PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 459 



The subject selected for the next discussion was "The Use of Steam 

 Expansively." 

 Adjourned, Ends Stevens, Secretary pro tern. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, | 

 February 12, 1863. j 



The Chairman, S. D. Tillman, Esq., presiding. 



Mr. Fisher read a paper of considerable length, in which he presented 

 his own views of the changes needed in the patent laws. 



Clinton Rosevelt, Esq., replied, and endeavored to show that any so-called 

 reform, which virtually deprived the inventor of the sole control of his own 

 invention, was wrong in principle. 



A communication presented from Dr. D. J. Macgowan, inclosing a 

 prospectus of the "London Permanent Exposition," was placed on file. 



The Autophoneon. 



Dr. Rich, on behalf of the committee appointed to examine the new 

 musical instrument of Mr. Joseph Dixon, of Jersey City, made the following 

 report which was accepted: 



The committee appointed to examine a new musical instrument, con- 

 structed by Joseph Dixon, report that they proceeded to his residencee.in 

 Jersey City, and were ushered into a music room in which is placed an 

 automatic organ, called by the inventor an " Autophoneon." The case is 

 eleven feet high, nine feet long, and four feet deep; it has a front of finely 

 wrought rosewood; but a portion of the apparatus is in the story below, so 

 that the actual height of the instrument is twenty-one feet. It has a key- 

 board of five and a half octaves, and twelve stops, for the use of an organist. 

 After listening to several "voluntaries," which displayed the fine tones 

 and capacity of the instrument, the organist retired, and the inventor 

 touched a lever, when a series of waltzes and familiar airs followed, with 

 a fullness of harmony and brilliancy of execution Avhich were truly aston- 

 ishing; The front lid of the instrument was then raised, exposing to view 

 the principal machinery by which these marvelous effects were produced. 

 Above the keyboard was seen a cylinder seven feet three inches in length, 

 and thirty-four inches in circumference. Upon this immense barrel are 

 placed the brass pins and staples which operate the keys of the instrument. 

 The pitch of the sounds depends upon the longitudinal position of the pins 

 or staples, and the length of the sounds depends upon the length of the 

 staples in the direction of the circumference. Above the cylinder is a brass 

 bar extending from one end of the instrument to the otlier, having on its 

 lower side finely cut slots, one-half of an inch apart, in each of which a 

 steel finger, fitted with great accuracy, plays in a vertical direction. The 

 number of fingers is 166. The advantage gained by this great number of 

 keys is that the instrument gives the complete harmony as arranged for an 

 orchestra, each series of pipes having a separate and independent part. 

 The cylinder coutains several thousand pins and staples, or enough to play 



