Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > November 1996 > 1996.11.27 > 06Prev  Next


Little Magic Dolls - Are They Automata ?
By Damon Atchison

I once saw on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, sometime in the late 1700s a French clockmaker made two dolls which automatically played their custom built insturments. The girl played her organ with a miniature keyboard, and her hands accually moved along with each of her little fingers and she played a song. She could also breathe. There was a boy too, but he wasn't so great.

Does anyone know what those magic mystics in a box behind glass are commonly referred to as? In the 1920s they were popular, you put a nickel in their slot and their eyes lit up and the popped out a fortune for you. I don't know how they worked, and that's precisely what I'd like to know. Were they pnuematically operated?

Damon Atchison
Damon66@aol.com

(Message sent Thu 28 Nov 1996, 01:20:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Are, Automata, Dolls, Little, Magic, They

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page