US597044A - wesee - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. WESER.

PIANOFORTE.

No. 597,044. Patented Jan.11,-1898 I J- 21 I i a 52 (h: f Bj l f lht meyj I LE (No Model.) 6 Sheets-S'heet 3.

J. A. WESER.

PIANOPORTE.

No. 597,044. Patented Jan.'11,1898.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

a m I y 74 140} By 1215" At/omeys, firm sz/d [\(g (No Model.\ 6 Sheets.-Sheet 4.

J. A. WESER.

PIANOFORTE.

No. 597,044. Patented Ja 11..11, 1898.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

J. A. WESER.

PIANOPORTE.

N0. 597,044. Patented Jan. 11,1898.

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1-76.10. FIG. 17.

FIG. 8. FIG. 9.

INVENTOR: By his Atzomeys,

WITNESSES:

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(N0 ModeL) 6 Sheets-Sheet 64 J. A. WESER.

PIANOFORTE.

No. 597,044. Patented Jan.11,1898.

WITNESSESZ INVENTOR: 56% way fl 1 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN A. IVESER, OF NEIV YORK, IT. Y.

PIANOFORTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,044, dated January 11, 1898. Application filed September 12 1896. Serial No. 605,609. (No model.)

To all witont [it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WEsEn, a citi zen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianofortes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and aims to provide certain improvements especially applicable to such string instruments as pianofortes.

In some cases pianofortes are now constructed with such additional features as strikers movable into the path of the 11ammers to be thrown thereby against the string and pendent vibrators movable into vibratory proximity to the strings, each serving as a harmonic device producing a distinctive harmonic or tonic effect when in action and either or both operated in conjunction with or independently of other harmonic devices, such as the muffier, the movable hammerrest, or the dampers. These several devices are usually controlled by separate pedals, so that either can be operated independently of the other.

My present invention provides various improvements in pianofortes, and in its preferred form embodies an improved construction of striker, improved means for guiding and operating the movable harmonic devices of the instrument, improved connections between the pedals and the parts operated thereby, improvements in the construction and operation of the pedals, and improved means for operating the vibrators in conjunction with the operation of one of the other harm onio devices,and means for controlling such operations, and I also provide certain other features of improvement in construction and operation of the instrument, all of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a pianoforte provided with the preferred form of my present improvements, the view being cut on the line 1 l in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, showing the pedal and action mechanism in end elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the ease, the view being cut on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the mechanism in front elevation. Fig. 3 isa horizontal section out on the line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a similar but fragmentary view out on the line 4. -i in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, on a larger scale, showing the harmonic devices and action, the hammer be ing in the position of moving the striker against the string. Fig. 6 is a similar view, the hammer being retracted and the strikers and vibrators being .in the inactive position, while the mother is in'the active position. Fig. 7 .is a fragmentary vertical section cut on the line 7 '7 in Fig. 5 and looking toward the strings, the action being removed and the view being broken out to show the relations of the several parts. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the string side of the preferred form of striker, and Fig. 9 is a vertical section thereof, and Fig. 10 is an elevation of the string side of a modified form of striker, and Fig. 11 is a section thereof. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section cut on the line 12 12 in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the pedals in plan; and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section cut on the line 13 in Fig. 12, showing the automatic locking and releasing device between the muffler and one of the soft pedals. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section of the block X and keyboard in the plane of the slide Y.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the casing of a piano; 13, the keyboard there of; O, the bottom board thereof; D, the strings; E, the action as a whole; F, the hammers; G, the hammeruest; II, the dampers I, the muffler; J, the strikers; K, the vibrator; a, the action-posts; l), guide-pins thereon; 0, slides on these pins and carrying the striker-rai1 (Z; c, the post moving the rest G; j, the post moving the dampers H, and L the pedals as a whole. These parts may be of any usual or suitable construction, those shown being in their general features of wellknown form and operation. As stated, a plurality of pedals is employed in order to operate the several movable devices, one, 9, when depressed moving the strikers into the path of the hammers, the other, h, moving the m uffler into the path of the hammers, another, '5, operating the dan'lper-lifterj to lift the dampers, and another, 7.", operating the rest G to shorten the stroke of the hammers. W hen the muffler, which consists of a strip of felt or other material depending from a rail M, is moved into the path of the hammers, it strikes the strings therewith to cause the usual muffling effect. When the strikers J are depressed, they are moved against the strings by the hammers to produce a peculiar picking effect. hen the vibrators are in the active position, they rest in such proximity to the strings that they are struck or vibrated thereby as the strings are vibrated,producing a distinctive tonic effect. The muffler, strikers, and vibrators may be used simultaneously or independently with or without the use of the hammer-rest or the damper, each of these parts being independent of the others in its operation and its operating means and the several parts being used or rendered inactive as the requirements of the composition being executed on the instrument make it desirable.

