US228963A - Bass-pedal for piano-fortes - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. WIESBAUER. Bass'Pedal forrPiano Fortes.

No. 228,963. PatentedJune 15,1880.

} WITNESSES INVENTOR 0 m ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

A. WIE S B AUE R. Bass Pedal for Piano Fortes.

Patented June 15,1880.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY NJ-ETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYON, D C.

ANDREW VIESBAUER, O

PATENT OFFICE.

F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BASS-PEDAL FOR PlANO-FORTES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,963, dated June 15, 1880,

Application filed October 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW WInsBAUnn, of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement'in Piano Bass-Pedals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is arepresentation of a top view of my improved pedal attachment for pianos. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, and Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in piano-fortes.

The object of the invention is to increase the volume of sound and produce a more varied harmony in piano-playin The nature of'the invention consists in combining with a piano a pedal attachment having pedals corresponding; to the keys of the key-board and attached thereto by means of a system of levers and connectingrods, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a piano, constructed in the usual way, and having" connected to its under side, by means of the metallic rods a, a rectangular wooden or metallic frame, 13. This frame is usually mounted on caster-wheels for convenience of moving along with the piano, 01', if desired, may be detached therefrom altogether by means hereinafter shown. At the front of this frame, is a slightly-raised foot-board, I), through which extend rods 1', connected to the operative mechanism of the soft and loud pedals, and provided each with a foot-rest, b, by means of which the said pedals are conveniently operated.

D indicates pedals, in number corresponding to the whole or part of that of the keys, and pivoted at their front ends in any suitable manner to the frame B. These pedals are in corresponding positions in their frame to the keys of the piano, and their rear ends vibrate between two cushioned boards, 0 0, under the foot-board b, and are strips 1' on a boa-rd, c behind the boards 0 c aforesaid, or in. any other suitable manner. The pedals D are supported from below and held up against the cushioned board 0 by means of springs .5, secured at one end to the frame and bearing against the said pedals at the other. Each of the pedals is provided with a hook, k, at its extremity near the footboard, with which is engaged the lower slotted and cushioned end of a connecting-rod, (I, having at its upper end an adjustable hook, d, that engages the power end of a verticallyvibrating lever, 6, having its fulcrum on a hanging frame, Gr, suspended by means of rigid rods from the bottom of the piano-case. The frame G is obliquely arranged relative to the length of the piano, and the levers c ter minate in rear directly under the power ends of a second series of lovers, f, whose other ends extend to the front directly under the key they are designed to operate. The levers f have suitable fulcrums on the under side of the case, and their ends bearing on the levers c are cushioned to prevent rattling and vibration.

g indicates metallic rods passing loosely up through the front ends of the levers f, and prevented from being drawn through the same by means of buttons it, applied upon their lower screw-threaded ends. These rods have on their upper ends a button, j, under which a hook, l, on the under side of thekeys m, is e11- gaged, so that when the said rods are drawn down the said keys are vibrated and the strings corresponding thereto actuated. The depression of any one of the pedals D draws down the connecting rod (1 corresponding thereto, vibrates the corresponding lovers 0/", and actuates the key or keys corresponding to the pedal or pedals, producing a note or notes precisely the same as though the keys had been struck.

By this means it is clear that the volume of sound may be greatly increased.

It is well known to organists how much the use of the pedals adds to the volume of sound and to the harmony, and it is clear that the same results will be attained with the piano.

By the use of this pedal attachment, the bass guided in their vibrations between vertical being played with the feet, a much fuller accompaniment in the left hand is admissible and a great increase of the volume of sound and a more varied harmony obtained.

This pianopedal attachment is of paramount importance to organists in practicing, and for pianists, also, is equally valuable, the study of pedal-playing being very interesting and producin g very satisfactory results.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a pianoforte and its keys on, having hook Z, of the frame 13, having pedals D, the connecting-rods d, thelevers cf, and the rod 9, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a piano-fortehaving the keys m, provided each with a hook, I, of the endWise-movable rods g, having button j, the levers f0, the connecting-rods (I, hooked over levers 0. the detachable frame B, and the pedals D, having hooks 7c, engaging rods (1, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the piano'fortc A and the frame B, having the pedals D, corresponding to the keys of the key-board, of the compound levers c f, connected to the keys and pedals, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW VIESBAUER.

WVitnesses:

011s. STREUBER, J ACOB F. 'WALTHER.

Images