History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
from the first submarine cable of 1850 to the worldwide fiber optic network
The Whitehouse Electric Harmoniograph
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History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications |
The Whitehouse Electric Harmoniograph |
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Introduction: Edward O.W. Whitehouse, “Wildman Whitehouse” as he generally styled himself, was a surgeon by profession and an electrical experimenter by avocation. In 1856 he was appointed Electrician to the Atlantic Telegraph Company and was responsible for the testing of the 1857/58 cables, and for the design and operation of the equipment which would transmit the telegraph signals between Ireland and Newfoundland. This news article from The Musical Times and Singing Class Circulars, published in the issue of June 1, 1855, is one of the earliest reports on Whitehouse’s electrical inventions. The Royal Polytechnic Institution at 309 Regent Street was founded in 1838. Its aim was to demonstrate new technologies and inventions to the public. The Polytechnic played a significant role in the popularisation of science and engineering, and it became a major tourist attraction in Victorian London. Its successor is today’s University of Westminster.
THE ELECTRIC HARMONIOGRAPH Her Majesty and Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and several of the Court, paid a private visit to the above popular Institution. Her Majesty and suite arrived soon after 9 o’clock, and were received by J.H. Pepper, Esq., the Manager of the Institution, Professors Faraday and Wheatstone, and Dr. Backhoffner, and several other scientific gentlemen were in attendance. After inspecting and receiving explanations in reference to the working of several interesting features of the exhibition, the Royal party witnessed the beautiful dissolving views, illustrative of the story of “Sinbad the Sailor,” the electric fountain, and the electric light, which gave much satisfaction to the Royal party, Prince Albert making very particular enquiries of the gentlemen in attendance at each department. The last work of interest inspected by the Royal visitors was a scientific application to pianofortes and harmoniums, “The Electric Harmoniograph,” invented by Wildman Whitehouse, Esq., of Brighton. It records all the music which is played on the instruments, and will be very useful to those who have neither time, nor, probably, the aptitude required for attempting written compositions. A few words will suffice to explain the peculiarity of the mode of notation necessarily adopted in this instrument. The lines of the treble and bass clefs are ruled pale blue, and the ledger lines, instead of being marked only when a note requiring them is made use of, are all ruled continuously throughout, but of a distinctive colour—pale orange red. The notes are indicated by dark blue lines, instead of dots—the length of these lines marking the relative value of the notes. The naturals record themselves on the lines and in the centre of the spaces; the semi-tones occupy a position mid-way between these—the sharp, of course, above, the flat below its corresponding natural. The division into bars can be effected at the same time, if necessary, by the mere beat of the foot;—it is thought better, however, to leave the performer free from this tax upon his attention, and to calculate the bars afterwards by reference to the notes in accordance with their known value. The marks required for the ruling of the lines, as well as those for the formation of each note in its appropriate position, are equally the result of the current producing electro-chemical decomposition in the texture of the prepared fabric. Her Majesty and Prince Albert graciously received some specimens of the mode of notation, and viewed the process with interest. Mr.Whitehouse explained the invention, and Mr. Frederick Wright presided at the harmonium, both having received special invitations to attend at the Polytechnic Institution on the occasion. Return to the Wildman Whitehouse main page |
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Last revised: 3 June, 2010 |
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