US180991A - Improvement in music-leaf turners - Google Patents

Description

0. W. CLARK. MUSIC LEAF-TURNER.

No.-180,991. Patented Aug.1-5, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE.

ORSON W. CLARK, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,991, dated August 15, 1876; application filed April 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORSON W. CLARK, of Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in music-leaf turners; and has for its object the facilitating the labor of the musician, when the music to be executed occupies two or more sheets.

If the operator is obliged to attend to turning the music himself by hand, the execution of the piece is broken, and its rendering is, of necessity, less agreeable.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a cross-section, of my improvement, while Fig. 3 is a view, in detail, of the catches with the front plate removed.

A is the bed-plate supporting the other parts, and is hinged at its rear to the lower front edge of the section B, standing thereon. By such a hinging it is apparentthat this section may be turned and folded down upon the supporting-plate, while to its top and rear edge is hinged the music-rest G, which folds backward. By this construction the music-rack may be adjusted forward or back, according to the't-hickness of the music or book used,

and the leaves are brought near to the nippers, by which they are engaged in order to turn them. Spring-clamps D are attached to the central face of the music-rest, and serve as engagements for sheet-music, being held in position when the latter is used. The front edge of the supporting-plate is provided with a bar, E, which answers the double purpose of a binder to the compressed ends of the holders, and an outwardlyprojecting stand for the catch and liberating mechanism. In its face is a slot, F, closed in front by a metallic plate, Gr, having apertures, by which connection may be had with the holders L. This slot is provided with a series of catches, H, consisting simply of a perpendicular rod, whose upper extremity works freely and with vertical play in its engagement, while its lower extremity passes through the base-plate of the slot, and is provided with a horizontal arm, which engages with a corresponding system of keys, I. Near the lower approach of the catch to the base-plate is a shoulder, 71, formed by recess ing the rear side of the catch at such a point, and serves as the end lcverage-bearin g for the spring 71/, which latter regulates the action of the catch. At suitable distances on the catches are recessed lugs "5, corresponding in height to the position of the several holders, and eugagto grasp and securely retain the several leaves Y of music.

It is apparent that any clamping device may be employed for this last-named purpose, and also that the metallic apparatus forimparting spring and reactive force to the holder may be varied for any suitable material or construction capable of imparting such action.

The operation of the device is as follows: If book-music is used, the same is placed in support upon the music-rest, and the leaves, respectively, attached to each individual nipper in consecutive order. If sheet-music, however, is to be used, the back of the sheet is to be attached to the rest by the clamps D, and the rest 0 folded down and forward by means of the sections B, so as to bring the music forward, to allow of its engagement with the nippers M.

It is understood that the entire device is placed upon the piano, while its rest 0 is folded back, so as to be supported by the music-frame usual to pianos or other instruments.

At the appropriate time a key, I, is touched by the operator, when the catch is drawn down by the engagement of its horizontal arm with said key, and frees its corresponding holder, which thereupon flies back, carrying with it the leaf to which it is attached, and allowing of the following page to be read. One after another these keys may be, respectively, operated, and they may be of any number and form, as may also be the series of catches and holders.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a music-leaf turner, the combination, with the hinged'sections B U, of the series of metallic springs, each of which is provided with a nipper, M, and suitable locking and releasing mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the hinged sec- ORSON W. CLARK.

Witnesses HERMANN EBB, I. J. FRANKLIN.

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