IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES OF SHEET MUSIC, MUSIC BOOKS, AND OTHER BOOKS, AND IN THE MODE OF PREPARING THE LEAVES THEREFOR
Year: 1880

page_text: I
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES OF SHEET MUSIC, MUSIC BOOKS, AND
OTHER BOOKS, AND IN THE MODE OF PREPARING THE LEAVES THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by Francis L. Becker, of Galveston, Texas,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES OF SHEET
MUSIC, MUSIC BOOKS, AND OTHER BOOKS, AND IN THE MODE OF PREPARING THE
LEAVES THEREFOR.' [A communication from abroad by Francis L. Becker, of
Galveston, Texas, United States of America.]
"
According to the present Invention apparatus for turning the leaves of sheet
music, music books, and other books, is constructed as follows:-A frame consisting
by preference of two flaps hinged to a middle piece, similar to the back and covers
of a portfolio, has at the lower end of its middle part a bracket carrying a vertical
spindle with two pullies and an arm in a jaw, at the end of which is pivotted a
bent lever, so that such lever can be both moved vertically up and down on its
pivot, and be turned from one side to the other round the said spindle by rotating
the latter. The said lever being raised passes behind the leaf of the music or book
to be turned, and when it is turned round the spindle it carries the leaf over to the
other side. The lever is made forked or with a second lever fixed against its side,
which second lever_passes over-the-front-or outer surface of the leaf as the main
lever passes behind it, so that the leaf is capable of being turned back again when
it has been turned over.
The above described compound motion of the lever is effected as follows:-It is
connected by a ball and socket joint to one end of a rod, the other end of which is
connected by a ball and socket joint to the face of one of the before mentioned
pullies, the rod being held securely in the said socket joints by springs. This rod
is so arranged relatively to the rotary motion imparted to the pulley that when
this is first turned the rod pushes the elbow of the lever so as to raise it
behind the leaf, and when it has been raised to the requisite height a stop on

page_text: the pulley prevents its further upward motion, whereupon by the continued rotation
of the pulley the lever is carried round with it. The motion is imparted to the
pulley by a cord, one end of which passes round it and is secured to a hook thereon,
while the other end passes over a guide pulley either to a rod passing vertically
down and attached to a pedal by which it is actuated, or, when used with a piano,
the cord is attached to the periphery of a pulley or quadrant mounted on a vertical
spindle carried by the framing of the piano, and turned by means of a horizontal
lever or pedal actuated by the knee of the performer.
The arm carrying the turning lever has secured to it a small second arm con-
nected to a spiral spring on the bracket, by means of which the turning lever is
kept pressed against the leaf of music.
When in its lowest position the turning lever rests upon an adjustable stop, by
means of which the extremity of the lever is adjusted so as to lie just below the
lower edge of the music leaf.
The jaw of the arm carrying the turning lever carries a spring stop, by pressing
which inward when the lever has been raised it is prevented from dropping again,
so that when after a leaf has been turned it is required to turn it back again for
"de capo" playing the lever may retain its hold thereon.
For bringing back the lever into its original position when a leaf has been turned
a spring action of the following arrangement is employed:-Round the second of
the before mentioned pullies is wound one end of a cord in a contrary direction to
that of the cord on the other pulley, and its other end is attached to a rod passing
along the lower edge of the left hand cover of the portfolio frame, near the end of
which it is attached to a cord passing round a pulley on the end of a main blade-
spring passing up the left hand edge of the said cover, the other end of this cord
being attached to a small barrel capable of being turned by a worm and worm
wheel for adjusting the tension of the spring. Thus it will be seen that the turning
over of the leaf is effected in opposition to the spring, which will consequently
bring the turning lever back into its original position when the turning pedal is
released.
For holding down the leaf that has been turned over a horizontal lever is
mounted on a vertical spindle, and has a vertical rod or finger which is pressed
against the page by means of a blade-spring acting on the cam shaped end of the
lever, while when the leaf is being turned over the said lever and finger are moved
away from the music by means of a small helical spring, which is brought into
action by the motion of the main spring in acting against a stud on the blade-
spring, whereby the pressure of the latter is taken off.
