Benjamin Franklin's "Madness-Inducing" Musical Invention

Franklin developed the armonica in 1761, inspired by watching wine glasses played with wet fingers. He engineered a set of rotating glass bowls of varying sizes, actuated by a foot pedal, allowing a single player to create chords and melodies previously impossible. Its otherworldly sound captivated audiences across Europe, but its deep, sustained vibrations were also thought to overstimulate the nerves or affect the brain, contributing to its controversial reputation and eventual decline in popularity among some circles, despite Mozart and Beethoven composing for it.