Benjamin Franklin’s Most Enduring Inventions [Techversary]

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, making today his 305th birthday. Here’s a listing of stuff you may or won’t have known sprang from this impossibly talented man’s mind.

Glass Armonica

While it was only a redesign of an existing instrument, the crystallophone (which involved producing sound by fingering variously sized glass bowls) Ben Franklin is related to have considered the armonica his favorite invention of all. It quickly became popular in America and Europe-Marie Antoinette took lessons on the instrument as a baby, and composers including Bach, Beethoven, and Strauss all made music for the armonica specifically. The instrument’s popularity waned after the 18th century caused by urban legends in regards to the purported health risks it posed, but you’ll still find youngsters running their fingers around the rims of wine glasses at kids’ tables internationally today.

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This post is tagged: Benjamin Franklin, glass armonica, health risks, marie antoinette, urban legends