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MMD > Archives > November 1996 > 1996.11.27 > 06Prev  Next


Little Magic Dolls - Are They Automata ?
By Damon Atchison

I once saw on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, sometime in the late 1700s a
French clockmaker made two dolls which automatically played their
custom built insturments.  The girl played her organ with a miniature
keyboard, and her hands accually moved along with each of her little
fingers and she played a song. She could also breathe.  There was a boy
too, but he wasn't so great.

Does anyone know what those magic mystics in a box behind glass are
commonly referred to as?  In the 1920s they were popular, you put a
nickel in their slot and their eyes lit up and the popped out a fortune
for you.  I don't know how they worked, and that's precisely what I'd
like to know.  Were they pnuematically operated?

Damon Atchison¶
Damon66@aol.com

(Message sent Wed, 27 Nov 1996 20:20:03 -0500 , from time zone -0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Are, Automata, Dolls, Little, Magic, They

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