The Sonovox – a retro Peter Frampton “Talk Box”

The Sonovox – a retro Peter Frampton “Talk Box”

Whizzer
Bill writes –

“I was listening to an old “Ellery Queen” radio drama via the Internet last week. The program was just okay, but there was a wonderful 1950s vintage radio commercial that included the terrific Bromo Seltzer Talking Train. Whoo Whoo -Bromo-Selzer – Bromo-Selzer – Bromo-Selzer – Bromo-Selzer. Have a listen.

I looked the BS-TT up on the Internet. Evidently, the Talking Train was a big deal in the advertising world back then. It utilized a now ancient sound effects device called a Sonovox.

Sonovox uses small loudspeakers attached to the performer’s throat. It was used in a number of songs from the 1940s to the 1960s, and is used to create the voice of Casey Junior the train in Dumbo and The Reluctant Dragon, the instruments in Rusty in Orchestraville and the piano in Sparky’s Magic Piano”Link.

Has anybody made similar speech effects gizmos? Post up in the comments!

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