Improvements in Book or Music Holders or Desks, and in Stands therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Book or Music Holders or Desks, and in Stands
therefor.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH PITT, of 9, Avenue Road, Weymouth, in the County of
Dorset, Captain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in book or music holders or desks, and
in stands therefor, and has for objects to provide a holder or desk suitable for
holding a book or piece of music whilst being read, which holder or desk may be
applied to musical instruments such as pianos, organs, harmoniums, or the like, and
with especial advantage be used in conjunction with my apparatus for turning over
the leaves of music as described and claimed in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 25112, granted to me, of the year 1894; and to provide an adjustable
stand to which the apparatus may be affixed when desired so that the same may be
portable and capable of adjustment at any convenient height and at any desired
angle to suit the requirements of the reader.
In clubs, public libraries, reading rooms, and the like, this my invention will. be
found of great advantage as the holder or desk is equally applicable for firmly and
securely holding and maintaining in position, books of varying thicknesses or even
single sheets say such as of newspapers and other journals.
It may moreover, as a book-holder desk, be used without the adjustable stand
above alluded to and by being provided with a hinged leg or strut at back, be adapted
for use upon tables and the like, or by having pintles or brackets at back, be readily
connected to piano fronts and the like.
In accordance with this invention, I form the book or music-holder or desk of a
suitable framing of cast or stamped brass or other suitable metal or material, attached
at bottom to a plate or bed at right angles to the frame aforesaid.
Centrally at the upper part of the framing and in the front thereof, there is
a bracket projection through an aperture towards the end of which a rod is passed.
This latter, passing downwards in front of the frame, fits into a recess or aperture in
the plate or bed; or a pin or projection may be formed upon the plate upon which
the end of the rod (nade hollow) may fit. The rod is made to take in and out, and
between it and the frame the book or sheet of music is placed.
The book or sheet is pressed firmly against the front rod and maintained securely
in position by means of an adjustable clamping frame or presser hinged to the
back frame by means of pivotted connecting pieces. One end of each connecting
piece is pivotted to the back frame and the other end to a lug formed upon the
clamping frame.
At lower end of the clamping frame aforesaid I form a leg or strut which when
the clamping frame is brought or drawn down behind the book or sheet of music and
the hinge pieces are about horizontal, will rest upon the bed plate of the apparatus and
prevent the clamping frame falling any lower.
To adapt the apparatus for use upon tables or the like, an adjustable leg is hinged
or pivotted to the back of the apparatus, which leg I preferably form of two
pieces, one screwing into the other so that said leg may be lengthened or shortened
at will.

page_text: Clasps or clips are hinged or pivotted to the front edge of the bed plate to
keep the leaves of the book or the like in position, and pintles are affixed at back
of the apparatus for attachment to bearings or brackets fitted upon the front of
the piano or other instrument or upon the bearing arm or arms of the stand or other
support, when so required to be used.
For convenience in portability and for use at any desired part of a room, say as
when reclining upon a couch or upon a lounge, the apparatus may be affixed to a
specially constructed stand made telescopic and adjustable as to height, the upper
branch carrying a bracket arm or arms into or upon which the apparatus is hinged
or hung, provision being made to enable the holder or desk to be turned in any
desired direction and arranged at any desired height and there set by means, say of
a collar and set-screw.
The stand may rest upon a support or pedestal having feet or branches projecting
sufficiently to give stability to the whole and prevent the weight of the banging frame
or holder overbalancing the apparatus.
Dated this 1st day of May 1896.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Book or Music Holders or Desks, and in Stands
therefor.
I WILLIAM JOSEPH PITT, of 9, Avenue Road, Weymouth, in the County of
Dorset, Captain, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in book or music holders or desks and
in stands therefor and has for objects to provide a holder or desk suitable for
holding a book or piece of music whilst being read which holder or desk may be
applied to musical instruments such as pianos, organs, harmoniums, or the like, and
with especial advantage be used in conjunction with my apparatus for turning over
the leaves of music as described and claimed in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 25112, granted to me, of the year 1894; and to provide an adjustable
stand to which the apparatus may be affixed when desired so that the same may be
portable and capable of adjustment at any convenient height and at any desired
angle to meet the requirements of the reader.
In clubs, public libraries, reading rooms, and the like this my invention will be
found of great advantage as the holder or desk is equally applicable for firmly and
securely holding and maintaining in position books of varying thicknesses or even
single sheets, say such as newspapers and other journals.
It may moreover as a book holder or desk be used without the adjustable stand
above alluded to and by being provided with a hinged leg or strut at back be adapted
for use upon tables and the like or by having pintles or brackets at back be readily
connected to piano fronts and the like.
In accordance with this invention I form the book or music holder or desk of a
suitable framing of cast or stamped brass or other suitable metal or material attached
at bottom to a plate or bed at right angles to the frame aforesaid.
Centrally at the upper part of the framing and in the front thereof is a bracket
projection through an aperture towards the end of which a rod is passed. This
latter passing downwards in front of the frame fits into a recess or aperture in the

