It can easily be understood that such a vital change in action mechanism did not become popular at once. Many pianists objected to double escapement. Notable among these were Chopin and Kalkbrenner; these two being the greatest pianists of their day in Paris. Chopin preferred pianofortes fitted with the Broadwood action.
[Illustration: THE ERARD GRAND ACTION MODIFIED BY HERZ.
1. Key. 2. Wippen. 3. Jack. 4. Escapement lever. 5. Hammer-shank. 6. Hammer-butt notch. 7. Hammer-head. 8. Jack regulating button. 9. Regulating button to limit rise of escapement lever. 10. Hammer-butt. 11. Check. 12. Molded tail of hammer-head to engage with check. 13. Capstan-screw connecting key and wippen. 14. Action-rails. 15. Damper-head. 16. Damper-operating device. 17. Device to limit travel of jack. 18. Regulating device for escapement lever. 19. Springs (2) for escapement lever and jack. 20. String. 21. Flange. ]
Nevertheless, the merits of Erard’s invention continued to impress themselves upon the musical world, although Pierre Erard, who had patented his uncle’s invention in 1821, was obliged to obtain an extension of the English patent in 1835, on the ground of the loss occasioned in working it. It did not become generally adopted, even after the expiration of the extended patent, until modified and simplified by Henri Herz, the famous pianist and pianoforte manufacturer. Then its merits, in the modified form, were so generally recognized that it is now in use by Steinway, Chickering, Knabe and all manufacturers of grand pianofortes in the United States; by Broadwood, Collard & Collard, Brinsmead, and others in England; by Bechstein & Bluthner in Germany, and by most French makers of eminence with the sole exception of the house of Erard itself. This eminent firm continues to employ the pure and original form of action as patented in 1821, with improvements only in details of workmanship and material.
Whatever we may say as to the general adoption of the Erard action only after it had been considerably modified, we must not withhold admiration from the Erards, whose genius and courage gave to us the enduring double-escapement principle that has never yet been superseded.
The main features of the Herz-Erard mechanism may be seen at a glance. The roller is replaced by the notch, once more restored to favor, and the repetition lever is made more effective by being pivoted centrally with two free ends, and by having means provided to limit its up and down motion. Moreover, the wippen is shortened and made straight, the single spring is replaced by two, and the damper is once more permitted to fall down on the strings by its own weight without recourse to artificial springs.