by Joe_DS »
Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:28 pm
That was one of several early talking dolls, produced during the period of the late 1890s/early 1900s, incorporating a small talking machine or phonograph; normally powered by turning a crank. There's a brief summary on this page, describing models manufactured by various companies, including the Berliner Talking Doll --
SEE:
http://www.intertique.com/ArticulateDoll.htmNeedless to say, many of these are EXTREMELY RARE today.
The same basic technology -- a small record played by a stylus connected to diaphragm -- was used for the talking dolls produced in later decades. More contemporary examples--from the late 1950s onward--used a pull-string spring-powered motor. Probably the most famous example, in the US, is "Chatty Cathy" --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatty_CathyWhile small, battery operated (digital) voice boxes have replaced the all mechanical mechanisms in modern talking dolls, a few pull-string mechanical models are still available ---
http://www.amazon.com/Jessie-Pull-Strin ... B001TWHIXK