US585461A - Resonator attachment for pianos - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALOYS BRAMBACIIfOF DOL'GEVILLE, NEWT YORK.

RESONATOR ATTACHMENT FOR PlANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.y 585,461, dated J une 29, 1897.

.plies/cion tiled February 11, 1897. Serial No. 62 2,943. (No model.)

To all `whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoYs BRAMBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dol geville, in the county'pf Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iii Resonator Attachments for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a tone carrier constructed substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

To this end my invention consists of areson ator attachment constructed of a hardwood frame and adapted to be secured to the back and top of an ordinary upright, grand, or square piano, being merely a question of form andy size.

My invention consists, further, of a swell applied to -saidnresonator attachment and a suitable mechanism connecting it with the rpedals, so that it may be conveniently operated by the performer.

In the accompanying draWingaFigurel is a View in perspective of my improved reso nator4 attachment. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the resonator attachment secured to a piano. Fig:A 3 is a fragmental view in perspective, showing the upper portion 'of the resonator attachment in its oper-V ative position. Fig. 4 is a fragmental view showing the connection between the pedal and the swell. Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

` The resonator attachment A is constructed of ahard-wood frame of substantially the sam e length and width of the back of an ordinary upright piano pr bottom of grand and square piano,`to which it is adapted to be attached by screws or any suitable fastening means. The frame is provided at its upper portion with an outward extension A', which projects a suitable distance beyond the body of the frame and is adapted to rest upon the top of the piano. In a grand or square this extension is not required. This extension forms a continuation of the frame A and serves to carry the tone upwardly and forwardly into the The frame A is provided with suitable strc'ngthening-braces and is preferably constructed of hard resonant wood and is ini namented and presents a highly ornamental addition to the piano. vA felt lining b is placed at the places coming in contact with the piano, whichv is a principal feature-viz.,` to isolate the sounding-board or resonator tended to be highly polished and suitably or from `the actual sounding-board of pianos, l.

thus making each of them act and vibrate independently. Y

\ In the opening of the extension A are suitthrown free and unobstructed into the room.

From the construction and material the frame acts as an additional sounding-board and greatly augments the power of the tone and improves its yquality and thus greatly increases the strength and duration of the crescendo. IVhen the slats a' are'closed tightly, the tone issoftened, though great-ly sustained by reason of the increase in the power of the sounding-board by the independent sounding-board of the resonator attachment. In this position a diminuendo is obtained of. supefl'ior tone quality. Vhen' the slats a are rapidly vibrated, a powerful sustained tremoloresults, giving an' eiective imitation of the human voice. p

My improved resonator attachment is highly ornamental, easily operated, and very eective and carries the tone of an ordinary `upright piano into the'roon'" or *hall where it is wanted,.thus enabling a performer to be heard in a large audience. It rounds oi the tone quality and increases its power and enables the player to obtain results of diminuendo and crescendo hitherto unknown.

I am aware that it is not new to adapt the ordinary caseof an upright piano so that the tone may be carried and increased, but my improved resonator attachment diiers from such in -providing a separate detachable frame which can be applied to any upright,

grand, or square piano now in use and which envelops the entire back and top or bottom thereof. Further, myimproved resonator at tachmen t, having its own independent sonnd ing-board, doubles the Volume of the tone produced.

Having thus described my invention, 'l claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patenty' I n a resonator attachment, the Combination of' a hard-Wood frame, a forwardly-projecting extension at the-u pper portionLhQleadapted to rest upon the top of a piano, ,eans for removably securing said resonator attach mont to a piano, a series of slats pivoted in the front portion of said extension, and suitable means connected with the podais for operating said slats, substantially as set forth. In testimony that I Aclaim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALOYS BR.^.MBACH. Yfitnessee:

'HARVEY' REDES,

nnninmsn HEINRICH.

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