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The World Of AcousticsThe Evolving World of Acoustics and Vibration TechnologiesIn 1876, a British scientist called Sir Frances Galton developed a whistling instrument to investigate the higher frequency range of human hearing—in other words, to measure human differences in hearing acuity. In 1900, a German physicist named Max Thomas Edelmann and his son modified Galton’s device to create the curious-looking tool presented in this picture. Capable of generating sounds at frequencies as high as 30,000 Hz (the upper audible frequency limit for a cat) when air is blown into the mouthpiece, this tool holds a significant place in the history of both hearing acuity tests and acoustic measurements.Interview made possible by the cooperation of the Museum for the Science of Sound, Kobayasi Institute of Physical ResearchPhoto by Yuki AkabaGalton’s ultrasonic whistle[Edelmann pipe]Owned by the Museum for the Science of Sound, Kobayasi Institute of Physical ResearchThe World Of Acoustics