Natural Philosophy Collection

Harmonium by Alexandre et fils, Paris

From 1845 to 1880, one of the most potent and influential forces in the Academic world of Aberdeen was Professor David Thomson, whose nickname ‘Davie’ became a household word among University staff and pupils. Six feet four inches tall, lean, commanding and intellectual in appearance; plain-speaking, witty, caustic, clear-headed, devoted to his subject and his teaching: these traits engendered the love and fear of Davie in 35 years’ of Natural Philosophy students. To some he was known as ‘the fiend’. Born in Italy, Thomson was educated up to University age both there and in Switzerland. He was fluent in four modern languages and said to be no mean amateur flautist. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study of ‘Acoustics’ was one of Davie’s favourite subjects, which he illustrated in his classes with numerous demonstrations. For some of these he brought a harmonium into the classroom, playing a few pieces to illustrate the theory of harmony. According to passing comment by the tireless University historian P J Anderson, who was Davie’s assistant for several years, his performances were received with loud and prolonged applause. Our small 4-octave harmonium in oak by Alexandre et fils, found among the Natural Philosophy demonstration apparatus, is contemporary with Professor David Thomson. It is a classic reed organ by one of the developers of this type of instrument, in good enough condition to merit restoration. In spirit, if not indeed in body, it is one of the legacies of Davie’s acoustics demonstrations. John S Reid

John S. Reid