Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
21
The Wessell, Nickel & Gross Actions.
MR. ADAM NICKEL GRANTED TWO PATENTS WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE ACTIVITY OF THIS
CELEBRATED HOUSE IN THE INVENTIVE FIELD WILL PERMIT OF A
SUPERIOR RENDERING OF PIANISSIMO EFFECTS.
WO very important patents were
granted to Mr. Adam Nickel, of Wes-
sell, Nickel & Gross, on Sept. ist, for im-
proved actions for upright and grand pi-
anos. As can be seen from the claims
made, the special object of the inventions
is to permit of a superior rendering of pi-
anissimo effects. They are letters patent
Nos. 566,927 and 566,928.
A perusal of these patents proves that
Wessell, Nickell & Gross are in line to-day
with the reputation which their firm have
won in the past for invention and ingenuity.
It, moreover, bears out the wording of the
award granted them by the official judges
at the World's Fair, which said in sub-
stance that "they deserved the highest
praise for the excellence of their product,
and for the impetus they had given to the
rapid advance in the perfecting of the pi-
ano in America by the production of an ac-
tion that successfully meets the severest
demands of the artist."
The invention relating to various im-
provements in upright piano actions (No,
566,927) is so constructed that when the
soft pedal is depressed to raise the hammer
and diminish the length of the hammer
blow the reach of the transmitting mechan-
ism intervening between the key and the
hammer is increased, so as to prevent loose
motion between any of the parts. In this
T
PATENT NO. 566,927.
way the full stroke of the key and a prompt
response of the action to the touch while
playing pianissimo is maintained.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is
a side view of an upright piano action em-
bodying the improvement and showing the
position of the parts when the soft pedal is
raised. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the
soft pedal depressed. Fig. 3 a perspective
view of the lever g, and its adjoining parts,
and Fig. 4 a detail showing the connection
between the hammer-rail /"and hanger/.
Mr. Nickel in the specification makes the
following claim:—In an upright piano ac-
tion the combination, with a hammer, a
movable hammer-rail, and a key, of a wip-
pen, a vertical thrust-rod arranged to be
raised by said key, and to raise said wip-
pen, a lever, the rear end of which is ar-
ranged to be actuated by said thrust-rod, a
bar movable with the hammer-rail, form-
ing when raised a fulcrum for the front end
of the lever, said lever being so arranged
that a point intermediate of said fulcrum
and thrust-rod will engage said wippen to
raise the same when said lever is raised by
said thrust-rod, a hanger depending from
the hammer-rail, and a clamp for adjustably
connecting said hanger to the bar.
The second patent relating to an action
for grand pianos (566,928) permits of a su-
perior rendering of the pianissimo passages.
Bv this invention a uniform distance is al-
PATENT NO. 566,928.
ways maintained between the hammer and
its rail, whether they are in their normal
position or whether they are raised by a de-
pression of the soft pedal. Furthermore, a
depression of the soft pedal causes the reach
of the action to be increased simultane-
ously with the raising of the hammers, so
that loose motion is avoided, and a prompt
response of the action to the touch is in-
sured.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is
a side elevation of the improved action,
showing the position of the parts when the
soft pedal is raised. Fig. 2 is a similar
view, partly in section, with the front
bracket / removed; and Fig. 3 a view simi-
lar to Fig. 2, and showing the position of
the parts when the soft pedal is depressed.
The official claim for this invention reads
in part:—In an action for grand pianos, the
combination of a wippen with a lever piv-
oted thereto, a key for actuating one arm
thereof, a rod engaging the other arm, a
hammer-rail, a lifter for actuating the same,
a lever for supporting the hammer-rail, a
second lever for actuating the rod, and a set
screw interposed between the levers.
We congratulate Mr. Nickel on adding
another to the many improvements which
have won for the Wessell, Nickel & Gross
actions a well deserved reputation.
FRANK H. ERD, manufacturer of pianos
and harps, Saginaw, Mich., has leased the
Carter Building, on Main street, Jackson,
and will open a general wholesale and re-
tail establishment. A full line of grand
and upright pianos, as well as various
styles of harps, all of his own manufacture,
will be handled. A number of Eastern
makes of pianos will also be on exhibition.
IN a letter received by Strich & Zeidler,
of this city, on Tuesday last, from Robert
Widenmann, their road representative, who
wrote from Indianapolis, Ind., the genial
traveler stated, "Outlook from all appear-
ances pretty bright for fall trade." Mr.
Widenmann backed up his opinion by send-
ing in some good orders.
J. W. ZIMMERMAN, with the great piano
and organ house of W.__W. Kiniball Co.,
Chicago, is in the city, and will remain here
some time in the interest of this world-famed
music house. He has secured the Greve
room, formerly the Star office, where will
be kept on exhibition a variety of the ele-
gant standard instruments manufactured by
theKimballCo.—Beardstown, 111., "Star."
C. O. MILLIKEN, a prominent citizen and
dealer in musical instruments at Biddeford,
Me., died Sept. 4th, aged 52. He was a
veteran of the 10th Maine regiment. He
leaves a widow and two children.
THE Century Piano Co., of Minneapolis,
Minn., have secured the services of Geo. W.
Thompson, late manager of the sales de-
partment of the Montelius Piano Co., Den-
ver, Col.
B. C. WHITNEY, son of C. J. Whitney,
formerly or the Whitney-Marvin Co., has
secured the lease of the second floor of Nos.
141-3 Woodward avenue, Detroit, and
rumor has it that he will engage in the
piano business.
GEO. H. WASHBURN, manager of J. F.
Hughes & Sons' house in Boston, was
slated to deliver an address at the dinner
of the Old Colony Club, held this week in
Falmouth. He is quite in demand as a
post-prandial orator.
H. & A. LIGHTKOOT opened a well-
stocked sheet music department in the
store of Mann & Eccles, Providence, R. I.,
Sept ist. All the latest productions will
be handled.
E. F. DROOP & SONS, Washington, D. C ,
are "booming" the "Crown" piano with
the Orchestral attachment with satisfactory
results.
COMSTOCK, CHENEY & Co.'s ivory works
at Ivoryton, Conn., started up on Sept.
after a brief shut-down.
THE Kranich & Bach piano, which is sold
in Easton, Pa., by Wm. Keller, is exceed-
ingly popular in that section. It has won
encomiums from the leading musicians.
THE Brockport Piano Mfg. Co., Brock-
port, N. Y., manufacturers of the "Capen"
piano, are preparing a new catalogue' of
their latest styles, which are exceedingly
handsome.
A. L. PECK, of Hardman, Peck & Co., is
visiting the West on a combined business
and pleasure tour,