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ERARD
in London

1794

Patent of 1794 : "Oct, 17, 1794. — Sebastian Erard. Two methods for escapement of the hammer, and an arrangement for striking one, two, or three strings at pleasure, by a side movement of the damper-rail, etc. Harmonic octave produced by mechanism which pressed on the string exactly in the centre." The History of the Pianoforte, 1879, p. 197 (archive.org)

"A.D. 1794, October 17.-N° 2016. - ERARD, SEBASTIAN. - Improvements in the construction of harps and pianofortes, both large and small, and which improvements may also be applied to all kinds of instruments where keys are used.

The drawings show, 1. Part of the action of the piano connected with the hammer and damper. The bridge of the strings is so affixed to the damper rail that by the side movement of the latter the hammer may be made to strike one, two, or three strings at pleasure. Regulating screws are shown for slackening or tightening both the hammer and damper; also two arrangements for the fall of the hammer; and mechanism which by pressing on the middle of the string produces the octave of an harmonic sound.

2. Mechanism for forming the semitones; it is placed under the arm of the harp and worked by a pedal; it presses the strings so as to reduce the length of the vibrating surface. [Printed, 1s. 2d. Drawings.]" Specifications Relating to Paints ..., 1871, p. 28

1801

Patent of 1801 : "May 16, 1801. — Sebastian Erard. The touch rendered either hard or soft to any degree, at the election of the player." The History of the Pianoforte, Edgard Brinsmead, 1879, p. 198 (archive.org)

1808

Patent of 1808 : "Sept. 24, 1808. — Sebastian Erard. Repetition action, which " affords the power of giving repeated strokes, without missing or failure, by very small angular motions of the key itself." The History of the Pianoforte, Edgard Brinsmead, 1879, p. 200 (archive.org)

1810

Patent of 1810 : "Sebastian Erard, Great Marlborough-street, Middlesex, for certain improvements on piano fortes and harps. May 1, 1810." The Edinburgh Annual Register, 1812, p. 460 - or - "The tuning-pins inserted in a collar and socket for ease and smoothness in motion." The History of the Pianoforte, Edgard Brinsmead, 1879, p. 200 (archive.org)

1821

Patent of 1821 : "ERARD, Pierre, of Great Marlborough-street, London, for certain improvements on Piano Fortes, and other keyed musical instruments, being communications from a foreigner. Sealed 22nd December, 1821." Newton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences: Being Record of the ..., Volume 14, 1828, p. 27 - or - "Repetition check action for the grand pianoforte." The History of the Pianoforte, Edgar Brinsmead, 1879, p. 202 (archive.org)

1822

Patent of 1822 : "2155. Pierre Erard, Middlesex, musical-instrument-maker, for certain improvements on pianofortes, and other keyed musical instruments; communicated by a certain foreigner. — Dec. 22." English patents, 1847, p. 154

Patent of 1822 : "ERARD, Pierre, of Great Marlborough-street, London, for certain improvements on Piano Fortes, and other keyed musical instruments, being communications from a foreigner. Sealed 22nd December, 1821." Newton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences: Being Record of the ..., Volume 14, 1828, p. 27

1825

Patent of 1825,
Newton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences, Volume 12, 1826
, p. 413

Patent of 1825 : "P. Erard, of Great Marlborough-street, for improvements on pianofortes. Communicated to him by a foreigner residing abroad. Jan. 5, 1825." The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, Part 3, 1825, p. 120 - and - more info about this patent : Newton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences, Volume 12, 1826, p. 183 and see image on the left or page 413.

1827

Patent of 1827 : "To PIERRE ERARD, of Marlborough-street ; for improvements in the construction of piano-fortes. Communicated by a foreigner. - Dated Feb. 20, 1827. (Six months.)" The Repertory of Patent Inventions: And Other Discoveries and Improvements ..., 1827, p. 192

Erard's Inventions for Piano Fortes and Harps.