I will now describe the preferred form and arangement of the several features of improvement incident to my present invention, referring to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings.

The strikers J are of improved construction, consisting of a piece of bent sheet metal wt, preferably cup-shaped or concave on its side toward the strings and having two striking portions, one above the other, which con- .sist of the edges of the plate and can suecessively contact with the strings, combined with a suitable flexible depending support a, to which the plate is properly connected, as by a fastening o, passing through both, so that the plate will act as a hard or metal striker and the strip act as a cushion or proteeter for the face of the hammer. Preferably the striker also has a small non-resonant pad 19 between its striking portions, which pad may be held in place by the fastener o. The striker is adapted to stand in its active position almost directly in advance of the hammer as the latter approaches the strings, so that the full force of the hammer blow will be transmitted to the string by the striker, but by reason of the swing of the supportingstrip a toward the string the striker proper will, when it has two separated striking portions, as shown, hit the string first with its lowerportion and then with its upper portion, and while thereagainst its pad 19 will contact with the string. These blows are in such quick succession as to be essentially one blow, but the slight difference in time of striking or the fact of two separated blows being given produces an agreeable tonic effect.

The strikers are carried by a striker-frame N, which comprises the usual top rail d, carried by two vertical rods or posts (1, united by a lower crossbar r, the whole making a rectangular frame, which is guided at top by rollers s, as usual, or in any other suitable way, and intermediate of the ends of the rail by the slide 0 on the postb, as usual. The lower ends of the rods q are adj ustably clamped to the bar 7 by nuts 25. My invention comprises an improved guide and restorer for the frame N or any equivalent part. This guide consists of a vertical screw or post 0, projecting downwardly from the keyboard B, adjustable vertically therein, and passing through a hole 0 in the bar 9', so that the latter can move vertically 011 and be guided by the screw, one being provided at or near each end of the bar. To support the frame N, I provide a coilspring P, surrounding each screw 0 and reacting against the head thereof and the bottom of the bar. By screwing in or out the screw the compression of vthis spring is conveniently regulated. To operate the frame N from the pedal g, I prefer to provide a link consisting of a single piece of wire Q, bent in U shape at its middle and there connected to the pedal and having hooked ends taking over the bar 0' and adj ustably engaging the lat- I for, as by entering one of several notches 7" in the top edge thereof. The upward movement of the frame N is limited by the usual stop or block 7'. The link Q can be adjusted at either side of the pedal by shifting either of its ends along the bar 1'. It is a tensionlink and preferably sustains the pedal in its upper or inactive position, the frame, link, and pedal being all raised by the compression-springs P.

I provide an improved construction of pedal 9, preferably extending the pedal rearwardly of its pivotal axis in an arm or tail a, which receives the tension of a spring a, tending to throw the pedal and the frame N to the active position, but which spring is of insufficient tension to overcome the springs P and serves merely as a counterbalancing-spring,resistin g too sudden return of the pedal and frame when released and therebypreventing a noticeable thud when these parts are arrested. The link and pedal are connected by an improved connection, consisting of a separate piece r, removably attached to the top of the pedal, as by a bolt 0), which piece passes over and receives the bend in the V-shaped link, coupling the latter to the pedal, but permitting its ready disengagement by loosening or removing the coupling-piece. Each pedal is shown as pivoted on a rod u, and the pedal 7L is shown as identical in construction with the pedal 9, except that its counterbalancing-spring is reversed in direction for convenience.

The connection between the pedal 7L and the m ufiler or other harmonic device operated by it also involves certain features of improvement. This connection consists, in its preferred form, of a single link or rod R, of bent or V-shaped wire, connected at its bent middle to the pedal h in the same manner as described with reference to the link Q and its pedal g and extending from the pedal en-- tirely to the muffler-rail M back of the re-- movable action of this instrument and in front of the strings, being adjustably conneeted at its separated upper ends to the rail M in any suitable manner, as by having its ends hooked over the rail and seated in one of several notches z" in the top thereof, so that by shifting the ends in the notches adjustment can be obtained, and by unhooking the ends from the rail the latter can be disconnected from the pedals.

