How does a See ‘n Say toy work?

In a world where computers and chips can create everything from dancing monsters to singing fish, it’s nice to know there are still some tried-and-true toys that are based on technology created over a century ago.

The See ‘n Say basically uses the same technology that a record player does. There’s a disk inside the outer plastic shell that has sounds recorded on it with grooves cut into the surface like a record.

A needle “reads” the grooves on the disk, and transfers the sound into a speaker.

When you choose the picture on the outside, then pull the string, the needle is pulled off the surface of the disk as the disk gets wound up.

Letting go of the string spins the disk, positions the needle above the correct place on the disk, and drops it so sound will play.