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“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

October 30, 1894: Henri Lioret was granted a U.S. patent (No.528,273) for a talking doll, which was eventually manufactured as the “Bebe Jumeau.” This was the first spring-driven talking doll using interchangeable cylinders (made of celluloid).

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

Thanks for sharing. I have to wonder how many of these were made compared to the Edison doll. The early patent drawings are really interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Ken Brekke

You're welcome, Ken.

Here's the second page of Lioret drawings.
George P.

Amazing detail and no CAD at that time.

The same mechanism that was used in the Lioret Talking Doll was fitted into a cardboard case and sold as the 'Merveilleux' in the 1890s. A very ingenious and compact design, with a push-button start and automatic stop.

TinfoilPhono wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 1:25 pm The same mechanism that was used in the Lioret Talking Doll was fitted into a cardboard case and sold as the 'Merveilleux' in the 1890s. A very ingenious and compact design, with a push-button start and automatic stop.

That's very interesting. I always saw the Merveilleux as a sort of a toy then the conventional machine it was apparently sold as.