Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-19
Read what the editors say:
Mr.. Nutting's Eolicon.

hEdO NlAsAb ttiN |AAAbia
Mr.. Nutting's Eolicon.
We recently had the pleasure Of examining a II
new parlor instrument invented and patented by
Rufus Eutting, of Randolph, VT, which is mani
testify much superior to all others OF the kind.
that we can hardly refrain from giving Il n more |
EXTENDED notice than our time and limits usually /
permit, believing that by so doing VIC shall in,e>
rest our readers and indirectly benefit the inventor
who, we are satisfied from personal conversation /
with him, has not yet, certainly, derived that /
pecuniary benefit from his invention which be /
deserves. Yet, although he has devoted fifteen |
years to perfecting his invention and has not rti
received an adequate compensation, We hesitate |
not to say that he will eventually reap an ample
reward for the perseverance and ingenuity he has
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 melSdeOns,
none have been before the public that were not
more or less imperfect. The best Of them were
very fault, in power quality, or action Of tone,
and all Of them almost entirely destitute OF ca
pacity 10 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 10 other things; give US a
Att AAfHstS iot AHAotNat - NNt - @AAANA NANfF
! 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
a kind Of nasal, Yankee-twang sort Of a sound
| produced by the reed which is exceedingly disas
1 greeable, even to Yankees. The Eolicon has
nothing of it. It's tone seems to re perfectly
clear, pure, and distinct SaO01sHess has been
and can be obtained in melodeons, but only at the
expense or sacrifice of either power or viyacity;
4 Al
i three qualities, TO wit, pure, clear, and distinct
| tone; powerful, voluminOus and solid tone;
rapid lively and quick tone, and equal throughout
/ the scale, have not before been found combined
in one and the same instrument. One has inya-
riably and necessarily been lost in obtaining the
other two. And as TO dynamic expression, il has
\ scarcely been atteB4pted-at most, has been OBJ
tanned in but very limited degree
The quality of tone Of the 4Eoeon, including
| pureness, power and viyacity, can scarcely be
praised too highly. The power Of expression,
also is peculiarly Of this instrument Of almost
infinite value, as unless the performer can have
1 widely distant extremes, and the intermediate ~
| will, the music lie can produce upon any instTt>
ment is leiess and without effect. In the instru-
/ mcnt alluded to, the almost endless variety is
produced upon the same mechanical principles as
the variety Of expression in singing or playing
upon pianoforte or violin. II person is sing
4 ing FORTE strain, and changes TO n PIANO, he
4 relaxes certain muscles, or applies less force or
pressure upon the vocal organs. So in playing
FORTE passage upon the pianofoTte, (which has
heretofore been considered the only parlor instru
ment CAPABLE Of working upon the feelings and
producing e6ect,) the hammers are piled with great
power, and in PIANO strain with much less
power. This is the ease, in principle. with the
Eocon. At the win Of the performer, tho pres
sure upon the receiver is much on little. making
a loud or soft tone, the same pitch quality and
character, while varying in volume. This, Il
seems to US, is tho only correct principle upon
which variety Of expression can be prOduced.-
The variety obtained by semphines and melo-
deons. although very limited. Is obtained on an
, entirely different principle, which not luly pro-
duees the apparent variety Of loud and soft, but
very materially and dsagreeabIy changes the
quality and character OF the toue, and in some
instances changes the pitch Of the low bass notes
as for example, ia the case Of person in singing,
when he is making very round, clear and dis
tinet tone, II he suddenly expand his mouth 10 IT,
fun extent laterally, the character and quality Of
his tone is materially damaged.
Another novel and pleasing feature Of this in
strument is the sympathetic attachment which
IS an additional patent 10 the original Il consists
, Of thin sounding with system Of wires
drawn over and under bridges upon both sides 81
the board in such way as TO divide each string
into four unequal parts. This attachment lies
: directly back OF the name-bosrd, and at the toT
Of the instrument, and Immediately over n,
reeds and is caused 70 operate entirely and sOlels
| by the VIBRATION OF the reeds, or fluctuations q
the air. Such Of the wires as accord with th'
: reed used al any particular instant, will yibmt
I and reproduce the same sound. thus aiding q
y much 20 the actual quantity Of sound produced
They also modify the quality Of the tones, bu
especially give diminuendo termination 20 ihs
wind tone, thus obyiating the abrupt, sti1, unpl-
a0le characteristics OF other wind instruments.
There being so many wires, and the principl'
c OF operation Of this attachment Is such, that v,
can see no occasion for ever tuning IL and Mr. y
saws il i not tuned, even when IL Is uadel
There are many other things which ought 10 b
noticed such as the style Of the ease, the com
paetness, ease Of generating the wind durability
also that these instruments are made with iruu
one 70 three banks Of keys, one to twelve draw
stops, and sub-bass for churches, etc, etc. be
our columns win hardly permit. We can oul1
i, add that we saw NJ. rs memorandnus-book auI
: in il very numerous recommendations from III
> first musicians In The country; as, far example
g. p. Webb, l.. Mason, Sumner H!i, g. q. Root
Adolph Ranmhach. George Hewes, H. e. Mathew,
J. C. 3. standbridge, etc. so that we find our
, selves In good company while commencing tai
instrument We do rot believe any insframsa
can be produced which i ~ highly recommended
and by men Of such standing Fl Musical kevies
|, Nr. Nustings Eolleoa is not yet msnufae
tured for sale, nor IS there specimen iastFnmsa
to be seen in tie city. We eannss tell whri VI
be its price when i = offered for sale. We stat
: this DOT only for your benefit, bat aas the beBei
Of scores Of others Who are enquirlug about e an
calling 70 examine it.''--f Musical ksyiew, Dec
4 1853.
These instruments are made al price
%. IA