Una-Fon

The "Una-Fon" was designed by the American John Calhoun (J.C.) Deagan, a developer and manufacturer of musical instruments, around 1915. Fascinated by sound and science, Deagan created the first scientifically tuned glockenspiel in 1880, developed the African marimba into a professional musical instrument accepted in the orchestral tone, and was responsible for the adoption of the standard universal pitch for orchestras and bands (A=440Hz). The unaphone is an electromechanical metallophone that incorporates a keyboard and is powered by an external battery. Pressing a key activates an electromagnet that causes a corresponding hard beater to strike a concave metal bar, producing a musical note. Behind each bar is a metal resonator tube that amplifies the vibrations. The particular example features a two octave keyboard that activates 25 metal bars with their respective resonator tubes in alternated arrangement (orientated front/back) in a two-row, metallic frame. It operates with a 6-volt battery and it is the only known example with such configuration. It was used by the 2nd/60th Rifles King's Royal Rifes Corps until 1939.