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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
October 5th, 1881.
vention, become very popular and in great demand; THE SPECIFICATION AND CLAIMS OF THE STEINWAY same time, by the flanges, the stiffness and strength
that ever since the said original letters-patent, No.
of the traverses are materially increased. Instead of
PATENT.
81,306, became vested in your orators as aforesaid,
making the traverses with flanges, b, however they
The following is a correct copy of the specifica- may be made with suitable grooves, or with ribs or
they have been and still are entitled to the exclusive
possession, exercise and control of the said inven- tions and claims of the Messrs. Steinway in the indentations, so as to give a firm hold to the parts
tion ; that the practice and employment of the same matter of the action-frame for upright pianos. It fastened thereto.
has been and continues to be of very great advan- should be understood that wherever the word
" The traverses are fastened in their position by
tage and profit to them, and that they would have " traverses " occurs, it may also be read " rails." intermediate plates C, which are interposed between
derived and received still further and greater bene-
the hangers or standards A, at convenient distances
fits therefrom but for the wrongful acts of the de- " To all whom it may concern:
apart.
" Be it known that I, C. F. Theodore Steinway, of
fendants, as hereinafter charged.
" By the use of my metallic action-frame the chief
the
city,
county
and
State
of
New
York,
have
Invent-
causes of derangement inherent to the action par-
That the defendants, well knowing the premises,
ed
a
new
and
useful
Improvement
in
Pianofortes,
ticularly of upriuht pianofortes, as heretofore con-
but designing and contriving to injure your orators,
and to deprive them of the benefits, profits and ad- which improvement is fully set forth in the follow- structed, are successfully removed.
vantages arising and accruing from the exclusive ing specification, reference being had to the accom-
" Usually the several parts of the action are screw-
possession, exercise and control of the invention pany ing drawing, in which is represented a transverse ed and fastened to a wooden rail from two to three
aforesaid, to which your orators have been and are section of this invention as applied to an upright inches wide, and these rails being liable to expansion
justly and lawfully entitled, have, without the con- pianoforte.
and contraction through moist and dry atmosphere,
"This invention consists in the combination, with throw the parts of the action out of their proper posi-
sent and against the will and protest of your orators,
at Boston, in the District of Massachusetts, and else- a pianoforte action, of a metallic frame composed of tion. Furthermore, said rails are generally fastened
where within the United States, since the 30th day hangers or standards, and of metallic transverses to wooden checks or frame pieces, constituting to-
of December, in the year 1^*79, unlawfully and wrong- which are secured to or in said hangers or standards, gether the so-called action-frame, and this frame is
fully made, used and sold, and caused to be made, and which form the supports for the hammers, jacks, again fastened to either the key-frame or to the
ueed and sold, a large number of pianofortes, each and other parts constituting the mechanism of the sides or walls of the instrument, thus creating a
of which embraced and embodied in the construction action ; further, in the combination, with the action liability of derangement as well in the several parts
and mode of operation the invention and improve- of an upright pianoforte, and with the wrest-plank of the action as in the position of the hammers to
ment, or substantial and material parts thereof, set thereof, of hangers secured directly to said wrest- the strings.
forth and claimed in the said letters-patent, reissue plank, and connected together by traverses which
" I n applying my metallic action-frame to an up-
No. 9,012, and still continue so to do, in violation support the various parts of the action so that the right pianoforte, I secure the hangers A, directly to
and infringement of your orators exclusive rights in derangement of the action due to the expansion and the wrest plank by means of screws F, which are
the premises ; but what number of such pianofortes contraction of the wooden frame generally used for fitted into suitable eyes of the hangers, and are
the defendants have so made, used or sold, your supporting the action is avoided, and a firm and un- clamped thereto by jam-nuts o. The outer ends of
orators are ignorant, and pray that the defendants changeable support for the several parts constitut- said screws are made square, or of such shape that
ing the mechanism for the action is obtained ; also, they provide a hold for a wrench or key, and by re-
be required to disclose the same.
