Improvements in or connected with Music Desks for Pianos and other Musical Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or connected with Music Desks for Pianos and
other Musical Instruments.
HERBERT PERCY MILLER, 17, Tadmor Street, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush
London, W., Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The novelty of this invention consists of pivoting to the lower edge or shelf of a
music desk an arm or book holder balanced in such a way as to automatically assume
the perpendicular and so prevent the music. slipping off the desk. In order to
produce this result the short end of the arm is weighted in such a way that the
longer end is always perpendicular. In use the leaves of music on being turned is
pressed against this arm which being balanced automatically turns downwards and
allows the leaves of the music to pass, the arms then instantly assumes the
perpendicular thus doing away with the necessity of turning the book holders down
or lifting the music over them. The arms may be made in metal, wood, or any other
suitable material.
1007
Improvements in or connected with Music Desks for Pianos and
other Musical Instruments.
I, HERBERT PERCY MILLER, of 17, Tadmor Street, Uxbridge Road, in the
County of London, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in or connected with music desks for pianos
and other musical instruments, reading desks and the like, which consists of an
automatic arm or holder for the leaves of music when supported on the shelf of a
stand or the like.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the accompanying drawing thereof, reference being had to letters and figures
marked thereon.
:

page_text: Fig. 1, is a front view of the pivoted arm or book holder in its normal or vertical
position.
Fig. 2, is a vertical section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a back view of the pivoted arm or book holder.
Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the apparatus fitted with a cam and stop pin.
Fig. 5, is a front view of the cam.
Fig. 6, is a modified form for clamping the apparatus to a thin shelf or rest.
The novelty of this invention consists of pivoting to the lower edge or shelf a of
a music desk an arm or book holder b balanced by a weight g in such a way as to
automatically assume the perpendicular or vertical position as in Fig. 1, and to prevent
the music leaves turning until required.
In order to produce this result the short end of the arm b at the base is weighted
in such a way that the larger is always perpendicular. In use the leaves of the music
on being turned are pressed against the arın b which being balanced automatically
turns downwards as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and allows the leaves of the
music to pass, the arm b then instantaneously assumes the perpendicular thus doing
away with the necessity of turning the book holders or lifting the music over them.
The arms b may be made in celluloid, vulcanite, wood, metal or any other suitable
material.
The arın b works loosely on a screwed pin d this said pin is provided with a
washer e¹ and collar h and the usual slit c but sufficiently wide to receive the edge
of a coin, screw-drive or some such similar instrument in order to drive home the
screwed pin d into the shelf a as shown in Fig. 2, the arm bis held on the screwed
pin by means of a thumb nut e with a female thread against the collar h. The
weight g is fixed to the base of the arm b by a rivet f.
By means of fixing screw the arm b can be set at any required angle for folding
or other purposes.
This invention is easily attached as it can be screwed into the same hole from
which any existing book holder has been removed.
The outer end of screw is split c or slotted long enough to form a spring by which
means the thumb nut e is always kept steady and cannot get loose or work off also
preventing any chattering an important matter where music is concerned.
Washers el made of leather or any other suitable material are also added to prevent
noise.
In Fig's. 4, and 5, a cam with shoulders ; is attached to the screw and a pin k
is fixed to the arm b by which means the arm bis prevented from rotating
unnecessarily. By this arrangement the arm b can only revolve half a circle, and
consequently inust instantaneously resume the perpendicular as soon as a leaf has
passed and prevent another leaf from turning.
Where the shelf or rest is not thick enough to receive a screw the apparatus may
be clamped on as shown at a¹ in Fig. 6.
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. In music and book holders, the combination of the arm or book holder split c
screwed pin d nut e washer e¹ rivet f collar h, and weight g attached to a shelf a,
substantially as herein described and according to Fig's. 1, 2, and 3, of the accom-
panying drawing.
2. In music and book holders, the combination of the various parts substantially
as above described in this specification and illustrated in Fig's. 1, 2, and 3, of the
accompanying drawing.
3. In music and book holders, the combination of the various parts of mechanism
illustrated in Fig's. 4, and 5, of the accompanying drawing and fully described in the
above specification.
4. In music and book holders, comprising the cam i with shoulders ; and the

page_text: stop pink fixed to the holder b to prevent the weighted holder 6 only falling
half way round its centre, substantially as described.
5. In music and book holders, the modified form for clamping the apparatus to a
thin shelf or rest, substantially as above described and according to Fig. 6 of the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of November 1897.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant..