CELET USIC.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1897.-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
CELET USIC.
We, GEORGE BARNES, of No. 15 Kerferd Road, Albert Park, near Melbourne, in
the Colony of Victoria, Journalist, and FREDERICK PERCY STEVENS, of No. 127 William
Street, Melbourne aforesaid, Auctioneer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Music portfolios as at present constructed are simply cases or wrappers in which
to carry sheet music, and music desks on pianos are inconvenient because a person
singing from a score supported on them is compelled to stoop considerably when it
is necessary to refer to the notes or words during a performance.
To remedy these two defects a portfolio has been devised which whilst possessing
many advantages as an ordinary music case can together with its contents be placed
on the desk of a piano whereby the performance of a score can be accomplished
without detaching the sheets from their covering. Moreover the music can if so
desired be raised to a convenient height for both player and vocalist.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,―
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved portfolio for sheet music showing
it open, whilst,
Figure 2 is a similar view showing it closed.
Figure 3 is a view illustrating the use of the improved portfolio on a piano.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of part of the portfolio, and
Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a similar view illustrating a modified construction of the portfolio.
The same letters of reference are used to designate the same parts in all the
figures.
In constructing this improved portfolio a piece of thin wood A or other rigid
material about fifteen inches long and three inches in breadth is placed upon a
second piece B of similar size, and is connected thereto either by means of a pivot
such as C situated at about one-third the distance from the bottom of the portfolio
or else by means of clips Ct as shown in Figure 6 which allow of the upper piece of
wood A being slid lengthwise upon the second piece B as and for the purposes
hereinafter described.
A flexible or jointed cover D constructed of cloth-covered paste-board, leather,
or other suitable fabric or material is secured to the stationary piece of wood B and
said cover is fitted with a convenient handle E to enable the portfolio to be carried
about as well as with an elastic band F or other fastening for retaining the cover
in position around the rolled up music as indicated in Figure 2.
The pivotted or sliding piece A is fitted with a number of lengths of elastic G
which may conveniently be attached to it by passing their ends through notches H
n its ends and by tying knots in the ends of each length to engage with the back of
aid notches as indicated in Figure 4. If preferred wires might be used instead of
hese lengths of elastic or clips actuated by springs or screws might be arranged to
grip the sheets of music. If either lengths of elastic or wire are used they are passed
hrough the centre of the piece of music and secured at each end by the agency of
[Price 8d.1

page_text: the knots and grooves or a narrow strip of the piece of music can be doubled over
along the back and the string or wire can be laid along the groove formed by such
doubled over strip as will in practice be readily understood.
Small clips I can be fitted on each side of the pivotted piece A and be arranged
to be turned down into engagement with the stationary piece B in order to retain
the latter in its normally vertical position.
The object of pivotting the piece A to the stationary piece B or of connecting it
thereto so that it can be slid longitudiually is to do away with the inconvenienco
experienced by vocalists in singing from music scores resting on the music desks of
pianos. This invention entirely overcomes the difficulty because it is simply
necessary to raise the clips I and turn the case round upon the pivot C so that it
projects below the music score when the score will be supported upon the piano
desk at a convenient height for the use of the vocalist as indicated in Figure 3. If
the portfolio is made with a sliding piece A, as illustrated in Figure 5, instead of a
pivotted one it is simply necessary to slide the piece A up to the required height to
suit the convenience of the vocalist.
It will be evident from Figure 2 that the portfolio can be wrapped around the
music previously placed in it and rolled up and can then be conveniently carried
from place to place whilst the music can be used without removing it from the
portfolio and therefore with but little danger of its being lost or damaged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is: -
1. The herein described portfolio for sheet music consisting of the various parts
constructed arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes specified
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a portfolio for sheet music a piece of wood or other rigid material (such as A)
provided with means (such for instance as lengths of elastic or clips) for attaching
sheet music to it and either pivotted or otherwise adjustably connected to the port.
folio so that the music can be supported at a convenient height upon the piano
substantially as and for the purposes specified and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Fourth day of February One thousand eight hundred and niuety-seven.
GEORGE BARNES,
FREDERICK PERCY STEVENS,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.