together, and it is desirable to provide some means of compensating for the shrinkage of the wood, and my invention consists in so forming the bearings of the pins or axes of the flaps of hinges (which are to be used in connecting parts of a pianoforte or other articles similarly liable to derangement by shrinkage), that the pins or axes may slide or move in their bearings, and key be supported thereby, and turn therein."
The drawings show a hinge to be used for the cover or lid of a square pianoforte. The pin is fixed in one flap, and the other flap has a slotted or oblong bearing formed thereon. In another hinge, the pin is not "fixed to the flap, but inserted in the usuall manner ;" the case of a cabinet piano fitted with this hinge is shown.
A.D. 1856, September 9. - N° 2195.
BISSEKER, WILLIAM JOHN. - (Provisional protection only.)
"Improvements in strings or wires use in or on musical instruments."
"The objects of my improvements are to render the tone or sound of any string or wires used for musical purposes of a very superior kind to that useually obtained from the strings or wires ordinarely used ; to encrease their dureablieity as regards wear and atmospherical effects, and at the same time imparting elegance of appearance."
"The improvements consist in depositing by chemical means or plateing or coating by any process in which such covering can be produced, a coating of gold, or gold with its alloys, upon strings or wires used in or on musical instruments, and also for coating the metal strings used in the pianoforte or other instruments with gold, silver, or other metals, by depositing by chemical means, or plateing or coating by any process in which such covering can be produced ; also for covering musical strings or wires with gold wire, or gold wire and its alloys."
A.D. 1868, March 3. - N° 774.
JOHN BRINSMEAD - "Improvements in the construction of pianofortes."
An improved action for the purpose of obtaining a repeat. A spring with a hook is attached to the sticker or hopper, and from the hook a loop is carried through or past the sticker to the butt under the notch. The loop and spring combined act as a tie-leather. The sticker has an incline at the top to press on the front of the notch after the escapement. Sometimes the position of the spring and loop are reversed, the spring being fixed to the butt and the loop to the sticker.
A.D. 1868 - May 16. N° 1615.
GEORGE PRICE - "Improvements in pianos and other keyed musical instruments."
According to this Provisional Specification the finger keys of pianos and other similar musical instruments are warmed by means of a heated vessel or vessels placed beneath them.
A.D. 1868 - September 1. N° 2703.
EDWARD JOBSON - "Improvements in pianofortes."
The feature of novely which constitutes this invention is the covering of the hammers with velvet or other piled fabric, whereby they are rendered more durable and capable of producing a finer tone than hitherto.
A.D. 1868 - September 1. N° 2703.
JOHN HENRY SCHUCHT - "Improvements in the construction of pianofortes, violins, guitars, organs and other similar musical instruments.
[]visional Specification describes making the sound boards of pianofortes of alternate plates of hard []aterial ; for example, of beech and poplar woods, or it may be of others. The same arrangement []icable for the construction of parts of violins and guitars. Organ pipes may also be similarly [].
A.D. 1868 - September 16. N° 2850.
GEORGE ROBERT SAMSON - "Improvements in the construction of pianofortes."
The novelty of this invention consists in the entirely new mode of constructing those parts of the piano-forte known as the bark sound board and wrest plank or tuning place, and the mode of attaching the strings by passing them through the piano-forte up at the bottom of the sound board, the centre of each string pulling up against a bridge at the opening of the bottom of the sound board, the ends of the strings being attached at the top of the piano-forte to the wrest plank, one end in front of it and the other end behind it, either to a tuning pin or other pin, in lieu of the ordinary mode of attaching the strings to two pins in front of the piano-forte.
A.D. 1868 - October 28. N° 3299.
WILLIAM DAWES - "Improvements in pianofortes."
The first part of this invention consists in a compensating "frame" for piano-fortes to prevent variation of "pitch" of instrument through variations of temperature in the atmosphere in which the instrument is placed. The patentee uses zinc or other extra expansive metal to obtain the necessary amount of compensation.
The second improvement consists in a double or compound "sound board" for increasing the tone of the instrument, this double soundboard, having a space of about one inch between the front and back boards, is fixed upon "ribs," "studs," or supports exactly coinciding in position with the sound board bridge of the instrument. The patentee also improves the upper notes of the piano by enlarging the sound-board locally round the upper end of the bridge.
The third improvement consists in a novel method of producing a prolonged or continuous tone in the piano by machinery which will produce a succession of extremely rapid blows or strokes upon or against the wires or upon additional wires placed at the back of the instrument ; also an "octave coupler" with the latter.
Fourthly, a kind of "ad-libitum" arrangement which by dividing each key or by an elastic centre pad the player is enabled to prolong any note or notes at pleasure. And, -
Fifthly, the patentee applies a catch or check action to the lower or bass notes of the piano for about two octaves to prolong the tone of these notes and at the same time allow the free use of the "forte" pedal to the other or higher notes of the instrument without damping the notes to which this action or movement is applied.
A.D. 1868, November 6. - N° 3375.
HARRISON, THOMAS. - "Improvements in pianofortes."
These improvements consist in a simplicity of arrangement of those parts of pianofortes known as the butts, checks, and dampers. The butt is formed with a double notch, and each butt piece has a separate damper in connexion therewith. The lever at the end of the ordinary key works into the double notches of the butt piece, thereby causing the action to the hammer and damper.
A.D. 1868, November 23. - N° 3558.
CHARLES MONTAGU - "Improvements in the manufacture of pianofortes, harmoniums and certain other musical instruments.
The case, body, or framing of the instrument is made of a foundation of wood or other rigid substance, which is coated, covered, or faced with sheets, strips, or pieces of caoutchouc or of a compound of caoutchouc cemented or attached to the foundation.
