Great Exhihition of the American Institute at the Crystal Palace, New York: Fifth Week. The Fair continues to attract thousands of visitors from all parts of the country. The day fixed for the closing was October 25, but we presume the time will be extended until the public attendance materially diminishes. . .
We continue our usual reports of the novelties on exhibition. Besides those annexed, it will be observed that our illustrations this week, are neatly all taken from objects at the Palace. Another noticeable fact is, that nearly all of the most prominent objects, in the mechanical line, in the Exhibition, have been illustrated and described in the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. . .
Pianofortes and Melodeons.
Messrs. R. G. Nellis & Co., 547 Broadway, N. Y., exhibit one of Speer and Marx’s patent (1852) Culindron, or Cylindrical Pianofortes, which presents a very beautiful and ornamental appearance. It occupies a prominent position in the central part of the Palace, and is the "observed of all observers." The principal feature of novelty consists in having the strings arranged around an upright hollow cylinder, which forms the sounding-board. It is alleged that a cylindrical sounding-board acts on the principle of a drum, and gives a certain roundness, fullness, and richness of note which the ordinary instruments do not possess. Another advantage is that two pianos may be combined in one, with but little increase of space. Thus the instrument at The Palace has two key-boards, and is, in fact, a double piano. It is elegantly finished and makes a fine display. The position in which it is placed, however, is very bad for sound, and the merits of the invention are, therefore, not so fully apparent as they otherwise would be. Mr. R. G. Nellis uses, in connection with the instrument, a recently-patented contrivance relating to the working parts. For an engraving and full description of the Culindron see SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, Vol. 8, page 73.
William Miller, 158 East 21st st., New York, exhibits several improved pianos, the novelty consisting in stringing some of the lower or bass octaves over the center of the sounding-board. The wires for these octaves extend the whole length of the piano. It is claimed that instruments thus made have a certain richness and fullness of sound that other pianos do not possess.
Messrs. Chickering & Co., Boston, Mass., exhibit a magnificent grand piano, and several others, large and small, which evince the most careful and excellent workmanship.
Henry Hanson, 100 Center St., New York, exhibits a new diagonal scale piano.
William Compton, 103 East 40th at., exhibits a patent arch-shape wrest plank plate, and, reversible bridge piano.
Anthony Kuhn, Baltimore, Md., exhibits a grand patent Harp Dulciana piano. It is a beautiful object. A large and splendid harp crowns the upper part of the instrument) whose strings, when the keys are played, send out delicious sounds.
Among other fine specimens of pianos and melodeons we notice those exhibited by T. Gilbert & Co., Boston, Mass., Taylor & Farley, Worcester, Mass., Earnest Gabler, N. Y., Grovesteen & Truslow, N. Y., Horace Waters, N.Y., Schultz & Ludoloff N.Y., Steinway & Sons, N. Y., Theodore Roz, N. Y. (Scientific American, 25.10.1856)