My invention also provides improved guiding and lifting provisions for the muffler-rail and its pedal. The improved guide preferably consists of a vertical rod or post S, adjustably fixed by screws j to the adjacent side wall of the casing A at each end of the rail M, which post in each instance passes vertically through a hole j in the rail M, so that the latter can slide vertically on the post and be guided thereby. The improved lifter for the muffler-rail preferably consists of a coiled spring S, surrounding the post S and reacting against the bottom of the rail and against a tapering ring or shoulder carried by the post, which shoulder guides the spring and holds it in place. tension of the spring is attained by adjusting up or down the corresponding post S by loosening its screws j, which pass through elongated slots 70', which leave abundant room for vertical movement of the post. The springs S lift the muffler, its link R, and its pedal h, being of sufficient force to sustain these parts elevated and to raise them against the counterbalancing force of the spring a for the pedal h. The link R is thus a tension-link. The guiding-posts S are free at their top ends, so that the muffler can be readily removed, after its link R has been unhooked, by simply lifting its rail off the posts.

My invention comprises certain improvements in the operation of the damper from its pedal 2 and in the construction of the intervening operating mechanism. By the improved construction a lever T is adjustably fulcrumed by a screw T, screwing into the keyboard B beneath this board, and has at one end a socket f, receiving and holding the lower end of the damper-post f, and at its other end a plurality of notches orequiva lent provisions f, adapted to receive the hooked upper end of a link a, which extends substantially vertically upward from the pedal 7., being adj ustably connected thereto by nuts a, which screw on the link above and below the pedal. By shifting the upper hooked end of the link it can be adjusted to vary the throw of the lever T. The latter is moved to the inactive position and preferably also is guided by a leaf-spring U, which is fixed at one end to the lever T and projects at its other end into a holding and guiding socket U, formed in a block U or in any other suitable manner attached to the wall of the casing A. The socket U embraces the top and both sides of the spring U, so that the vertical thrust of the latter will be re sisted and its lateral movement will be pre vented, thus avoidinglateral swing of the lever around the vertical axis of its screw T and permitting the tension of the spring to The desired I tilt the lever and raise the pedal, its tension being preferably sufficient to accomplish this. The pedal dis preferably also formed with a rearward tail 1t and is counterbalanced by a small coil-spring Z) beneath this tail, which tends to throw the pedal to the downward position, thereby resisting the tension of the spring U to a sufficient extent to hold the link a in place and to prevent so sudden a return of the parts as to cause a noticeable thud or jar.

The hammer-rest is operated from its pedal 71 through the medium of a lever V, which is retained in place and in the inactive position by a second spring U and socket U, identical with those described for the lever T, which lever V has a socket c at one end, receiving the post 6 of the hammer-rest, is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on a screw T, screwed into the bottom of the keyboard B and adjustable therein, and at its free end is connected by a link XV with its pedal 7., the link being ad j ustably connected to the pedal by nuts Ct, screwing on its lower end and embracing each side of the pedal, and being adjustably but separably connected to the lever at its upper end by a hook e, entering one of many vertical holes f in the lever. In addition to the pedal 7; for operating the hammer-rest my invention provides an auxiliary pedal Z for the same purpose, which pedal has a greater throw than the other pedal, moving downwardly into a recess Z, formed for it in the bottom board 0, or being otherwise suitably given such throw, and being connected to the lever V by a link: TV, which at its upper end has a hook e" entering one of any of the holes f. In this manner the 11am mer-rest can be given a great or a small movement to produce either a marked or a mild pianissiino effect. Preferably the soft pedals k and Z are not counterbalanced pedals, but each is resisted in its downward motion by a small coil-spring Z beneath it, such spring suflicing to retain one pedal and its link elevated, while the other pedal and its link are depressed in depressing the lever V. The hooks c are long enough to prevent escape of the elevated hook while the lever is depressed. This arrangement for these pedals avoids the necessity of a spring U strong enough to sustain both.

My invention provides an improved operator X for the vibrators and an improved controller Y therefor. The operator X consists of a vertical slide, preferably a block connected to the keyboard B by a screw 0, traversing an elongated slot 0, which slide ad justably carries a rod d, entering a hole .2 through it and fixed therein by a screw it, which rod is pivoted at its upper end at w to the rail '10 of the vibrators K. At its lower end the operatorX has a beveled face 0;,which engages a beveled face 03 on the controller Y, the latter being preferably a slide fastened to the bottom of the keyboard by screws X and having a handle 1 at its outer end, by

which it can be moved by the person using the instrument. Moving in the slide Y causes its beveled end to act against the beveled end of the block X, thus lifting the latter until it rests on the top of the slide, this being its inactive position, in moving to which it throws the vibrators away from the strings and to their inactive position, as shown in Figs. 2 and G of the drawings. Moving out the slide permits the block to fall to its active position, which it does under its own weight or through the tension of a spring X, one end of which is fixed to some portion of the instrument, and the other end of which is connected to the vibrator-rail and which normally tends to throw the vibrators to the active position.

