Bob Doyle, where are you?

Many's the hours my brothers and I spent playing with a lovely red handheld game made in 1978 by one Bob Doyle and put out by Parker Brothers. It was red and looked like a telephone.

And it's name was Merlin.

I loved Merlin. Still do. The Music Maker was my favorite. Making up songs on it was fun. Blackjack, tic-tac-toe, Echo - I just adored that game.

Now we're going to remodel the house and to my delight what was found in the attic? MERLIN!

Oh I squealed in delight, grabbed it up, found six AA batteries and put them in - and - nothing! No lights, no sound. My heart was broken.

This was Sunday afternoon. I left the batteries in and the switch still on.

3:30 am Wenesday morning I'm awakened by this odd "DOOOOOOOOOOOO" sound. I searched for the source for ten minutes before I figured it out. It was MERLIN! He was alive!

BUT - he still didn't work!

He just lights up and makes that "DOOOOO" sound. I still can't play with him.

So I'd like to try and see if he can be repaired.

Enter, Bob Doyle. I found his blog this morning. Alas, no e-mail address avalible where I can ask if he could be so kind as to give me a repair guide. I wouldn't expect an answer anyway. I've learned the hard way game creators normally don't like to be bothered by gushing fans who seek their help.

But Bob, if by any chance you ever see this, please, be my hero, and tell me - How might I repair Merlin? Cause I really don't feel like spending $50 on eBay for one that might not fully work.

Just - um - keep in mind I'm a singer, not a computer whiz, and would need the instructions to be written in a "Merlin Repair For Dummies" manner.