Fretwork or ornamental designs may be formed by cutting through a slab of wood or other material covered, faced, or coated with caoutchouc or a compound thereof, or by cutting through a sheet or slab of solid caoutchouc or of a compound of caoutchouc.
Ornaments, beadings, and mouldings of solid caoutchouc or compounds thereof may be attached, and ornamental designs may be formed on the covering, coating, or facing surface before or after applying it.
The semitone or sharp and flat keys may be coated, covered, or faced with strips or pieces of caoutchouc or it compounds in like manner.
A.D. 1868, November 23. - N° 3563.
WILLIAM HENRY DRAPER - "Improvements in the construction of pianoforte hammers."
This Provisional Specification describes the use or application of vulcanized india rub[] similarly elastic substances in the covering of piano-forte hammers.
A.D. 1871, June 1. - N° 1458.
CHARLES FREDERICK CHEW - "Improvements [] Pianofortes.
The features of novely of this invention consist, First, in making the pins of pianofortes conical, s[] fitting such part in conical holes ; also in making the lower part square or other shape to receive a wash[]
straps applied to the back of the pinaoforte. Thirdly, applying straps of wood or other material or wire to the bridges of pianofortes to prevent them from "heeling over." Fourthly, making the top of a pianoforte hollow as a box for hte purpose of reflecting the sound.
A.D. 1874, February 9. - No. 504
[]TWIN, HENRY, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, manufacturer. - "Certain improvements [] finger boards, suitable for pianofortes, organs, harmoniums, and other such like instruments."
[]e novelty of my invention consists in covering the keys of pianofortes or such like instruments with []er of pearl or tortoise shell instead of ivory, as now generally used, by which brilliancy of effect and []rance is obtained.
A.D. 1874, February 27. - No. 741.
DUNKLEY, JAMES HENRY, of Yeovil, in the County of Somerset. - "Improvements in the construction of piano-fortes."
The feature of novelty in this invention consists in extending the sound boards of piano-fortes and fastening the top bridge thereto, thereby increasing considerably the tone and quality of the instrument.
A.D. 1875, January 2. - N° 24.
MILLER, William Reynolds, of the City of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore, state of Maryland, United States of America. - Improvements in pianos and similar musical instruments.
My invention has for its object to destroy the conductivity of sound in legs of pianos and other similar musical instruments, and to this end the nature of my invention consists, first in the interposition of an insulator or non-conductor of sound between the top of the leg and the piano-case ; second, in various modes of arranging such insulator or non-conductor of sound.
A.D. 1875, January 27. - N° 315.
BROCKBANK, GEORGE HENRY, of Montgomery Road, Acton Green, in the county of Middlesex, pianoforte manufacturer, - "Improvements in the actions of pianofortes."
For this purpose the hammer is brought back by means of a weight and in front thereof is fixed a spring rail having springs fixed thereto which bring back the sticker.
A.D. 1875, February 19. - N° 616.
BURLING, EDWARD THOMAS, of Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex. - "Improvements in the construction of piano-fortes."
The improvements have for object to obtain greater accuracy and facility in tuning, by bringing the tension of the strings to bear directly on the ends of the bars or bracings of the frame, thereby avoiding the deflecitn strain consequent on attaching the strings to pins projecting from the wrest plank, the frame also being less subject to strains. To enable persons to tune their own instruments a series of metal tongues tuned to the required scale are placed opposite their respective notes which can be tuned in unison with them.
A.D. 1875, February 20. - N° 636.
ROBERTS, GEORGE, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, pianoforte manufacturer, and
ROBERTS, ALFRED, of Birmingham, aforesaid, pianoforte manufacturer. - "Improvements in cottage and other upright pianofortes."
According to this invention the jack or lever is attached by a joint or centre on which it turns to the rear end of the key, so that on the removal of the key the jack or lever is brought away with it. The jacks or levers work in a horizontal rack bar over the rear ends of the keys and the escapement is effected by a regulating screw passing through the back and lower part of the jack and an adjustable button on a rail in front of the rack bar. By means of the mechanism described improved musical qualities are obtained in the pianoforte as well as great mechanical advantages. The removal of a key brings with it the jack or lever, the removal of the action fram brings away the hammers, dampers, and parts connected therewith, while the rack and escapement button rail may be separately removed.
A.D. 1875, April 8. - No. 1269.
MOTT, WILLIAM HENRY, of Highgate Road, in the county of Middlesex. - "A new or improved tool for use in trimming pianoforte hammers."
The invention consists of a tool somewhat in the form of a pair of pliers made of a pair of spring jaws provided with removable steel plates, in which tool the felt covering of the hammer head is confined whilst being cut, the steel plates forming a gauge or guide for the knife.
A.D. 1875, March 1. - N° 741.
ELLIS, JAMES, of Bradford, in the county of York. - "Improvements in or applicable to pianoforte, organs, and harmoniums."
The object of this invention is to construct pianofortes, organs, harmoniums, and other similar keyed instruments in such manner that music may be transposed mechanically or without mental effort on the part of hte performer, or the necessity of writing the piece to be tgransposed in teh required key. This I effect by mounting the keys on a keyboard capable of sliding longitudinally or endwise. On the underside of teh keyboard is a stud passing through a slot in one end of a lever hinged at about its centre ; on the other end of which lever is a catch or tooth capable of entering any of a series of notches formed in a suitably placed segment plate. The notches in the plate correspond with teh number of keys or notations used in writing music, that for the natural key or C being by preference in teh centre ; to effect a change in or alter the key the lever is moved a notch or more in either direction.