US823707A - Music holder and turner. - Google Patents

Description

No. 823,707. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. E. S. STEM.

MUSIC HOLDER AND TURNER.

APPLIGATIoN FILED FEB. 21, 1905.

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448 63 INVENTOR M, K@ i? www@ ATTORNEY ANDREW. E. Gamm co., wovmmummwsns. wAsmNGroN, u. c.

No. 823,707. PATENTBD JUNE 19, 1906. E. s. STEM.

MUSIC HOLDER AND TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1905.

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waTNEsSES; 70 5255 d# mvENToR QM :F MM5@ fa/@1% weg@ m?? AT-ORNEY No. 823,707. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. E. S. STEM.

MUSIC HOLDER AND TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 ze ,If 'fr .97'r l l l J l 7 es 52 66 46 l 6 l 556.36 .36 3.x l/L/B 2l J, I 'MIMI/gq@ @a 54a \f9 F .15 WIINESSES: 93 pg INVENTOR 26 2, ATTORNEY 'UNITED STATES Pairnvr oFFion.-

EDGAR S. STEM, OF ALDERSON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- FIFTHS TO THOMAS S. BOYD, OF ALDERSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1906.

Application filed February 2l, 1905i Serial No. 246,681.

To all wiz/m, it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDGAR S. STEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alderson, county of Luzerne, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Music Holderl and Turner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible and portable devices tor holding books and sheets of music and f or turning the leaves.

It is of course well under stood that in playing di'lslicult musicfor example, solo work in churches-it is frequently exceedingly diHicult for the organist to turn the page quickly and surely and at the exact instant required. This is equally true in playing di'tlicult music upon a piano. It is also well understood that in playing in public houses where windows and doors are open or in the open air that there is serious trouble and inconvenience from sheets of music being scattered by sudden gusts of wind.

It is one of the objects ofthis invention to produce a music holder and turner that will told into small compass and may be used upon any ,ordinary piano, organ, or musicstand.

A further object o'l` the invention is to produce a music holder and turner that will hold the loose sheets of a piece of music securely and will turn them when required and that will hold the unused sheets of a book of music firmly in place and will turn the sheets it is desired to use.

A further object of the invention is to produce a music holder and turner that will turn sheets of music singly from right to left by a simple movement which may be made by the hand or the foot and which will turn all ot the used leaves backward from left to right by a single movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a music holder and turner which shall be provided with jointed leaf turners which may be turned out of the way when placing a book or piece ol' music in position on the rack of a music-holder or on a music-stand.

A further object of the invention is to produce a music holder and turner provided with means for regulating the spring tension of the leaf-turners.

lith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and

combinations, which will behereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrat= ing my novel music holder and turner as in operative position on a music rack or holder, the position ol an open book or sheet of music being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the leaf-holder, which also serves as a standard and the holdingarms, on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, the base, bookholder, leat-turners, turning-lever, and returning-lever appearing in plan, the bookholder being shown in operative position. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, illustrating one term of means for locking the book-holder out of operative position, as When putting music in position. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view on an enlarged scale, the angle-plate and cover of the case being removed to show the construction and operation of the leaf-turners, one form of mechanism for retaining and releasing the leaf-turners appearing in plan; Fig. 4"-, a detail elevation corresponding therewith illustrating the construction and operation of that form of retaining and releasing mechanism for the leaf-turners. Fig. 5 is a front elevation corresponding with Fig. 4, the Jfront of the case being removed. Fig. 6 is an elevation on a still larger scale illustrating the construction and operation of another form of mechanism for retaining and releasing the leaf-turners. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view, and Fig. 8 a detail side elevation, ol' one of the ointed leaf-turners. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the base and angle plate, showing the holding-arms in the collapsed position, the sheet holder or standard being removed. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of the sheet holder or standard detached. Fig. 11 is a rear view of the upper end of the sheet holder or standard detached. Fig. 12 is a plan view ot the sheet holder or standard detached. Fig. 13 is an end view showing the adjustable and detachable restplate. Fig. 14 is a view corresponding with Figs. 4a and 6, illustrating a third form of mechanism tor retaining and releasing the leaf-turners; and Fig. 15 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2, the base and turninglever being removed, illustrating a slightlyvariant form of book-holder, which is shown as locked out of oper ative position.

