(_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.
As there will be breaks in the direct line of action, use bell-levers
where required.
_Explanation of the Action._—To sound the _mi_ base, the cylinder-pin
for that note would move that lever of the right third finger, which
opens the first flutehole; another pin moves the lever of the tongue; a
third, the _piano_ valve; a fourth is the lip-opener, and a fifth draws
the lips back from the flutehole. In all, five movements, executed at
the same time.