And the following paper dates of September 22, 1903. It is probably the *best* one - in the meaning of laudatory - ever written about a nose flute (besides mines, for sure:). Well, maybe the journalist was paid a bit for that, contrarywise to me!
From Decatur Daily Democrat (Indiana), Sep. 22, 1903:
"So simple is the instrument that all one has to do is to place it to the lips-think of some selection you wish to play. This marvelous instrument immediately play the selection itself."
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a mind-jukebox, playing automatically whatever the person thinks of whilst holding the wondrous Humanatone to his lips. I want one of those!
I used to put in so much effort; I totally did it the wrong way! I suppose I must have had the wrong type of nose flute... All I actually had was a W&L, as my parents couldn't afford the fancier Humanatone...
The Humanatone is a true classic: still way ahead of its time! Don't we all want one?! I wonder how they technologically pulled it off... maybe we can tell from the original patent... oh no, it's not on there! It looks like the knowledge and process are lost forever!
The announcement really sounds like one of those sideshows from cloud cuckoo land, where laxatives were sold as some sort of "magic potion".
Yep :) I'm sure it's a vintage infomercial!
ReplyDelete"The most marvelous musical instrument ever invented." You have to be a child of 6 years of age of 1903 for the wonder to work.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, but it worked: they sold zillions of this!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Antoine