20 denotes the base, which is preferably a strip of wood, and 2l an angle-plate, which is detachably secured thereto, as by screws 22.

23 denotes a rest-plate which extends the full length of the base and is provided at its end with upturned flanges 24, which rest against the ends of the base and are provided with longitudinal slots 25, through which holding-screws 26 pass. The front edge of the rest-plate is downwardly curved, as at 2 7, to adapt it to engage either of the grooves on the book-rest (not shown) of a piano. The slots in the flanges enable the rest-plate to be moved forward or backward relative to the base, so as to give to the base any required slant to conform to the angle of a book or music rest on a piano, organ, or music-stand. If preferred, the rest-plate may be removed and the base only used as a support for the device. After the rest-plate has once been adjusted upon the base to correspond to the special instrument or musicstand upon which it is to be used it is locked in position by tightening up the screws and need never be changed. Both the base and the rest-plate are preferably covered over with felt or other suitable material, so as to avoid all danger of marring a piano or other musical instrument on which the holder may be used.

28 denotes a sheetfholder orholder for the backs of the leaves of sheet-music, which also serves as a standard. This sheet-holder consists of two members, (indicated, respecspectively, by 28a and 28b,) which are made of sheet-metal hinged together, as at 29, and provided with a spring or springs 30 to retain the members in the closing or gripping position. The exact shape of these members is of course not of the essence of the invention. It is sufficient that the members be so shaped that they may be opened out to receive the back edges of sheets of music and that they will normally be retained in the clamping position to retain the music securely in place. Near the lower end of the back of the sheet-holder is a downwardlyturned lip 3l, which is adapted to engage the back of the angle-plate, a slot 32 being provided in the angle-plate to receive the lip, the upper end of the lip resting against the bottom of the slot, and thereby securely retaining the lower end of the sheet-holder against displacement. (See Fig. l0 in connection with Figs. l and 9.) Near the upper end of the sheet-holder is an upwardlyturned lip 33, which is adapted to receive a cross-piece 34, carried by jointed holdingarms 35. The lower ends of these holdingarms are pivoted to the back of the angleplate. as at 36, the upper ends are pivoted to the cross-piece, as at 37, and they are jointed at their mid-length, as at 38. The cross-piece is provided with a notch 39, which receives lip 33, the base of the slot resting upon the base of the lip, as clearly shown in Fig. l0, which see in connection with Figs. l and 9. This engagement of the lip with the cross-piece holds the cross-piece securely against displacement, and the sheetholder, together with the holding-arms, form a support for the back of sheets or a book of music, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In placing the holder in position for use the holding-arms are moved toward each other until the members are in alinement or substantially so, which raises the cross-piece above lip 33. The holding-arms are then moved outward, and the cross-piece is pressedV downward until the lip will receive the notch in the cross-piece and the crosspiece will rest upon the base of the lip, as in Fig. 10. 40 denotes a book-holder, which consists of a rod extending longitudinally of the base, which is provided with a slot to receive it and having two outwardly-bent holding-arms, which are specifically indicated by 41. The special shape of these holding-arms is of course immaterial. I preferably, however, form each holding-arm by bending the rod at substantially a right angle, then forward, and then inward again at substantially a right angle to form the holding-arms, as clearly shown in the drawings. The special function of this book-holder is to hold securely in place the unused sheets of a book orl piece of music, leaving the sheets that are to be used free to be turned in the manner presently to be described. 'It should be understood that when a book of music is being played from, such book being too thick or stiff, or both, to have its back grasped by the members 28'f1 28b of the sheetholder 28, said holder 28 merely serves as a standard and, in connection with the crosspiece and holding-arm, serves as a rest for the book. l/Vhen, however, a thin flexible book or sheets of music are being played from, such book or sheets are retained by the sheetholder and the outer leaves are held open by the book-holder. In using the book-holder the book is placed in position and the leaves that are to beused are separated from the rest and held toward the front. 42 denotes a spring which is recessed in the base and is provided with an arm extending through a slot 43 in the angle-plate, which bears against one of the holding-arms and acts to press the book-holder against the leaves of the unused portion of a book or sheet of music, thus holding them firmly in place.

