IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TURNING OVER THE LEAVES OF MUSIC BOOKS OR PIECES OF MUSIC, APPLICABLE TO MUSIC STANDS, PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND SOME OTHER KINDS OF INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Grant, of Eton House, John Street,
Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, Farmer, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TURNING OVER THE
LEAVES OF MUSIC BOOKS OR PIECES OF MUSIC, APPLICABLE TO MUSIC
STANDS, PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND SOME OTHER KINDS OF
INSTRUMENTS."
MUSICAL
Sealed the 9th February 1869, and dated the 13th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Grant at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th August 1868.
I, JOHN GRANT, of Eton House, John Street, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR TURNING OVER THE
LEAVES OF MUSIC BOOKS OR PIECES OF MUSIC, APPLICABLE TO MUSIC STANDS,
PIANOFORTES, ORGANS, AND SOME OTHER KINDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists in turning over the leaves of music books
or pieces of music by means of the direct action of a screw with a very.

page_text: deep thread, in the spaces between the turns of which the leaves to be
turned over are first introduced.
In order the more clearly to explain my Invention, and that the
meaning of such terms as right, left, and disappears, when not otherwise
plain, may be clearly understood I will suppose a person to be standing
or sitting in front of and facing a music book or piece of music lying
open on a music stand or upon the book rest of a pianoforte or other
musical instrument, and my description must be understood to have
reference to a person standing or sitting in such a position.
In carrying out my Invention I form a right-handed screw upon a
straight spindle, or by preference upon a hollow tube fitting over a
straight spindle, which screw has as many turns as may be convenient
of a very deep thread, the spaces between each turn of the thread and
the next being intended to receive one of the leaves required to be
turned over, so that the number of leaves with which the screw can
be charged at one time must necessarily depend upon the number of
such spaces. I form the thread by preference of uniform depth from
the bottom upwards until the last turn is reached, when I rapidly but
gradually increase the depth and also the pitch of the thread. I merge
the end of the thread at the bottom by a gradual slope into the turn
of the thread next above, so as to close the bottom end of the space
between the turns of the thread of the screw. At the upper termination
of the thread its outer circumference extends a distance of several inches
from the spindle and far beyond the circumfrence of the lower
turns of the thread. To lighten and improve the shape of the thread
at its upper termination I hollow out a portion of it between the outer
and inner circumfrence, leaving it in a concave form with a short
projection, which I will name the thumb, near the spindle and projecting
outwards from it. When the screw is formed upon a hollow tube fitting
over the spindle I fit the tube to the spindle in such manner that it a
is carried round by the spindle but cannot slip round upon it, and also
so that it can be slipped on and off the spindle at pleasure, and so that
it can be slipped up and down on the spindle within a convenient range
in order to adjust the position of the screw to the varying thicknesses
of different music books or pieces of music. and I further provide the
tube with a spring catch by means of which pressing into notches or
indentations formed for the purpose upon the spindle the tube is held
fast upon the spindle wherever placed within the range allowed to it until

page_text: intentionally removed. The spindle being furnished with the screw:
I place the spindle in fixed bearings in which it can run freely, which
bearings are so placed with reference to the music book or piece of
music lying open upon the music stand or book rest as herein-before
described that the spindle shall be close to the top of the book or piece
of music a short distance to the right of the folding joint or axis of
the book or piece of music, and at right angles to the plane of such
book or piece of music, and so that the thread of the screw shall be
held in a position parallel to such plane with the exception of the slight
deviation caused by the pitch of the thread, and so that the thread of
the screw with the exception of the uppermost turn of the thread shall
partly overhang the right-hand leaves without extending so far as the
folding joint or axis of the book or piece of music, but so that a portion
of the uppermost turn of the thread shall at each revolution of the
spindle reach over or across such folding joint or axis so as to overhang
the left-hand leaves. Motion may be imparted to the spindle in
many ways but I prefer the following:-I place a driving pulley
horizontally on a pivot on or near the ground under the music stand,
or under or in front of the pianoforte or other musical instrument, in
connection with which the leaves are to be turned over, and in such a
position that the performer or an assistant may conveniently place his
or her foot upon it as upon a footstool, and so that such driving pulley
may be pushed round either way by the foot so placed upon it. I then
connect such driving pulley by means of a round band passing over
guide pulleys conveniently placed with a pulley fixed for the purpose
on the spindle so that it may be driven by the hand, and by preference I
make the driving pulley of larger diameter than the driven pulley in
order that a partial revolution of the former may produce an entire
revolution of the latter and consequently of the screw.
Having described the several parts of my Invention I now proceed
to describe the manner. of carrying the same into effect. The book or
piece of music the leaves of which are to be turned over being opened
at the end of the leaves to be turned over and so placed upon the music
stand or upon the book rest of the pianoforte, organ, or other musical
instrument as herein-before described and in such a position with
reference to the several parts of my Invention as herein-before described,
the performer or assistant commences to charge the screw by turning
a leaf over backwards by hand and at the same time placing the foot
upon the driving pulley and pushing it so as to cause it to revolve

