Abstract
FROM the perusal of David Hughes's note-books recently bequeathed to the British Museum by Mrs. Hughes, and sent to me for examination by the Keeper of the Manuscripts (see NATURE, March 9, 1922, pp. 315–316), it became obvious to me that Hughes must at one time have possessed numerous original instruments, mostly constructed with his own hands. Having been informed that the note-books had been rescued from “an incredible accumulation of useless lumber,” it occurred to me to try to locate this “lumber” if still existent, and to see whether it comprised any of the instruments. To make a long story short, a room in a furniture depository not far from the Tottenham Court Road was found to be filled with Hughes's personal effects, which had been stored there since his death in 1900, when Mrs. Hughes returned to America. Having interested Col. H. G. Lyons, F.R.S., Director of the Science Museum, in the matter, the effects were carefully examined, when not only were there discovered eight more note-books-one containing an illustrated account of Hughes's invention of the microphone-but also numerous instruments.
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SWINTON, A. Recovery of Hughes's Original Microphones and Other Instruments of Historic Interest. Nature 109, 485 (1922). https://doi.org/10.1038/109485a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/109485a0