The book-holder may be operated by means of an arm 44, as in Fig. l5, or a fingerwheel 45, as in Figs. l and 2. The holdingarms and arm 44 swing upward through slots 46 in the angle-plate. As a means for lock- IOO IOS

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sesgo? ing the book-holder vertically out of operative position, as when arranging the book in place, I provide notches 47 at one side of slots 46, which are engaged by the holding-arms and arm 44 when the book-holder is moved longitudinally in the direction of the notches, in the present instance toward the left. As a means of locking the book-holder horizontally forward out of operative position I provide projections 48 on the angle-plate in front of the notches, under which arm 44 and the holding-arms may be passed, as is clearly shown in Fig. 15. When the finger-wheel 45 is used instead of arm 44 as a means for oscillating the book-holder, notches 47 and projections 48 need not be used or may be omitted. The nger-wheel is provided with a curved slot 49, having at oneend an offset 50. (See Fig. 3.) A spring 51, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) socketed in the base, extends through the end of the base and through the slot in the finger-wheel. Then the bookholder is in its normal or operative positionthat is, with the holding-arms pressed backward against a book or piece of music by means of spring 42-the end of spring 51 will lie in the opposite end of slot 49 from the offset. Then the book-holder is oscillated to throw the holding-arms forward out of operative position, the end of spring 51 will pass into the offset in the finger-wheel and will lock the book-holder out of operative position. Then it is desired `to return the bookholder to its normal position, the operator moves the end of spring 51 out of the offset, which releases the book-holder and allows spring 42 to return it to its normal position.

52 denotes leaf-turners as a whole, any number of which may be used. For convenience in illustration I have shown two only in the drawings, which provide for six pages of music, the first page being of course exposed before the iirst turn is made and the last page exposed after the last turn is made, each leaf-turner carrying a sheet-that is, two pages of music-so that two leaf-turners will provide for six pages of music, three turners foreight pages of music, and so on. Each leaf-turner comprises an arm 53, adapted to swing in the horizontal plane and having a pair of carrying-arms 54, hinged at its outer end, as at 55. These carrying-arms may be made of sheet metal or wire, as preferred. In the drawings I have shown them as made from a single piece of wire, the midlength of which is doubled and twisted together and is provided with an eye 56, through which the pivot of the hinge passes. This hinge in practice is made to Work tightly enough, so that the carrying-arms will remain either in the operative or the inoperative position when placed there.

In use in placing a book or piece of inusie in place the carrying-arms are turned downward to the horizontal position out of the way, as indicated in Fig. 15. They are then below and wholly out of the way of the bookholder. The book-holder, if used, is then placed in operative position with the holdingarms resting against the book or sheets of music that are not to he turned. It should be understood that in using une leai-turners it is wholly immaterial whether the bool'-nolder is used as indicated in Fig. l or is locked out of operative position, as in Fie' 15.' IfIaving placed the book or she-cts cf music in position, if sheets the backs thereof being engaged by the sheet -holder, the operator turns the carrying-arms of the leaf-turners upward on opposite sides of the leaves to be turnedthat is, each leaf to be turned lies between a pair of carrying-arms. The inner end of each arm 53 is provided with a coil-spring 57, which maybe made of wire and integral therewith or may be of flat sheet metal and secured thereto, as preferred. The inner end of each spring is attached to a post 58, which is shown as journaled in the top and bottom plates of a case 59,.which is recessed into and secured to the base and maybe made of metal, vulcanized fiber, or any suitable material. Arms 53 of the leaf-turners all lie in the same horizontal plane and extend through a slot 60 in the case. The upper end of post 5S is provided witha slot 61 to receive a screwdriver for the purpose of rotating the post should it be required to increase the tension of the springs to cause them to act more quickly or in carrying heavy leaves of music. Having adjusted the tension of the spring, the post is rigidly locker in place by tightening up a nut 62 at the lower end thereof, which is shown as bearing against the under side of the case.

In use after a book or piece of music has been placed in position to be played and the leaves to be turned have been placed between pairs of carrying-arms the carryingarms, with the leaves held thereby, will of course lie toward the right, in which position they will be held until released.

