solipsistnation | Freak Triadex Muse Spotting

Some of you may have known that I own a Triadex Muse, the strange musical device created by Marvin Minsky. (Patent here. Pictures here.)

I have never seen another Muse in person-- I've had mine since working at UltraNet, when I bought it for $300 from a local guy who had it kicking around his house (in the box, with the manual and original receipt) since he bought it long long ago. It worked perfectly, making little bleepy noises and blinking happily. I had thought it was almost unique. I don't think they made more than 300 or so of them ever. It's a neat little thing, and strange and rare, and, I'd thought, pretty much unique.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I found one while poking around the Boston Museum of Science. There it was, mounted over a computer screen behind some plexiglas, used as window-dressing for an interactive exhibit about audio. It appeared to be a little the worse for wear, and the wooden parts had been painted black. Who knows if it worked? I'm guessing not. But still, there it was, brushed aluminum faceplate, speaker grille, clicky switches and all.

So, I now know where another it. I wonder what its serial number was...