US138631A - Improvement in music-leaf turners - Google Patents

Description

J. B. GEYSER.

Music Leaf Turners.

N0. 38,631, Patented May 6,1873.

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'are placed. vtwo projecting lugs, E E, through which holes yare drilled for the pin, upon which the vibrat- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. GEYSER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,631, dated May 6, 1873; application filed January 3, 1873.

To all whomt't may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN B. GEYSER, of Pittsburg, county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain Music- Raek and Leaf-Turner, intended as an attachment to pianos and other instruments, as well as for use as a music-stand for performers on the violin, Ste., of which the following is a specification Y The whole of my invention relates to the holding of music-leaves and books firmlyy and securely, and the turning of the leaves of the same quickly and safely, and so as to avoid any annoyance or delay to the performer, thus making it much easier and more pleasant to execute a piece.

Figure lis a front elevation of the article I have invented. Fig. 2 is a vertical center section of the same.

The other figures are detail views of working parts.

By reference to the letters and figures upon the drawing the following description will be understood. v

The letters mark t-he same parts in the different views.

A A is the frame or bodyT of the stand or rack. It is, as well as all the minor parts, made of metal. The under side is dished, so as to furnish room for the working part-s. It may be made either plain or ornamental, as may be desired, and plated with any costly metal. In the center is a vertical groove, B, which serves for a guide to the binding-rod, and also aids it in getting a secure hold upon the leaves or book placed between them. At the bottom ofthe groove is a L- shaped opening, which admits a slide, to which'the binding-rod is pivoted. Below this is a recess, D, in which the working parts ofthe machine At the center of this recess are ing arms move. At each end of the frame are projecting points or pivots F F, which serve to fasten, by means ot' suitable lugs, the frame to a piano or other instrument. These pivots can be placed higher on the sides of the frame, or arranged tosuit the different instruments to which it may be fastened, the use of the pivots being to allow of the frame movin-g in a segment of a circle, as those in present use on the piano do. On the inside of the frame are two lugs, G G, by means of which a branch may be attaehed; said branch to fit into a tripod, and thus form a music-stand for la performer on the violin or other hand instrument. On the face of the frame on 'each side, and on a level with the slide of the binding-rod, are two projections, R R, which serve to support the ends of the music-leaves or book. H is the binding-rod, of an L-shape, pivoted'at the corner of the long arm into the sliding piece I. This slide is furnished with wings C C', which serve to prevent it going too far through, and also enables the performer to seize it with his lingers and adjust the binding rod to the size of the book being held. The short arm of the binding-rod is operated upon by the spring J, which holds the binding-rod and sliding piece securely to their work, and also admits of a parallel adjustment of the rod to the face of the frame, so as to permit it to obtain a grip along its whole length. The spring is lirmly fastened to the body of the frame by the screws b b. K K K are the sliding rack-bars, by means of which the motion is communica-ted to the vibrating arms. These rack-bars are of varying lengths, and so adjusted to one another that when one is struck it will accomplish its movement without interfering with the othersin the nest. Their extremities turn downward and outward, ending in a fingerkey, L L, by which they are operated. These keys can be made of any desired shape; and I do not confine myself to any particular form. At the base of the keys there is a slot, m mf, in the bars, into which the edge of the lockbar N lits, and holds the whole of them in the recess D, acting as a guide at the same time. This lock-bar is secured by the pin O and by passing the ends under the face of the frame. The pin O also serves as a pivot for the vibrating arms l? P I?, which have on their butt ends a segment of a pinion Working into the teeth of the sliding rack-bar, above which they are hung, and from them obtain a motion moving the arms from one side of the frame to the other. Into the outer end of the arms P two Wires, Q,.are permanently fastened in a vertical position. One of these wires is a little shorter than the other, so as to readily admit of the insertion of the leaf of music. The arms are also of constantly-increasing length, which admits of the upright wires passing one another and lying closely together. O is the center or pivot pin on which the arms work. It has a countersunk head, and is passed through the lugs E E, the vibrating arms and the lock-bar N thus binding all the working parts together. On the righthand side of the frame, and directly beneath the projection R, is hung an L-shaped latch, S. It is pivoted by means of ascrew, at a, to the main body of the frame, and its use is to hold the vibrating arms from falling outward when the frame is turned face downward, as in closing a piano. This is accomplished by turning the vibrating arms all to the right, and turning the latch on its pivot up and over them.

In the drawing only three rack-bars and vibrating arms are shown 5 the number can be increased according to the size of the machine. Ordinarily a set of six will be sufficient; but I do not desire to be confined to any definite number, as they will vary according to work required.

I have stated previously in this description that all parts of the machine were made of metal, but it is apparent that the body of the frame can be made of wood, if so desired; and I claim the use of either material for that purpose.

How to Set the Machine Together.

Place in the recess D the sliding racks K in their proper position; then insert the lockbar F, passing one end under the right-hand side of the frame until the other end passes under the left-hand side; then bring it back to the center hole of the pin O; now place the vibrating arms P each in its place, with the upright wires to the right; then insert the pin 0 through the upper lug E, the hole in which is countersunk so as to allow the head of the pin to come to a level with its upper surface; push the pin down through the vibrating arms, lock the bar and lower lug, and the working-parts are all fastened together. Now take the binding-rod H, pass the small arm and the slide thereof through the opening C in the frame; turn the frame over, and, placing the spring J under the small arm of the binding-rod, fasten it to the body of the frame by the two screws b b', and the machine is ready for use.

To take it apart, take off the spring first, and then continuejust the reverse ofthe above described proceedure.

Mode of Operation.

Take hold of the top of binding-bar H; draw it forward as far as it will come; then slip between it and the groove B the musicleaves or book, having the same open at the middle of the piece you wish to play 5 let go the rod and the spring will cause it to ily backseize, and hold the leaves 5 the lower edge of the leaves should now be a little below the top of the wires Q; now adjust" the leaves to be turned, putting the first between the wires of the topmost vibrating arm, and so on; when all are arranged draw it down until the edge of the leaves are on the sliding piece I. Play, and when you wish to turn the first leaf, put your thumb or fin ger on the key L on the right-hand side, and numbered l, give this a push from left toward the right of about three-fourths of an inch, and the rack acting on the pinion of the vibrating arm will cause the leaf to turn over at once. When the next leaf is to be turned strike the next finger-key, and so on. When all are turned, should it be desired to bring them back to start anew, all that is necessary is to strike either of the keys marked 1 from the right toward the left, and all of the leaves will, at one motion, resume their first position.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my machine, I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the dished frame or rack A with the groove B, vertical in its center, the opening G at the base of groove, and the recess D with the two lugs E E, projecting from its center, and the projections R R on the sides ofthe frame, together with the pivots F F and the lugs G G, or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbcfore set forth.

2. The hooked binding-rod H, pivoted to the sliding piece I and operated by the spring J, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The sliding piece I having the wings e e and slot for the reception of the bindingrod, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4t. The sliding rack-bars K with their extremities turning downward and outward, ending in the finger-keys L, and having the slots m for the reception of the lock-bar, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbcfore set forth.

5. The vibrating arms P, in combination with the latch S or its equivalent, secured to the frame by means of the screw af, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbcfore set forth. l

6. The lockbar N, in combination with the pin O, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbcfore set forth.

7. The combination of the subject-matter of the foregoing clauses of claim, the whole forming a music rack or stand and a leaf-turner, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

JOHN B. GEYSER.

Witnesses:

B. FALLows, Jas. A. MAHAFFEY.

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