page_text: sufficiently to produce an entire revolution of the driven pulley and
through it an entire upward revolution of the screw, which seizes the
leaf that is being turned over backwards and forces it down into
the space between the two upper turns of the thread of the screw, the
next leaf is then treated in the same manner and brought in its turn
into the same space which is vacated by the previous leaf, which is at
the same time forced down into the second space between the threads
of the screw, and so on in succession until all the leaves are turned
over backwards and an equal number less one of the spaces between
the threads from the top of the screw downwards are charged with the
leaves, one in each space and in regular order, and one leaf, namely,
the last turned over backwards, is laid upon the lowest side of the
uppermost thread of the screw under the short projection which I have
named the thumb, by which it is securely held in that position. The
screw has now been charged so that the performer or assistant can turn
over the leaves forwards at pleasure or at the precise moment required
for the perfect execution of the musical performance in the following
manner, that is to say, by means of the foot of the performer or assistant
placed upon and pushing the driving pulley it is made to revolve in
the opposite direction to that employed in charging the screw, thus
imparting a downward motion to the screw, the thread of which forces
the leaves upwards so that each turn of the screw brings a leaf on to
the lowest upper side of the uppermost turn of the thread of the screw,
where it is held or prevented from turning over by the before-mentioned
thumb the leaf that was before retained in that position being
simultaneously by the same revolution of the screw first raised higher
up the uppermost turn of the thread of the screw which disappears
below such leaf, and then turns it completely over by pressing against
it in its passage across the folding joint or axis of the book or piece of
music, which action closely resembles the action of the right hand
of a human being as it is often employed in turning over music leaves.
The highest portion of the uppermost turn of the thread of the screw
then again appears in sight above the leaf, and holding it down to the
left of the folding joint or axis of the book, and the screw is then left
stationary in such a position that a part of the thread at or near the
uppermost end thereof shall be over the upper margin of the left-hand
leaf, holding it down in a manner closely resembling that in which
music leaves are often held down by the forefinger of the human right
hand. At the same time the right-hand leaf is held down by the short

