What is making the alternating high and low sound effect of the Obit Machine on the early Outer Limits episode called OBIT 1963?

Answer 1

I believe that you may be referring to the Theremin. It was a musical instrument invented by a former Russian, Leon Theremin. It utilized two antennae that were influenced by the operator's hands relative to the antennae without touching. The electrico-magnetic flux around the antennae were indiced by the relative distance on one's hands to the emf. The electrical signals were affected, and subsequently altered the pitch of the sound emitted from the speaker. It was used for many sci-fi oriented films of it's day for it's eerie sounding electronic sounds. Movies like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" featured it in soundtracks and sound effects. It has been rediscovered by later generations of music makers like, Matthew Sweet.

Why would it be a Theremin? The Theremin does not sound like this.

I appreciate your intent, but Theremin makes a simple gliding pitch sound. Simple circuit. This sound is complex, many pitches!

No, its got to be some combination of a few elements. You can hear tape speed changes between the alternations (wow and flutter). There is also a higher pitched sound riding on top of all of it that seems to track with the tape pitch change. Too early for Moog or Buchla, Arp etc (1963). Not a Novachord either. Sounds just like a steady sound that the pitch changes via tape playback (or record) speed change.