[78-L] Berliner Talking Doll

[AllenAmet at aol.com]

Hi,
 
 Collectors (and other students of recorded sound) will probably want  to 
obtain (or at least read) the forthcoming issue of Antique Doll  Collector 
(March 2011). It will feature a full color cover article on the  discovery of 
the 2nd known K&R talking doll. The first (donated by the  mfr) is at 
Tenneberg Castle in Waltershausen.
 
 There had been initial plans to bring the doll to market, with its 3"  
Berliner discs in 3 languages, as early as May of 1890, but no public  
advertisement for it has been seen until March of 1894 (for the Leipzig  
Ostermesse). That ad is being published, in full, for the first time in over 100  years.
 
  We can only hope that this publicity brings others out of the  woodwork, 
so that the total discography will come to more than  the existing two (in 
German and English)! Only the French disc has yet to  surface.
 
  In case anyone wants to add this well-researched and illustrated  story 
(many color photos) to their library, here is the  (toll-free) contact (I 
think the ppd total for the glossy mag is  about $6):
   
Antique Doll  Collector: 1-888-800-2588

Considering what had transpired with Edison's own foray into the  market, 
Kammer and Reinhardt were very brave, or perhaps foolhardy. The  Lioret model 
(with a real motor and unbreakable cylinders) was more  successful than 
either.
 
  The original DRGM patent 26570 (contents) is almost  impossible to obtain.
 
Best
Allen