Piano.

(Application filed. Oct. 7. 1899.)

Sheets—Sheet t.

<img file="US669104A_D0001.tif" />

THENOfWUS.PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

No. 669,104.

Patented Mar. 5, 1901.

(No Model.)

J. C. H. SCHNELL. PIANO.

(Application filod Oct. 7, 1899. >

Shoot*—Shoot 2.

<img file="US669104A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US669104A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US669104A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US669104A_D0005.tif" />

THE NORRIS PETER* CO·, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

United States Patent Office.

JOHANN CARL HEINRICH SCHNELL, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

PIANO.

' . 'SCIFICATION forming· part of Letters Patent No. 669,104, dated March 5, 1901. Application filed October 7,1899. Serial Ho. 732,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Johann Carl Heinrich Schnell, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of No. 46 Gurlittstrasse, Ham5 burg, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improveio ments in pianos and like instruments, and more especiallyreferstoimprovementsin double-resonance bottoms and in string-bridges connected therewith.

The strengthening of the frames of pianos 15 rendered necessary by the increased weigh t of the strings or wires of the instrument introduced some time back was effected by the employment of iron plates in their construction. This, however, imparts a metallic character 2o to the tones produced, aud only instruments which produce a wood tone possess a pure timbre.

The object of the improvements in resonance bottomsis to render this prejudicial in23 fluenceof the iron plates quite innoxious, and this result is obtained by using a double-resonance bottom comprising two plates divided interiorly by means of ribs into longitudinal divisions or compartments, one of such plates 30 being furnished with sound-holes.

The object of the improvements in stringbridges is to effect a more perfect “stopping” of the strings, and consequently an improvement in their tone, and this result is obtained 3 , by employing a bridge which is provided with two parallel metal ledges or ribs, upon which ribs the strings are held or pressed down by means of a central pressure-bar adjustably fixed to the bridge proper and between the said 40 metal ribs by means of screws or any other suitable clamping device.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, and for that pur45 pose reference is taken to the accompanying sheet of drawings, whereon—

Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved double-resonance bottom. Fig. 2 is a section on the line III, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is front view or 50 plan of the improved resonance bottom. Fig.

is a section on the line III IV, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detailed front view or plan of the im proved string-bringe, drawn in a somewhatenlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the string-bridge, drawn at a still larger 55 scale.

Similar letters ref er to similar parts throughout the several views.

As it will be evident from the drawings, the present double-resonance bottom or sound- 60 board consists of a top or front plate a', a bottom or rear plate a³, side walls a³, longitudinal ribs δ, cross-ribs c, and a stringbridge d. The top plate a’ and side walls a^sare arranged and connected by gluing, so as 65 to form a flat box. This box or casing is divided interiorly by the ribs b into longitudinal divisions. The ends of the ribs b are obliquely cut away or beveled, as shown at b'. At those places from which these beveled or 70 sloped ends b' extend special cross-ribs c are placed between the longitudinal ribs b, so that a number of compartments is formed. These compartments are wholly closed by the bottom plate a³, which is glued on the ribs b 75 and c. The plate a² does, therefore, not correspond in size with the plate a', but covers only those spaces or parts of the longitudinal divisions or channels between the ribs b which are inclosed or surrounded by the cross-ribs c. 80

Contrary to what is the case in double-resonance bottoms or sound-boards as hitherto made, the cross-ribs c and the longitudinal ribs b up to their slightly inclined or beveled ends δ' here form partitions aud at the same 85 time connections between the two plates a' and a³, so that when the strings of the instrument, respectively, are played a number of wholly-separated vibratingair-columns exists within hollow resonating wooden chambers 90 or compartments and the two plates as a result of their numerous connections vibrate in unison. By means of sound-holes e provided in the top plate a’ the separating vibrating . layers or columns of air within the double- 95 resonance bottom are brought or placed in communication with the outer air.

Into the top surface of the string-bridge d, supporting the strings f, Figs. 3 and 6, are firmly inserted or otherwise attached, a short too distance apart, two metal ribs or ledges g g', Figs. 3, δ, and 6. These ribs, running equidistant to each other, are laid longitudinally from end to end of the bridge or extend but as far as the set of strings. The strings f are stretched over the bridge and fastened at their respective ends to pegs k and tuningpins Z of a suitable frame m, as usual; but 5 instead of resting on the top edge of the ordinary bridge they now rest upon the top of the said metal ribs g g'. In Fig. 3 the frame m, the pegs k, tuning-pins Z, and strings/are shown by dotted lines. To hold the strings io or wires firmly in place and to press or clamp them upon the ribs g g' in order to effect the stopping of them at the bridge, which is of course the point beyond which they should not vibrate, a bar h, having preferably a 15 rounded underside is placed upon the strings centrally and parallel between the metal ribs g g', and this central pressure-bar is clamped down firmly upon the strings by means of screws/ whichare passed through holesin the 20 bars 7i and screwed into the bridge d beneath.

For sake of clearness and simplicity the ribs g g', the pressure-bar It·, and the clamping-screws i are not shown in the sectional views, Figs. 2 and 4.

Bj⁷ concaving both upper and lower faces of the wooden string-bridge d and by stopping the strings/with a wooden bar convex on its under side the bridge itself becomes resonant instead of acting as a damper, as do the string-bridges now in general use, as will 30 be readily understood.