Codex Madrid II, folio 76r

Continuous Pipe

Folio 76r of Codex Madrid II is devoted entirely to the study of innovative musical instruments. The projects share the desire to create astonishment for the listener through the emission of uninterrupted sound.

In the case of the Continuous Pipe, the musician wore the instrument using straps and used one arm to move the two bellows to the left and right, uninterruptedly pumping air into the flute. A hook attached to the player's belt held the instrument body in place.

What makes this design so unique is the Leonardo's idea of having the bellows moving alternately. As one pushed air into the pipe, the other filled with air and vice versa. The result was the production of a continuous air flow.

Other machines