Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept.. 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music and
the like.
We, WALTER JOHN MOFFATT, and EDWARD ARTHUR KNAPP, both of High
Street, Motueka, Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand Coachbuilders, 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide a simple apparatus which may be
attached to the usual music rests of pianos or to music stands or desks for the
purpose of turning over the leaves of music and the like by a movement of the
foot.
We carry out the object of our invention by providing a slide on to which pins
or pegs are fixed in pairs, and between these the leaves of music are passed. To
each end of the slide a cord is attached which passing around the keyboard meet
beneath and are tied to the upper end of a lever. This lever may oscillate upon a
suitable bracket and its lower end be operated by the foot of the player.
Where few leaves have to be turned we use fixed pins as beforementioned but in
the case of a number of leaves we provide pinions which carry a pin set at an angle
to the vertical and in number as great as may be conveniently worked upon the
slide. A rack fixed to the center of the music rest gears with the said pinions
when the latter are advanced by the movement of the slide.
In the case of fixed pins the leaves are turned over by the sliding movement of
the pins and in the case of pinions by the half revolution of the sloping pins,
motion being imparted by the foot of the operator to the lever in either direction,
as required to turn the leaves forwards or backwards.
In order that our invention may be most easily understood we have illustrated
the same upon the accompanying drawings and will now proceed to describe the
same in detail. Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a piano with our apparatus in position.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the slide and fixed pins on a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of one end of the same.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
Figure 5 is a front view of the slide shewing leaves of music in position.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the slide, pinions and sloping pins on a larger
scale.
Figure 8 is a part plan of the same.
Figure 9 is a view of catch for use on folding rests.
Referring to the drawings (a) is the slide capable of free lateral movement in
the grooved batten (a') and (a2) are the fixed vertical pins for receiving the
leaves (b) as shewn in Figures 5 & 6. These pins have positions as shewn in plan
on Figure 4 so that the leaf may be flat upon the next with the pin between. To
each end of slide (a) we attach a cord (c) and pass the same around the keyboard
to meet at and be securely tied to lever (d) see Figure 1. A bracket (d') fixed to

page_text: a panel of the piano has a forwardly projecting pin (d2) as fulcrum to lever (d)
and upon which the latter may oscillate when its lower end is moved by the foot
of the operator in either direction as required to turn the leaves forwards or
backwards as desired.
We provide eyelets (a 3) upon the ends of slide (a) for convenience of attaching
cord (c) and eyelets (c) through which cord (c) may run smoothly around the
keyboard.
Figures 7 & 8 shew slide (a) arranged with pinions (e) & (e²) and sloping
pins (e 3) capable of revolving upon the slide when being drawn past and gearing
with rack (). The slide has moved in the direction shewn by the arrow and
pinions (el) have passed the rack and been turned a half revolution, whilst
pinion (e 2) bas not yet come into gear and it will be seen that pins (e3) on
pinions (el) have made a half revolution from the position of pin on pinion (e 2).
When our slide is attached to a folding rest as illustrated on Figure 1 we provide
a catch (g) which being fixed by screws (g) to the batten (a') may clasp one of the
upright bars (h) of such rest and securely hold the same from moving when slide (a)
is actuated. When it is required to fold the rest the upper part of catch (7) is
folded back by means of iinge (g 2).
The music or other leaves are placed in position in the following manner,
Batten (a) having been securely attached to the rest in any ordinary manner,
the outer leaves (k) Figure 6 are passed beneath clip springs (1) on bar (1) and
there retained, the bolt (3) sliding in slot (2) to provide for different widths of
leaves. Nut (4) fits into recess (5) to prevent it turning whilst bolt (j3) is
being screwed tight.
Where fixed pins (a 2) are used, the slide (a) is passed to the right hand until all
the said pins are on that side of the center division of the leaves, and the leaves to
be turned over are now placed one between each pair of such pins. Figure 5 shews
in elevation the position of the pins when one leaf has been turned and two
more are ready to be turned. Figure 6 shews in plan one leaf turned over, one
in the act of being turned, and a third ready to be turned.
Where pinions and sloping pins are used a similar preparation and arrangement
of the leaves takes place except that a sloping pin is placed at the back of each
leaf required to be turned over.
It will be obvious that our invention may be used in positions other than on a
piano; as for example, upon stands used by violinists, or for holding a book when
the hands are not at liberty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is,―
1. In an apparatus for turning leaves of music and the like, in combination,
a slide provided with vertical pins and actuated by a cord and lever by the foot
of the operator, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In an apparatus for turning leaves of music and the like, in combination,
a slide having sloping pins and pinions gearing with a fixed rack and actuated by
a cord and lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
3. In an apparatus for turning leaves of music and the like, in combination,
a slide provided with pins and a bar having spring clips to retain the outer leaves,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In an apparatus for turning leaves of music and the like, in combination,
a slide provided with pins, and a catch for holding a folding rest whilst the slide is
being actuated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In an apparatus for turning leaves of music and the like, in combination,
a slide provided with pins, a bar having spring clips to retain the outer leaves and
a catch for holding a folding rest whilst the slide is being actuated, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 6. The apparatus for turning the leaves of music and the like, constructed,.
arranged and operating, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.