Grand harmonicon[1]
(musical glasses)
Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 1831
Frances H. Smith, maker
Ex Fiske Collection, Claremont University Consortium

Francis Hopkinson Smith (1797-1872) patented his version of musical glasses on
April 7, 1825, and called it "Grand Harmonicon."

The glasses were blown to pitch and played 
by rubbing their rims with moistened fingers. 
The instrument was intended primarily for 
use by amateur musicians at home rather 
than in a concert hall.

Once a popular parlor instrument, musical 
glasses saw a decline around 1860 with 
rumors that playing the instrument, and 
the ethereal sounds it produced, caused 

madness. Many players suffered nervous 
breakdowns. At the time, it was thought 
that the vibrations resulted in nervous 
system decline, but it may be that touching 
the glasses and their painted rims, both of 
which contained lead, contributed to lead 
poisoning over time.

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1. ↑ kryptonic83 (2016-08-05 10:45:32). Musical Glasses. Flickr.