Beyer, —

German physician.

While living in Paris, he invented an instrument, in the form of a miniature piano, composed of glass bars struck by hammers. Franklin agreed to name the instrument “glass- chord,” and purchased one to bring back to Philadelphia (1785).

The instrument was played publicly by a pianist named Schunck (November 1785) and was used at the Opera to replace the magic flute in the Mystères d’Isis.