Year: 1898

page_text: CHARLES MILNE, Engineer, ss. Damascus of the Aberdeen Line Owners, Messrs.
George Thompson & Co., 7, Billiter Square, London, E.C., do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A mechanical invention, worked by air pressure, for turning over music-leaves
at the will of the performer.
It is attached to the present music rack of the piano or organ, and also to
the ordinary music stand.
It consists of a horizontal frame carrying at its centre a set of discs, with
grooves cut a little more than half way round the circumferance of the same.
for receiving the point of the catch.
These discs are held in position by a bolt passing through them; this bolt,
being secured to the frame, acts as an axle for the discs to turn on.
The bolt is placed vertically, and into the top end of it is screwed a short length
of steel wire which passes up the centre of music book.
A flat spring extends up back of music-book and presses it against the steel
wire, thus keeping the music book in place.
From each disc extends an arm at the end of which is fixed a small clip for
receiving the leaves to be turned over.
Below the discs, is the afore-mentioned catch, which consists of a small cylinder
fixed vertically. This cylinder contains a small steel rod under which is placed
a spiral spring.
As the first disc turns the first leaf, this steel rod is forced into the groove
of the next disc, and so on until the rest of the leaves are turned.
The catch is fixed on the crank which makes nearly half a revolution, taking
with it the bottom disc, the arm of which is attached to the first leaf. The leaf
retains its position when turned over, by the weight of the arm assisted by the
small lead weight attached to the clip.
The crank then resumes its original position, by means of the spiral spring,
placed inside the cylinder operating the crank.
This cylinder is of the oscillating type with piston and rod, and swings on a
pivot attached to its centre.
The air pressure acts on the under-side of piston, and the spring for bringing
back the crank to its original position is placed on the top side.
The cylinder is attached to the frame by a suitable bracket, and on the same
plane.
The air-compressor, to be operated by the player, is placed under the key-board,
if a piano or organ, and worked by the knee; while in reference to the ordinary
music stand it is worked by the foot.
The air-compressor consists of a metal cylinder with piston, rod, guide, con-

page_text: necting-rod and lever, with spiral spring inside cylinder for pushing back piston
to its original position when the lever has been released.
The whole is secured to the under side of the key-board or bottom of music-
stand by a bracket, cast on the cylinder.
Both the turner and the compresser are of white bronze, except the rods and
springs, which are of steel and hard drawn brass wire; everything being of the
lightest possible make compatible with strength.
The method of working is as follows: If the performer wishes to turn a
leaf of music the lever of the compresser is pressed with the knee. The air so
compressed, passes through a rubber tube in connection with the cylinder that
operates the crank. The piston is forced out, and the bottom disc is made to
turn nearly a half revolution.
The weight of the arm and the lead weight bring it the full half revolution,
which action turns over the first leaf. The performer then releases the lever of
compresser, the piston is forced back by means of the spiral spring; also the
piston of oscillating cylinder is brought back in the same manner.
The catch then slips into the groove of the second disc, ready for the next leaf,
and so on until the required leaves are turned.
The leaves must be put in their proper clips, the first in No. I, the second in
No. II, &c.
Dated this Fifth day of December 1898.
CHARLES MILNE, 11, Criffle Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W., late of ss. Damascus,
of the Aberdeen Line, Owners, Messrs. George Thompson & Co., 7, Billiter Square,
London, E.C., 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 :-
A mechanical invention worked by air pressure for turning over music leaves
at the will of the performer. It is attached to the present music rack of the
piano or organ and also to the ordinary music stand. It consists of a horizontal
frame carrying at its centre a set of discs with grooves cut a little more than half
way beyond the surface of the same for receiving the point of the catch. These
discs are held in position by a bolt passing through them, this bolt being secured
to the frame acts as an axle for the discs to turn on. The bolt is placed vertically
and into the top end of which is screwed a short length of steel wire which passes
up the centre of music book. A flat spring extends up the back of the music
book and presses it against the steel wire thus keeping the music book in place.
From each disc extends a frame at the end of which is fixed a small clip for
receiving the leaves to be turned over. Below the discs is afore mentioned catch,
which consists of a small cylinder fixed vertically. This cylinder contains a small
steel rod under which is placed a spiral spring. As the first disc turns the first
leaf, this steel rod is forced into the grooves of the next disc and so on until the
rest of the leaves are turned. The catch is fixed on the crank which makes
nearly half the revolution, taking with it the bottom disk, the arm of which is
attached to the first leaf. The leaf retains its position when turned over by the
weight of the arm assisted by the small lead weight attached to the clip. The
crank then resumes its original position by means of the spiral spring placed inside
the cylinder operating the crank. This cylinder is of the oscillating type with

