Moffatt and Knapp's Patented Music Leaf Turner. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree
Studio Collection: 52499
Walter John Moffatt
By New Zealand Graphic, 18 October 1911, page 21 - photographer Tyree - Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19111018-21-7, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=100055841
There is an article in the Nelson Evening Mail on the 12th July 1897 which discusses a concert that will be given at the Provincial Hall in Nelson. After discussing who will be playing and singing and the items on the programme, the article states that a Steinway grand will be used for the concert. It is thought that this will be the first time a Steinway grand will be used at a concert in Nelson. The article states ‘owing to the piano being a concert grand and not an upright, Mr Moffatt will be unable to affix his patent music leaf turner, as he has not had sufficient time at his disposal to arrange his apparatus’.
It is suggested that Charles Halle, the conductor, invented an early page leaf turner.
This invention allowed pages of music (leaves) to be inserted between strands of cords. In some cases the music pages are inserted with spring loaded levers.
There are some entries in overseas papers for the same kind of invention in 1894 and 1895. In the Colonist dated 16th May 1896 is states ‘ Mr Moffatt suggested the idea that some device whereby players at the piano might turn the leaves of music themselves’. Knapp then took the idea, developing it further. He devised two patterns of the device, one for turning up to five pages and the other for turning up to twelve pages. Both worked in the same manner, by the foot of the performer. This was attached to a lever coming down between the pedals of the piano and a slight touch would turn the pages of the music either way as desired. When the article was written Moffatt was in Wellington arranging the letters of the patent and the article states ‘probably the designs will be protected throughout the world’.
On the patent application, its title is “turning and returning the leaves of music books for pianists and musicians generally to be known as Moffatt and Knapp’s Music Leaf Turner”.
The Nelson Evening Mail on the 20th July 1897 has an short article updating Moffatt and Knapp’s invention. It states “the patentees, Messers Moffatt and Knapp are extremely busy manufacturing their new automatic music leaves turner. All the work is done by them, and it is more than likely that a regular plant and factory will be set up for supplying the colonies. Already numerous offers have been received for agencies. Mr Blake Huffam is the Nelson agent”. (Blake Huffam’s name was Timotheus Blake Huffam and he was a music and piano seller in Nelson. He was also a stationer too. For many years he was the secretary of the Nelson School of Music and he supported the Nelson Harmonic Society Orchestra).
Moffatt and Knapp were coachbuilders and blacksmiths in business residing in Motueka, New Zealand. Edward Arthur Knapp was baptised on the 27th June 1861 at St Mary’s Portsea, Southampton and was born late in 1860. His father was a blacksmith. At the age of 10 years old he is living in the town of Havant, Hampshire with his parents, three brothers and one sister. The family are assisted immigrants to New Zealand in 1873. By this time, he has five siblings, three brothers and two sisters. His father, Albon Vincent Knapp is on the Wellington roll in 1878, he owns some freehold land in Arthur St. Edward Arthur Knapp died on the 3rd July 1908 and the obituary states that he had lived in the area for twenty years, he had been the Chairman of the Local School Committee, a Borough Councillor and secretary of Court Perseverance A. O. F. The Colonist dated 7th July 1908 states ‘The Motueka Brass Band, of which the deceased was one of the founders and a trustee, rendered the Dead March in Saul’. He left behind a family of seven sons and six daughters, the youngest being 6 years old.
In the New Zealand Gazette in 1890 there is an application for a patent from Alban Vincent Knapp of Wellington, New Zealand Blacksmith and Edward Arthur Knapp of Motueka, Nelson, New Zealand Blacksmith. This is for an invention for the shrinking of tires, to be called “Knapp’s Liliputian Tire-shrinker”.
By Michal Klajban - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86677209
Walter John Moffatt was born in Nelson, New Zealand on the 5th October 1866. His father was harbourmaster and wharfinger (keeper or owner of a wharf) in Motueka. Like Knapp, he was on the Motueka Borough Council, on the Motueka School Committee, Member of Motueka District High Board and a Member of the Motueka Harbour Board. Moffatt started the coachbuilding business in Motueka in 1887. He married Fanny Tasker in 1890. Moffatt must have moved to Nelson after Edward Arthur Knapp’s death because he is on the roll in Nelson in 1911. Walter Moffatt was the Mayor of Nelson from 1927 – 1935 and he died in Nelson on 14th May 1938. He is buried on the Wakapuaka Cemetery in Nelson.
Remains of Motueka Wharf
By Schwede66 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54554585