The "Dresden" model of tuning, involving steel technology and employing a foot petal with ratchet in order to attach the device to the timpani, was invented by Carl Pittrich. This technology allowed for timpani to be tuned much faster by the musician.
Carl Pittrich's invention of the "Dresden" tuning method for timpani, using steel technology and a foot pedal with a ratchet mechanism, enabled musicians to tune the drums more quickly.