Ben Frankin’s Inventions #86 - the glass Armonica
“Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.”
Benjamin Franklin was inspired to create his own version of the armonica after listening to a concert of Handel’s Water Music which was played on tuned wine glasses.
Benjamin Franklin’s armonica, created in 1761, was smaller than the originals and did not require water tuning. Benjamin Franklin’s design used glasses that were blown in the proper size and thickness which created the proper pitch without having to be filled with water. The glasses were nested in each other which made the instrument more compact and playable. The glasses were mounted on a spindle which was turned by a foot treadle.
