Aeolodion

An Aeolodion is a keyboard instrument invented in the early 19th century by Friedrich Schiedmayer. It is a type of free-reed organ that produces sound by air passing through metal reeds activated by a keyboard mechanism. The instrument predates and is closely related to the harmonium and the accordion. Unlike the harmonium, which uses foot-operated bellows to supply air, the Aeolodion typically used a hand-operated bellows, similar to the accordion. Its sound is often described as delicate and ethereal. The Aeolodion was produced in various sizes and with varying numbers of stops, affecting the tonal range and capabilities. While commercially successful for a period, the Aeolodion was eventually superseded by the harmonium due to the latter's more practical design and foot-powered air supply.