page_text: plate or bed, or a pin or projection may be formed upon the plate upon which the end
of the rod (made hollow) may fit.
The rod is made to take in and out and between it and the frame the book or sheet.
of music is placed. The book or sheet is pressed firmly against the front rod and
maintained securely in position by means of an adjustable clamping frame or presser
hinged to the back frame by means of pivotted connecting pieces; one end of each.
connecting piece being pivotted to the back frame and the other end to a lug formed.
upon the clamping frame.
At lower end of the clamping frame aforesaid I form a leg or stand which
when the clamping frame is brought or drawn down behind the book or sheet of
music and the hinge pieces are about horizontal will rest upon the bed plate of the
apparatus and prevent the clamping frame falling any lower."
To adapt the apparatus for use upon tables or the like an adjustable leg is hinged
or pivotted to the back of the apparatus which leg I preferably form of two pieces
one screwing into the other so that said leg may be lengthened or shortened at will.
Clasps or clips are hinged or pivotted to the front edge of the bed plate to keep the
leaves of the book or the like in position, and pintles are affixed at back of the
apparatus for attachment to bearings or brackets fitted upon the front of the piano or
other instrument or upon the bearing arm or arms of the stand or other support when
so required to be used.
For convenience in portability and for use at any desired part of a room as when
reclining upon a couch or upon a lounge the apparatus may be affixed to a specially.
constructed stand made telescopic and adjustable as to height, the upper branch
carrying a bracket arm or arms into or upon which the apparatus is hinged or hung,
provision being made to enable the holder or desk to be turned in any desired.
direction and arranged at any desired height and there set by means say of a collar
set-screw. The stand may rest upon a support or pedestal having feet or branches
projecting sufficiently to give stability to the whole and prevent the weight of the
hanging frame or holder overbalancing the apparatus.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will describe same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, that is to say:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the book or music stand or desk constructed in
accordance with this my invention.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the stand or desk.
Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the adjustable clamping piece or presser above.
referred to.
Fig. 4 shews one of the hinge pieces connecting the clamping piece to the back
frame of the stand or desk.
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of portion of the frame and clamping piece
particularly illustrating the manner of hinging same together, and
Fig. 6 is a top plan of the back frame of the stand or desk.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the figures.
a is the back frame made of cast or stamped brass or other suitable metal or
material and attached to a bed plate 6 upon which the book or sheet rests or stands.
Centrally at the upper part of the frame a there is a bracket c through an aperture
towards the end of which the rod d is passed. This latter fits into a recess or
aperture in the plate b so that when in position it will remain firm or a pin
or projection may be formed upon the plate 6 upon which the hollow end of rod d
may fit. The rod d may be made to take in and out and between it and the frame a
the book or sheet of music is placed. To press the book firmly against the front
rod d and to maintain same securely in position I provide the adjustable clamping
piece or presser e. This I hinge to the back frame a by means of the pivotted
connecting pieces f. One end of each connecting piece f I pivot to the back frame a
and the other end to an ear or lag formed upon the clainping piece e. It will be
observed (see particularly Figs. 4 and 5) that I so place the pivots that when the
clamping piece e is folded back the upper pin or pivot f is in the rear of the lower

page_text: pin or pivot f. This will prevent the clamping piece or presser e falling down when
not required. At lower end of the clamping piece e aforesaid I form a leg or strut g
which when the clamping piece e is brought or drawn down and the hinge pieces fare
about horizontal will rest upon the plate 6 and prevent the clamping piece or presser
falling any lower.
When the hook or sheet of music placed behind the rod d the clamping piece e is
brought or drawn down from the folded position shewn in Fig. 5 and will adjust
itself behind said book or sheet of music and press same against the rod d and hold
same firmly and securely in position.
An adjustable leg his hinged or pivotted to the back of the frame a which leg
I preferably form of two pieces, one screwing into the other so that said leg may be
lengthened or shortened at will and as shewn in Fig. 3 extending flaps or side wings
may be attached to the clamping piece e to assist in supporting books or sheets of a
greater width than ordinary.
Clasps or clips may be provided at front edge of plate 6 to keep the leaves of the
book or the like in position and pintles are provided at the back of the frame a for
insertion into brackets or bearings fixed upon the piano front or bearing arm or arms
of the stand or support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in book or music holders or desks substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn.
2. In book or music holders or desks the back-frame a carried upon plate 6 and
rod d carried in bracket c and attached at lower end in or upon the plate 6 in
combination with the adjustable clamping piece or presser e hinged by means of
pivotted connecting pieces to said back frame a all arranged, and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
3. In book or music stands or desks the back frame a, plate b, bracket c, rod d,
clamping piece or presser e, with extension or leg g pivotted hinge pieces f, the
adjustable leg or support and extending side pieces i, the clasps or clips k, and
hinges or pintles 1; all constructed, combined, arranged, and operating substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn, in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 1st day
1907
HUGHES, SON & Cc.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.