On the front page of the "Review" supplement to this morning's "Sunday
Telegraph" (21st April) is a feature about the Automaton Chess Playing
Turk first exhibited by its maker, Wolfgang von Kempelen, in 1770.

There is an interesting account of its travels around Europe and
its history, including playing games against Napoleon Bonaparte and
Benjamin Franklin.  Apparently, a number of eminent scientists,
including Charles Babbage, attempted to either discover its secret or
discredit the invention; it was not until 1857 that it was declared a
fake and that a human had been cleverly concealed within the cabinet.

The piece is also featured on pages 56-59 of Arthur Ord-Hume's
"Clockwork Music".  The automaton was ultimately sold to The Chinese
Museum in Philadelphia and destroyed in a fire there in 1854.

The author of the article, Tom Standage, has written a book about
the chess player:  "The Mechanical Turk: The true story of the
chess-playing machine that fooled the world" (Allen Lane).  The price
in the UK is GBP 11.99 plus GBP 1.99 p&p and is available from
Telegraph Books Direct on (in the UK) 0870 155 7222.  No ISBN number is
given, but I imagine it will be available through outlets other than
the Telegraph.

It's not strictly mechanical music, but I'm sure some MMDers might
fight it interesting.

Best wishes,

Russell Wattam,
West Yorkshire,
England.