Improvements in or relating to Talking Figures.
Year: 1889

page_text: .Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1890-Accepted 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Talking Figures.
I HENRY BARNARD CHALON of No. 47 Finsbury Circus London E.C. Accountant
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1 propose to apply the phonograph invented by Mr. Edison, or as improved by any
other person, to the interiors of figures of life size or larger in stone metal, wood,
wax, papier machè, or other material.
That these shall be representatives of eminent personages or notorieties which
shall appear in their own persons, apparently to utter words in prose, verse, or in
conversations that they have spoken, or are reported to have spoken or written during
their lives, or reputed lives-Also to produce such representations of living people,
and to repeat actual speeches, lectures, songs, recitations, or whistling, uttered, sung
or whistled by them-Or to cause supernatural appearances to appear to speak in the
same manner as living persons.
Duind this 90th dow of November 1880
HENRY BARNARD CHALON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Talking Figures.
I HENRY BARNARD CHALON care of Messrs. Ashley Tee & Sons Solicitors
7 Frederick Place Old Jewry E.C. Accountant late of Finsbury Circus E.C.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The realistic effect of the phonograph is somewhat lessened by the voice appearing
to issue from the box of the phonograph itself.
My invention giving a representation of the person supposed to be speaking
singing, or whistling thus adds materially to the realism-I apply the phonograph
to figures, photographic or other representations of the size desired but by preference,
of that of life, in stone, metal, wood, wax, papier machè, or other material, that these
shall be representations of personages or imaginary characters who shall apparently
in person, utter words or sounds, or to cause apparently supernatural beings to give
forth utterances. These figures or representations may be complete or in parts,
having if desired interchangeable masks, pictures or photographic representations of
faces or different parts of faces, or figures or parts of figures, and can be used,
constructed so that the eyes and lips may be opened or closed at will so as to add to
the realistic appearances of the contrivances.
I operate my invention as follows either by separate figures made of wax, or other
substance, of any size-Or by a block upon which I can change the masks at will, or
a picture may be used containing a single figure or groups of figures, and an operator
may apply the phonograph to any one of the figures, or to all in succession.
When complete figures or interchangeable masks are used I prefer to apply my
invention to the interiors of figures-for a permanent institution I prefer the full
figures, and the pictures but for convenience of removal from place to place, I prefer
to use the block with movable masks.
My invention being an application of the phonograph I prefer to place the
instrument inside the heads or chests of figures, busts, or representations of figures,
or at the back if a flat picture, photographic representation medallion in relief, or
orherwise with the mouthpiece of the phonograph close to the lips of the figure but

page_text: 1 may apply the phonograph externally whether at the sides, underneath or at a
distance from the figure or representation of the figure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1
claim is―
1-The application of the phonograph to figures, or representations of figures
internally or externally.
2-The construction of blocks with interchangeable masks or parts of figures.
3-The application of the phonograph to the blocks with interchangeable masks or
parts of figures.
4 Application of the phonograph to figures, masks or pictures, the eyes and mouths
of which may be movable at will.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of February 1890.