I will now describe the mechanism for releasing the firstfleaf-turner when it is desired to turn a leaf and for retaining the one or more other leaf-turners that may be in use. I have illustrated three several forms of retaining and releasing mechanisms for leafturners in Figs. 4a, 6, and 14, respectively. In each of these forms the mechanism is operated by a turning-lever 63, which is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One end of this lever is shown as pro ided with an arm 64, which is pivoted to the base, as at 65. The other end is provided with an arm 66, which extends upward into case 59. In the form illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4a arm 66 has formed integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto a plate 67, the other end of which is pivoted to the case, as at 68. his plate is provided with a recess 69, which receives the arms of the leaf- IOO ISO

turners, and with a downwardly-projecting detent 70. 71 denotes a dog which is pivoted to the plate, as at 72, and the forward end of which extends into close proximity to the detent, a space 73 being' left between them just Wide enough to permit one of the holdingarms to pass the dog when the turning-lever is pressed down. A spring 74 is secured to plate 67 as at 75, and is provided with an arm 74a, which bears against the bottom of the case, and with an arm 74h, which bears against a lug 76 on the dog. A lug 77 on arm 67 limits the upward movement of the dog. This spring 74 performs the double function of retaining the dog yielding-ly in operative position, whereby the leaf-turners are locked in position ready to turn a leaf when the turning-lever is pressed down, and also of holding the turning-lever in its raised or normal position.

Before describing the other forms of mechanism for retaining and releasing the leafturners I will describe the mechanism for returning the leaf-turners to their normal position against the power of springs 57. 78 denotes a pinion which is adapted to oscillate on post 58 and carries a horizontal returningarm 79, having an upturned end 80, which is engaged by the leaf-turners and against which they bear after having been released and having turned a leaf of music. 81 denotes the returning-lever, which is pivoted to the case, as at 82, one end thereof extending outward and being provided with a ngerpiece 83 for convenience in operation and the other end being provided with a segmentgear 84, which meshes with the pinion 78, which carries the returning-arm.

The operation of turning leaves of music and of returning them to their former position is as follows: When the two exposed pages of music have been played, the performer presses downward quickly upon turning-lever 63, the effect of which is to draw down arm 66 and plate 67 far enough so that the arm 53 of the first leaf-turner may pass through the space 73 between detent 70 and dog 7l, the arm of the leaf-turner being then free to pass over the top of the dog. Space 73 is so small, however, as to permit only one of the arms 53 to pass at a time, and simultaneously with the downward movement of the dog detent will be moved downward between the first and second leaf-turner arms 53 and will lock the other leaf-turner arms against forward movement. The instant the pressure upon the turning -lever is relieved said lever-arm 66 and plate 67, the dog, and the detent are raised to their normal position by spring 74. The arm 53 of the second leafturner then passes the detent, but is stopped by the dog and locked until it is released by a second pressure upon the turning-lever. When this second pressure upon the turninglever is made, the operation is repeated as be- Saatchi y fore. The arm 53 of the second leaf-turner-V will pass through space 73 and over the dog, carrying the second leaf of music, and the arm 53 of the third leafturner (not shown in the drawings) will be locked against forward movement by the detent and released by the detent and locked against forward movement by the dog, when the pressure upon the turning-lever is relieved and spring 74 returns the parts to their normal position again. After the leaves of music have all been turned in the manner describoi they will lie over toward the left and the arms 53 of the leafturners will rest against the upturned end of returning-lever 79.

In Figs. 4'and 5 I have illustrated a position of the parts in which one leaf-turner has turned a leaf of music, the arm 53 of the leafturner that has operated resting against the upturned end of returning-lever 79, the other leaf-turner lying at the right and being in position to turn the leaf when the turning-lever is again operated. To return the leaves after a piece of music has been played, the operator pushes the returning-lever forward, oscillating it from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2. This moves all of the leaf-turners from the position at the left, at which a leaf-turner is shown in Fig. 4, to the position at the right, in which a leaf-turner is shown in the same figure, dog 7l yielding against the power of spring 74 and allowing the leafturners to pass over it and then springing upward again when they have passed and locking them at their normal position at the right, as in Fig. 2, ready to play the piece of music over again or for its removal and the substitution of another piece or book of music. Segmentgear 84 and pinion 78 are so proportioned relative to each other that a comparatively slight movement of the segment-gear will impart a half-rotation to the pinion and carry the leaf-turners from the position at the left back to their normal or starting position. Having returned the leaf-turners to the starting position, the returning-arm is returned to its normal position by oscillating the returning-lever from the position shown in Fig. 2 back to the position shown in Figs. 4 and l5.

