[ But why is Ben Franklin's 'Armonica' considered scientific?  One
 [ could also sound a saucer bell with a rosined bow.  What's the
 [ difference if an organ pipe is designed using scientific methods
 [ versus "cut and try?"  -- Robbie

I would guess that somehow Ben had to figure out what size to make
the glass bowls.  He might have done that using some kind of formula,
perhaps whatever the bell makers went by.

Scientific methods in this case would be a math formula that would
suggest the size bowl for the note he wanted.  Or having one bowl,
based on that measurement, using a formula that suggests the next size
for the next note.  I have no idea what these would be.

Come to think of it how did he fine tune his glass bowls? If he didn't
or couldn't I would suggest he got the sizes from a scientific method.

Richard Moody