IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE MUSIC STANDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John' Forrest Walters, of Boston, United States of America,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE MUSIC STANDS."
"
་
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Forrest, Walters at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1877.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of Boston, United States of America. " IMPROVEMENTS
IN PORTABLE MUSIC STANDS."
My Invention relates to certain arrangements for folding the legs up against the
standard, and for folding the rack or table, so that the whole may occupy a very
mall space, and is specially applicable to music stands made of metal, but also to
music stands constructed of wood or other material.
The Invention consists in hinging the legs (which are preferably three in number)
to a tripod at the bottom of the standard, and connecting the said legs by means of
rods or links with a slider working on the standard, so that the legs, rods, or links
The said slider is
and slider operate after the manner of the frame of an umbrella.
adjustable on the standard by means of a set screw or other convenient fastening,
so that the legs may be adjusted in any required position for supporting the stand,
or be folded up close to the standard by merely moving the aforesaid slider up or
down on the standard.
The rack or table is made of a series of bars hinged to a centre piece so as to
close up on each side thereof, after the manner of a double parallel ruler. This rack
or table may be adapted so as to be detached from the standard, or may be. hinged
thereto, as preferred. The rack or table is by preference supported on a rod or
sliding piece, which is adjustable as to height on or in the main standard by a set
screw or other fastening in the usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said John Forrest Walters in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th February 1878.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of Boston, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PORTABLE MUSIC STANDS."
The Invention possesses four distinct and important features, simplicity, strength,
portability, and the facilities of using one or two desks at pleasure.
It (the Invention) consists of three parts in the following arrangement, the
standard, the desk or desks, and the attachment or umbrella arrangement for the
use of two desks.
The standard, Fig. A, comprehends a tube v, containing a telescoping rod y,
checked by a thumbscrew e, which is (the tube) supported upon a tripod.
The legs c of the tripod are hinged upon the lower end of the tube v, and are
held in position by a series of three rods. or links d, fastened by a pivot at one
end upon each of the legs c, while the other end is likewise fastened by a pivot to
a band or slide n which encircles the tube, and is checked by a thumbscrew. The
slide n passed up or down the tube shuts or opens the tripod, converting the legs c
into levers of the third class, as seen in Fig. A' and Fig. A".
i
The desk, Fig. B, consists of a series of parallel rulers k, supported upon a centre
piece h. The lower rulers k¹ are bent at right angle and form a shelf for the book
or music to rest upon. The rulers k fold upwards, as seen in Figs. B1 and B",
and are supported. in the descent by slight projections & upon the centre piece h.
The centre piece h slips into a dovetailed groove x, which is fastened upon the
telescoping rod y of the standard A; the desk resting at its centre brings the centre
of gravity directly in the centre of the base. By unscrewing the dovetailed
groove and passing the telescoping rod y through the slide 7 of Fig. Z, and
screwing it into m, the stand is ready for two desks. The slide 1,, which which is
checked by a thumbscrew moved up or down the rod y, regulates the angle of the
desk.
The attachment or umbrella arrangement, Fig. Z, consists of a cap m, into which
are riveted four sets of rods or links q, which links are again fastened with
revolving rivets into the dovetailed grooves a¹, and the slide into which are the
rods or links q, which work upon a pivot. The ends of the rods or links q' which
work upon a pivot in the lower end of the dovetailed groove a¹ are formed in
the shape of a semicircle, the fixed pivot passing through the centre of the diameter,
while upon the outer edge of the circle are pierced graduated holes, through which a
pin is placed in order to hold the dovetailed groove x¹ in position.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,―
Firstly. The combination of the rods or links d with the legs c, with the slide m, as
herein-before described and illustrated in the Drawings, and for the purpose set
forth.
Secondly. The arrangements of the parts k of the desk or table B in relation to a
centre piece h so as to fold up after the manner of double parallel rulers, as
herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings, and for the purpose set
forth.
Thirdly. The application and use of the dovetailed groove x for the, purpose of
supporting the folding desk or table, as described, and illustrated in the Drawing
and for the purpose set forth.
Fourthly. The application and use for the umbrella arrangement of rods and slides,

page_text: Fig. Z, for supporting and adjusting two desks or tables, as herein-before described,
and illustrated, etc.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Forrest Walters, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS. (L.S.)