THE MECHANICAL MAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 December 1927, Page 7

THE MECHANICAL MAN

AMERICA’S LATEST WONDER

Aluch curiosity has been aroused by the demonstration given by the Westinghouse Electric Company, in New York of a new machine known as the “mechanical man,” which is said to obey the human voice and execute orders^ The mechanism, it is stated, responds only to sound, and has to be addressed in the exact key to which it is attuned, or it fails to act. When spoken to at a certain pitch of voice, the machine, it is claimed, lit a series of lights, started an electric fan, turned on a searchlight, operated a vacuum sweeper, and started a signal lamp. The "mechanical man” not only obeys orders, but gives information, and, according to Renter’s correspondent, three of these machines are already employed to keep a check on the reservoirs in connection with tho Washington 'water supply. The height of the water regulates instruments, so that, on a telephonic inquiry being made, the machine utters one of its characteristic notes a certain number of times, according toi the height of the water.