Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1877 — Automaton Talkers. [ARTICLE]

Automaton Talkers.

A talking machine is said to have been invented which is able to say, ‘‘ I was born in America. I can speak all languages, and I am very pleased to see you. I thank you for your visit.” It has been humorously suggested that an apparatus of this kind could be used to announce the stations to railway passengers. This service is now performed by brakemen, and often in a way that makes the names almost unintelligible. The machine is said to contain a mechanical reproduction of the human lungs, larynx, glottis and tongue. It is operated by a bellows, and is supplied with a keyboard and pedals. If the sound can be produced, there would be no difficulty iu arranging the apparatus to run automatically, like a music box. Imagine a mysterious voice in each car of a train saying at intervals, “ The next stop is at New York I” In connection with this subject it may be mentioned that Psyche, the famous automaton chess-player of London, continues to be a great success, after about two J ears of constant exhibition. No one as yet been able to discover the mode by which it is operated.