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Glockenspiel

This instrument was competed for by Volunteer Bands, between 1928 and 1932, in American and West Indies Station. It is a portable glockenspiel (i.e. metallophone - percussion instrument with tuned metal bars) in the shape of a lyre, therefore known as ""lyra glockenspiel"" or ""bell lyra,"" which is used in military or other marching bands. The frame is supported on a shaft and is carried, and played vertically while marching. It has a set of thirteen bars arranged in a single row, making a full chromatic octave (E-flat). The frame is made of silver-plated metal and the bars are chrome-plated steel. The shaft is of turned wood painted in black, and the instrument has a beater included, with metal head.

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  • Decorative elements:Long, tri-colour (red, blue, yellow) hair tassels.
  • Inscriptions:Plaque on bottom: VOLUNTEER BAND / COMPETITION / A AND W.I. / SQUADRON / 1929|Inscribed on arms: 1929 / H.M.S. CARADOC / 1932 / H.M.S. DRAGON / 1928 / H.M.S. CAPE TOWN / 1930 / H.M.S. DRAGON|Letters and symbols of notes stamped on metal bars.
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:111.222 Sets of percussion plaques
  • Repository:National Museum of the Royal Navy
  • Measurements:Length (with shaft): 1060mm; Width: 370mm; Beater length: 250mm