The 'World's Most Dangerous Instrument': The Glass Armonica Invented By Benjamin Franklin

“The music of angels,” said Deborah Franklin about the glass armonica. Benjamin Franklin invented the glass armonica in 1761. After hearing a musician play wine glasses, Franklin worked with a London glassblower to create this mechanized musical instrument of 37 different sized glass bowls rotated by a foot pedal. By applying pressure with wet fingers, players produced multiple notes and chords. Franklin was delighted with the results saying “Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me

William Zeitler Demonstrates the Glass Armonica

'The world's most dangerous instrument' was rumored to have killed people who used it