Inspired by a man who played melodies by rubbing his wet fingers around the rims of wine glasses, Franklin built a machine to mimic the process. The player spun glass bowls different sizes for each note on a spindle and pressed wetted fingers to the glass to play tunes.
As a scientist, humorist, diplomat, and ladies man, he was the founding father made of flesh, not marble. Here's a look through the mind of America's premier polymath