Constructing a Reputation, 1866–1879

Abstract

Koenig and/or an assistant tuned and polished each one through a combination of well-trained hands and ears. These activities represent an extremely time-consuming, labour-intensive approach to making and using the fundamental instrument of nineteenth-century acoustics. On a broader level, they represent the values of his Parisian workshop – perfection, purity, precision, mastery, beauty, quality, concealment and dependability. In the 1860 s and 70 s the context of acoustical practice changed rapidly due to developments in Koenig’s acoustical workshop. Acousticians, like practitioners in many fields, had long been gravitating towards automation and de-skilling.¹ In post- Sensations acoustics, Koenig encouraged these trends through dozens of graphical instruments and the clock fork (CR no. 32).