HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 21 



167470 is from South Africa and has 14 tongues and 167471 (pi. 13c), 

 decorated with bits of tin and shell, has 19 tongues. Heli Chatelain 

 was the collector of 166174 (pi. 13d), from West Africa, and 127190 

 (pi. 13e) is from the Congo. Brass-headed nails decorate 130946 (pi. 

 13&) , which was a gift from J. H. Camp in 1889. One specimen has a 

 box instead of a flat board to support the tongues, which are 

 eight in number, made of bamboo and held in place with strips of 

 split rattan (166185, pi. Ida). They pass through holes in a stick 

 which serves as a bridge. It is interesting to compare this primi- 

 tive instrument with the music box, which consists of a large number 

 of metal tongues set in vibration by mechanical means. Music boxes 

 Avere invented about the beginning of the nineteenth century, prob- 

 ably in Switzerland, the chief place of their production. 



A music box may be described as a set of metal tongues cut in a 

 thin plate of steel commonly called a " comb," and a revolving 

 cylinder in which are plectra ("pins") which set the tongues in 

 vibration. The length of the tongues is carefully graduated, as each 

 represents a tone, and the position of the plectra on the cylinder 

 determines which tongue shall be sounded. The cylinder is revolved 

 either by the continuous turning of a crank or by a spring motor, 

 commonty designated as clockwork. The first music boxes were 

 small and not unlike a snuffbox in appearance, and were called 

 " musical snuffboxes " because they were about the size and shape 

 of the snuffbox then in use. Small specimens are 55714 (pi. 13/), 

 Avhich plays two airs, and 55715 (pi. 13A), which plays four airs. 

 In changing from one air to another a ratchet wheel moves the 

 cylinder on its axis just far enough for the plectra used in playing 

 one air to pass between the narrowed ends of the tongues, while 

 those that play another air are brought into position to strike the 

 tongues or " teeth of the comb." 



This type of instrument pleased the people. The mechanism was 

 improved and music boxes were made which were capable of playing 

 six tunes. In the best music boxes the teeth are in groups of 4 to 6, 

 the teeth of each group being tuned in unison. The pins on the 

 cylinder strike one after another so rapidly that the ear recognizes 

 only one sound. This increases the volume of sound and also gives 

 the effect of a tremolo. Such a specimen is 55717, having 103 teeth 

 in the comb and capable of playing six tunes. A similar specimen 

 is 55716 (pi. 13^). The music box and stand (325977) are a bequest 

 from Mrs. Julian-James, of Washington, D. C. They were made 

 in Switzerland and the music box plays six tunes. 



Section 2. WIND INSTRUMENTS 



In this section will be seen a remarkable variety of instruments, 

 ranging from a primitive whistle to the highly sensitive flute, oboe. 



