A NEW AUTOMATON.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2950, 30 July 1878, Page 2

A NEW AUTOMATON.

The restless ingenuity,of Mr Maske* lyne might fairly have. been supposed to find a temporary check in his mechanical figures of "Psycho* land "Zoe," whose dumb achievement*'are still" the wonder of the patron* of "England's Home of Mystery," at the Egyptain Hall, Piccadilly ; bat the inventor hw-traveiled from the mute into the musical.world of mechanical contrivance, and in his new auto* maton, " Fanfare," he succeeds inp'aying a brasa [ instrument .by- mechanism. - Mr Maskelyne, in introducing his A latest novelty, while explaining that mechanical trumpeters have been made which would raise a trumpet to the'mouth and apparently blow " bugle calls," alleges that the sounds have been produced by pipes in* sorted within the figure, after the manner of the trumpet-stop of an organ, whereas there is no illusion of this kind in" Fan* fare," but the sounds really proceed from the instrument' which is held-by the automaton. Indeed, the great Piccadilly necromancer, basing his determination on the success of -' the -present invention, is meditating the formation of a mechanical orchestra, consisting of a dozen musicians, who will perform operatic selections under his direction. " Fanfare " is introduced in dress suit, seated on a chair, and is handed round for the inspection of the audience, after the manner of " Psychd" and " Zoe," A cornet-a-piston is put to the figure's lips, a long brass tube, proceeding from some appa- ,

rently air-pumping apparatus,' communicating with the figure. How the result of perfect tunes . is. produced from this automaton will probably remain a secret, with Mr Maskelyne's other mysteries. But the figure plays to Maskelyne's accompanying; cornet the duet of, "I know a bank," and another duet, and subsequently in a trio of cornets played by Mr Maskelyne and his coadjutor, Mr Cooke. It is probable that this novelty will constitute another enduring feature in these pleasing and at the same time perplexing performances. The Chinese plate-spinning and Japanese top-spinning, the extraordinary mechanical exploits of '.Psycho, and " Zoe;" the illusory sketch entitled "Elixis Vitas;" the light and dark seances, and many " mysterious manifestations," continue to make up a bs wildering programme.