Improved Means applicable for use in Turning the Leaves of Music.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1900-Accepted, 30th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for use in Turning the Leaves of Music.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of Clun House, Surrey Street,
in the County of London, Civil Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad from
Jan Veenis, Junior, of Assendelft, in the Kingdom of Holland, Carpenter), to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanism adapted for use in turning over the leaves
of music, thus leaving the hands of the musician free; the apparatus being par-
ticularly applicable to pianofortes, harmoniums, organs and similar keyboard
instruments.
"
Apparatus constructed and arranged according to this invention is designed
to be operated by the knee of the performer; and assuming the same to be
applied, by way of example to a pianoforte of the ordinary upright" type, the
under side of the keyboard is furnished with an arm or lever which operates,
through the medium of a cord or wire and suitable levers, disposed about the
sido and top of the piano-case, the leaf-turning mechanism. This latter is con-
tained in a suitable casing, which may be ornamented to any desired extent,
situate on the top of the pianoforte-case behind and above the book-rest. Upon
a spindle at one side of the casing is mounted a lever, a drum and two ratchet-
wheels. To one end of the lever the operating wire is attached while to the other
end of the lever is pivoted a pawl for engaging with the teeth of one of the
ratchet-wheels. An arm which carries a fixed pawl for engaging with the teeth
of the other ratchet-wheel, is so arranged that by depressing its free end the lever
carrying the loosely mounted pawl is deflected, the fixed pawl raised, and both
pawls are disengaged from their respective ratchet-wheels. Similarly when the
lever is vibrated, by a pull on the operating wire, the end which carries the
loosely mounted pawl causes the arm which carries the fixed pawl to vibrate;
the said lever being returned to its normal position by means of a spring. To
the drum is connected one end of a cord or other flexible connection, this cord
being led over a pulley and secured to the lower end of a stop mounted to slide
in vertical guides. In proximity to this stop are mounted a number of discs
the latter being capable of rotating about a vertical spindle or axle. Each dise
carries an arm which projects therefrom first horizontally and then obliquely
downwards and serves as the leaf-turner. About the periphery of each disc is
mounted a stop which may be in the form of a blade-spring and is adapted to
take a bearing against the side of the sliding stop; each disc being further con-
nected with the easing or other fixed part by means of an elastic band or other
yielding connection. The several turning-over arms may be arranged to project
through horizontal slits or openings in the front of the casing. The sliding stop
may be furnished with anti-friction rollers.
Assuming the apparatus to be in position and the depending portions of the
leaf-turning arms disposed between the leaves to be turned over, the executant
upon arriving at the place in the music where it is required to turn over the

page_text: leaf presses with the knee against the arm or lever beneath the keyboard where-
upon the lever pertaining to the turning-over mechanism is vibrated and the
ratchets are rotated to the extent of one tooth; the vibratory lever resuming
its normal position by means of the spring, while the ratchets are held by
the fixed pawl. Meanwhile the drum has also rotated to a corresponding
extent, wound a portion of the cord pertaining to the sliding stop, and raised the
latter, thereby freeing the disc which immediately rotates owing to the contraction
of the elastic connection; the leaf-turning arm pertaining to such disc effecting
the furning over of the leaf.
The number of discs and turning-over arms may be varied according to require-
ments. When, however, the last of the series of discs and arms have been operated,
the apparatus is re-set by merely pressing upon the free end of the lever carry-
ing the fixed pawl and disengaging the pawls from the ratchet-wheels, whereupon
the drum is released and the sliding stop resumes its position by gravitation
at the lower end of the guides. The series of dises are then turned back to their
original position by means of the turning-over arms; the latter being again
placed beneath the leaves to be turned over.
In order to provide for the accommodation of music of different sizes, the
height of the book-rest may be rendered adjustable in a similar manner to that
adopted in an ordinary casel.
In order to diminish any noise or jar which may occur in working, pads of
india-rubber or other suitable material may be employed where found necessary.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1899.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for use in Turning the Leaves of Music.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of Clun House, Surrey Street,
in the County of London, Civil Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad from
Jan Veenis, Junior, of Assendelft, in the Kingdom of Holland, Carpenter,) 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 mechanism adapted for use in turning over the leaves
of music, thus leaving the hands of the musician free; the apparatus being par-
ticularly applicable to pianofortes, harmoniums, organs and similar keyboard
instruments.
.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a pianoforte of
the ordinaty upright" type having the invention, the subject of the present
application, applied thereto. Fig. is a side elevation of the mechanism, a
portion of the casing being removed. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same and
Fig. 4 is a plan corresponding with Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the
means employed for releasing the arm-carriers. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively
a face view and an end view of a music-rest suitable for employment with music
of different sizes.
**
'
Apparatus constructed and arranged according to this invention is designed
to be operated by the knee of the performer; and assuming the same to be
applied, as in the example illustrated, to a pianoforte of the ordinary upright
type, the under side of the keyboard is furnished with an arm or lever A which
operates, through the medium of a cord or wire B and levers, such as C(", the leaf-
turning mechanism. This latter is contained in a suitable casing D, which may

