Name/Title
Tuning ForksEntry/Object ID
1999.46a-gDescription
In 1899 former Vermont Governor Levi K. Fuller exhibited his collection of over 300 tuning forks at the Boston branch of the Estey Organ Company. A newspaper clipping reporting on the exhibit was included with this case of tuning forks that Vermont Historical Society purchased in 1999. The exterior of this case is stamped in gold with Fuller's name and inside the cover was the note, "These five forks have/controlled the Pitch/of the world, from/1751 to 1892." Each fork is marked in gold with Fuller's name, a pitch and a composer's name. According to the article, a fork that Fuller owned marked "A422.5 Handel" was used by the composer when he conducted the Messiah in 1751. In 1892 Governor Fuller, the founder and owner of the Estey Organ Company, adopted the international pitch A435. These forks all are stamped "Valantine & Carr/Sheffield England" and were most likely a set Fuller made in the late 1800s. The forks are marked (left to right):
AI- A422.5 Handel; A2- A423.5 Mozart; A3-A433.2 Sir George Smart; A4-A454.7 Sir M. Costa; and A5-A452.5 Sir M. Costa
5 tuning forks in a case separated/broken at the hinge. Each fork has a mark at the top of the neck. a= A / 4" b= "A / 1" c= "A / 2" d= "A / 5" e= "A / 3" Each of the forks has a double diamond (diamond within a diamond) on the opposite side as the mark. Each fork has in gold the pitch on one tine and "L.K. FULLER" on the other. On the outside of the case: "A 422.5 - 423.5- / 433.2-452. 5-454.7" and at the bottom "LEVI.K.FULLER" Also on the inside of the case there is a hand written note that reads: "These 5 Forks have/ controlled the Pitch/ of the world, from/ 1751. to 1892." The inside is lined with gold velveteen. The outside is a thin "leatherette" (?) purple/black.
dark gray almost blackContext
Collected by Levi K. Fuller of Brattleboro, Vermont. In addition to serving as Governor of Vermont, Fuller worked at Estey Organ Company, during which time he developed and patented the international standard pitch notation.Acquisition
Accession
1999.46Source or Donor
Bosworth, BruceAcquisition Method
PurchaseMade/Created
Manufacturer
Valantine & CarrDate made
circa 1895Place
City
SheffieldCountry
EnglandContinent
EuropeLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Fork, TuningNomenclature Class
Acoustical T&ENomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & TechnologyRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Fuller, Levi Knight (1841-1896)Person or Organization
J. Estey & CompanyRelated Places
Place
Town
BrattleboroCounty
Windham CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North America