The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-27
THE LATEST WONDER.
An Ingenious Mechanical Device That
Tells the Time Of Day.

An Ingenious Mechanical Device That
Tells the Time Of Day.
Prof. Charles Richel. the inventor OF
the flying machine. which created SO
much interest a few years ago. is COM
plotting a mechanical wonder which is
Al astonishing piece Of mechanism.
II promises TO create a great Juror
throughout the country. He has been
over a year experimenting with il. and
has at last achieved results which at
the outstart seemed impossible. He
Was given carte-blanche from a large
watch manufacturing concern to get I'D
the novelty. time and expense being a
secondary consideration Prof. Richel
has kept the matter secret. and has
permitted no n TO enter his study
excepting one or two intimate friends.
a reporter was given a private view
recently
The entrance 10 the studio is by way
Of a dark staircase on John street, op-
po>itr the rear OF the North Congrega-
tionaI church. Double doors. a screen
and "a heavy curtain shut out the day
light Electric lights are used % work
b.. There are all sorts of grotescue
heads. arms and bits OF plaster anatomy
hanging around the room. and upon
the workbench are brass mods and a
variety OF fine tools for the purpose OF
working in steel and brass.
The new wonder Is a life-sized youth
OF perhaps sixteen years OF age. He
i a fine-loohing lad. in perfect imita-
ton Of the average boy Of the present
day. The figure stands upon the floor.
and Is attirei in kniche-bockers and
laced shoes. vest. oar. etc.-tO all ap-
pearances a living boy. Prof. Richel
did not approach the figure. but spoke
TO it. SAYING: Good evening. Bobby:
what time i it?" The figure turned
its head and bowed slightly, and
with Its left hand pulled back the
coat. The right hand. which had been
hanging at the side. was lifted up to
the vest pocket and drew out a watch.
The watch was then carried up to the
ear. at the same time the head turned
so as TO bring the ear down in a listen
iny attitude, while the eyes closed.
When the silent youth vas assured
that the watch was ticking. the hand
dropped slightly forward: the head
turned &c a. 10 bring the face TO look
full al the watch. the eyes opened and
2 pleased smile spread over his feat
ure-. The head was then thrown back.
the hand which held the watch be-
tween the thumb and index finger re-
turned the watch TO the vest pocket
and was hen gracefully swung back
into its resting position by the side.
The mouth opened. and with a pleas
a n laugh the figure said: Its just
haltpast eight. gentlemen"
So naturally was all this performed
that for an instant il seemed aS II the
figure was an actual living being.
There was no jerky movement. nor the
slightest jar or noise The eyes opened
and closed. and the head moved about
TO all appearances ike a living one
Prof. Richel laughed and said: What
do you hink OF it, and then proceeded
20 explain how il was operated. Inside
the figure Is an electric motor. This
haG. bean SGT n operation by touching
a concealed button il the floor several
feet away from where the professor
had been standing. Afterward he
opened The chest Of the figure and ex-
posed the All springs. w~eigh-bal-
ance-. spiral and levers which had
caused the arms and head to move.
The clevereSt parts are those which
cause the wrist. thumb and fingers 10
move. The articulatory mechanism is
very similar 10 that employed in a
phonoCraph.- Bridgeport Cor. y. /.
World.