page_text: be ornamented to any desired extent, situate on the top of the pianoforte-case
behind and above the book-rest E, and comprises a spindle F whereon is mounted
a lever G, a drum 1 and two intehet-wheels I and K. To one end of the
lever the operating wire B is attached while to the other end is pivoted a
pawl L, the latter engaging with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I. Another
pawl M is so mounted as to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel K. Both
these pawls are attached, by means of connections and m respectively, to a
pivoted arm N, so arranged that upon depressing its outer or free end the pawls
are raised out. of engagement with their respective ratchet-wheels. When the
lever G is vibrated, by a pull on the operating wire B, the pawl L effects the
rotution of the ratchet-wheels 1 and K; the pawl M permitting the rotation of
'The
the ratchet-wheels I and K but preventing their backward movement.
lever carrying the pawl L is returned to its normal position, after effecting
the forward movement of the rutelet-wheels, by means of a spring To the
drum is connected on end of a cord or other flexible connection h, this card
being led over a pulley and secured to the lower end of a stop O mounted to
slide in vertical guides P. In proximity to this stop are mounted a number of
discs Q the latter being capable of rotating about a vertical spindle or axle Q'.
Each disc carries an arm R which projects therefrom first horizontally and then
obliquely downwards and serves as the leaf-turner. About the periphery of each
disc is mounted a stop 7 which may be in the form of a blade-spring and is
adapted to take a bearing against the side of the sliding stop 0, each disc being
further connected with the casing or other fixed part by means of an elastic or
yielding connection . The several turning-over arms R may be arranged to
project through horizontal slits or openings in the front of the casing. The
sliding stop may be furnished with anti-friction rollers o o.
n.
Assuming the apparatus to be in position and the depending portions of the
leaf turning arms R disposed between the leaves to be turned over, the executant,
upon arriving at the place in the music where it is required to turn over the
leaf, presses with the kuce against the arm or lever A, whereupon the lever (
is caused to vibrate and the ratchet-wheels 1, K to rotate a distance of one tooth:
the lever G resuming its normal position by means of the spring g, while both
the ratchets are held against backward rotation by the pawl M. Meanwhile the
drum has also rotated to a corresponding extent, wound thereon a portion of the
cord and raised the stop 0. The stop having thus freed the lowermost un-
released disc Q. the latter is caused to rotate by the contraction of the elastic
connection ; the arm R pertaining to such disc effecting the turning over of
the leaf.
The number of dises Q and arms R may be varied according to requirements.
When, however, the last of the series of discs and arms have been operated, the
apparatus is reset by merely pressing upon the outer or free end of the arm or
lever N and disengaging the pawls Land M from their respective ratchet-wheels I
and K, whereupon the drum H is released and the sliding stop resumes its
position, by gravitation, at the lower end of the guides P. The series of discs are
then turned back to their original position by means of the turning over arms It:
the latter being again placed beneath the leaves to be turned over. In setting
the device, only so many of the arms R may be turned into operative position as
may be required. For example, in Fig. I five arms are shown in position for
turning over a corresponding number of leaves.
In order to provide for the accommodation of music of different sizes, the
height of the book-rest E may be rendered adjustable as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
wherein projections or pegs ce are formed upon, or support, the rail E'; the
pegs engaging in slots or openings in the back portion of the rest.
In order to diminish any noise or jar which may occur in working, pads of
india-rubber or other suitable material may be employed where found necessary:
but illustration hereof is deemed unnecessary, their application and use being

page_text: readily understood by those acquainted with the construction of mechanism of
the character herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved means applicable for use in turning the leaves of music
arranged or operating substantially as herein described, and wherein a vibratory
movement is imparted to the leaf-turning arms as the result of the release of a
stop and a spring.
2. Apparatus for use in turning the leaves of music comprising a number of
discs each carrying an arm; each disc being freed successively by means of a
slide or stop operated by ratchet-wheels and pawls and caused to rotate by means
of a spring, substantially as herein described.
3. In apparatus for use in turning the leaves of music, the combination of a
lever G, drum H, cord h, ratchet-wheels I and K, pawla L and M, stop 0, discs g,
connections and arms R all arranged or operating substantially as set forth.
4. For use in operating, in connection with a pianoforte, apparatus for turn-
ing the leaves of music, a knee-lever A, a cord B whereof one end is attached to
the lever A and the other end to a lever, such as G, in the leaf-turning device;
bell-crank levers ('C' being placed at the angles of the pianoforte-case over which
the cord B passes, substantially as herein described.
5. Apparatus for use in turning the leaves of music constructed or operating
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of April 1900.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.