Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-03
Read what the editors say:
MIR. Nutting's Eolicon.

Nlr. NutGlIlS AO4lCOu'
We recently had the pleasure of examining |
new parlor instrument invented and patented by |
Rufus Nutting, of Randolph, Vt, which IS mani
testify so mach superior to all others OF the KIND,
that we can hardly refrain from giving 1t more
extended notice than our time and limits usually
permit believing that by so doing we shall lnte>
rest our readers and indirectly benefit the INVENTOR
who, we are satisfied from personal conversation
with him, has not yet, certainly, derived that
| pecunary benefit from his invention which he
deserves Yet, although he has devoted fifteen
years TO perfecting his invention, and has not yet
received an adequate compensation, we hesitate
not to say that he will eventually reap an ample
reward for the perseverance and ingenuity ne mas
DISPLAYED. The demand for parlor wind keyed
instruments has been rapidly increasing for few
years past; and while there have been some val
liable improvements in seraphines and meiodeons,
none have been before the public that were not
more or less imperfect. The best of them were
very faulty in power, quality, CT action OF tone,
and all of them almost entirely destitute OF ca.
pacity to produce musical effect by variety of
dynamic expression and rapidity OF execution
But we are happy to inform our readers that an
instrument has now appeared which is compare
lively faultless; it is certainly nearer perfection
than we ever expected to see. After seeing this
truly remarkable instrument, we felt, as we have
done before in regard to other things; give us
&c Iiue Yankee for musical as well as other emers
gencies.
One of the superiorities of this instrument first
noticed is the superior quality of tone. Hereto
fore there has been in the best reed instruments
kind of nasal, Yankee>twang sort of sound
produced by the reed, which IS exceedingly dlsas
: greeabe, even to Yankees. The Eolicon has
- nothing of it. Its tone seems to be perfectly
clear pure, and distinct SBo0thneSS has been
and can be obtained in melodeons, but only at the
expense or sacrifice OF either power or vivacity
that is, capacity for rapid movements. These
three qualities to wit, pure clear, and distinct
tone; powerful voluminous and solid tone; a
rapid, lively and quick tone, and equal throughout
| the scale, have not before been found combined
in one and the same instrument, One has inva-
d riably and necessarily been lost in obtaining the
/ other two And as to dynamic expression, it has
r. scarcely been attempted-at most, has been OBJ
/ tanned in but a very limited degree.
,; The quality of tone of the lEolicon, including
u pureness, power and vivacity, can scarcely be
praised too highly. The power of expression,
also is popularity of this instrument of almost
s infinite value, as, unless the performer have
r widely distant extremes, and the intermediate at
s. will, the music he can produce upon any instru>
"a ment is lifeless and without effect. In the nstru-
If ment alluded to, the almost endless variety is
a produced upon the same mechanical principles as
4 the variety of expression in singing, or playing
n upon pianoforte or violin. If person is sing
ing FORTE strain, and changes to PIANO, be
7o relaxes certain muscles, or applies less force o.
. pressure upon the vocal organs. So in playing
N FORTE passage upon the pianoforte, (Which ha
heretofore been considered the only parlor instru
ment capable of working upon the feelings anC
producing efect,) the hammers are piled with grea
s. power, and in PIANO strain with much les
power. This is the case, in principle, with til
Eolcon. At the will of the performer, the pres
sure upon the receiver is much or little, maxim
1e a loud or soft tone the same pitch, quality an
oe character, while varying in volume. This,
81, seems to us, is the only correct principle upo
s. which variety of expression can be produced
luC The variety obtained by seraphines and melC
JUS deons although very limited. is obtained on a
e. entirely different principle, which not only prc
duces the apparent variety of loud and soft, bu
very materially and dsagreeably changes Il
quality and character OF the tone, and in SON
= instances changes the pitch of the low bass note
u as for example, in the case Of person in singin
e when he is making very round clear and di
tinct tone, if he suddenly expand his mouth to
full extent laterally, the character and quality
81, his tone is materially damaged.
h Another novel and pleasing feature of this i
Yef strument is the Sympathetic attachment, wink
is an additional patent to the original 1t consis
Of thin sounding board, with system of wiz
co drawn over and under bridges upon both sides
81 the board, in such way TO divide each stril
eh' into four unequal parts. This attachment Ii
- directly back Of the name-board, and at the Il
~ of the instrument, and Immediately over t
III reeds, and is caused to operate entirely and sole
na by the vibration Of the reeds, fluctuations
U'P the air. Such of the wires accord with t
yor II reed used at any particular instant will vbra
~, and reproduce the same sound, thus adding
'"' much TO the actual quantity of sound produce
! 70 They also modify the quality of the tones, b
- especially give diminuendo termination TO t
On wind tone, thus obviating the abrupt stiff imp
th aole characteristic of other wind instruments.
!. There being so many wires, and the princil
v34 of operation Of this attachment is SUCH that
. can sec no occasion for ever tuning it; and Mr..
says it is not tuned, even when it is made!
There are many other things which ought to
noticed, such as the style of the case, the COZ
: pactness ease of generating the wind, durabilit
also that these instruments are made with frt
I, one to three banks of keys, one to twelve dir
70 stopsyand sub4bass for churches etc, etc.;
ress our columns will hardly permit. We can OF
add that we saw Mr. Ms memorandum-book, a
n. IN it very numerous recommendations from
first musicians in the country; as, for examp
G. F. Webb, L. Mason, Summer Hill, IT, +. Re
Adolph Baumbach, George Hewes, II. e. Mathe,
and j. G. B. Standbridge ETC., so that we find oil
per selves in good company while commencing
1een instrument We do not believe any instrum
can be produced which is so highly recommend
and by men of such standing Musical Revit
AVA Mr.. Nuttings Eolicon is not yet manuf
tured for sale, nor is there specimen instrun
n to be seen in the city. We cannot tell what ,
~ be its price when it is offered for sale. We st
H. this not only for your benefit, but for the ben
good of scores of others who are enquirng about it
b calling 10 examine it."-LMusical Review, I
q 1853
These instruments are made at pri
u If varying from $4,000 TO $4,000.
. Octave port~kla q en- ~