TRANSPOSING PIANOS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2830, 20 April 1882, Page 2

TRANSPOSING PIANOS.

Singers and accompanists, both professional and amateur, will appreciate this invenlion, By a remarkably simple and ingenious mechanical contrivance, the inventor, Herman Wagner, of Stuttgart, renders a piano capable of adaptation to the voice or accompanying instrument. The transposition is effected with ease to the performer, and to the extent of several half notes, involving no alteration of any part of the body of the instrument, nor influencing the characteristics of tbe chords. The movable keyboard has a prolongation or extension (not seen in front) in the shape of a toothed metal bar, and can be set in motion by means of a small wheel; on its axle there is a dial with a hand, close to the highest keys of the keyboard of the piano. By turning this wheel with a key the keyboard is made to slide to the right or to the left to the extent of several half notes, and the hand on the dial indicates in half notes the respective change effected. In order to prevent any movement of tho keyboard before the hammers have been raised a simultaneous action of the key lifts the whole set of of them up again and keeps them suspended until the machinery is at rest. To further ensure the utmost exactness, independently of the pointer on the dial, every half note is indicated by means of a spring closing into corresponding divisions of the metal bar, and the players leaving inadvertently a hand on the keyboard, whilst in motion, has been provided against. The pianos themselves are admirably made, powerful in tone, and of handsome appearance.