A rod with fingers acted upon by a spring also serves to hold down the music
leaves on the right hand side, but with such lightness as to allow the turning lever
to draw the leaf from under it in turning over.
The framing or portfolio has small brackets on which the music rests, and it has
also a wire extending up the middle part, which is passed between the leaves of
the music at the back so as to hold it securely upon the portfolio. Sliding bolts
are also provided for securing the portfolio on its stand. When not in use the
portfolio is folded together with the above described mechanism inside it, the
turning lever being held by a loop.
For preparing the music so that it will be readily acted upon by the turning
lever a slit is made somewhat above the lower edge of each leaf and parallel there-
with, and over the outer surface of the part of the leaf below the slit is pasted or
otherwise secured a strip of paper, parchment, or other material, a portion of which
is slipped through the slit to the back of the leaf, so that the lever in rising up
readily passes through the slit to the back of the leaf.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
September 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES OF SHEET
MUSIC, MUSIC BOOKS, AND OTHER BOOKS, AND IN THE MODE OF PREPARING THE
LEAVES THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by Francis L. Becker, of
Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
According to this Invention apparatus for turning the leaves of sheet music,
music books, and other books is constructed as I will describe, referring to the
accompanying Drawings and to the Figures and letters marked thereon. Fig. 1
represents a plan of the apparatus showing the operating mechanism attached to
the supporting frame, which acts as a portfolio; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of
the pulley mechanism with the lever for turning the leaves; Fig. 3 is a side
elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan of the main spring mechanism
and left hand leaf holder; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 6 is a cross
section on line x, x, of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a side view of the stop pin and the bolding
mechanism of the lever; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the arm connecting the lever
and pulley; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through line y, y, of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a
plan of the pullies and operating mechanism attached to a piano or similar
instrument; Fig. 11 is a transverse section of part of the portfolio when closed;
Fig. 12 shews part of a leaf of music prepared for the action of the lever, which is
shown in two positions; Fig. 11 shews a modification in the preparation of a leaf
of music.
A, A', are the two sides of the portfolio hinged to a back B, B¹. To the lower
part of the back B, B', is secured a. bracket b forming bearings for a shaft b¹
carrying pullies c¹ and c, preferably made in one piece. Upon the inner end of
the shaft b', which is made square, is secured the arm d having a slotted lug d¹ at
its outer end, to which one end of the compound elbow lever C is attached. This
lever consists of a flat bar C¹ curved and pointed at its outer end, so as to
readily pass in behind a leaf. An adjustable angle piece C is attached to the
lower end of side A, by which the height of the lever C is regulated when in its
normal position. On the left hand side of A' is a loop C4, by which the lever C is
held, when the folio is to be closed, or attached to the operating mechanism on the
piano or music-stand. A shield C³ protects the folio from wear of the point of the
lever C. To the lever bar C¹ is secured a smaller lever C running nearly parallel
with the former, which passes on the front of the leaf, the two levers thus holding
the leaf between them. At the point of the elbow of the lever C is connected the
arm D by a ball and socket joint D", the other end of D being similarly attached
to the pulley c by socket joint el. A small stop pin ca in the pulley c¹¹ checks
the movement of the lever C when in its upright position. Both balls on the
connecting arm D are held in position in their sockets by springs du, d. A stop
pin e entering the hole e¹ on the end of a spring ell secured to the arm d serves to
hold the lever C in an upright position on the left hand side, when-it-is-desired-to-
play a "da capo," to turn the leaf back to its original position. A pivotted lever f
attached to the arm d, and a spiral spring f¹ on the bracket b, serves to retain the
lever C while in its upward or downward motion against the leaf. A pulley g is
mounted on the bracket b, and over this pulley g passes a cord h, one end of which
is secured to pulley c¹, while the other is fastened upon a hook i' on the segment i
secured to the upright shaft E. This shaft passes through the piano between two
keys, and has on its lower end a pulley a, to which a cord a¹ is attached and secured
with its other end, having a loop to the knee lever all which is pivotted to the
bottom of the piano, as shown in Fig. 10. Another cord k is attached at one end

page_text: to the small pulley c", and running in a direction opposite to the cord his looped
to the bent end of a wire F which passes through a guide k³, and has its end bent
upward and a cord / looped thereto. The cord 7 passes over a pulley and is secured
to a stud m which is supported in a bearing m¹, and is provided at its upper end
with a worm wheel n gearing with a worm o, which has on its shaft a suitable
button or knob by which the tension of the main spring G is regulated. An
adjustable leaf holder in connection with the mainspring consists of a lever H having
a cam shaped end, which as it rises bears upon a curved bar I having a spring P
arranged under it in a recess p¹. This bar I has two pins q, q, between which one
end of the main spring G moves backward and forward as the lever C turns the
leaf. Upon the lever H is arranged a slide ¹¹, to which the wire L is attached,
pressing upon the leaf as soon as it is turned and placed underneath the wire.
