Museum Speelklok Collectie

Sidebar content	Main content
Actions	Details Remove from selection Add to selection Image(s) TitleInstrument Tuner, 'Sirene' Creator Ludovico Gavioli PlaceParis (France) Year ca. 1860 Object number0161 Object categoryparaphernalia Object nametuning instrument DescriptionSirens like this one were used in the 19th century as a measuring instrument for accurately determining musical pitch frequency. A siren uses a rotating metal disc with a circle of small holes drilled around the edge to measure pitch. Air flows through the pipe and passes through the holes only when they align with the mouth of the pipe. This ultimately allows the instrument to measure the number of air blasts per second. Accompanying textsThe siren was first discovered by Edinburgh physicist John Robinson toward the end of the 18th century. In 1819, the principle was improved and refined by French engineer Charles Cagniard de la Tour, whose version was highly accurate and became a standard instrument for pitch measurement around that time. Sirens were used in a number of scientific experiments on wind speed, the speed of sound through the air and the range of human hearing.

Image(s)

TitleInstrument Tuner, 'Sirene'

Creator Ludovico Gavioli

PlaceParis (France)

Year ca. 1860

Object number0161

Object categoryparaphernalia

Object nametuning instrument

DescriptionSirens like this one were used in the 19th century as a measuring instrument for accurately determining musical pitch frequency. A siren uses a rotating metal disc with a circle of small holes drilled around the edge to measure pitch. Air flows through the pipe and passes through the holes only when they align with the mouth of the pipe. This ultimately allows the instrument to measure the number of air blasts per second.

Accompanying textsThe siren was first discovered by Edinburgh physicist John Robinson toward the end of the 18th century. In 1819, the principle was improved and refined by French engineer Charles Cagniard de la Tour, whose version was highly accurate and became a standard instrument for pitch measurement around that time. Sirens were used in a number of scientific experiments on wind speed, the speed of sound through the air and the range of human hearing.

Details