526 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



ceedcd beyond his most sanguine expectations, and " Cavhart's Suction or 

 Exhaustion Bellows," now so universallj'^ admired and acknowledged to be 

 perfection itself, was brought into the world. 



During the making of these first six instruments, Mr. Carhart had .the 

 good fortune to make a discovery, which has been acknowledged by all to 

 have been one of the greatest improvements in reeds, w'hich has ever been 

 brought to light. He discovered that bj' bending or curving the point of the 

 reed, the quality of the tone could be changed at pleasure. To this inven- 

 tion he applied the name of "voicing." The peculiar advantage derived 

 from it is the command which a skillful tuner is capable of exercising over 

 the reed, as by varying the curve, he can produce any quality of tone, from 

 extreme harshness to the opposite extremity of softness; the volume and 

 power of the tone can also be graduated at pleasure by means of this 

 principle. Its universal adoption is convincing proof of the value of this 

 discovery. 



After some time, during which a long succession of difficulties were m^t 

 and promptly overcome, the half dozen melodeons were finished and sub- 

 mitted for examination. The last improvements so perfected the tone, that 

 a soft, sweet strain could be procured at pleasure; the new application of 

 the bellows was rapid and effective, and in a moment the melodeon had 

 become a " fast talker," while its beautiful flute-like sounds delighted and 

 enchanted each hearer. Of course, the public verdict was unanimous in its 

 favor; and the patent being at once secured, their sale commenced imme- 

 diately. This was in 1846, and as a most remarkable circumstance we 

 state the fact, that notwithstanding their facilities, Messrs. Carhart & 

 Needham were unable to fulfill their orders from that time until late in 

 1853, when the general financial and commercial depression was felt in 

 every department of manufacture, trade, etc. 



The manufacture was continued in the city of Bufialo, until 1848. In 

 the meantime, Mr. Carhart's ever active mind had conceived, and by rude 

 experiments demonstrated, his justly celebrated " theory of the action of 

 a current of air upon reeds placed in particular positions." He had also 

 conceived the idea of making a tube-board in one piece, and solely by 

 macliinery, in which to place the reeds; and after due reflection, it was 

 determined to dispose of their establishment in Buffalo, and remove to the 

 great commercial metropolis; and there, after, constructing the most per- 

 fect machinery and apparatus, and securing suitable premises, to commence 

 the manufacture of melodeons on the most extended and liberal scale. It 

 had been about that time discovered that this class of instruments were 

 affected by changes of the atmosphere. Soon after his arrival in this city, 

 Mr. Carhart proceeded to an cxtensivs rolling-mill in Connecticut, where, 

 after a series of experiments of some weeks duration, he produced the 

 amalgam now known as " reed-metal," which has ever been found to pos- 

 sess the exact virtues required from it, and since its adoption the manufac- 

 turers have heard nothing of the " buzzing" sound, that in some cases was 

 formerly compVained of in melodeons. 



