US293369A

US293369A - Piano-action

Info

Publication number: US293369A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1884-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1901-02-12

Description

`(No Model.)

P. ST. AMANT.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 293,369. Patented Feb 12,1884.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANCIS ST. AMANT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,369, dated February 12, 1884.

Y Application tiled November 22, 1882. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FEANcIs ST. AMANT, of Boston, in the county oi' Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a subject of Victoria, Queen of England, &c., have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grand or Square Piano- Forte Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature, in which- Figure 1 represents in side elevation an action containing my invention, showing the hammer at rest. Fig. 2 represents the position of the parts of the action immediately after the string has been struck. Figs. 8 and 4 represent in perspective details, hereinafter referred to.

This invention is an improvement upon that described in my Letters Patent No. 201,461, dated March 19, 1878. In said patent I describe a piano-action which is substantially all that is desired, except in one particular, and that is the connection between the hammerelevator and the hammer stem or flange.4 The connection represented in the patent consists of a projection on the hammer-elevator, covered with leather, felt, orother flexible or soft material, and a wooden surface or shoe on the hammer, which rests on the projection on the hannner-elevator, and receives the impulse from it. The projection, however, on account of the hard usage to which it is submitted, soon wears oft and causes a change in the relative position of the parts of the action to such an extent that its efficiency is impaired, and it is not easily put in order again, it being necessary to renew some of the parts, and generally to overhaul the entire action to put it in good working condition. Moreover, it requires considerable skill and expenditure of labor and material to properly adjust the relative position of the hammer-elevator to the hammer stem or fian ge in the first instance. I have ascertained, however, that by interposing an adjustable metallic connection between the hammer stem or flange and the hammerelevator that these objections are entirely obviated, so that if from wear or any other reason the action needs setting up it can be done by means of this adjustable device, and the action is also correspondingly improved.

wherebyit may be turned and the position of 6 5 the head in relation to thc hammer-elevator varied. Then the regulating` device is attached to the hammer-stem or iiange, its shank projects through the hammer-spindle, as shown in Fig. 4., and a recess, ct, is cut across its end for the reception of a screw-driver. The portion of the action with which the rounded head comes in contact should also be rounded, and preferably should be of some flexible or soft material, like felt or leather. For the best effect it is perhaps desirable that the regulating device be applied to the hannncr-elevator.

By making the upper surface of the device rounded or curved there is less friction between the parts, and by making it ot' metal great durability and strength in a light and compact form are obtained.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentofthe 'United Statesj 1. The combination, in a piano-forte action, of the hammer-stem, the hammer-elevator B, and the interposed adjustable regulating device O, made of metal, and having the regularly rounded or curved head c and the threaded shank c, all substantially as described.

2. The combination of a hammer-stem, the hammer-elevator B, and the curved or rounded metallic bumper O, arranged between the hammer-stem and the hammer-elevator and fastened to one of them, and adapted to contact with a rounded or curved leather or clothcovered bumper or projection upon the other, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

FRANOIS ST. AMANT.

IVitnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, WILLARD C. Foce.