As early as the 1770s, inventors have been constructing elaborate contraptions to mimic the sound of the human voice. Early machines attempted to mechanically reproduce the speech apparatus using an air source such as an organ or bellows, and implemented false vocal chords and mechanical tongues. Wolfgang von Kempelen, also famous for inventing the Turk, crafted a speaking machine in the 1780s which was reputedly able to utter understandable words and short sentences. And a device later constructed by Joseph Faber (pictured) was able to synthesize singing. It’s nifty to see the ingenuity of these early innovators.
Link: Wolfgang von Kempelen’s speaking machine and its successors
First! Finally. Can’t belive that no-one found this one out and posted a first on it. Think that this one might link over to the Glass Armonica?
Second! DI. I’ve been working my way up from the beginning of the site and this page gets the prize for the least comments so far. It’s also one of the shortest articles…but still incredible that people centuries ago were so resourceful.
You like this, do a search on Heron (Hero) of Alexandria.
Heron of Alexandria was a Greek that lived around 60 AD. He invented a theater in which all actions were performed by simple robotics. The characters movements were controlled by spinning drums, strings, and pegs, understand that the cog, gear, and spring were not invented yet. So these mechanical actors were not clockwork driven. I wonder if this thing was as temperamental as a real actor?
His mechanical play involved automatically opening curtains, changing scenery, moving waves, ships sailing, fish jumping, thunder, wind, puppets cutting wood, building ships, etc. Quite an achievement considering the mechanics behind the operation of the device, and that all one had to do is turn a crank to wind string on the drum(s). Then flip a lever and the play commenced start to finish without any more involvement from a human.
His theater also had tables that moved around the room by themselves offering refreshments. Yet in our more advanced culture we still have to leave the auditorium for the snack bar and miss some exciting or vital portion of the entertainment.
He invented the vending machine. Drop a five- drachma coin into the device and it would disperse water for possible sacramental purposes.
Next time you see a fire engine, thank Heron because he invented the engine’s basic design for pumping water.
Heron is also accredited with the invention of both the water and wind organ. Predecessors of the modern church and baseball air organs used today. How lame would the baseball charge be without the toe-tapping tones from the organ?
Another of his achievements was the construct of mechanical animals that performed certain tasks. Birds that sang due to water flow, or animals that drank any liquid offered them. He invented many tabletop entertainments; for instance one automation had the head of an animal that you could seemingly severe by a knife. The head did not fall from the body and afterward the mechanical animal drank from a bowl.
You have to admit that these were pretty amazing constructs for the time.
The Don