Editing Metronome (section)

===Electromechanical metronomes===
[[File:Franz metronome.jpg|right|thumb|Franz eletromechanical metronome]]
Electromechanical metronomes were invented by Frederick Franz in the US and patented in 1953.<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/US2715841A/ "Patent US 2,715,841: Drive mechanism for electric metronomes or the like—Frederick Franz, West Haven, Conn."] (1953).</ref> Instead of a clockwork or a [[Crystal oscillator|quartz crystal]], a plug-in electric motor operates the mechanism. Most use a [[Adjustable-speed drive#Mechanical drives|mechanical variable-speed drive]] combination with a momentary switch and a cam wheel to time the beats. A frequent feature is an embedded [[neon lamp]] that flashes in time with the beat. Franz and Yamaha were common manufacturers in the 1960s and 1970s; a popular model was the Franz LB4.

After the fall of the [[Soviet Bloc]] in 1991, the {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=on}} electromechanical [[Prague Metronome]] was installed as a silent [[kinetic sculpture]] overlooking the city, an inverted pendulum symbolizing the passage of time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/prague-s-iconic-metronome-celebrates-30-years-of-relentlessly-ticking-into-the-future |title=Prague uncovered: The iconic Metronome celebrates 30 years of relentlessly ticking into the future |first=Raymond |last=Johnston |work=Expats.cz |date=2021-05-14 |access-date=2024-02-15}}</ref> It may still be the world's largest metronome, although [[Geneva]] (since 1972) and [[Gdańsk]] (since 2016) each have a larger [[pendulum clock]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patrimoine-horloge.fr/mec-geneve.html |title=Genève [Geneva] |first=Gérard |last=Guilbaud |publisher=Patrimoine-Horloge |language=fr |access-date=2024-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.muzeumgdansk.pl/komunikaty/814591/rusza-konkurs-na-nowa-nazwe-dla-rekordowego-zegara-z-muzeum-nauki-gdanskiej |title=Rusza konkurs na nową nazwę dla rekordowego zegara z Muzeum Nauki Gdańskiej [A competition for a new name for the record clock from the Gdańsk Science Museum is starting] |first=Andrzej |last=Gierszewski |publisher=Gdańsk Museum |language=pl |date=2023-06-29 |access-date=2024-02-15}}</ref>