Improvements in and in Apparatus for Mechanically Turning the Pages of Sheet Music or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Apparatus for Mechanically Turning the
Pages of Sheet Music or the like.
I, ERICH ELTZE of 102 Walstrasse Charlottenburg near Berlin in the German
Empire, Artist, 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 :-
My invention relates to a method and apparatus for turning the pages of music and
is actuated in the following manner :-
A hook shaped lever forming part of the apparatus, which is actuated by the
finger or foot pressure and engages by means of a slot or projection for this purpose
under each leaf of the music book, on being turned always causes one leaf to turn
over and then immediately adjusts itself in the position requisite for the turning of
the next leaf.
In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown in
Figure 1 in front view, in
Figure 2 in plan, in
Figure 3 in side view, and in
Figure 4 a modification is shown in which the actuating can take place by means
of the right as well as of the left hand.
Figure 5 shows the engaging of the apparatus in the music sheet.
Figure 6 shows a pianoforte provided with the apparatus.
Sheet 2 shows at
Figure 7 a detached music stand provided with the apparatus.
Figure 8. shows a modification of the same, and
Figures 9 to 11 show the arrangement of the lower edges of the music requisite for
the application of the turning apparatus.
As shown in Figures 1 to 5 the music turning apparatus consists essentially of a
support composed of two pieces A B which pieces are united at not quite a right
angle and of which the upper one B is secured to the folding board of the piano lid
which usually serves for the support of the music book, by means of set screws 6
which pass through projections a attached to A. The plate A may be ornamented in
front to correspond with the design of the musical instrument. Upon the back
thereof is placed in the middle a pulley C revolving upon a pivot. Around the
periphery of the pulley a strap or cord D is secured which engages on the other side
in the lever E. This lever E is secured revolubly upon the pivot e to the right upon
the board A on its hinder side (see Figure 5) and the strap D is connected to the
upper edge of the lever E, the one arm of which is formed as a semi circular pulley
disc. A draw spring F which engages by means of a strap ƒ below to the pulley C
retains the lever E constantly in the position of Figure 1 or 5, whereby the semi
circular lever arm rests against a peg g. To the pulley C is secured an arm H formed
of wire, whose hook shaped end h projects out of the slot L and is directed against
the music book M.
The leaves of the music book receive the shape shown in Figures 9 and 10 at their
lower corners.
consisting in that out of the lower edge of the leaf an inwardly

page_text: projecting angle m is cut out and behind this a piece of stiff paper n pasted on but
only with the right end, so that the same lies behind the cut out piece in the form
of a moveable flap. Instead of cutting out pieces in the leaves there might also be
secured to the lower edge on the right of each leaf below also card strips (see
Figure 11) which would engage to the extent of about one half under the leaf and
would be secured behind by their upper right corner. By means of this the hook h
would also insert itself from this projection under the leaf; or each leaf could have a
fold made in it in order to assist the engaging of the arm. The music book is then
laid upon the supporting part B of the turning device in such a manner that the
cover M is placed behind a projection O fixed upon B, whereas the last or hindermost
leaf lies before the said projection and against the same. The hook h of the lever H
on the other hand rests upon the card strip n of the foremost leaf. If now pressure
be exercised by the finger upon the lever E the strap D will be rolled up upon the
circumference of the pulley shaped lever of E, and unrolled correspondingly from the
pulley C, whereby this latter, and consequently the arm H will be so revolved that
the same engages by means of the point h in the piece m, passes behind the uppermost
leaf and turns the same over. When the pressure ceases upon the lever E the spring F
draws the arm H again immediately back into the first position, whereby the point
h is inserted under the edge m of the next leaf. Owing to the inclined position of
the music book upon the support A as well as owing to the fact that the leaves are
placed over the peg O whereas the cover is placed behind the same, the lower corners
of the leaves take a somewhat convex position so that the turning over of single
leaves by means of the point h can be easily effected, whereas by means of the under
pieces n the turning over of several leaves at once is entirely prevented.
According to the modification shown in Figure 4 there are provided auxiliary
levers E E¹ upon both sides of the piece A so that in this case the actuating of the
part H can be effected either with the right or with the left hand; the alteration of
the construction requisite for this will be obvious without further explanation from
the drawing, Figure 4.
Figures 7 and 8 show two music stands provided with the turning over apparatus.
According to the first modification the lever E is connected with the pedal P¹ by
means of a strap P; according to the Figure 8, the pulley C actuating the arm H is
secured upon a pivot c², which is fixed on the one side to the piece A and on the
other side to the post of the stand, and provided at its other end with a pulley Q from
which the strap P leads to the pedal P¹. By means of this arrangement all auxiliary
parts in front of the stand are avoided and the actuating mechanism is placed within
the said stand.
It is obvious that for the actuating of the aim H employed to turn over the leaves
various mechanisms might be made use of and the securing of the turning apparatus
to the stand and the like could be effected in very various ways, also the same could
be firmly connected to the upright stand and form an integral part thereof.
Having now particularly described and 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. An apparatus for turning over the leaves of music books, characterized by the
provision of a hook shaped arm revoluble by means of a lever in a parallel plane to
the music, which arm engages by means of a point under the music leaves, said leaves
being arranged for the purpose at their under edge with cut out pieces or having
projecting pieces attached to the back thereof, (said under pieces being unattached at
one side), and turns them over in consequence of its motion.
2. For use with an apparatus such as set forth in Claim 1, the herein before described
construction of music sheets provided either with cut out pieces m and strips n
secured below the same in the form of tongues, or provided with pieces projecting
before the under edge and secured at one corner under the leaf, or provided with
folds for the engaging of the point h substantially as described.
3. Music turning apparatus of the kind set forth in Claim consisting essentially
of an angle support A B having upon the back of the upright plate A a pulley C

page_text: revolubly fixed and to which pulley the hook shaped note turner H is attached;
around which pulley C a strap D is secured rolled up upon the same and fastened on
the other hand to a handle E supported by a spring.
4. Music turning apparatus of the kind set forth in Claims 1 and 3 having upon
each side a handle E substantially as described and shown in Figure 4.
5. The construction for actuating the handle E in the application of the before
described apparatus when attached to upright music stands by means of straps and
foot lever substantially as described.