the combination, in an action-frame, of metallic leasing the jam-nuts and turning the screws F, the
That the defendants have been and still are deriv- in
or standards with flanged metallic rods or action-frame can be adjusted closer to or farther
ing and receiving great gains and profits from their hangers
tubes filled with wood, and forming traverses from the wrest-plank and the position of the ham-
manufacture, use and sale of pianofortes construct- flanged
connecting the hangers or standards, so that a firm mer in relation to the strings can be accurately ad-
ed as aforesaid, and from the embodiment and em- and
unchangeable connection of said hangers or justed.
ployment therein of the invention and improvement standards,
and also a convenient and safe support
described and claimed in the said letters patent, re- for the various
The endsp, of the hammers opposite the screws
constituting the mechanism of F, " are
issue, No. 9,012, and ha\e thereby greatly damaged the action, are parts
made segmental or spherical, and they are
obtained; further, in the combina- intended
and injured your orators and prevented them from tion, in a metallic
to fit into cups or grooves in heads or
action-frame
for
pianofortes,
of
acquiring and deprived them of receiving the intermediate braces with the hangers or standards, screws rising from the main frame of the pianoforte,
gains and profits to which your orators have been
that when the screws F are screwed in or out said
with the traverses composing said action-frame, so
and are legally and equitably entitled by virtue of and
segmental or spherical ends will roll in their steps
so
that
the
various
traverses
are
united
and
made
the exclusive rights granted and secured to them as
support each other mutually, and that the strength and retain their position.
aforesaid, and which they would have acquired and to
of
the frame is materially increased; also, in the
received but for the said wrongful acts of the defend- combination,
THE ORIGINAL CLAIMS.
in a metallic action-frame, of an ad-
ants.
justing-screw with each of the hangers or standards
"What
I
claim
as new and desire to secure by
To the end, therefore, that the defendants may, if of the action-frame, so that by means of said screws
Patent, is :
they can, show why your orators should not have the position of the hammer in relation to the strings Letters
" 1 . The combination, with a pianoforte action, of
the relief herein prayed, and may under oath and can be regulated with the greatest nicety; further, a metallic
frame composed of hangers or standards,
according to the best and utmost of their knowledge, in the combination, in a metallic action-frame, of and of metallic
which are secured to or in
remembrance, information and belief, full, true, di- rounded segments or spheres at the ends of the said .bangers or traverses
standards, and which form the sup-
rect and perfect answer make to the matter herein- hangers, with adjusting-screws acting on said hang- ports for the parts
constituting
the mechanism of
before stated and charged, and that the defendants ers so that while the hangers are being adjusted by the action, substantially as herein
shown and de-
may be decreed to account for and pay over to your the screws their ends can roll in their steps.
scribed.
orators all such gains and profits as have and
" 2. The combination, with the action of an upright
shall have accrued to them from the said unlawful
pianoforte, and with the wrest-plank thereof, of
manufacture, sale or use of the invention and im-
hangers secured directly to the wrest-p'ank, and
provement, or any substantial and material part
connected together by traverses, which support the
thereof, set forth and claimed in the letters-patent
various parts composing the action, substantially as
aforesaid, reissue No. 9,012; and that in addition to
and for the purpose set forth.
the said profits to be so accounted for, the defen-
" 3 . The combination in an action-frame for piano-
dants may also be decreed to pay to your orators the
fortes, of metallic hangers or standards, with flang-
damages which they have and will have sustained
ed metallic rods or flanged tubes filled with wood,
by reason of the said violation and infringement
and forming traverses connecting the hangers or
of their exclusive rights aforesaid, and which this
standards,
substantially as and for the purpose de-
Honorable Court may assess or cause to be assessed,
scribed.
together with such increase thereof as your Honor
"4. The combination in a metallic action-frame
may see fit to adjuge.
for pianofortes, of intermediate braces with the
And that the defendants, their attorneys, agents,
hangers or standards, substantially as and for the
workmen and servants may be perpetually enjoined
purpose described.