American Institute Prizes. The following are the lists of the Gold and the Silver Medals which have been awarded by the American Institute for novel machines and such like articles exhibited. A great number of good machines were awarded Bronze Medals; we would have published these with pleasure, but have followed our usual practice, and give only the gold and silver plizes, because our room is limited. A number of the machines exhibited had been awarded Gold and Silver Medals at some previous Exhibition, and only received Diplomas at this one; these we do not notice, because we published them when former prizes when granted. The Examining Committees have been rather dilatory in making their awards. This gives their actions, the appearance of great caution and due deliberation. We hope this has been so in reality.
Gold Medals.
Pinney, Youngs & Co., Milwaukie. Wis., Sawing Machine.
C. H. Denison, Green River, Vt., Double Planing Machine with rotary bed for wood.
H. H. Crozier, Oswego, N.Y., Barrel Machine.
N. W. Robinson, Keeseville, N.Y.. Barrel Machine.
Allen & Wheelock, Worcester, Mass., Breech-loading Rifle, &c.
Ames Manufacturing Co., Chicopee. Mass., for Ball’s Patent Safety Steam Pump.
Lee & Larned, New York, Steam Fire Engine.
Fairbanks & Co., New York, Iron-Frame Railroad Scales.
Alfred E. Beach, Stratford. Ct., Printing Telegraph for tbe Blind.
Bernard Hughes, Rochester, N.Y., Atmospheric Trip Hammers.
Chickering & Sons, Boston, Grand Action Pianos.
George 11. Reynolds, Medford, Mass., Non-condensing Steam Engine.
John North, Middletown, Ct., Book-folding Machine.
Calvin Kline, New York, Marine Chronometers.
J. Gurney, New York, Photographic Portraits (untouched.)
Fire Engine No. 12. Brooklyn.
Silver Medals.
J. F. Starrett, New York City, Power Printing Pressfor Music.
James Frost, New York, Specimens of Electrotyping.
J. P. Humaston, New Haven, Ct., Compositors’ Transmitters.
Calvin Kline, New York, Ships Binnacles and Compasses.
Daniels & Raymond, Woodstock, Vt., Cotton Picker.
Wm. Benjamin & Co., New York, Power Looms.
John Matthews, New York, Soda Water Apparatus.
Reeve & Co., New York, Gas Regulator.
Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, Ct., Brass Tubing, Sheet of Brass, Roll of Brass and Copper Wire.
Springfield Tool Co., Springfield, Mass., Engine Lathe.
Boston Steam Gauge Co., Boston Mass Steam Gauge.
Novelty Iron Works, New York, best besign of an Oscillating and Non-condensing Steam Engine.
Wm. S. Gate, New York, Steam Fire Regulator.
Steinway & Sons, New York, Grand Action Pianoforte.
Mason & Hamblin Boston, Mass., Organ Melodeon.
R. F. Washburn, New York, Ships’ Pump.
Fulton, Perkins & Co., Chicago, Ill, Taper Sawing Machine.
Wallace & George Bull, Towanda, Pa., Sawing Machine for stone or marble.
Starbuck Bros., Troy, N. Y., Stone Dressing Machine.
John Parshley, Fair Haven, Ct., Machine for Pressing Brick.
B. J. Burnett, Mount Vernon, N.Y., best Model of a Crane.
James Horner & Co., New York, best samples of Cast Steel.
E. A. Swan, Gowanus, N. V., Marble Carving Machine.
Speed & Bailey, Jersey City, N.J., Copper Tubes.
E. N. Kent, U. S. Assay Office, New York, Gold Separator and Amalgamator.
E. M. Bullock, New York, Model of New York City.
Magnolia Cotton Gin Co., Bridgewater, Mass., Cotton Gin.
Slisby. Mynderse & Co., Seneca Falls, N.Y., specimens of Pumps.
John Matthews, New York, a self.acting machine for manufacturing soda water.
R.L. Allen, New York, Mowing Machine.
Silsby, Mynderse & Co., Seneca Falls, N.Y., Steam Fire Engine.
Taylor, Campbell & Co., Brooklyn, N.Y., Feed Pump and Fire Engine.
W. Hicks, New York, Percussion Caps.
Asa Landphere, Erie, Pa., Spoke Machine.
America Hoop Machine Co., Fitchburg, Mass., Hoop Planing and Pole Splitting Machine.
W. L. & D. L. Ormsby, New York, Automaton Sawer and Wood Splitter.
Vergennes Scale Co., Vergennes, Ct., Railrood and Hay Scales.
Sayfert, McMannus & Co., Reading, Pa., Machine for Planing and Turning Barrell Heads.
The following are the total number of Prizes awarded

GOLE MEDALS,. . . . 19
GOLD MEDALS CERTIFIED, . . 36
SILVER MEDALS, . . . . 100
SILVER MEDALS CERTIFIED, . . 64
SILVER CUPS, . . . .17
BRONZE MEDALS, . . . .215
DIPLOMAS, . . . . .392
BOOKS, (Vols.) . . . . 75

We have not given the Gold and Silver Medals awarded for agricultural specimens, or specimens of the fine arts. This is the reason why the total number differs from the number we have published of the two classes of medals.(Scientific American, 23.11.1856)


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