A NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1198, 14 November 1874, Page 5

A NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Theßallarat correspondent of the Aigns says that— "Mt John Palmer, of B. Hat at, is now amusing himself by attempting the construction of an entirely new musical instrument, to consist cither of seven siii^les or al,a 1 , double octave of bells, with all the si arps and Hats necessary ; the bells to be j-lnyedi by an electric battery, regulated by a k y instrumeut similar to pitmo. Mr P,»lnn-r h*s constmctfd one single nctive, and has by it proved the facility of working ihem by a current from a battery, and with this sui.'Je advantage, that it may be jilajod by «. k-.dy or gentleman sitting in a different io-nn tc that where the instrument is fixed— or for that part of the matter, if a gsutleiaan was, at Sydney or Port Darwin wiih cmc <>? these instruments in his house, hia sweetheart here could, if she were allowed the u*e of the overland wires, play 'Whistle, and I'll come to you, my Lad/ es any other time she pleased, with the greatest ease. Thearrangement for striking the bells and $..» damping the vibration of t' c notes is very clover, but very simple, aud the notes nf ihe bells are very sweet. If Mr Palmer should find time to complete tho instrument, if. uilJ certainly be a great novelty, if nothing else." The time may come when ib will not be necessary for great pianists, or organists to make long voyages, w,e shall' simply have to connect tho instrument with electric rabies., "switch on," and fantasias, grand eism-hc^, &c , will be <•' wired " aloug to the concert . rooms o$ tho antipodes.