A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TURNING THE LEAVES OF MUSIC AND OTHER BOOKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Sandys, of Royston, in the County of Cambridgo,
for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TURNING THE
LEAVES OF MUSIC AND OTHER BOOKS."
Scaled the 14th November 1876, and dated the 18th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sandys at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1876.
GEORGE SANDYS, of Royston, in the County of Cambridge. "A NEW OR IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR TURNING THE LEAVES OF MUSIC AND OTHER BOOKS."
This Invention has for its object the more easily turning the leaves of music
books when the performer is playing the music.
I proceed as follows:-I take a metal plate of suitable size and attach to tho
back thereof, by means of screws or rivets, or in any other suitable manner, a couple
of metal holdfasts, so constructed as to permit of their being slipped over the edge of
the music desk or stand. Towards the left-hand end I place a metal upright of suitable
height and breadth, in front whereof 1 place a metal rod of any suitable height.
At the right-hand end of such metal plate I place a metal angle piece having a blot
therein; towards the top and just above such slot is a small wire spring, and at the
bottom of such angle plate I fix a small movable metal plate working on a pivot
and kept in position by means of a suitable spring. The purpose of such slot I
will presently describe. At the left side of the metal plate I fix four, five, or more
small metal boxes, each of such boxes containing any suitable spring. Such various
boxes are connected and held together by means of a metal pin passing through
their centres and secured at either end by a suitable nut, to the side of each of such
spring boxes I attach, by soldering or otherwise, a long metal wire arın bent to a
suitable angle and provided in front with a metal hook which forms a suitable
recess to receive the leaf of a music or other book.
At the bottom of the metal plate I aflix a square metal bracket, and to the front
of such bracket I attach a flat metel bar working on a pivot and held in position
by means of a suitable spring At the right-hand end thereof a netal book is
formed which serves to raise the metal arms, as hereafter described. At the left
hand end thereof I affix a suitable handle or key, by depressing which the metal
hook at the other end is raised.

page_text: I now pass each metal arm into the slot before described and insert in each of the
hooks of such arms a single leaf of the inusic. When the performer wishes to turn
over the leaf he has only to depress the key or handle attached to the horizontal bar
when the hook at the other end thereof is raised and catching in the foremost metal
arm releases it from the slot thus causing it to fly back and turn over the leaf, and
so cach leaf in succession is turned over until all the metal arms are released from
the slot.
According to the depth of the metal base plate the lower metal arms are bent
to a suitable curve to allow of their entering the slot formed for their reception, as
before described.
If desired my improved apparatus can be worked by the foot by attaching
a metal rod of any suitable length having a treadle attached thereto, which may
be worked by the foot of the performer in a similar manner as a pedal is worked.
If desired the apparatus may be attached to the top of the music stand instead
of to the bottom thereof, and so the music or other leaves may be turned from the
top.
I do not confine myself to making the arms in the shape of rods, as any other
form may be adopted, such as that of a metal clip to hold each lenf.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent filed by
the said George Sandys in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
1876.
GEORGE SANDYS, of Royston, in the County of Cambridge. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR TURNING THE LEAVES OF MUSIC AND OTHER BOOKS."
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I represent my Invention, which has
for its object the more easily turning the leaves of music books when the performer
is playing the music.
1
I proceed as follows:-I take a metal plate a of suitable size and attach to the
back thereof by means of screws or rivets, or in any other suitable manner, a couple
of metal holdfasts b, so constructed as to permit of their being slipped over the edge
of the music desk or stand and held in position by thumb screws b. Towards the
left-hand end of such metal plate I place a metal upright c of suitable height and
breadth, in front whereof I place a metal rod c¹ of any suitable height. At the right-
hand end of such metal plate I place a metal angle piece d having a slot e therein;
towards the top and just above such slot is a small wire spring. The purpose of
such slot e I will presently describe. At the left side of the metal plate I fix four,
five, or more small metal boxes g, cach of such boxes containing any suitable
spring. Such various boxes are connected and held together by means of a metal
pin passing through their centres and secured at either end by a suitable nut h, to
the side of each of such spring boxes I attach, by soldering or otherwise, a long
metal wire arm g¹ bent to a suitable angle and provided in front with a metal
bar which forms a suitable recess to receive the leaf of a musical or other book.
At the bottom of the metal plate 1 affix a metal bracket i, and to the front of
such bracket I attach a flat metal bar j working on a pivot j and held in position
by means of a suitable spring. At the right-hand end thereof a metal hook
formed, which serves to raise the metal arms ', as hereafter described. At the
left-hand end thereof I aflix a suitable handle or key, by depressing which the
metal hook at the other end is raised.
is
I now pass each metal arm into the slot before described and insert in each of
the angles of such arms a single leaf of the music. When the performer wishes
to turn over the leaf he has only to depress the key or handle attached to the
horizoutal bar when the book at the other end thereof is raised and catching in

page_text: the foremost metal arm releases it from the slot thus causing it to fly back, as shewn
in Drawing g³, and turn over the leaf, and so each leaf in succession is turned over
until all the metal arms are released from the slot.
According to the depth of the metal base plate the lower metal arms are bent to a
suitable curve to allow of their entering the slot formed for their reception, as before
described.
If desired my improved apparatus can be worked by the foot by attaching a
metal rod of any suitable length having a treadle attached thereto which may be
worked by the foot of the performer in a similar manner as a pedal is worked.
If desired the apparatus may be attached to the top of the music stand instead of
to the bottom thereof, and so the music or other leaves may be turned from the top.
I do.not confine myself to making the arms in the shape of rods, as any other form
may be adopted, such as that of a metal clip to hold each leaf.
Having now described the nature and object of my Invention for a now or
improved apparatus for turning the leaves of music and other books, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the identical
arrangement of apparatus as shewn in the Drawings, as the same is capable of
various modifications; but what I claim as my Invention and secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid is the metal boxes à containing any suitable spring
together with the inctal arms for the purpose of holding and turning the leaves.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Sandys, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year. of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.