Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-08-17
A New Musical Instrument-A New
Acoustic Principle Found.
From the Cincinnati Commercially

Among the patents issued last week
was one to Mr.. Thos. Atkins, Of this
city for new musical instrument. A
working model of this instrument can
be seen and heard at the piano rooms
Of Atkins & Co., l6l Fourth street.
1t presents externally the appearance
of an upright piano, and has a similar
keyboard and action, including ham
mers and damper In other respects
it differs from the piano, having no
strings, no tension, and consequently
fewer imperfections. The tones are
produced by striking upon steel hooks
of n peculiar construction. These
hooks have three prongs, the centre
one being used to attach the hook firm
ly to y metallic support. The outer
prongs differ in length, and herein lies
the value of Mr.. Atkins discovery.
We speak of it as discovery not an
invention, Mr.. Atkins, who is both
an excellent musician and an ingenious
mechanic, has devoted years TO the
construction of an instrument that
would obviate some of the insuperablc
Imperfections of the piano. In the
process of experiment he hit upon the
hook of the form described, and upon
testing it, discovered TO his delight,
the development of new acoustic
principle, the only like discovery made
in nearly thousand years. When
struck the hook gives out not only
pure, sustained note, but a perfect
harmonic. IL would be long 70 tell
how many wears have been wasted by
musicians in reaching the effect which
MIR. Atkins produces by this contri-
vance. List himself spent some years
in experimenting with tuning folks,
but found himself limited To a scale Of
about four and half octaves. Others
have tried, and after tedious labor have
met with no better success. The at
tempt, 10 construct keyed instruments
out of steel have hitherto been failures.
Now imagine Mr. Atkins at this novel
instrument. 1t is as if musical box
fifty times enlarged Were playing. The
high notes have all the brillisncy OF
strings. but i'll dcscendn. the scale
the tones approach the tiHa6Fe Of wind
instruments, like the organ. The pur-
lty Of the tone throughout makes other
musical sounds comparatively coarse.
II Is continued by singing, and its VOL
unc Is regulated by the touch OF the
player and the pressure of the pedal;
It's only harmony is the octave. 1t is
q wonderful success, considering the
steel hooks were forged upon an ordi-
nary anvil, and have flaws and imper
7 icctlons that will be avoided when they
are cut by the proper machinery,
I Doubtless there will be many modah-
/ cation and Improvements, but there
/ can he none in the acoustic principle
| developed. Theoretically its power is
without limit. 1t would be as easy u
I give II a range OF ten octaycs u. seven,
aui Its volume NAV be vastly iucreas-
/ eel by greater bulk in the steel hooks
i Chmes could be Il, readily constructed
\ as An instrument for the concert-room
1 or parlor. AS there is no tension, it
\ caLuot get ont Of tune and nothing
I about IL out of order but the action
4 It, simplicity, its durability, its quail
] " OF tone. its possible cheapness of
/ construction, point it out rs the instru-
! nent on which the music Of the fu-
\ ture" will be played in nearly every
I house IN the country.