MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. [ 33<5o ] Allison, Ralph, & Sons, Wardour Street, W.—Elegant oak piano, temp. Charles I., and Improved London Model. (See page 88.) . C . 3361 ] . Allwood, Thomas, 16 B010 Street, Birmingham.—Six violins and violoncello. C 3362 ] Bates & Son, 6 Ludgate Hill, London, H. C.—Cottage pianofortes. A scmi-cottage pianoforte in Italian walnut wood case, handsomely carved; compass seven octaves; trichord, treble, &c. [ 3363 ] Bell, Joseph, Gillygate, York.—An harmonium with wood reeds and pedals, two octaves; also an instrument containing bassoon, oboe, and clarionet, in the shape of a violoncello, with two rows of keys and wood reeds. C 3364 ] Besson, F., Manufacturer, late of Paris, now of 198 Huston Road, N. W. Musical instru ments (brass). Family of transposition instruments, enabling the player to perform the most difficult music, and to change instantly from one key to another without once removing the lips from the mouthpiece. Tlio system may be adapted to any three-valve instrument, to which it gives the equality and almost the resources of the violin. Family of neoform instruments—with moveable bells. The main advantage of this model, and which F. Besson's [a somewhat similar shape being made by other houses] alone possesses, is that the instruments are perfectly equi poised, and accordingly will stand upon their bells; thus rendering them commodious and less liable to injury. Family of bugles—simple or chromatic at will. Circular instruments (passing over the shoulder), very suitable for cavalry and the field, equipoised. Usual form instruments, with F. Besson’s latest im provements. New French horns, with and without piston attachment (2 and 3 valves); Koenig horns, pocket saloon comets, for officers, amateurs, and for presenta tion. Opkicleides, trombones with double slides (only half the length of the single slide instruments with in creased power of tone), new trumpets, chromatic and regulation; duty bugles, &c. To all the abovo instruments tlio pistons acolcmne d'air pleine may be applied, whereby the wind passages are rendered so perfectly clear and equal that freedom and softness must necessarily follow. Clarionets, cymbals, side drums ; musical instruments in paper, linen, gutta-percha, and various other substances,* of perfect tone, tune, and (apparently) metallic vibra tion. A comet in aluminium, composed of 105 pieces, each soldered, a feat hitherto deemed impracticable, and in every sense complete. Weight under 12ounces; that of the brass instrument averages about 36 ounces. F. Besson is the possessor of the phototype machinery; that is to say, the apparatus by which approved instru ments may be repeated in any number with mathematical certainty. Sir. B. devoted ten years’ labour exclusively to the perfecting of this machinery, and in his success achieved the greatest desideratum ever sought by tho manufacturer and demanded by the patrons of brass musical instruments. * These are exhibited to prove the all-importance of the propor tions and the soundness of the acoustical principles upon which F. Besson’s instruments are constructed. I
