US769853A - Tuning device. - Google Patents

Description

No. '769,853. I PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. D. M. WHITE.

TUNING DBVIGE.

APPLIGATION PILED DEG. 15, 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

DANIEL M. WVHITE, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

TUNING DEVIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. ?69,853, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed December 15, 1903. Serial No, 185384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. 'WHITE, a citizen of the United States residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning Devices; and I do 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.

This invention relates to tuning devices for pianos and other musical instrumente.

The object of the invention is to improve the Construction of tuning device shown and described in the Patent No. 521,688, granted to me June 19, 1894, and to provide a tuning device in which a rigid immovable tuning'- pin is employed.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features oi' Construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of certain parts of a piano, showing the application of the invention, parts being in section to more clearly illustrate the Construction. Fig. 2 is a top plan View oi' the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssectional View showing the arrangement and manner of fastening the tuning-pins. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a pair oi' tuning-pins. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the tuning-levers. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a different manner of securing the tuning-pins.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, ldenotes the string-plate supported on the head and foot blocks 2 2', which are supported by the wooden frame 2 of the piano and arranged in the usual manner. On one end of the plate l are arranged pins 3 for holding the strings 4.

5 denotes the sounding-board, 6 denotes the bridge at one end of the strings, and 7 denotes the bridge at the opposite end of the same. The bridge 7 is 'ormed on and is a part of the stringplate, and the soundingboard is mounted upon the supports 5', ar-

ranged on the i'rame 2, as shown. These parts may be of the ordinary or any desirable Construction.

The opposite ends of the strings are connected to tuning-levers 8, which are arrangcd adjacent to and bear or are fulcrumed against the base of the bridge 7. The free ends of the levers 8 are bent into the form of a hook 9 and engaged with threaded pins 10, which are rigidly connected with and project upwardly from the string-plate or the headblock, as shown. On the levers 8 are formed laterally-projecting perforated lugs 12, with which the ends of the wires are connected, and at their lower fulcrum edge or corner of the levers they are provided with laterallyprojecting strengthening-lugs 13. The pins 10 are arranged in their usual positions on the plate, and the levers 8 are slightly bent or ofiset to engage the same and to bring each wire directly opposite or in alinement with the center of its pin. The pins 10 are preferably formed double and are substantially U-shaped, being connected together at their lower ends bya cross-piece 14. The upwardlyprojecting portion of the pins are formed with two plain fiat sides and two round threaded sides. The flat sides of the same are engaged by the hook-shaped ends of the tuning-levers 8, and the round threaded sides of each pin are engaged by a nut 15, which bears on the top of the hook-shaped ends of the levers 8 and which when screwed up or down on the pins will adjust said levers and give the strings the required tension. The adjusting-nuts may be turned by the usual tuning key or hammer to adjust the levers. The hooked ends of the levers engage the pins on each fiat side, thereby affording a firm bearing 'or the tuning-nut. The sides of the pins engaged by the lever being fiattened, friction between these parts will be avoided.

Instead of mounting the pins in the metal string-plate, as shown in Fig. 3, they may pass through enlarged openings in said plate and be secured in the head-block or wooden frame of the piano, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby avoiding contact with the metal stringplate.

In order to diminish or prevent noise occa- IOO sioned by the rattling or interference of the levers, the same may be insulated from each other by means of pieces of felt, lead, cloth, leather, or other non-resonant material, as shown at 16.

The levers may be formed of cast metal or they may be stamped from heavy sheet metal and bent into shape, the string-connecting lugs 12 and the strengthening-lugs 13 being cut or 'ormed on the lever and bent at right angles to the same, as shown.

While the device has been shown and described in connection with a piano, it will be understood that the same may be applied to other stringed musical instruments.

From the 'oregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention Will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details' of Construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a support having a bridge, of tuning-levers fulcrumed at one end against said bridge and having hook-shaped opposite ends, fixed threaded pins adapted to be engaged by the hook-shaped ends of said levers, and adjusting nuts adapted to be screwed onto said threaded pins and to bear on the hook-shaped ends of said levers whereby said levers are rocked to inpart the desired tension to said strings, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a support having a bridge, of tuning-levers fulcrumed at one end against the base of said bridge and having hook-shaped opposite ends, fixed pins having two fiat sides engaged by the hook-shaped ends ofsaid levers, the opposite sides of said pins being rounded and threaded, and adjustingnuts adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portions of said pins to bear on the hookshaped ends of said levers whereby said levers are rocked to impart to said strings the desired tension, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a support having a bridge, of tuning-levers fulcrumed at one end against the base of said bridge, and having hook-shaped opposite ends, a string-engaging lug and a strengthening-lug formed on saidlevers, double-threaded U-shaped pins fixedly mounted and adapted to be engaged by the hook-shaped ends of said levers, and adjusting-nuts adapted to be screwed onto the threaded ends of said pin to bear on the hook-shaped ends of said levers, whereby said levers are rocked to impart to said strings the desired tension, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a support having a bridge, of tuning-levers fulcrumed at one end against the base oi' said bridge, and having hook-shaped opposite ends, a string-engaging lug and a strengthening-lug formed on said levers, double U-shaped pins xedly mounted in said support, said pins having two oppositely -disposed rounded and threaded sides and two plain flattened sides, said fiattened sides being engaged by the hook-shaped ends of said tuning-levers, and adjusting-nuts adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portions of said pins to bear on the hook-shaped ends of said levers to rock the same and impart to said strings the desired tension, substantially as described.

5. A tuning device for stringed musical instruments having a fixedly-mounted double pin and rocking levers adjustably connected with said pin Whereby the strings of said instrument may be given the desired tension, substantially as described.

6. A tuning device for stringed musical instruments comprising a fixedly mounted double, U-shaped pin, said pin having two oppositely-disposed fiat sides and two rounded threaded sides, adjusting-nuts adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portions oi' said pins, and means operated by said nuts, whereby the strings of said instrument are gven the desired tension, substantially as described.

In testimony-whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

4 DANIEL M. WHlTE. VVitnesses:

EMMA J. WHITE, J. O. MoPHAIL.

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