If desired, the vibrators may be controlled entirely by the slide, being inactive when the latter is pushed in and active when the slide is withdrawn; but according to the preferred form of my invention I prefer to also control and operate the vibrators by the pedals and preferably in conjunction with the soft pedal or pedals, this being best done, as shown in the drawings, by providing the vibratorlifter with a projection or portion, as the adj ustable screw Z, screwing into the block X and disposed in the path of the end of the lever V. This is best adjusted so that when the lever is in the normal position it will hold the vibrators sufficiently elevated to be inactive,

and as the lever is depressed it will permit them to drop into action, lifting them out of action as it returns to the normal position. The slide preferably lifts the vibrators sufficiently to bring the screw Z just above the lever V, so that the latter will not quite strike the screw when the block X is supported by the slide. The movement of the lever may be much greater than the movement necessary to actuate the vibrators, in which case the latter will become operative with any slight depression of the lever, being arrested when reaching their active position in any suitable manner, and further depression of the lever can be had independently of them to vary the pianissimo effects secured by limiting the stroke of the hammers.

lVhile it is most suitable that the vibrators should be operated in conjunction with the soft-pedal mechanism, it will be equally convenient, if desired, to make this conjoint operation and. relation exist between any of the harmonic devices of the instrument, to the end of securing either complete simultaneous action by both or a relative or graduated action by the one in conjunction with the other.

The construction shown enables the complete suppression of the vibrators or other harmonic device by permanently throwing it out of action by means of the passive controller Y, its continuous use by permanently throwing it into action and out of the influence of the lever V, as by removing the screw Z, and its intermittent action by placing it under pedal control, as through the lever V In use the instrument shown will be of great scope, the strikers enabling the production of effects resembling many different instruments and susceptible of extensive modification by the continued or intermittent use of the muffler in conjunction with them. The vibrators can be thrown into or out of action at will and used in conjunction with either the strikers or the mu flier, or both. The conjoint use of the vibrators and hammer-rest will contribute to agreeable and unique effects. To reduce the instrument to the condition of an ordinary pianoforte, the three harmonic devices-the mu iller, strikers, and vibratorswill be rendered inactive, whereupon the instrument can be operated as ordinarily.

The parts can be assembled and disconnected rapidly and conveniently and can be readily adjusted each independently of the other. The construction of the several parts and the operation of each are most simple.

It will be seen that my invention provides improvements which can be readily and advantageously availed of, and it will be underderstood that the invention is not limited to the particular details of construction,arrangement, combination, and use set forth and shown as constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention, since it can be em ployed in whole or in part, according to such modification in details of constructioinin combination and arrangement of features, and acccording to such use as circumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art may dictate, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a sliglitly-moditied construction of striker J, in which the strikingplate m is a flat perforated plate having its remote ends bent outwardly as striking portions, it and a felt pad 1)" between its ends being fastened to the felt strip n by a fastener 0, so that the soft felt strip will protect the hammer from contact with the metal plate, the latter being disposed almost exactly in the path of the hammer, so that its striking portions will be above and below the center of the striking part of the hammer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section cut on the line 12 12 in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the pedals in plan; and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary verticalsection cut on the line 13 in Fig. 12, showing the automatic locking and releasing device between the muffler and one of the soft pedals.

I prefer to extend the end of the rod (1 and loosely seat its lower end in a socket a in a transverse lever Z), f ulcrumed on a pin 0 from a block c, fixed to the bottom board C of the instrument, which lever has a short arm traversing an eye f in the nniiitlerpedal h, so that it is tilted therewith, its outer end being IOC" raised as the muffler is raised and lowered as the muffler is lowered by this pedal. In this manner the vibrators are controlled both by the soft and the muffler pedals, being prevented by either from moving to the active position even when the slide Y is out so long as either pedal is up. Then by holding the soft pedal 7t down the muffler can be worked simultaneously with the vibrators, or by holding the muffler-pedal down the vibrators can be moved with the soft pedal, or if both are down the vibrators can be used continuously. At any time by moving in the slide the vibrators can be rendered inactive.

