Here is an interesting bit of history sent in via MATRIXSYNTH reader, monsta poly, Charlie Douglass’ “Laff Box” from 1953. It’s the original device used to create laugh tracks used for TV shows. As you can see, it looks a bit like a typewriter mixed with the tape mechanism of the Mellotron. It’s worth noting the Mellotron would not be released until 1954, however, the predecessor of the Melltotron, The Chamberlain was produced from 1949 to 1956, which means the “Laff Box” wasn’t quite the first instrument to employ the technique. Regardless, it is a fascinating piece of gear and technology from roughly the same time period.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
The circuit board on the top doesn’t look 1953 vintage…