344 Description of the Kaleidophone 



Description of the Kaleidophone, or Phonic Kaleidoscope ; a 

 new Philosophical Toy, for the Illustration of several In- 

 teresting and Amusing Acoustical and Optical Phenomena, 

 [Communicated by Mr. C. Wheatstone.] 



The application of the principles of science to ornamental 

 and amusing purposes contributes, in a great degree, to render 

 them extensively popular ; for the exhibition of striking expe- 

 riments induces the observer to investigate their causes with 

 additional interest, and enables him more permanently to re- 

 member their effects. I shall not, therefore, need an apology 

 for presenting the tyro in science with another combination of 

 philosophy with amusement, in addition to those already 

 extant. 



But this instrument possesses higher claims to attention ; for 

 it exemplifies an interesting series of natural phenomena, and 

 renders obvious to the common observer what has hitherto 

 been confined to the calculations of the mathematician ; it 

 presents another proof, that how^ever remote from common 

 observation the operations of nature may be, the most beautiful 

 order and symmetry prevail through all. 



In the property of *' creating beautiful forms," the Kaleido- 

 phone resembles the celebrated invention of Dr. Brewster, 

 from which its name is modified ; but to the instrument itself, 

 and its mode of action, it is almost superfluous to say there is 

 no similarity. Previously to entering into an explanation of 

 its construction and effects, the following brief summary may 

 suffice to give a general idea of the nature of the experiments 

 it is intended to illustrate. 



These experiments principally consist in subjecting to ocular 

 demonstration the orbits or paths described by the points of 

 greatest excursion in vibrating rods, which in the most frequent 

 cases, those of the combinations of different modes of vibra- 

 tion, assume the most diversified and elegant curvilinear 

 forms *. The entire track of each orbit is rendered simulta- 



* We are indebted to Dr. T. Young for the first observation of these 

 phenomena ; the following account of his experiments is quoted from 

 the Philosophical Tramactions for 1800. ** Take one of the lowest 