Upon the right hand side of A is also arranged an adjustable leaf holder M, as
shewn in Fig. 1. Suitable angle pieces upon which the music is placed are
secured to the folio. Two sliding bolts N hold the folio in position on the instru-
ment or music stand. A wire O is secured to the folio back at its lower end,
behind which one or more leaves of music are passed to hold the same. It will be
obvious that this folio can be used with any instrument or music stand by slight
changes of the operating mechanism of the knee lever, for which might be substituted
a pedal. In order that the required result of turning the leaves may be obtained
the music sheets are prepared in the following manner:-A cut 1, Fig. 12, is first
made in the lower edge of the leaves, excepting the covering leaves. Linen, paper, or
other suitable material 2 having two short cuts 3, 3, is then pasted or secured in
any suitable manner upon the leaf, lengthwise over the cut; the portion 4, 4, over
the cut not having been pasted or secured is then pushed under the cut 1 under
the leaf, so as to permit the lever C of the turning mechanism to pass through
the cut 1 under the leaf, while the smaller lever C will pass up in front of the leaf
and thus hold it between them. If it is objectionable to cut the leaves the
material may be secured to the back of each leaf, as shewn in Fig. 13, in which the
material 2 projects slightly below the leaf, and is cut away at each side so that
the music can be placed on the angle pieces r, r, the projecting part coming
between them. The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-The folio being
secured upon the instrument or music stand the cord his attached to the hook
of the segment, the sheet, prepared as above described, is then placed upon the
angle pieces 1. The leaf holders at the right and left hand sides are adjusted to
bear upon the blank edges of the sheets. The lever C, which was held in the
loop C, is now liberated and brought to bear upon the right leaf, with the point a
little under the prepared cut 1. The music is now ready to be turned, no further
preparations being required. For the purpose of turning over a motion of the
knce against the lever a", pulling the cord a', moves the pulley a, turning the
segment about one quarter of a revolution, and this by the cord h gives motion
to the pullies c and the double lever C. This lever C first rises into the position
shown in dotted lines on the side A (Fig. 1) having the leaf between its parts C¹
and C, then being prevented by the stop pin c³ from rising higher it is carried
around in that attitude, with the leaf, from the right to the left hand side of the 4
folio. The lever C is now in the position shewn in Fig. 2.
knee against the lever all being now released, the lever C drops down into the
The pressure of the
position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thence it is carried back to its normal
position by the action of the main-spring G. In case of its being necessary for
repetition of a part of the music to turn a leaf backwards the lever C is held in 5
the position shown in Fig. 2 by the stop pin e, which is subjected to a momentary
pressure while the knee continues to press against the lever all. At the moment
when the lever C turns the leaf from the right to left the leaf holder on the left
side rises, admitting the leaf under it, and then as the lever C drops down presses
again upon the blank edge of the leaf, while the lever C passes over to the right 5.
hand side. If desired the music may be left in the folio, and closed up with it,
the lever C being before closing secured by the loop C. The attached knee or

page_text: For a music
foot mechanism with the segment i may remain on the instrument.
stand a wire or long cord extends down to a foot pedal attached to the cord h.
