Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
I, JAMES MEIKLEJOHN, 91, Park Grove Road, Leytonstone, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to music. rests or holders as commonly used on pianos,
organs, harmoniums, music stands and the like, as well as on other music
supports.
It is specially designed to form a sliding or otherwise moveable and detachable
bottom horizontal bar or shelf as an accessory to, or to take the place of, the fixed
bottom horizontal bar or shelf now ordinarily used in connection with the per-
pendicular back supports of existing music rests and the like.
In the practical construction of my improved rest I provide a flat piece or
pieces of wood or other suitable material of suitable dimensions and affix thereto
at the required angle a flange or ledge forming the back of said contrivance for
the purpose of attaching same to said perpendicular portions of the rest. On
the back of said flange or ledge I form a groove or slot as near the middle as may
be found convenient, adapted to receive the middle or other of the perpendicular
back supports above mentioned, and arrange a means of attachment whereby the
said bottom horizontal bar or shelf is held firmly at, and adjustable to, any
desired position on the said perpendicular back supports. At suitable positions
near either end of the back of said flange or ledge I also attach a piece or pieces
of suitable materials of requisite dimensions which pieces are stationary or other-
wise and which engage and press against the face of one or more of said per-
pendicular or other back supports of rest, which pressure combined with the
counter-pressure arranged at point of contact with, & mode of fastening the
bottom horizontal bar or shelf to the middle or other perpendicular back support,
enables the said device to be readily adjusted, and renders it firmly self-sustaining
& slideable, and it is also detachable."
In order to facilitate the turning of the leaves of music, books, and the like
& to ensure same remaining in proper position I make openings at suitable
positions near the front edge of said bottom horizontal bar or shelf, in which
openings I fix a small arm or upright projection which is bendable in any desired
direction but always resuming the vertical position when at rest.
The said arms
are so constructed and fixed that whilst capable of resisting the passage over
them of the unaided leaf of music, book, and the like, they can be depressed to
the desired extent by the ordinary pressure of the leaf against them caused by
the act of a person turning over the leaf and this without injury or detriment to
the fabric of said leaf.
By the use of my appliance, music, books and the like may be raised or lowered
to any desired position on the perpendicular back supports on existing type of
music rests in common use, to suit any person's stature and convenience, by
sliding or otherwise moving the said bottom horizontal bar or shelf up or down
the said perpendicular back supports of rest.
The whole said bottom horizontal bar or shelf is so constructed that it can be

page_text: instantly fastened to or detached from the said perpendicular back supports
of rest.
Suitable means are provided to prevent the possibility of scratching the polished
surfaces where necessary.
Dated this Tenth day of April 1899.
J. MEIKLEJOHN.
(JAMES MEIKLEJOHN.)
I, JAMES MEIKLEJOHN, of 91, Park Grove Road, Leytonstone, Essex, England,
Engineer, 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:-
11
This invention for improvements in music rests and the like relates especially
to music rests such as are fitted to pianofortes organs harmoniums music stands
and the like and to music and book supports of all kinds and has for its object
a new construction whereby the height of the music or book relative to the
user can be varied as desired without any necessity for tightening screws or
other securing devices and which will retain any desired position of itself. This
invention also relates to a new construction of the pegs for use therewith which
are provided for holding the pages of the music or book in position, whereby it
is not necessary when it is desired to turn a page to manipulate these pegs in
any way, as they will give of themselves to allow of the page being turned past
them and will at once return to their normal position. In order that this invention
may be more clearly described reference is had to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of a music rest constructed
according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same and Figs. 3 and 4
show two methods of construction of the pegs for use thereon. The music rest
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 consist of three bars A A¹ A² the top bar B and the
music ledge B₁ as in the usual construction. In the construction shewn this
invention is fitted to an existing music rest but in the case of new rests the
ledge 13 will be replaced by a bar connecting the lower ends of the bars A A¹ A².
The music ledge U is formed independently of the music rest as usually con-
structed and is provided with a rear portion C having side portion cc between
which the centre bar A can fit as will be hereinafter more fully described.
book arm is pivoted at d upon one side portion o and its end is adapted when
turned down to engage upon the screw or pin eye d, upon the other side portion c.
The rollers E E fitted to bear upon the said bars A A2 ease. the movement of the
ledge C thereon and, as will be more fully explained assist in causing it to
retain any desired position. They may however be dispersed with but in this
case the back of the ledge C must bear directly upon the bars A. A². The pegs F
for holding the music pages back, are attached upon the ledge C as shewn and
consist essentially of flexible springs having sufficient strength to hold the pages
back, but which when a page is moved past them, as in the act of turning over,
will lie down sufficiently for its passage but will immediately rise up again into
position. As shewn in Fig. 3 the peg consists of a small spring surrounded
by a piece of rubber tubing f1 and with a suitable casing covering it while
as shewn in Fig. 4 it consists simply of the spiral spring f. It will therefore be
understood that the spring whether by itself or whether of rubber without a metal
spring at all, or however constructed is the essential element of the construction
A

page_text: of the pegs F. The pegs F may be attached to the front of the ledge C by means
of a screw pin or other means of attachment. They may if desired be on fittings
such as are usually provided capable of being turned down entirely out of the
way, although it is found in practice that where a music rest is arranged upon
the keyboard cover and that cover is closed, the pegs will be turned over by their
contact with the keyboard. Instead of being arranged upon the front of the
ledge C the pegs F may be arranged to pass up through the ledge ( being suitably
secured underneath.
To fit the ledge C upon the bars A A A² the arm I is turned up and the bars A¹
placed between the two side portions c c. The arm D is then turned down and
engaged on the screwed or pin eye d' thus enclosing the bars A¹. The parts are
arranged so that there is a tendency for the arm 1 to draw the ledge C rearward,
thus pressing the rollers E upon the bars A A2 and this is found sufficient to
cause the ledge C to retain itself at any desired angle or position. If desired,
to vary the height of the ledge C it is only necessary to raise or lower it by
hand and it will move freely and retain its new position without any necessity
for tightening screws or otherwise securing in position. In practice the ledge Ü
is made entirely separate from the other portions of the music rest and can be
fitted to any ordinary rest already in use.
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 a music & book rest a movable ledge capable of retaining itself at any
position automatically, and pegs thereon adapted to move in all directions and
regulated by an adjustable screw or pin at any angle, to allow a page to pass them
when turning over, but leaving sufficient rigidity to keep a page open substantially
as set forth.
(2) In a music & book rest a movable ledge adapted to engage on one bar
of an ordinary music rest and to press upon the other bars thereof so that it will
retain itself at any position automatically, and spring pegs thereon which allow
of the passage of a page past them, when turning over, but having sufficient
rigidity to keep a page open as set forth.
(3) In a music & book rest a movable ledge having rear portions between
which one bar of an ordinary music rest fits, a pivoted arm adapted to engage
between said rear portions to enclose the bar fitting between them, said arm
causing a pressure of the movable ledge upon the other bars of the music rest, and
spring pegs upon said movable ledge substantially as set forth and for the
purposes specified.
(4) In a music and book rest the frame members A A' A2 B3 B', movable ledge C
rear portion C¹, side portions ce upon the rear portion C', arm D pivoted at d
and adapted to engage upon screw or the pin eye drollers E and spring pegs F
and G showing an angle regulated thereto (Fig. 4) substantially as set forth with
reference to the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Datel this
Novembon 1000
A. E. ELLEN,
For Inventor,
118, Fenchurch Street, E.C.