page_text: projection that I have named, the thumb in a manner closely resembling
that in which music leaves are often held down by the thumb of the
human right hand, the next revolution of the screw turns over the next
leaf which is held down on the left as before, and so on until the whole
of the leaves with which the screw was charged are turned over, which
completes the process, which may be repeated with other or the same
leaves as often as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Grant in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th February 1869,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GRANT, of Eton House, John Street, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in
the thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Grant, Her
special licence that I, the said John Grant, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Grant,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TURNING OVER THE LEAVES OF MUSIC
BOKS OR PIECES OF MUSIC, APPLICABLE TO MUSIC STANDS, PIANOFORTES, ORGANS,
SOME OTHER KINDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Grant, my executors
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Grant, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists in turning over the leaves of music books
or pieces of music by means of the direct action of a screw with a
very deep thread, in the spaces between the turns of which the leaves
to be turned over are first introduced,
In order the more clearly to explain, my Invention, and that the
meaning of such terms as right, left, and disappears, when not other-
wise plain may be clearly understood, I will suppose a person to be
standing or sitting in front of and facing a music book or piece of
music lying open on a music stand or upon the book rest of a pianoforte
or other musical instrument, and my description must be understood
to have reference to a person standing or sitting in such a position.
In carrying out my Invention I form a right-handed screw upon
a straight spindle, which screw has as many turns as may be convenient,
of a very deep thread, the spaces between each turn of the thread and
the next being intended to receive one of the leaves required to be
turned over, so that the number of leaves with which the screw can
be charged at one time must necessarily depend upon the number of
such spaces. I form the thread by preference of uniform depth from
the bottom upwards until the last turn is reached, when I rapidly but
gradually increase the depth and also the pitch of the thread. I merge
the end of the thread at the bottom by a gradual slope into the turn
of the thread next above, so as to close the bottom end of the space
between the turns of the thread of the screw. At the upper termination
of the thread its outer circumference extends a distance of several
inches from the spindle and far beyond the outer circumference of the
lower turns of the thread. To lighten and improve the shape of the
thread at its upper termination I hollow out a portion of it between
the outer and inner circumferences, leaving it in a concave form with
a short projection, which I will name the thumb near the spindle and
projecting outwards from it. The spindle being furnished with the screw,
I place the spindle in fixed bearings in which it can run freely, which
bearings are so placed with reference to the music book or piece of
music lying open upon the music stand or book rest as herein-before
described that the spindle shall be close to the top of the book or piece

page_text: of music a short distance to the right of the folding joint or axis of
the book or piece of music, and at right angles to the plane of such
book or piece of music, and so that the thread of the screw shall be
held in a position parallel to such plane with the exception of the
slight deviation caused by the pitch of the thread, and so that the thread
of the, screw with the exception of the uppermost turn of the thread
shall partly overhang the right-hand leaves without extending so far
as the folding joint or axis of the book or piece of music, but so that
a portion of the uppermost turn of the thread shall at each revolution
of the spindle reach over or across such folding joint or axis so as
to overhang the left-hand leaves. Motion may be imparted to the
spindle in many ways, but I prefer the following:-I place a driving
pulley horizontally on a pivot on or near the ground under the music
stand, or under or in front of the pianoforte or other musical instrument
in connection with which the leaves are to be turned over, and in such
a position that the performer or an assistant may conveniently place
one of his or her feet upon it as upon a footstool, and so that such
driving pulley may be pushed round either way by the foot so placed
upon it. I then connect such driving pulley by means of a round
band passing over guide pulleys conveniently placed with a pulley fixed
for the purpose on the spindle, so that it may be driven by the band,
and by preference I make the driving pulley of larger diameter than
the driven pulley in order that a partial revolution of the former may
produce an entire revolution of the latter and consequently of the screw.
In order to adjust the position of the screw to the varying thicknesses
of different music books or pieces of music, I fix the driven pulley
to the spindle by means of a set screw, by loosening which the spindle
may be either drawn forward or pushed backward independently of the
driven pulley, which is then again fixed to the spindle by tightening
the set screw.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation
of a music stand fitted with my Invention, and having an open musio
book resting upon it; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same music
stand fitted with my Invention, but without any music book; Fig. 3
is a section of the spindle driven pulley and screw in the position
shewn in Fig. 2, and also of the bearings in which the spindle revolves,
and of the upper part of the book rest of the music stand, the line of
section passing through the points rand & in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is another
section of the spindle, driven pulley, screw, bearings, and upper part