The apparatus above described presents advantages over others which have
heretofore. been tried, but have not come into general use.. These require that the
leaves be inserted in forks or laid between wires, thus requiring great preparation
at the time when promptitude is most required. No such preparation is required
for this apparatus. Most leafturners are limited in their application to a few
pages and to a certain size of sheet; this leaf turner will turn as many leaves as
can conveniently be bound together, and operate upon the sheets of music or of
books of any ordinary size without covering the printed matters. This apparatus
is, moreover, simple, durable, and easily taken apart for cleaning, and it can be
readily understood and worked. It is quickly attached to an instrument such as a
piano, or to a music stand; it never fails to take up a leaf, and it cannot take
two leaves at a time; it works noiselessly, turning the leaf forwards or backwards
at the will of the operator.. It does not tear the music, and it serves as a port-
folio. The music sheets can be prepared at small cost and in a short time. As the
leaves are firmly held the apparatus can be used in the open air, even when there
is a considerable breeze. It can be used with loose leaves, although it works better
with leaves stitched together.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim in respect of apparatus for turning leaves of sheet music, music books, and
other books, and of the preparation of leaves for that purpose.
First. The use of the bent lever C, consisting of the pointed bar C³, and small
lever C curved at their outer ends, and constructed and arranged substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Second. In combination with the bent lever C, constructed as described, the bar d
provided with the slotted lug d' and the shaft b', constructed and arranged substan-
tially as described and shewn.
Third. In combination with the lever C, constructed as described, the arm D
having the ball and socket joint D" at one end, and the ball and socket joint cat
the other end, and the pulley cl arranged as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the lever C, constructed as described, with the arm d
having slotted lug d¹, the shaft b¹, the arm D, the pulley c¹, and the springs d", dill,
all constructed and arranged substantially as
shown and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The combination of the lever C, arm d, shaft b¹, bracket b, with the stop
pin e, hole e', and spring el, all constructed and arranged as shown and for the
purpose specified.
Sixth. The combination of the lever C, arm d, shaft b¹, bracket b, arm D,
pulley c¹¹, springs d", d, with the stop pin e, hole e', and spring e", all constructed
and arranged substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the lever C, arm d, with the lever f, spiral springƒ',
and the bracket b, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination of the lever C, arm d, shaft b¹, bracket b, pulley c',
pulley g, cord h, the segment i, and shaft E, all constructed and arranged for
operation, substantially as shown and described.
Ninth. The combination of the lever C, arm d, shaft b', bracket-b,-pulley c
pulley g¹, cord h, with the_segment-i, shaft E, pulley a, cord a', and lever all,
all constructed and arranged for operation, substantially as shown and set forth.
Tenth. The combination of the lever C, arm d, shaft b', bracket b, arm D, pulley c³,
pulley c¹¹, and cord k, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of the lever C and its operating mechanism, con-
structed substantially as described, with the connecting wire F, cord I, pulley 1,
stud m, bearing m³, worm wheel n, worm o, and mainspring G, all constructed and
arranged substantially as specified.
.

page_text: Twelfth. The combination of the bar I having pins q, q, springs p, recess p³,
with the cam lever H, slide ¹¹, and wire L, all constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
Thirteenth. In combination with the leaf turning mechanism the port-folio
herein described, consisting of the hinged sides A, A', and back B, provided with a
stiffening piece B¹, constructed substantially as shown and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourteenth. In combination with the leaf turning mechanism the port folio
herein described having the sides A, A¹, back B, B', and supporting brackets r, r,
bolts N, N, and leaf holder M, all constructed substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. In combination with the leaf turning mechanism the port-folio herein
described having the sides A, A', back B, B', binding wire O, shield C³, and
adjustable angle piece C, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Sixteenth. The method herein described of preparing sheets for use in the leaf
turner by making a cut 1 in the lower edge of each leaf, securing thereto any
suitable material 2 provided with cuts 3, 3, and slipping the portion 4 under the
cut, substantially as described.
Seventeenth. The use of leaf turning apparatus herein described consisting of
the port-folio A, A, B, B¹, lever C, and its operating mechanism, the leaf holders L
and M, and their connecting mechanism, all constructed and arranged substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.