"NOTICE is hereby given, that Pierre Erard, of No. 18, Great Marlborough-street, in the county of Middlesex, harp and piano forte-manufacturer, intends forthwith to apply to His Majesty in Council, for a prolongation of his term of sole using and vending the inventions described in the letters patent under mentioned, that is to say; certain letters patent, bearing date the 22d December 1821, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for an invention of “certain improvements on piano fortes and other keyed musical instruments;” also certain other letters patent, bearing date the 6th April 1822, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland; and eertain other letters patent, bearing date the 14th December 1822, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Ireland, both or the same above-mentioned invention; also certain other letters patent, bearing date the ?th January 1825, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for an invention of “certain improvements on piano fortes;" and certain other letters patent, bearing date the 20th February 1827, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Mritain and Ireland called England, the dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for an invention of “certain improvements in the construction of piano fortes;” also certain other letters patent, bearing date the 24th April 1822, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for an invention of “certain improvements on harps;" also certain letters patent, bearing date the 12th July 1822, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland; and certain other letters patent, bearing date the 18th October 1822, for that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Ireland, both for the same last mentioned invention." The London Gazette, 09/10/1835, p. 1863

Erard's Patents for Piano-Fortes.

"NOTICE is hereby given, that Pierre Erard, of No. 18, Great Marlborough-street, harp and piano-forte-manufacturer, has, in pursuance of the public notice inserted by him in the Gazettes of the 9th, 13th, and 16th October last, and the Times, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Post newspapers, published in London the 9th and 12th October 1835 respectively, presented a petition to His Majesty in Council, praying His Majesty to grant him a prolongation of his term of sole using and vending the several inventions described by him in his specifications to the several letters patent, bearing date respectively the 22d December 1821, the 6th April 1822, the 14th December 1822, and the 5th January 1825; and that the said Pierre Erard is about forthwith to apply to the Right Honourable the Lords composing the Judicial Committee of His Majesty's Honourable Privy Council to fix an early day for the hearing of the matters contained in his said petition; and all persons desirous of being heard in opposition to the player of his said petition are hereby required forthwith to enter a caveat at the Privy Council Office, as directed by the Statute 5 and 6 William 4. cap. 83. - Freshfield and Sons." The London Gazette, 01/12/1835, p. 2280

1835

Erard's New patent action Grand Pianoforte, Pierre Erard, 1835, 16pp.

1840

Patent of 1840 : "Pierre Erard, of Great Marlborough street, for improvements in pianofortes. September 24 ; six months." Mechanics Magazine, Volume 33, 1840, p. 351

1850

Patent of 1850 : "Pierre Erard, of Paris, for Improvements in the construction of piano-fortes.—Sealed September 12, 1850.— (Six months.)" Repertory of patent inventions and other discoveries and ..., Volume 16, 1850, p. 255

1851

Patent of 1851 : "PIERRE ERARD, of Great Marlboroughstreet, pianoforte-maker. For improvements in pianofortes. Patent dated November 15, 1851. These improvements comprehend :

1. A method of arranging the strings of pianofortes so as to produce on the sounding-board an equal pressure, both in an upward and downward direction, and so also that the sounding part of all the strings shall lie in the same plane, which has not been hitherto managed when the pressure on the sounding-board has been equalized.

This the patentee effects by passing each of the wires through holes in three studs attached to the bridge-the holes in the centre studs being made either at a higher or lower level than those in each of the other studs, so as to cause the wires in passing through the studs to make an angle with the bridge, and thus either exert an upward or downward pressure on the sounding-board. By placing the studs so as to make every alternate wire at the reverse angle to that immediately next it, the pressure on the sounding-board will be exactly balanced.

2. An arrangement for tuning the wires of pianofortes. The ends of the wires, after passing round screws the heads of which keep them from rising, are attached to slides moving in guides on the wrest plank; and these slides are actuated by screws, the turning of which in either direction tightens or slackens the wires accordingly.

3. An improved construction of hammerbutt for “Erard’s patent action,” in which a regulating screw is introduced at the hammer centre." The Mechanics' Magazine Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, 1852, p. 435

1862

Patent of 1862 : "Bruzaud. 26th February 1862. - 528. EDWIN GEORGE BRUZAUD, of Pembroke Road, Kensington, in the employ of Messrs. Erard and Company, of 18, Great Malborough Street, Harp and Piano-forte Manufacturers, for an invention for Improvements in piano-fortes. Letters Patent sealed." Chronological and Descriptive Index of Patents Applied for and Patents, 1863, p. 38

ERARD on this site

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