and restrained by the decree of this Honorable
"5. The combination in a metallic action-frame
Court from directly or indirectly making, using or
for pianofortes, of an adjusting screw with each of
selling any pianofortes or mechanism whatsoever
the hangers or standards of the action-frame, sub-
embracing or embodying the invention and improve-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
ment, or any substantial and material part thereof,
"6. The combination in a metallic action-frame
set forth find claimed in the letters-patent aforesaid,
for upright pianofoites, of rounded segments or
reissue No. 9,012, and that the defendants may be
spheres
at the ends of the hangers, with adjusting-
further decreed to pay the costs of this suit, and
screws acting on said hangers, substantially as and
that your orators may have such other relief as the
for the purpose described."
equity of this ca,se may require, and as your Honor
In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have
may deem to be just and right.
hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of Oc-
May it please your Honor to grant unto your
tober, 1877.
orators not only a writ of injunction conformable to
Witnesses :
C. F. THEODORE STEINWAY. [L. S.]
the prayer of the bill, but also a writ of subpoena
W. HAUFF,
directed to the said George W. Carter, Patrick H.
E. F. KASTENHUBER.
Powers and Orrin A. Kimball and Joseph Gramer,
and commanding them to appear and answer unto
THE CLAIMS IN THE REISSUE.
this bill of complaint, and to do and to receive what
to your Honor shall seem meet in the premises.
9,012. PIANO-ACTION FRAME.
Christian F. T.
"
I
n
the
drawing,
the
letter
A
designates
one
of
CHRISTIAN F. THEODORE STEINWAY.
Steinway, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne
the hangers or standards of my metallic action-
By WILLIAM STEINWAY,
assignments, to himself and William Steinway.
frame, three or more such hangers or standards
WlfjLIAM STEINWAY.
Patent No. 81,306, dated August 18th, 186b. Re-
be i g used for each frame. These hangers or stand-
GEORGE L. ROBERTS,
isBue No. 7,950, dated November 13th, 1877. Filed
ards are connected together by traverses, B, which
Complainants' Solicitor and of Counsel.
October 21st, 1879.
are either made of solid wood or metal, or of tubes
Claim,—1. A piano-action frame composed of hori-
UNITEJ) STATES OF AMERICA,
) filled with wood, and which aie fastened to or in the
zontal pieces united to transverse vertical standards,
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, j standards by any suitable means.
introduced
into the frame at convenient distances
"In practice, I use by preference tubular traverses
At the city of New York, in said District, on the
26th day of May, 18S1, personally appeared William filled with wood, as shown in the drawings, since me- apart and hung to the wrest-plank, substantially as
Steinway, one of the complainants above named, and tallic tubes, when filled with wood, obtain the re described.
2. A piano-action frame composed of horizontal
made oath that he is duly authorized and empowered quired stiffness, and at the same time common wood
by the said Chritian F. Theodore Steinway to act on screws can be used in fastening the various parts of the pieces united to transverse vertical standards or
his behalf in the premises; that he has read the action to the same. When solid metal traverses are hangers, provided with a common horizontal axis of
foregoing bill of complaint and understands the con- used the holes for receiving the screws have to be oscillation at the bottom, and secured at the top by
tents thereof, and that the same is true of his own bored and tapped, and the screws have 1o be manu- means of horizontal adjusting-screws, for regulating
knowledge, except such matters as are therein stated factured expressly for this purpose. The traverses the distance of the hammers and dampers from the
are provided with flanges or ears 5, which serve to strings, substantially as described.
on information, which he believes to be true.
retain the various parts of the action, fastened to
3. A metallic standard for a piano-action frame,
Before me.
said traverses, firmly in position, and prevent them provided with hearings for the horizontal pieces of
[L. a ]
CHARLES W. MACK,
from
getting
displaced
accidentally,
and,
at
the
the
frame, and with an upward projection for con-
Notary Public New York County.