To make the arms present themselves firmly and horizontally when the figure turns backwards, furnish the arms with two small pulleys, concentric to the axis of the motion of these arms, over which run two silk threads, uniting under the front of the figure, and fixed to a small cross-bar joining the middle of the thighs. Adjust these threads till there is no unsteadiness in the figure when it is placed up or down on its four supporters.
Generally a box is made to contain this figure, and open out into being the flight of stairs to be performed upon.
THE AUTOMATON FLUTE-PLAYER.
(The Masterpiece of Vaucanson.)
A figure is made of about quarter life size. (Vaucanson’s stood five feet and a half.) In it and its pedestal are contained these works:—A strong spring, which, when wound up, moves nine bellows, three rows of three each. One set is soft, one medium, and one forte. Three separate reservoirs receive the air from each series, each by a valve letting it then into a single pipe ending in the figure’s mouth.
The same spring makes a barrel, on which is mounted an air, as usual in organs, revolve. Its pins set three levers in play, which connect, by chains, with the three valves, and so control the force required, whether natural, forte, or piano.
Another lever moves a chain which opens or shuts a tongue in the figure’s mouth, in order to emit or stop all sounds.
Of four other levers, one opens the lips, one closes them; one draws them back, and one moves them forward.
Seven other levers communicate with the seven fingers, which do all the fingering, and make them move properly.