Author Topic: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin  (Read 4072 times)

Basvarken

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Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« on: February 13, 2016, 02:24:12 AM »
Never heard of these before.
Glass Harmonica invented bij Benjamin Franklin in 1761

From Wikipedia:
"In Franklin's treadle-operated version, 37 bowls were mounted horizontally on an iron spindle. The whole spindle turned by means of a foot pedal. The sound was produced by touching the rims of the bowls with water moistened fingers. Rims were painted different colors according to the pitch of the note: A (dark blue), B (purple), C (red), D (orange), E (yellow), F (green), G (blue), and accidentals were marked in white.[11] With the Franklin design, it is possible to play ten glasses simultaneously if desired, a technique that is very difficult if not impossible to execute using upright goblets. Franklin also advocated the use of a small amount of powdered chalk on the fingers, which under some acidic water conditions helped produce a clear tone."




gweimer

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2016, 04:28:02 AM »
That is so cool!
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty

amptech

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2016, 06:55:07 AM »
Remarkable!

Dave W

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2016, 03:51:48 PM »
Very cool, but a bit unwieldy to take to blues jams.  :vader:

Highlander

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2016, 05:15:40 PM »
I'll drink to that...!  :mrgreen:
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Dave W

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2016, 05:58:46 PM »
Ben showed up at a blues jam with one of this and was never invited back.

gweimer

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2016, 06:59:45 PM »
Ben showed up at a blues jam with one of this and was never invited back.

Thus establishing a tradition for harp players in the generations to come...
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gearHed289

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2016, 09:13:58 AM »
I want one!

drbassman

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2016, 10:10:38 AM »
This instrument was the centerpiece of a PBS Sherlock Holmes mystery recently.  The lady playing it went insane.  Too complicated to spell it out here, but it had to do with chemicals leaching out if the poorly made glass.  Weird!
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drbassman

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2016, 10:17:34 AM »
Oops, it was a film, not PBS.  "Mr. Holmes" is about Holmes at 90 and trying to solve an unsolved case.  A good flick imho.   ;D
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uwe

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2016, 01:06:24 PM »
I believe he went into the wrong direction for his invention to win mass appeal ...

"With the Franklin design, it is possible to play ...

drink!!!


... ten glasses simultaneously if desired, a technique that is very difficult if not impossible to execute using upright goblets."

A promising invention, yet ultimately misguided.


Has anybody called David Gilmour yet?



« Last Edit: March 01, 2016, 02:57:35 AM by uwe »
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
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the mojo hobo

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #11 on: February 29, 2016, 06:34:13 PM »

A promising invention, yet ultimately misguided.


Has anybody called David Gilmour yet?


Now that is awesome.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2016, 02:57:54 AM by uwe »

4stringer77

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2016, 09:01:02 AM »
Here's another strange musical instrument. Not the sound I'd expect from a bass slapped by marbles.
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/03/this-ludicrous-new-instrument-makes-music-with-2000-marbles/
Contrary to what James Bond says, a good Gibson should be stirred, not shaken.

nofi

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2016, 09:11:21 AM »
hence the expression 'to loose one's marbles'. :o
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Pilgrim

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Re: Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2016, 09:33:31 AM »
Rube Goldberg lives!!

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