17. Mozart and Beethoven used Benjamin Franklin’s Harmonica Invention
Benjamin Franklin invented the glass armonica, also known as harmonica, in 1761. Originally the harmonica was created as a gift to his daughter so that they could play music together. Franklin made the glass harmonic while he worked as a glassblower in London. He put about a dozen glass bowls together, each with their own size, shape, and sound. This invention quickly took off in London and soon famous musicians, such as Beethoven and Mozart were composing music with it. Unfortunately, the glass harmonica would become a forgotten instrument by the 1820s.
