Psychic gramophone of 1932

Cory Doctorow 1:01 am Thu Dec 20, 2007

From the November, 1932 issue of Modern Mechanix, this skeptical account of a telepath-powered gramaphone!

Major Raymond Phillips, O.M.E., late member of the Inter-Allied Commission of Control, claims to have evolved apparatus which will cause a gramaphone or kettle to function entirely by will power.

Major Phillips explains that the human body acts as an earth and the constant capacity is maintained within three yards of the apparatus. A momentary pause in the flow to earth through the body–produced entirely by mind concentration–is followed by an upward surge of sufficient intensity to cause a series of relays to operate.

That’s the story. You can take it or leave it. We have a sneaking suspicion that somebody is being kidded.

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