The Schnellar Timpani, have been used by the Concertgebouw timpanists since 1910, are a rare breed of drums. Hans Schnellar experimented with the making of timpani and produced many different types of drums of which many are still being used and featured because of their sound quality. He initiated the concept of pushing the kettle upwards instead of pulling the rim down, and possibly the system of one flesh hoop with clamps is also his idea. His crank operated instruments are still being used [in a revised version by Hochrainer] in the Wiener Philharmoniker. The RCO has the only pair of pedal drums [ mentioned in the instrumentation book of Berlioz/Strauss] with a pair of salon pauken and a rotary piccolo. Marinus Komst personally owns a pair of machine drums in original state.

   Maestro Schnellar in Vienna, Mahlers time.       His experiment with a wooden timpano

 The original Schnellar machine timpani                   My former drums, developed by                     [M.J.Komst]                                Hans Schnellar for Wunderlich Pauken.