US368673A

US368673A - Joseph kellbe

Info

Publication number: US368673A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1904-08-23

Description

(No Model.)

J. KELLER. COMBINED GAPODASTRO BAR AND BRIDGE FOR PIANO FORTES.

N0. 368,673. Patented Aug. 23, l887.

7% WWW 5% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KELLER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEL- LER PIANO COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED CAPODASTRO BAR AND BRIDGE FOR PIANO-FORTES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,673, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed May 26, 1887. Serial No. 239,468. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn KELLER, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Capodastro Bar and Bridgefor Piano-Fortes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of piano-fortes, and has for its object to increase the volume and improve the quality of tone of the treble strings.

\Vith these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, numbers being used to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my novel wrestplank bridge and capodastro-bar; and Fig. 2 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the frame-work, the wrest-plank, the plate, the combined capodastro-bar and wrest plank bridge, and my novel support therefor.

1 denotes a portion of the frame-work of a piano, in the present instance an upright; 2, the wrest-plank, ordinarily made of crossed maple veneers; 8, the metal plate, and 4 the tuning-pin. The latter passes through a plug, 5, which is inserted in an opening in the plate and passes down into the wrest-plank.

6 denotes one of the strings, the upper end of each string being attached to a tuning-pin.

7 denotes my novel capodastro -bar and wrest-plank bridge. This bar is made of suitable metal, cast, and is of sufficient length, so

' that a single bar serves to support the whole of the treble-strings. The specific construction of this bar is a very important feature of my invention.

8 denotes a longitudinal flange at the upper edge of the bar, which is provided with open ings 9, through which the strings pass inde pendently. This flange and its openings perform the ordinary functions of independent agrafles, which are thus dispensed with.

10 denotes a flange or bridge at the lower edge of the bar, over which the strings pass. The bar is hollowed out upon its under side, leaving an opening, 11, beneath it, so that it rests only upon the edges 12.

13 denotes a slot in the plate slightlylonger than the entire length of the bar. This slot is filled with end wood, 14, which is driven in tight. The slot extends entirely through the plate, and the end wood rests upon the wrestplank, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The combined capodastro bar and bridge is thus caused to rest on wood alone, it not being in contact with the metal of the plate, and the edges only of the bar being in contact with the wood. The result of this construction is perfect purity in the tone of the strings and a great increase in the volume of tone. The bar is secured in place by screws 15, which pass through the end wood and down into the wrest-plank.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A combined capodastro-bar and wrestplank bridge for piano-fortes, having an opening in its under side, whereby edges 12 are formed, upon which the bar rests.

2. The combination, with a wrest-plank, a metal plate having aslot, and end Wood closely filling said slot and bearing upon the wrestplank, of a metallic capodastro-bar and wrestplank bridge having an opening in its under side forming edges 12, which rest upon the end wood so that the metallic wrest-plank bridge is supported by wood alone.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH KELLER.

Witnesses:

A. M. WOOSTER, C. E. RUoGLEs.