Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1909 — Mechanical Violin. [ARTICLE]

Mechanical Violin.

“The mechanical orchestra has a new recruit. The piano, mandolin, guitar and banjo are comparatively old members, and they have all Improved since they first made their appearance,” says Flgarp. Now comes the violin. On the Instrument a keyboard Is arranged having dozen* of fingers where the human player would have but five. In place of the txYw there are a dozen movable disks, and these as well as the keys which take the place of the player’s left hand aYe operated by small electric motors. Solos and duets are equally easy for the mechanical violin, and It executes the compositions of a Paganini as easily as the exercises of a beginner. The violin-player Is the Invention of a Frenchman, who seems to have conquered everything except the question of price. The small but Intricate piece of mechanism can onw be sold for no less than 5,000 francs.” Sfxteeh ounces of gold be sufficient to gild * wire that would' encircle the earth.'