page_text: piston and rod and swings on a pivot; at its center the air compressor acts on
the under side of piston and the spring for bringing back the crank to its initial
position is placed on the top side. The cylinder is attached to the frame by a
suitable bracket and on the same plane. The air compressor to be operated by
the player, is placed under the key board of the piano or organ and may be worked
by the knee, while in reference to the ordinary music stand, it may be worked
by the foot. The air compressor consists of a metal cylinder with piston rod guide
connecting rod and lever with spiral spring inside cylinder, for pushing back
piston to its original position when the lever has been released. The whole is
secured to the under side of the key board or bottom of music stand by a bracket
cast on the cylinder.
For the purpose of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawings in
which:-
Figure 1, is a front elevation showing my invention.
Figure 3, sectional elevation showing air compressor.
Figure 2, plan view showing oscillating cylinder.
Figure 4, plan view of disc to enlarged scale.
Figure 5, side elevation of same.
a is a frame which is attached to the piano organ or music stand in any con-
venient manner, and is so arranged as to carry the discs b pivotally attached
at c to the frame a. These discs carry arms or rods d having the projecting
pieces e which if required may be forked at their ends. f is an oscillating cylinder
pivotally carried at g and having a piston therein controlled by the spring i.
The piston rod j operates the pivoted piece & carrying the pin in the cylinder m
and actuated by the spring n that is to say, the spring n has a tendency to move
the pin in the direction of the arrow 1. The music is held or clipped between
the spring o and rod p but any other convenient means may be employed for this
purpose. The pieces e are arranged between the leaves of the music. Referring
to Figure 3 g is a cylinder in which the piston moves, being controlled by the
springs and operated by the pivoted lever as shewn. The cylinder 9 is con-
nected to the cylinder f by means of a pipe or tube. The operation is as follows:-
When the piston is operated in the direction of the arrow 2, the air is
compressed in the cylinder q and causes the piston in the cylinder f to operate
the pivoted piece k carrying the spring pin 7. This spring pin 7 engages on the
part or surface in the disc b and bears upon the shoulder w and rotates the
disc, thus causing one of the pieces e to operate the leaf of the music as indicated
in the dotted lines. When this action has taken place, upon allowing the piston "
to return to its initial position, the spring pin 7 will travel along the slot v in
the disc 6 until it passes the point when, under the action of the spring n, it
will engage in the slot in the next disk and so on. The pieces e or arms d may
may be weighted so as to ensure the complete turning of the leaf.
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. In music leaf turners of the class herein described, the combined construc-
tion and arrangement of the various parts, substantially as described and illus-
trated herein and for the purpose set forth.
2. In music leaf turners the combination of an air compressing cylinder, a
piston in said cylinder controlled by a spring and operated by a lever or such
analagous means, with an oscillating cylinder carrying the spring controlled
piston, in connection with a pivoted piece carrying a pin, said pin being acted
upon by a spring; discs pivotally carried upon a suitable frame and having arms
carrying projections for the purpose of turning the leaves, said discs being so
shaped as to enable the same to be rotated through the medium of the pin con-
trolled by the spring aforesaid, thus turning the leaves one after another upon the
compression of the air in the compressing cylinder; a clip for retaining or

page_text: holding sheets of music in the required position, substantially as described and
illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
3. In means for turning the leaves of music, the employment of a pin controlled
by a spring carried upon a pivoted piece for partially rotating a series of discs one
after another, operated through the medium of an oscillating cylinder and piston
rod, said operation being effected by the compression of air in a compressing
cylinder; said dises carrying arms having pieces adapted to turn the leaves of
the music and being weighted when required for ensuring the completion of the
turning substantially as described and illustrated herein and for the purpose set
forth.