LABORATORY
against the largest and most accurate set of tuning bells ever built. Here we can detect the most minute
variation from trueness and correct it."
Page 65 1932 King Band Instruments Catalog
All instruments were play tested for tone and intonation under the direct supervision of
Mr. Henderson White and his son Richard White. The large set of tuning bells occupied one
entire wall and resembled a large set of marimba with steel bars. The tuning bells were
designed by J. C. Deagan Inc. especially for the H. N. White laboratory. The tuning bells were
built of a special steel alloy that was not affected by weather conditions. During extremes of
heat and cold the variation of pitch was less than a tenth of a single vibration. Tuned to A-440
this represented the most accurately tempered scale that was possible to build. In the
laboratory was a large 10 bar "Deaganometer" used for pitch. This carried 10 bars pitched from
435 to 445, and provided an accurate and proven means of building instruments to the universal
pitch of A-440. A reed organ was also used for comparison of tonal qualities, penetration, etc.
with a pair of King Super 20 trumpets.
in use while play testing a King trumpet.
in the Test Lab used the Burgess Acoustimeter while testing instruments for accurate intonation. Their
testing revealed "the Sterling Silver bells provided 7 decibels more in tone volume, 12 decibels with a
brass bell, 19 with a Sterling bell, sound waves continue with the sterling bell after they have stopped
with the brass bell."
Born: Hector, N. Y. Nov. 6, 1853
Died: Hermosa Beach, Calif. April 28, 1934
Deagan was dissatisfied with the intonation of
Glockenspiels used in theater orchestras that he performed
with as a concert clarinetist. He began to experiment with
acoustics and instrument tuning. Deagan studied German
physicist Herman Helmhotzs doctrine on acoustics. Deagan
created the first scientifically tuned Glockenspiel in 1880.
Deagan persuaded the American Federation of Musicians
to adopt A=440 as the standard universal pitch in 1910 for
bands and orchestras. Deagan provided the U. S. Bureau of
Standards with tuning forks which provided accurate
measurements of 100 to 2,000 vibrations per second for
radio research. Deagan also invented the Degan-o-meter,
the first electronic tuning device for orchestra and band
instruments.
