IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSIC CABINETS
Year: 1885

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, FRANK ABRAHAM ABRAHAM of 6 Jeffreys Square, St. Mary Axe in the City
of London, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MUSIC CABINETS" A communication to me from abroad by
Eben Edward Dorman of 853, Broadway in the city and state of New York
United States of America, Merchant and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
:-
.
This invention has reference to an improved cabinet for storing sheet music,
newspapers, pictures or similar articles in which a series of swinging racks may be
thrown into raised or lowered position for conveniently storing, removing and
inserting sheet music &c.
The invention consists of a casing open at the top and front and provided with
a step-shaped interior bottom to each step of which a holder or rack is hinged in
such a manner that one or more of them can be swung into raised or lowered
position, they being then supported by the next adjoining racks. The front rack
or panel is hinged to the bottom of the casing and supported when in lowered
position on sliding bracket pins which are drawn out simultaneously with the
lowering of the front rack by means of suitable wire and spring connections with
the casing and returned into their sockets in the bottom of the casing when the
front rack or panel is raised. The wire and spring connections also hold the front.
rack or panel in position when raised.
°
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of iny
improved music cabinet, as communicated to me from abroad, shown as supported
on suitable wall brackets. Figures 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sections of the
same, showing it respectively, with the racks in raised position and part of the
racks thrown into lowered position and Figure 4 is a plan partly in horizontal
section on line y y Figure 2. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the casing of the cabinet which may be
made of any suitable material, size and finish, and supported either by brackets on
.
1

page_text: the wall or by legs or casters on the floor or as a portable cabinet on the top of the
piano or in any other suitable manner. The casing A is open at the top and front
and provided with a regular bottom A, and an interior step-shaped bottom A².
In place of the same, step-shaped side supports may be used. To each step of the
interior bottom A³, is hinged a rack B, which is provided with a rectangular
extending L shaped rest B', at the lower part, which portion is equal in width to
the height of the individual steps of the bottom A. For this reason the rest B¹,
of each rack serves, when the latter is thrown into lowered position, as a support
for the next adjoining rack above, so as to hold the latter in horizontal position.
The front rack B, forms also the front panel of the cabinet and is also provided
with a rest B¹, and hinged to the bottom A' of the casing, and supported in
horizontal position when thrown down, by sliding bracket rods D, which are guided
in socket-holes d of the bottom A¹ of the casing A. The sliding bracket rods D
are moved simultaneously forward or back in their sockets d d by the lowering or
raising of the front panel B, which is accomplished by means of cords or wires e,
that are attached to suitable points at the sides of the front panel B, and connected
to the rear ends of the bracket rods D. The latter are connected to spiral or other
suitable springs E, of proper strength which draw the sliding bracket rods D back
and to retain the front panel in closed position when raised. The step-shaped
interior bottom A³, is recessed or somewhat shortened at the ends, as shown at e¹,
Figures 2 and 3, so that the connecting cords or wires e e can pass from the front
panel B, to the rear end of the bracket rods D. The bottom A' is provided with
a longitudinal slot d', directly above each socket-hole d, in which slit a fixed staple
or pin d², of the bracket rod D is guided, to which staple the wires or cords e e are
attached. The actuating springs E, also pass through the slots d' d', as shown in
Figures 2 and 3, and are attached to the rear ends of the bracket rods D.
The racks B B are retained in raised position parallel to the rear wall of the
casing A by means of spring catches or other fastening devices f, applied thereto
and to the side walls of the casing A. These fastening devices prevent the
oscillating of the racks and retain the music or other articles placed on the same
in a reliable and uniform manner. They serve simply for the purpose of holding
the racks B B in vertical position; but do not prevent the ready lowering of the
same when they are to be thrown into horizontal position, so as to remove or insert
the music. Any part or all of the racks may be thrown into horizontal position
by one motion and returned again in the same way into their normal raised
position, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3. By the different
racks the music may be readily classified, songs being placed in one rack, pianoforte
solos in another and so on.
A double cabinet may be produced by arranging two of the single cabinets back
to back or one below the other. Sheet music or other articles stored in the cabinet
are preserved in a better manner and instantly within reach for use.
It may be
used as a music stand by performers by throwing down one or more of the racks
and supporting the music thereon. The cabinet has the further advantage that the
music is not required to be removed from the racks while making selections as they
themselves serve as supports when lowered.
The cabinet may be covered at the top in any suitable ornamental manner,
either by a lid or by a piece of embroidered or other fabric.
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 A music cabinet consisting of a casing open at the front and provided with an
interior step-shaped bottom or supports, and of racks hinged to the steps of said
bottom or supports, and means for retaining them in an upright position,
substantially as set forth.
2 The combination of the casing open at the front and having an interior step-
shaped bottom, racks hinged to the steps of said bottom and provided with rests,
said rests, being equal in width to the height of the steps of the bottom, so as to

page_text: form when in lowered position supports for the next adjoining racks substantially
as described.
3 The combination of a casing open at the front and having a step-shaped
interior bottom, racks hinged to the steps of said bottom and provided with rests,
as described, and means substantially set forth, for supporting the front rack or
panel in a horizontal position.
4 The combination of the casing A, having an interior step-shaped bottom A²,
racks B, hinged to the steps of the bottom A, and provided with rests B¹, sliding
bracket-rods D D, means, substantially as described, connecting the front rack B,
and the bracket rods D D and tension springs whereby they are moved forward
or backward when the front panel is lowered or raised, substantially as specified.
5 The combination of the casing A, having an interior step-shaped bottom A³,
racks B, hinged to the steps of the bottom A³ bracket rods D, carried in sockets of
the casing cords or wires e e, connecting the front rack with the bracket rods and
tension springs E, attached and connected to the rear ends of the bracket rods,
substantially as set forth.
6 In a music cabinet, the combination with the casing A of a hinged front rack
or panel B, bracket rods D D, carried in socket-holes of the casing cords or
wires e e, connecting said front rack with the bracket rods and tension springs E E,
located and connected as described, whereby the forward or backward motion of
the bracket rod is produced simultaneously with the lowering or raising of the front
rack substantially as described.