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Experimental metronome stamped
‘MAELZEL’ on the boxwood
pendulum and ‘M’ on the such as E. Paillard & Cie (Switzerland), Barnett Samuel (London UK),
brass slider, probably made in and Theodor Presser (United States) on the market. These firms in
France c.1815 most cases utilized products from Maelzel or Paquet and re-branded
them, some applying small patented improvements to the mechanisms,
design, or mechanics in order to create uniqueness and distinction in
the marketplace. The quality of some of these smaller manufacturers’
metronomes is often superior to the larger mass produced pieces.
Others simply purchased units from larger manufacturers and added
their own label and brand.

Technology Moves Forward

In 1909, White and Hunter received a patent for a pocket
metronome having a hand which turned complete revolutions, one
revolution to a beat. Its speed was adjustable between 40 and 208
revolutions per minute. “The object of our invention,” they wrote in
their patent application “is to provide a new and improved metronome
which is simple in construction, compact, composed of few parts, not
apt to get out of order and can readily be adjusted to conform in its
beats with the beats of a conductor or the time of a piece of music being
performed and when so adjusted indicates the time at which the musical
piece is performed, on a scale commonly known as the Maelzel
metronome scale, that is, so many beats per minute.”
Cramer and Cocks, both London-based metronome makers, used very With the advent of controlled alternating current (AC), clocks could
similar emblems, with both opting around 1870 to use the generic operate with greater accuracy by using electricity for a steady influx of
language of “Best English Make London – Metronome De Maelzel” on energy, which contributed to the invention of the Franz electric
their products. Prior to this date Cramer metronomes used numerous metronome (1938). In this metronome a synchronous motor, like those
dedications to the outer edge of the front door cartouche depending on used in electric clocks, drives a tempo-beating hammer through a
the production date. Metronomes from both Victorian London firms mechanical reduction which is adjustable from 40 to 208. These
were constructed using the best quality fittings, and the most desirable electro-mechanical units were produced through June, 1994.
wood paneling available, making them highly collectible today. Today the function of the metronome has been replaced by
Established in 1885 by Gustav Wittner (another watchmaker) in software, websites, apps for iPods and other portable MP3 players,
Germany, the Wittner company quickly flourished to become the largest “wearables” with built in software, and smartphones, offering musicians
manufacturer of modern day metronomes. The design, and shape of the and composers a range of different sounds, programmable samples, and
pyramid style metronome have changed little over the course of three endless possibilities. Yet, there is
generations, although new modern patterns and designs prove to be hugely still a market for the classical
successful. In 1921, Gustav’s son Rudolf took over the company at the age metronome among old-school
of 22 to raise the bar from his father’s small hand-to-mouth metronome musicians and collectors, who
business. Rudolf moved the company closer to the Black Forest – the recognize the craftsmanship
source of the wood used in their metronomes, cutting costs for raw and engineering that has made
materials and giving them access to the best available wood. Wittner the metronome an object and
metronomes are made under the leadership of Rudolf’s son, Horst. technology that continues to
Seth Thomas (Conn., 1785-1859) founded his clock company in keep pace with time.
1813 and over the next 45 years built an empire and pioneered mass
production of primarily clocks from his factory in Plymouth Hollow, Sources:
Connecticut. He died in 1859 and the business fell to his sons, Seth Jr., antique-metronomes.com,
Edward, and Aaron. The Seth Thomas company, already hugely franzmfg.com, the blog
successful in the manufacture of clocks, incorporated metronomes into “The Theory of the Music
their catalogue, initially purchasing them from Philippe-Nicolas Paquet Movement,” Smithsonian.com
and re-branded them with the Seth Thomas name and logo. The
company went on to manufacture its own in-house metronome in Metronome, a public art installation
1887, which continued until 1984. in Manhattan’s Union Square, New
While these are some of the better known brands and makers to York, created by Kristin Jones and
know, there were other, smaller antique metronome manufacturers Andrew Ginzel

Yinda bullet-shape mechanical metronome Wittner Tower Line Maelzel A-03 Classical Mechanical Trixes' Portable Mini Metronome
System Metronome with Bell Metronome in clear blue with Earphone Jack
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