My invention provides an improved lock A for the soft pedal k, consisting of a lever fulcrumed at g having a nose 7 engaging a shoulder t on the pedal is when the latter is down and then holding it depressed, which lever has a tail j playing under the pedal h and moved by the depression of this pedal, so that the lever is then swung until the nose leaves the shoulder, whereupon the pedal 76 is free to rise. A spring B is used to move the lock A toward the locking position.

I also provide an improvement in the construction of the vibrator K, which, according to my invention, consists of alight solid body of fibrous material Z preferably compressed paper or papieranftch, having a hard coating m as enamel, paint, or varnish-as shown in section in Fig. 6. This gives an improved tonic sound and is cheap, durable, and convenient.

In the construction shown the falling of the slide X is limited by the length of the slot 0, the upper end of which should be at such point as to strike the screw 0 at the proper limit of downward movement.

"What I claim is, in pianofortes and other instruments, the following-defined features and combinations,substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth, namely:

1. The combination with the strings and hammers, of strikers moved by the hammers against the strings and consisting of a concave piece of sheet metal having its concave face toward the strings, and means supporting the latter.

2. The combination with the strings and hammers, of strikers moved by the hammers against the strings, and consisting of a plate of sheet metal having remote portions bent toward and striking the strings, and means supporting the strikers.

3. The combination with the strings and hammers, of strikers moved by the hammers against the strings, and consisting of a concavo-convex metal part m having a concave side toward the strings, a flexible support a, at the convex side of said part and a fastening connecting said part and support opposite the concave portion of the part.

l. In pianofortes, a plurality of harmonic devices independently movable into and out of an active position relatively to the string,

in combination with means moving one of such devices toward and from such position, and a connection between such means and the other of such devices moving the latter.

5. In pianofortes, a plurality of harmonic devices independently movable into and out of active posit-ion relatively to the strings, means moving one of such devices and a separable connection between such means and the other of such devices moving the lat ter therewith, and means disconnecting such connection.

6. In pianofortes, a harmonic device and pedal mechanism controlling its operation, in combination with a manually-operated con troller disconnecting such device from said mechanism.

7. In pianofortes, a plurality of vibrators, an upright post controlling the latter, and a lateral slide holding said post in position.

8. In pianofortes,a harmonic device, a pedal operating the latter, a pedal-lever therefor, an upright post between said lever and device, and a controller disconnecting said post from said lever.

9. In pianofortcs, a plurality of vibrators, a block X moving the latter, and a controller Y carried by the keyboard of the instrument and controlling operation of such block.

10. In pianofortes, a harmonic device above the action and a rectangular frame therefor comprising a top rail, upright posts extending from the latter below the keyboard, a crossbar connecting said posts below the keyboard and having vertical guiding-sockets, a pedal operating said frame, and a connection between the frame and its pedal, in combination with guides for the frame consisting of uprights fixed in the keyboard, projecting from the under side thereof, traversing said.

sockets, and engaging and guiding said bar.

11. In pianofortes, a harmonic device, a frame therefor consisting of a top rail, upright posts extending below the keyboard, and a cross-bar connecting said posts beneath such board and having vertical guiding-sockets, and a pedal connected to such bar for depressing it, in combination with means lifting such frame, consisting of screws screwing into said board from below and traversing said sockets, and springs reacting against such screws and said bar.

12. In pianofortes, the combination with a case having a socket, and a pedal-leve1.*, of means guiding the latter from the case and consisting of a leaf-spring fixed to the end of the lever and projecting therefrom into and engaging the socket in the case.

13. In pianofortes, two harmonic devices and separate pedals operating them inde pendently, in combination with a third harmonic device and connect-ions between the latter and said pedals whereby it can be con trolled by either of said pedals.

14. In pianofortes, a muffler and a pedal for operating it, in combination with vibrators and a connection between the latter and said pedal whereby operation of the vibrators can be controlled by said pedal.

15. In pianofortes, a harmonic device and a, pedal for operating the latter, in combination with a second harmonic device, an upright post extendin g from said latter device toward said pedal and a horizontal lever b engaging said pedal at one end and moved thereby, and carrying said post at its other end for operating said latter device.

16. In pianofortes, two pedals, in combination with a pedal-lock A, having a nose at one end engaging one of the pedals and locking it in the depressed position and engaged by such pedal and tilted by the movement thereof when such pedal is unlocked, and a tail at the other end engaged by the other pedal and operated by the depression thereof JOHN A. \VESER.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE IL FRASER, THOMAS I \VALLACE.

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