 Érard's grand piano action (English "patent no 4,631", 1821) is the predecessor to those used in modern grands.The repetition lever in these "double escapement" actions allows notes to be repeated more easily than in single actions.It is just one of many Érard innovations still found on modern pianos - for example, Érard was the first maker in Paris to fit pedals on the piano, and his instrument had several pedals.