Year: 1888

page_text: We, LOUIS STERNE, of 2, Victoria Mansions, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, and the firm of AVILL and SMART (Limited) of
77, Tabernacle Street, in the City of London, Pianoforte Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to upright pianofortes; and has for its object to afford a clear
view of, and by, the performer, above the instrument.
The Invention has also for its object to provide extra music desks, said desks being
supported by, and when not in use contained within, the case of the pianoforte which
also affords receptacles for music, etc.
The Invention is applicable to upright pianos of all classes, and the case is so
constructed with the view of enabling a clear view of, and by, the performer, over the
top of the instrument, and of affording receptacles and supports for four additional
music-desks.
For this purpose, the top of the case is constructed with a pillar at either end,
provided with fall down flap doors at back and front, upon which folding music desks
are pivoted so that they may be revolved at will. These doors enclose small cupboards
in the pillars, for the reception of music or other objects, and when lowered for use,
are supported in the horizontal position, by suitable stops. Between the two pillars,
the top of the case is depressed, or hollowed out, to a curvilinear outline, to permit a
clear view between the pillars.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Upright Pianofortes.
We, LOUIS STERNE, of 2, Victoria Mansions, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, and the firm of AVILL and SMART (Limited) of
77, Tabernacle Street, in the City of London, Pianoforte Manufacturers, 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 :-
• Our Invention relates to upright pianofortes; and has for its object to afford a clear
view of, and by, the performer above the instrument.
The Invention has also for its object to provide extra music desks, said desks being
supported by, and when not in use contained within, the case of the pianoforte which
also affords receptacles for music, etc.
The Invention is applicable to upright pianos of all classes, and the case is so
constructed with the view of enabling a clear view of, and by, the performer over the
top of the instrument, and of affording receptacles, and supports for four additional
music desks.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica-
tion, wherein figure 1 is a front, and figure 2 an end, elevation (partly in section) of
the instrument as opened for use. Figure 3 is a plan of one of the supplementary
music desks. Figures 4 and 5 are front and side elevations, and figure 6 a part
sectional plan, of the upper part of an instrument similarly constructed in part for the
same object and partly for another purpose. Figures 7 and 8 are front and end
sectional elevations, shewing a similar construction partly utilized for a different
purpose. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
For the first mentioned purposes of this invention, the top of the case is constructed
with a pillar A at either end provided with fall-down flap doors B at both back and
front, upon which flap doors folding music desks C are pivoted so that they may be
revolved within certain limits, as shewn in dotted lines in figure 3, to suit the con-
venience of the performer. These doors B enclose small cupboards in the pillars for
the reception of music or other objects, and the doors when lowered for use are
supported in the horizontal position by jointed stay rods. Between the two pillars
the top of the case is depressed or hollowed out to a curvilinear outline, as shewn, to
permit a clear view between the pillars A.
The casing of the pillars may be integral with the case of the instrument, or may be
constructed separately and fitted on top of the instrument case.
shewn in figures 1 and 2, this superstructure is fixed upon the ordinary hinged lid
In the example
and when the pillar music desks are not required the whole may be tilted backwards,
by raising the lid in the ordinary way, to permit the free exit of the sound of the
instrument. Or, the lid and superstructure may be divided and be partly movable, as
shewn in figures 4, 5, 6.

page_text: The music desks C are carried by the flaps B, being each pivoted thereto by a
stud c, passing through the flap B and through the bottom bar of the desk, which may
be tightened by means of a thumb knob projecting from the front or under side of
the flap, this knob also serving as a handle by which to open the flap. The upright
members d of the desks are hinged to the base at d¹ and are rule-jointed at d² so as to
fold up when not required for use, as shewn at the right hand of figure 2, the desk
being supported in position by the central member d resting against the top of the
pillar A.
In figures 4, 5, 6, the lid is divided and the left hand pillar is made separate from the
rest of the superstructure and is mounted upon a fixed part of the lid the remainder
being fixed upon a part of the lid which is hinged so as to admit of being raised, if
required, as shown, in figure 5, to unclose the top of the main case and permit the free
exit of the sound, leaving the music desks of the left hand pillar available for use by
other performers, the right hand one being, in this case, used as a music cabinet only.
Or the right-hand pillar might be fixed and the left one and central portion movable,
if preferred.
Referring to figures 7 and 8, the space within the left hand pillar is availed of to
extend the dimensions of the string frame and sound board and so obtain the necessary
length for the lower bass strings, this arrangement being particularly adapted to
enable the desired volume of tone to he obtained, notwithstanding the limited height
to which the central part of the instrument is necessarily restricted to enable the
pianist to see above it. The left hand pillar is closed by a removable panel to give
access to the tuning pins and the front music desk is pivoted thereto at the top and
draws forward at the bottom, in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
An upright pianoforte case having pillars rising from each end provided with music
desks and doors, all substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Dated this 4th day of February 1889.
L. STERNE.
AVILL & SMART, LD.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.