Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music and
the like.
I, THOMAS RAWSON Engineer 51, Great Chart Street London N. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable a performer on any musical instrument
to himself turn over the leaves of his music by a simple pressure of his foot on a
treadle. I effect this in the following manner.
I make a small machine which is attached to the lower edge of the music-stand
by one or more set screws or clips, and is connected by a cord or wire to a treadle
situated conveniently for the foot of the performer.
The machine consists of a vertical spindle firmly attached to the set screws or
clips already named. The upper part of this having behind it a piece of brass
which is pressed against it by a spring forms the holder for the center of the sheet
or book of music. On the lower part of this vertical spindle are placed any
required number of flyers.
In
These flyers consist of, a central box on the spindle and a long square arm.
the box is a light coiled spring which is held at the inner end in a slot in the
spindle and at the outer end in a notch in the box of the flyer and its action is to
swing round the flyer when this is liberated at the outer end.
The outer arms of the flyers are all curved upwards so as to come into one
horizontal plane. On each is slipped a leaf holder which is simply a strip of brass
bent to fit round the square arm of the flyer and then rising up on each side of the
leaf of music. Before commencing a performance each leaf of the music is slipped
into one of these holders.
Across the outer ends of the flyers and in the same horizontal plane there runs a
spindle carrying a series of cams equal in number to the flyers.
The flyers carrying the leaves of music are sprung back and slipped behind these
cams which hold them and which are so arranged that when the cam spindle is
turned round the flyers are liberated one by one and in their proper order. The
cam spindle has at its inner end a ratchet wheel of which each tooth corresponds
with the point of one of the cams. A lever on which is a paul acts on the teeth of
this ratchet wheel and is worked by a treadle placed conveniently for the foot of
the performer and connected to the lever by a cord. The pressure of the foot upon
this treadle in this way liberates one flyer and turns over one leaf. The lever is
pulled back by a strong coiled spring which again raises the treadle and in this way
the leaves are turned over one by one as required.
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1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music and
the like.
I, THOMAS RAWSON, Engineer formerly of 51 Great Chart_Street London,
North, now of 96, Ironmonger Row, York Street City Road London E.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
Prine 8d l

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of this invention is to enable a performer on any musical instrument
to, himself turn over the leaves of his music by a simple pressure of his foot on a
treadle.
I effect this in the following manner. I make an instrument which is attached
to the bottom or edge of the music stand or board by set screws or clips a.
It consists of a vertical spindle b. above which is a vertical frame c. with a cross
support d. & in front a wire e. over which the music is slipped and held fast.
On the vertical spindle below are any required number of flyers ff. These
flyers are swung round the vertical spindle by light volute springs. These springs
are contained each in a cylinder g and are held at one end by a slot in the vertical
spindle, the spring goes round the spindle and the other end is held in a slot in the
flyer.
The flyer is formed by the cylinder which contains the spring continued as a
light bar prolonged so that it can be conveniently moved by the finger, and fixed
when brought over with the leaf of music behind the cam, hereafter to be described.
On it is hinged a light gripper consisting of a small brass piece h. at the bottom
continued in two light wire rods ii which are to grip the leaf of music. When the
music leaves are in the grippers the flyers are swung over to the other side of the
machine where they are held behind a series of cams k. (Fig. 2) arranged on a
horizontal spindle j.
These cams are of different lengths and are so arranged on the horizontal spindle
that when turned round by the action of the performer, the flyers are liberated one
by one,
and each in its proper order. At the outer end of the horizontal spindle is a
ratchet wheel (Fig. 5) in which works a ratchet 1. which ratchet is actuated by a system
of levers m. m. ending at one side in a treadle n. worked by the foot of the
performer and on the other side in a rod o which he can touch with his left hand.
The ratchet is pulled back by a coiled spring p. which lifts up the treadle ready
for the next motion. Each pressure of the lever moves the ratchet wheel so as to
liberate one cam, and admit of one leaf of music being turned over.
In front of this spindle I place a dial plate having on it the figures 0. 1. 2. 3. &c.
and on the horizontal spindle a pointer 9. When this pointer is turned with the
spindle by means of a milled disc r to the figure 0, the cams are all so that the
flyers can enter freely. The first flyer being entered the spindle is turned so that
the pointer stands at fig. 1. the first cam is then holding the end of the first flyez.
Another flyer is then entered and the pointer is turned to fig. 2. The second cam
is then holding the second flyer, and so on till all the flyers are in their places.
If the full number of flyers is not occupied, the pointer is then turned to the
corresponding figure on the reverse and the machine is then ready for work.
In order to provide for the case where a part of the music is to be repeated I put
on the frame carrying the cams spindle a small drop lever s. moveable by the left
hand of the performer. The flyer with the leaf to be repeated is brought back, and
the drop lever again holds it till it is again liberated by the musician.
The prolongation of the lever liberating the cams to the left hand, is to provide
for the case, when it is not convenient to work with a treadle. The performer by
it is enabled by a touch of the finger of his left hand to turn over the leaf.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The mode of holding and liberating the arms carrying the music by the series
of cams on a spindle turned round by the performer, and preferentially, by the
ratchet and paul actuated by a treadle as set forth.
2. The method of turning back and holding and liberating the flyer with the leaf
of music to be repeated as set forth.

page_text: 3. The method of entering the leaves of music in the wires of the flyer by hinging
the wires on the flyer.
4. The combination of the several parts as set out in this my Specification.
Dated thin 5th dr. of Antohan AD 1901
THOMAS RAWSON.