The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-12-12
A Talking Machine.

A Talking Machine. :
There is now in the city worry curious
piece Of mechanism which in.imates MOI
only the various sounds Of tho human voice.
but combines them into words and sem
fences. It has been exhibited to members
of,ho press by the inventor. Professor
Fabers Erben, at his rooms 10 Barnum's
Hotel, who explained tho workings Of tho
contrivauco. Talking machines havo been
invented at various times, but this is tho
only one that has combined such great
range Of uttcranco with such perfect artic..
ula,iou. The machinci, complete system
of,ubcs, levers. and modifying appliances,
being adjusted so as to produce tho effect
Of the diGcrou. muscles used In ar!iOula.
ton.
Tho largest portion Of the apparatus iss
bellows, which performs the same func.
tions rs tho lungs in tue human body.
This feeds a variety Of tubes through which
the sound escapes which are managed BY
fourteen levers each representing vowel
or consouant, and extending out to n sort
of key board, by tho manipulation Of
which the various combinations Of sound
arc produced. Here sits the performer.
tho Professors wife who manages tho
machine with great doxterity. The aonsi.
tivcuess Other ear is remarkable, inasmuch
as sho makes tho machine speak 10 lam
guage foreign to her. when shc necessarily
must initiate each word from recollection Of
tho sound. The many combinations some
times necessary to express single word
demands skill and rapidity on her part. Y
Leading from tho bellows is wiudpipe'
for the conduction Of tho dir. and an India
rubber laryuz, with vocal cords, modelled
after those Of . human being, opening and
closiug 10 the same manner. The sonnd
escapes from an imitation Of the human
naulh aqpss3 s~ ssiseSf wsOaTviske
alp Of Feather, and tho lower jaw ol India
rubber aud tongue Of flexible rubber. -
There is also passage for the escape Of
tho air whom tho mouth is closed, IN imita-
ton Of tho vent which 10 the human Or
gsnism isa!forded BY the nostrils.z .py
Fourteen sounds are all that are used by
the machine for the production Of speech
All tho others sounds are produced ors Of
those fourteen BY combination or by modi-
flying their action either by separating tho
vocal chords or bringing them together.
The Professor yesterday made the ma
chine utter sibilant cultural, laughing
and other inar.iculate sounds II then ut.
tered many difcrnent names and shorts
sentences. Its articulation is somewhat
allow. but is very distinct and audiblea Il
speaks German excelleotly, the harsh, gut.
terul sound being initiated exactly; its Eu.
glish has German accent now aud then.
showing the nativity Of the INVENTOR
When it speaks French mask is attached.
having apparatus by which means tho ussal
sound Of the French tongue is inflated
This mask is rather gtsstly simulacrum
Of 10 human face. The eyes move aud tho
mouth works, and the words pour out. but
tho immovability Of the features aud tue
absence ofexpression creates weird and
uncanny feeling in the spectator.
The Professor says that the machine can
sing as we'll as talk. its voice having COM
pass oftwo octaves, but as tho arrangement
was not in order he was unable to give an
example Of its performance. Tho Profess
sor hos many testimonials from scientific
men 10 every civilized country, and from
many European oourts.-BalIin'ore Ca
zette.