Chatterbox
The most noticeable problem with Chatterbox is the warped and cracked grill covering the phonograph cavity in her back (see Figure 8). This is speculation, but it appears that the hard plastic of the body has shrunk with age while the softer plastic grill has expanded with age. The phonograph is visible through the gap. According to the patents, the purpose of the grill is to allow the sound out of the body cavity. The gap at the base of the "ON/OFF" switch is by design and not a crack. The screws holding the "ON/OFF" switch in place are different by design (notice they are different colors). The screws are different lengths to avoid contacting the underlying mechanism.
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The black backing, visible in Figures 8 & 9, acts as a sounding board. The record has scratches. This could be due to rough play or to the sounding board being assembled incorrectly during manufacturing. The metal disc above the record is intended to keep the record flat as well as spread out the force of the user tightened nut when the record is changed.
The brass piece on the right in Figure 10 is the contact for the batteries. It swings out of the way so that the two "C" batteries can be replaced. It is interesting to note that several sources incorrectly state that Chatterbox required four "D" batteries. The batteries in this doll corroded the metal contacts and stained the battery compartment. They may be original (Figure 11). They are EVEREADY batteries with the black cat "9 lives" logo typical of the 1960's. The price on the batteries is 25 cents. |
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In Figure 12, the stylus has worn an arc shaped groove into the black sounding board. The sounding board was either assembled wrong during manufacturing (as it is seated above the flange designed to hold it in place at the bottom of the battery area) or it was intentionally assembled that way as a design fix to force the stylus to make better contact with the sounding board. In any event this has caused a significant problem. The sounding board has become brittle with age and is falling apart from the stress of being "out of position". Hopefully the deterioration of the sounding board will not affect Chatterbox's "angelic" voice once her speech is restored.
Here is another interesting tidbit and a caution based on researching the patents. First the tidbit. Chatterbox only talked when she was switched "ON" and held upright. If she was laid down while switched "ON" she would stop talking. This was to simulate a toddler going to sleep when laid down. When returned to the upright position, she would resume talking where she left off. Her series of spoken phrases could be restarted by pushing the button in her chest which lifted the record off of the stylus and allowed a spring to swing the stylus arm back to its home position. Now the caution. The ability to start and stop talking when tilted is possible because Chatterbox contains a mercury switch. The mercury switch is visible in Figure 13. It is the cylindrical object with the green center mounted at an angle (top center of the photo). Mercury is a heavy metal that is now known to affect the central nervous system. The mercury is sealed within the switch. The switch should not be dismantled! Mercury was used in the switch because of its unique property of being a liquid metal at room temperature. The drop of liquid Mercury could roll back and forth within the switch as the doll was tilted. Depending on the angle of the doll, the droplet would make or break electrical contact - allowing the motor to turn, or not turn, the record. |
More ChatterboxSeveral weeks passed before I was able to work on Chatterbox's phonograph system. The first step was to clean the contacts in the battery compartment. New batteries did not spin the turntable - the motor was frozen in position. I removed the motor by pulling out the nail acting as a hinge on the mounting. I placed a drop of clock oil at both ends of the motor shaft which allowed it to turn freely. I had to polish the nail to reset it back into the hinge. In the process of reinstalling the motor, the braided wire connecting the motor to the mercury switch broke. I had to unsolder the broken pieces and solder in a long, single strand of copper wire as a replacement. At this point the motor would spin freely with no load but would seize up when it made contact with the turntable (Chatterbox uses a direct drive system). I guessed that the turntable bearing needed lubrication as well and took it apart and added a drop of clock oil. This fixed the problems with the phonograph drive system. Once the record was replaced, it just skipped and made static noises. Inspection of the record showed it to be scratched and somewhat dirty. We wiped the surface with doll cleaner and reinstalled the record. Chatterbox would speak her first phrase (not very clearly) and then freeze. The phonograph arm wasn't moving because the base of the needle was catching in the groove worn in the black sound board. I removed the arm and burnished the rust from the dragging end of the stylus. I also burnished the groove worn in the sound board. While the arm was out, I took the opportunity to lubricate its pivot. I also polished up the needle and shaped the tip according to the instructions in "Talk to Me!" by Ben Truwe (available from Talky Tina Press). I reassembled the arm and tried to get her to speak again. She started up and ran through her entire list of phrases with some sticking between the first and second phrases! After a few run throughs her voice became clearer. Below, is an MP3 recording I made using Garage Band and the mic in my MacBook. It was really exciting to hear Chatterbox talk again after 50 years of silence. It is successes like this that make doll repair a rewarding hobby.
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chatterbox_talking.mp3 | |
File Size: | 250 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Here's a couple of references on Chatterbox:
Modern Collector's Dolls by Patricia R. Smith, 1st Edition, 1973
Info obtained: open mouth/dry nurser, plastic body and legs with vinyl arms and head. Rooted white hair. Blue sleep eyes/lashes. Open hands with thumbs up. Push button in center of stomach makes her talk. Battery operated with changeable records. Marks Mme/1961/Alexander on head.
Twentieth Century Dolls From Bisque to Vinyl, Revised Edition - 1974 by Johana Gast Anderton
Info obtained: Rooted Saran hair, pique dress, push button and she talks, lay her down and she stops. Uses 2 C cell batteries. Doll appeared in 1961 Sears Catalog, $17.88 retail price
US Patent Office (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/index.jsp)
Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents)
Modern Collector's Dolls by Patricia R. Smith, 1st Edition, 1973
Info obtained: open mouth/dry nurser, plastic body and legs with vinyl arms and head. Rooted white hair. Blue sleep eyes/lashes. Open hands with thumbs up. Push button in center of stomach makes her talk. Battery operated with changeable records. Marks Mme/1961/Alexander on head.
Twentieth Century Dolls From Bisque to Vinyl, Revised Edition - 1974 by Johana Gast Anderton
Info obtained: Rooted Saran hair, pique dress, push button and she talks, lay her down and she stops. Uses 2 C cell batteries. Doll appeared in 1961 Sears Catalog, $17.88 retail price
US Patent Office (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/index.jsp)
Google Patents (http://www.google.com/patents)