A NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR TURNING THE LEAVES OF MUSIC BOOкs
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Matthew Augustus Soul at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th January 1873.-A communication from abroad by Jean
Roturier, of the Parish of Bayon, Gironde, in the Republic of
France.
I, MATTHEW AUGUSTUS SOUL, of No. 6, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, and Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR TURNING THE LEAVES OF MUSIC BOOкs," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Jean Roturier, of the Parish of Bayon,
Gironde, in the Republic of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a mechanism for turning the pages of music
books by means of a pedal so that it will no longer be necessary to stop
playing for the purpose of turning the pages with the hand.
This mechanism can be applied to pianos and to music desks of all kinds.
It is composed of two plates (of brass or any other suitable metal), say

page_text: for example, about three inches long and one inch and a half in breadth.
These two plates are joined together at the distance of about two inches
from each other by four small columns, one at each corner forming as it
were a box open on all sides. On two small steel rods nearly in the
middle of this box are two small wheels one on each rod. These wheels
are not toothed all round; only half of the periphery is toothed and the
other half of the wheels is hollowed out on both sides. The teeth of
these wheels gear each in a pinion. Round the rods on which the small
Each of these small wheels is in
wheels turn are placed spiral springs.
communication with one pedal by means of a small metal chain attached
to a loop of india-rubber, which loop is attached to a wire going down to
the pedals. The mechanism works in this manner :-If one of the pedals
is pressed by the feet the little wheel turns one quarter and by its gear
turns the pinion. To this pinion is attached a steel branch say about
five inches in length provided at its end with a little hook. This hook
seizes the page of music in the middle and turns it. On the other rod
of the pinion is attached another branch which turns the pages back
again, so that by treading on the right hand pedal the page is turned
towards the left, and by treading on the left hand pedal the page is turned
backwards. Towards the middle of the metal box open on all four sides
are placed two open steel triangles to which is attached the chain com-
municating with the pedals; when one treads on the pedal the steel
triangle bends forward and makes the little wheel turn a quarter round
by its gear with the pinion by which the branch turns the page. The
little hook at the end of the right hand branch, by means of a lever
arrangement attached beneath the upper plate, is drawn in before the
movement of the branch is then pushed forward, seizes the page, and by
means of a pin with a flat spring the hook opens in its motion of turning
the page and releases it. When the page has arrived at the other side
the branch is raised above the music book and returns to its former
position ready to turn another pago. Hundreds of leaves may be turned
without stopping.
In order that the hook may seize the page without tearing it there is
a small square piece of strong paper with tissue on the outer side glued
in the middle of the page at the top. This square piece is generally
made about three-fourths of an inch square. Instead of this piece of
strong paper may be substituted therefor a metal clasp or other device as
most suitable.

page_text: The branch which turns the leaves backwards may be made so as to
turn just those leaves wanted.
It is proposed in some cases instead of a small hook, to make use of a
magnet to attract the pace.