VII. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 193 



745. Molineux's Patent Self-acting Escapement and 

 Check Repeater Action for upright Pianofortes. It com- 

 bines extreme simplicity, a firm and elastic touch, with freedom 

 from friction and great durability. Thomas Molineux. 



746. The first of the now generally adopted obliquely 

 strung upright Pianofortes, patented Robert Wornum, of 

 the firm of Wilkinson & Wornum, in 1811. 



Messrs. Wornum fy Sons. 



The large factory in Oxford Street, in which this instrument was made, is 

 shown by an engraving within the lid. This factory was burnt down in 

 October 1812, and the partnership was then dissolved. In the folloAving year 

 Robert Wornum made the first successful " Cottage " pianoforte, with vertical 

 stringing, to which he gave the name of " The Harmonic Pianoforte." He 

 accomplished this by discarding entirely the use of brass wires, and adopting 

 the closely-spun copper-covered strings in their stead. 



747. Model of the Elastic Tie Action for the Piccolo 

 Pianoforte, invented and patented by Robert Wornum in 1826. 



Messrs. Wornum $- Sons. 



The principles of this mechanism are very generally adopted in France and 

 Germany, as well as in England. 



748. Model of Robert Wornum's method of returning 

 the hammer, in his down-striking Action for Horizontal Grand 

 and Square Pianofortes, patented in 1842. 



Messrs. Woj'num $ Sons. 



This action greatly economises the cost of manufacture. The usual actions 

 are up-striking. 



749. Model of Alfred Nicholson Wornum's new Patent 

 Action for Grand Pianofortes (1875), in which the heads of the 

 hammers are reversed, and now face the wrest plank, this being 

 effected by an entirely new method. Messrs. Wormim Sons. 



By this invention longer strings may be used, relatively to the external 

 dimensions of the case, than in an instrument of the ordinary construction. 



750. Model of the action of Ancient Great Hydraulic 

 Organ, from Mr. Chappell's description of the instrument. 



Dr. Stone. 



750a. Model of a Keyboard for an Organ. 



Colin Broun. 



751. Marimba or Balafo, from South-eastern Africa. 

 Modern. Given by Captain J. Stuart. 



South Kensington Muscuui. 



The instrument has twelve slabs of a sonorous wood, beneath which are 

 fastened, by means of a dark-coloured cement, twelve gourds, to increase the 

 sound. In each gourd are two holes, one of which is at the top, and the 



40075. N 