In the form of retaining and releasing mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 arm 66 has formed integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto a plate 85, which slides vertically on the inner side of case 59. This plate is provided with slots 86, through which screws 87 pass, by which the plate is retained in position, but left free to slide. A spring 88 is secured to the plate, as at 89, the lower arm of which (indicated by 88a) bears against the bottom of the case. The upper arm of the spring is bent to form a dog (indicated by 89) 'which normally lies in the path of the forward movement of the arms 53 of the leaf-turners and retains them at their normal position, the end of the IOO TIO

portion of the spring which forms the dog being adapted to slide vertically in a guide 89a, projecting from the plate. 90 denotes a detent which is adapted when the plateis moved downward to pass between the' first and second leaf-turner arms 53 and lock all except the forward leaf-turner against movement when the forward leaf-turner is released. The operation is substantially the same as in the other form. When the operator presses down upon the turning-lever, plate 85 is moved downward, carrying dog S9 downward, which releases the forward leaf-turner; but detent 90 locks the other leaf-turners against forward movement. The instant the pressure upon the turning-lever is relieved the spring raises the plate and turning-lever to their normal position. The forward leafturner arm 53 will be released by the detent and will pass into engagement with the dog, by which it will be retained until released by another pressure upon the turninglever. In this form when the leaf-turners are returned to their normal position by operation of the returning-lever after having` turned leaves of music as they were played the arms 53 of the -leaf-turners when swung back to place by the returning-lever will engage the incline of dog 39, which I have specifically indicated by 100, and will press the dog downward, permitting the leaf-turner arms to pass the dog, which will spring back to place through the action of the spring as soon as the leaf-turner arms have passed.

In the form of retaining and releasing mechanism illustrated in Fig. 14 arm 66 has formed integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto a plate 91, which is pivoted to case 59, as at 92. In this form the spring 93 is secured to the case, as at 94. The lower arm of this spring (indicated by 93a) is provided with an upwardly-extending arm 95, which slides through an eye 96, secured to the case, and serves as a detent to hold back all except the forward leaf-turner arm 53. This lower arm of the springis shown as secured to the plate by turning a lip 97 around it. The upper arm of the spring is secured to the upper end of arm 66 by means of a lip 98, formed from the metal of the plate and turned around it,` and is bent to form a dog (indicated by 99) which normally lies in the path of the forward movement of the arms 53 of the leaf-turners. The operation is substantially the same as in the other forms. When the operator presses down upon the turninglever, plate 91 is oscillated, carrying dog 99 downward, which releases the forward leafturner; but detent 95 locks the other leafturners against forward movement. The instant the pressure upon the turning-lever is relieved the spring will act to oscillate the plate to its former position and will also return the turning-lever to its normal position. The forward leaf-turner arm 53 will be released by the detent and will pass into engagement with the dog, by which it will be retained until released by another pressure upon the turning-lever. In this form when the leaf-turners are returned to their normal position by operation of the returning-lever after having turned levers of music as they were played the arms 53 of the leaf-turners when swung back to place by the returninglever will engage the incline of dog 99, which I have specifically indicated by 101, and will press the dog downward, permitting the leafturners to pass the dog, which will spring back to place through the action of the spring as soon as the leaf-turner arms have passed.

As the operation of the device has been fully described in connection with the detailed description of the parts, further description of the operation is not thought to be necessary. The device, as already explained, is adapted for use upon pianos, organs, and musical instruments generally and also for use upon music-stands for solo-work and in orchestras. I/Vhen used by a violinist or other soloist on a music-stand, he may attach a cord or wire to the turning-lever and to his foot and then turn all of the leaves by movement of the foot and without the slightest break in the performance, the means by which the leaves are turned being entirely invisible to the audience.

