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Four violins

This is the string instrument subsystem of one of the machines that is currently being restored. These four violins are mounted so that the cylindrical violin string drum thing can revolve around the violins.

The machine controls pressing the violins into the string to control the volume of the sound produced by the violin. The neck of the violin is covered with actuators that press on the strings so that the machine can control the notes produced by the violin.

The amazing thing is that this beast controls four instruments and actually plays them in a pleasant manner (along with over a half dozen more instruments). What is even more amazing is that this contraption was built before 1910!

Posted by Mayhem at May 28, 2004 08:20 PM | TrackBack