page_text: of the book rest of the music stand in the same position as shewn in
Fig. 3 with the exception that the line of section is made to pass
through the points t.and u in Fig. 1, the position of those points being
first changed by a quarter turn of the driven pulley, spindle, and screw
so as to bring the points and within the same line of section of
the bearings and upper part of the book rest of the music stand, as
shewn in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the driving pulley
and pivot stand. The letters refer to the corresponding parts in all
the Figures in which they occur. A is the pedestal of the music
stand; B is the book rest; C is the music book; D is the spindle; E
is the screw; F is the upper turn of the thread of the screw; G
is that projecting part of the upper turn of the thread of the. screw
herein-before named the thumb; H is the driving pulley; I is the
pivot stand; and J the pivot on which the driving pulley H revolves; K
is the driven pulley; L is the band connecting the driving pulley II
with the driven pulley K; M, M, M, are guide pulleys over which
the band L passes; and N is a set screw fixing the driven pulley K. to
the spindle D.
Having described the several parts of my Invention I now proceed
to describe the manner of carrying the same into effect. The book or
piece of music the leaves of which are to be turned over being opened
at the end of the leaves to be turned over and so placed upon the music
stand or upon the book rest of the pianoforte, organ, or other musical
instrument as herein-before described and in such a position with
reference to the several parts of my Invention as herein-before described,
the performer or assistant commences to charge the screw by turning a
leaf over backwards by hand and at the same time placing the foot
upon the driving pulley and pushing it so as to cause it to revolve
sufficiently to produce an entire revolution of the driven pulley K and
through it an entire upward revolution of the screw E, which seizes the
leaf that is being turned over backwards and forces it downwards into
the space between the two upper turns of the thread of the screw, the
next leaf is then treated in the same manner and brought in its turn
into the same space which is vacated by the previous leaf, which is at
the same time forced down into the second space between the turns of the
thread of the screw, and so on in succession until all the leaves are turned
over backwards and an equal number less one of the spaces between
the turns of the thread from the top of the screw downwards are

page_text: charged with the leaves one in each space and in regular order, and one
leaf, namely, the last turned over backwards, is laid upon the lowest
side of the uppermost turn of the thread of the screw under the short
projection G, which I have named the thumb, by which it is securely
held in that position, as shewn in Fig. 1. The screw E has now
been charged so that the performer or assistant can turn over the
leaves forwards at pleasure or at the precise time required for the perfect
execution of the musical performance in the following manner, that is
to say, by means of one foot of the performer or assistant placed upon
and pushing the driving pulley H it is made to revolve in the opposite
direction to that employed in charging the screw, thus imparting a
downward motion to the screw, the thread of which forces the leaves
upwards so that each turn of the screw brings a leaf on to the lowest
part of the upper side of the uppermost turn F of the thread of the
screw, where it is held or prevented from turning over by the before-
mentioned thumb G, the leaf that was before retained in that position
being simultaneously by the same revolution of the screw first raised
higher up the uppermost turn F of the thread of the screw, the upper
end of which disappear below such leaf and then reaches across the
folding joint or axis of the book or piece of music, at the same time
pushing or turning the leaf beneath which it was hidden completely
over to the left side of the folding joint or axis of the book or piece of
music by an action closely resembling the action of the right hand
of a human being as it is often employed in turning over music leaves.
The hidden portion of the uppermost turn F of the thread of the screw
then again appears in sight above the leaf, which its upper end holds
down to the left of the folding joint or axis of the book or piece of
music, and the screw is then left stationary in such a position that
a part of the uppermost turn F of the thread at or near the upper end
thereof shall be over the upper margin of the left-hand leaf, holding
it down in the manner shewn in Fig. 1, and which closely resembles
the manner in which music leaves are often held down by the forefinger
of the human right hand. At the same time the right-hand leaf is.
held down by the short projection G that I have named the thumb in
the manner also shewn in Fig. 1, and which closely resembles the
manner in which music leaves are often held down by the thumb
of the human right hand; the next revolution of the screw E turns over
the next leaf, which is held down on the left as before, and so on until
the whole of the leaves with which the screw was charged are turned

page_text: over which completes the process, which may be repeated with other or
the same leaves as often as may be required.
What I claim to be new in the foregoing description is,―
First. The use of a screw acting directly upon the leaves of music
books or pieces of music so as first to raise them; secondly, to turn
them over; and thirdly, to hold them down.
Second. The use of a screw having a reverse action, by means whereof
it can be easily and rapidly charged with the leaves to be turned
over.
Third. The particular form of screw herein-before described.
Fourth. The particular means herein-before described of imparting
motion to the screw.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Grant, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JOHN GRANT (TQ)