A particular advantage in being able to lock the book-holder 4() out of operative position-that is, with the holding-arms 41 held away from the plate 21his that the desired arrangement of the outer leaves or covers of the book can be readily effected without interference by the arms 41. Then when the lower portions of said outer levers or covers have been arranged against the plate 21 the holder 40 is released, so that the arms 41 thereof will clamp the said outer leaves or covers against the plate 21, leaving the unheld leaves to be operated by the arms of the leaf-turning mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a case having a slot, of springactuated leafturners projecting through said slot, a plate pivoted to the case adjacent to one end of the slot and formed with a recess and having a detent extending to a point normally above the plane of the lslot and adapted to cross the slot, a dog pivoted to the plate and having its tip normally crossing the slot a short distance from the tip of the detent, a spring secured to the pivoted plate and having one end engaging the dog to hold it in its normal position and having its other end bearing on a fixed support whereby said spring will also hold the plate with its detent in normal raised position, and means for manually oscillating said plate to depress both the detent and dog.

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2. The combination with a base, and leafturning mechanism carried thereby, of a sheet-holder comprising spring clamping members adapted to clamp loose sheets, and means for removably supporting said sheetholder in upright position on said base.

3. In combination, a casing, leaf-turners having coil-springs at their inner ends, and a rotary post to which said springs are connected, said post having a threaded end eX- tending through the casing and havinga locknut for locking the post after the tension of the spring has been adjusted.

4. A leaf-turner comprising a straight arm and a pair of carrying-arms directly hinged thereto so that they may be turned downward out of operative position in substantially a uniform plane.

5. A leaf-turner comprising a straight arm having at its inner end a coil-spring and at its outer end carrying arms directly hinged thereto which are adapted to lie on opposite sides of a leaf to be turned, the carryingarms beingadapted to be turned downward to substantially the same plane as that of said straight arm. a

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base and a plate secured thereto and provided with slots, of leaf-turning mechanism a book-holder socketed in' the base and having holding-arms adapted to lie in said slots and a spring for retaining the book-holder in operative position, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base and a plate secured thereto and provided with slots, of leaf-turning mechanism a book-holder socketed in the base and having holding-arms adapted to lie in the slots to hold unused leaves, a spring for retaining the book-holder in operative position and means for locking the book-holder out of operative position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base and a plate secured thereto and provided with slots 46, notches 47 and projections 48, of leaf-turning mechanism an oscillatory longitudinallymovable book-holder socketed in the base .and having holding-arms adapted to lie in locked out of operative position vertically by engagement of the holding-arms with the notches and to be locked out of operative position horizontally by engagement of the holding-arms under the projections.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base, of leaf-turning mechanism and a rest-plate adjustably secured to the base and having a downwardlycurved front adapted to engage the grooves in the music-rest of a piano and retain the base at any required angle of inclination.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base, .of leaf-turning mechanism and a rest-plate having a vdownwardly-curved front for the purpose set forth, and slotted iianges engaging the ends of the base whereby it may be adjustably secured thereto.

1l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base, of leaf-turning mechanism an angle-plate secured t0 the base, a sheet-holder engaging the angle-plate, a cross-piece engaging the sheet-holder and jointed arms pivoted to the cross-piece and to the angle-plate'whereby the sheet-holder is retained in place.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with an angle-plate having a notch and a sheet-holder having a down- ,wardly-turned lip engaging said notch and an upwardly-turned lip near its upper end, of a crossiece having a notch to engage the upward y -turned lip, jointed arms pivoted to the cross-piece and to the angle-plate whereby the sheet-holder is retained in place, and leaf-turning mechanism supported adjacent to said angle-plate.

13. The combination with a base, and leafturning mechanism supported thereby, of sheet-holder 28 comprising members hinged together and adapted to clamp loose sheets, a spring for retaining the members in the clamping position upwardly and downwardly turned lips, and means connected with said base to engage said lips to support the holder 28 in upright position substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

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In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature j in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR S. STEM.

I/Vitnesses THoMAs S. BOYD,

W. H. THOMPSON..

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