Sunday, 20 April 2014

Can You Tell What It Is Yet? - Stylophone Fever

Launched in 1968 and defunct by 1975, the Stylophone was a crude analogue electronic keyboard that you played with a stylus. It was promoted by Rolf Harris, who, as well as appeaering in TV ads, hosted assorted 'playalong' 7 inch singles. Allegedly easy to follow, these seemed to require the ability to read music to have any chance of playing a tune. Unfortunately, as the stylophone only had one volume level - namely LOUD - the likelihood of many people persevering long enough to learn Hello Dolly, Pennsylvania 6-5000 or Jingle Bells was slight. However, if you have a taste for industrial noise, then this is a fine instrument and I'm glad to finally own one.


 Pictured is my (working) stylophone and collection of three Rolftastic 7 inch 'LPs'.
 

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