The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-28

moved over the strings at will or can be-
raised entirely above them This is not the
only part that is operated by the mouth
In the center of the crescent mouthpiece Is
a quill, to which is attached a rubber tube
When the air from the mouth passes
through this IL operates a bellows attached
TO a set of ebony pieces lightly strung,
which vibrate rapidly the same as when one
sings trill. This vibration acts on the
small string, by increasing and decreasing
its tension with the same effect as when
one plays on the either and gives the either
tone quality.
The mandolin arrangement is equal In it's
skillful management to all the other parts
AT the large end of the instrument is an
oblong box in which is a clockwork device
The mechanism is wound up by means of a
handle outside of the box, much the same
as a music box is wound These wheels are
quiet until the player rests the little finger
of his right hand against button in 'front.'
of the box, when a catch attached to the
Wheels is released and the wheels reVolVe.
By means of tiny cogs these wheels turn
another wheel having small brass teeth
This revolves against the smaller string,
giving the rapidly vibrating sound produced
by person playing the mandolin.
The instrument has ten strings The
smallest one is used for the theme and is
fingered entirely with the mechanical hand
1t also has the either and mandolin effects
The right hand is used on the strings the
same as on the ordinary guitar; the little
finger of this hand also operates the man
donn effect To keep the hand in position
over the strings ana yet not on them the
inventor has placed ribbon of spring
brass, to the end of which Is fastened a
button of pearl, the ribbon standing on it's
edge over the strings and against this the
hand rests. The left hand is kept busy in
the meantime with double occupation
The fingers assist in manipulating the
strings on the neck of the instrument play
ing the theme, and the thumb acts on a
novelty in the shape of set of four brass
strings on the under side of the neck. A
rich deep tone is secured in these additional
strings, which have never been placed on
any like instrument before and the idea
seems a simple one. No description can do
justice to the perfection of the mechanical
parts and the way they are managed by the
inventor The third hand, which one might
suppose would be metallic or have a rough
sound, produces the same tone that a finger
would. The strlnging of the instrument is
an art in itself, and only the man who plays
knows how it is done. The usual set OF
keys has a complement in a set at the side
of the neck, the string passing in an
ingenious manner under a covering from
the face OF the instrument to the key. The
instrument has only been completed few
weeks and now the inventor believes that
he has fulfilled his idea of an instrument
capable Of uniting the effects of the three
Observation-Disclosures. mandolin and either.
1t is rather a complicated instrument,
many of the parts being exceedingly deli
cate. Not a few of the parts incor-
porated in the body of the instrument. but
they do not injure the tone in the least
The tonal quality Of the guitar is harplike
in it's richness, while its compass is five
octaves, two being made on the last string.
The instrument is a fine one of light wood,
and more or less pearl ornamentation is
used in the extra devices. The double neck
piece is set with star and crescent, the
mouth stick is set with numerous tiny
pieces. the base is highly polished and the
entire thing is handsomely finished. The
skill required to play such an instrument
is great The mouth operates the third
hand the throat controls the bellows. both
hands are used. the little finger of one
moves the mandolin attachment and the
thumb of the left hand plays the bass
strings. 1t is the only instrument of the
kind in the world and Mr.. Wood is the only
man at present who can play it. Mr.. Wood
has recently been in New York with his
guitar and played a number OF times He
secured letter from Mr.. Mum, of the
Scientific American, which highly compile
mented the inventor. He took his guitar to
the World office in New York where he
was told the managers had no time TO look
at it, but the moment he took 1t from the
case and began to play there was no more
work done for some time and the next issue
of the paper contained a picture of the
guitar and sketch of it. Nothing on the
instrument has been patented. Mr.. Wood
says that the instrument is not practical,
but. however that may be, he has sue
ceeded in making a musical novelty