Improvements in Combining Music Repositories with Pianofortes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 27th Jan 1893-Accented. 25th Mar.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combining Music Repositories with Pianofortes.
WILLIAM CHARLES MILLETT 63 Barrett's Grove Stoke Newington London N.
Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
I construct of wood immediately under the keyboard and between the trusses of
an upright pianoforte a receptacle for sheet music about four inches high and eleven
inches deep.
The underside of the keyboard forms the top and the interior is divided into
three compartments by partitions fixed from back to front at equal distances
between the sides.
The front which opens downward is formed with a shaped fall or door hinged to
bottom of music receptacle and fastened to front of case by means of a spring
catch or other suitable fastening when closed.
Dated this Tenth of November 1892.
WILLIAM CHARLES MILLETT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combining Music Repositories with Pianofortes.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES MILLETT of 63 Barrett's Grove Stoke Newington
London N. Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
.
This invention relates to receptacles or cabinets for music, and consists in
combining them in an improved manner with pianos, so that the music will be
ready to the hand of the performer while he is sitting at the piano.
The receptacle is in the form of a flat box, a few inches in height, fitted
immediately underneath the key board or key bottom and fixed to the same, and to
the legs or trusses at the sides. The receptacle may extend for the whole length
of the key board, being fastened by screws, brackets or other suitable means and
divided into three equal parts each of about the length of sheet music.
The
depth of the cabinet is just sufficient to allow of the music lying flat, the length
being placed in the long direction of the piano. The door of the cabinet, which is
hinged at the bottom and opens in a downward direction, is preferably made to
slope backwards towards the bottom and may be furnished with any ornamental
moulding desired. The door is made to slope in order that it may not be liable
to interfere with the performer, but this will not be necessary in cases where the
key board is at a sufficient height. A spring or other catch is provided to hold
the door up and a handle or handles for opening it. A tape, quadrant stop or
the like may be furnished at the side to prevent it opening more than the required
distance. The central compartment may be dispensed with, and the cabinet made
in two parts, one at each end of the key board. The central part would then be
open, obviating any inconvenience which might otherwise occur, and leaving room
for free movement of the knees. The receptacles may, in this case, project a
little beyond the front of the keyboard, and thus need not extend so far back as in
the other case, allowing the bottom panel or door to be readily removed. The
latter arrangement is the most suitable for application to already existing pianos,
as in the former, should it be desired to make the lower panel removable without
interfering with the cabinet, the panel must be made slightly lower than is usual.
[DQ27

page_text: In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying Sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view and Fig. 2 a section, showing the first arrangement,
and Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and Fig. 4 a section illustrating the modification.
A is the piano with keyboard A¹ to which the cabinet B is fixed, the legs A'
also serving to support it if desired. The cabinet is furnished with the door C
hinged at the bottom and opening downwards as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1
and 2. A tape C or similar arrangement is employed to support the door when
open. The cabinet, as shown in Fig. 1, is divided into three parts by the
partitions B', each division being of about the same length as a piece of sheet
music.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that already described,
with the exception that the middle section is dispensed with, allowing the two
parts to be placed in a more convenient position. Brackets D are shown, to fix the
cabinet or cabinets to the underside of the key board and legs. The compartments
may be used for different classes of music, thus separating them in a convenient
manner. With this arrangement a convenient repository for music is placed
within easy reach of the performer, separate music cabinets being rendered
unnecessary. The cabinets can be attached to or removed from any piano in a
few minutes, unless originally made with the instrument in which case they would
be fixtures.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) A music receptacle or cabinet B of shallow form, in which the music can
lie flat, fixed to the underside of the key board or key bottom of a piano, and
having a hinged door at the front fastened by a suitable catch, substantially as
described.
(2) A music receptacle or cabinet fitted to the underside of the key board or key
bottom of a piano, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 27th day of January 1893.
:
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.