In reply to:

That pedal-driven instrument with the glass bowls was pretty neat.




I believe that is an Armonica. Allegedly it was invented by Ben Franklin, and is considered the first instrument invented in the US. The Armonica was "lost" for many decades until one was finally successfully recreated in 1982 (after Corning Glass and MIT failed to do so in the 1950s).

I have never heard them, but the Glass Orchestra of Canada performs on custom glass instruments, and still performs in Toronto.

Rich (Mr. Uselss Trivia)