Interesting article - I've just partially resurrected a "Pro" Stylophone (Model 350s) for a client of mine - it was horribly corroded internally (battery leakage), and also in need of a decent PSU (as the default 18v supply from two 9v batteries on this model drastically reduces the lifespan of some of the components) running at about 15v.
Unfortunately the keyboard and resistor ladder were too badly corroded to make it economically viable to fix it (client didn't want to pay - it would have taken me at least half a day to do it properly, and it's not really worth that when you can get a recon one for £199), so only half the keyboard works well (or as well as a stylophone ever did). The 350s added some interesting extras to the original stylophone - different waveforms (described with names of real instruments which is stretching it a bit), a 'reiteration' stylus (which produced a rhythmic on/off of the note selected with it), and an optical sensor for Wah-Wah or vibrato intensity. I'd imagine that properly built it would have been an interesting machine, although I don't know where it sat price-wise against 'real' synthesizers of the day. The owner has had a few hit songs, and it was interesting to realise that it was the actual instrument I was repairing that featured on one of his hits!
Pity that the whole thing is somewhat tainted with the association with Rolf Harris, like so many things from my youth in the 70s in the UK.
Unfortunately the keyboard and resistor ladder were too badly corroded to make it economically viable to fix it (client didn't want to pay - it would have taken me at least half a day to do it properly, and it's not really worth that when you can get a recon one for £199), so only half the keyboard works well (or as well as a stylophone ever did). The 350s added some interesting extras to the original stylophone - different waveforms (described with names of real instruments which is stretching it a bit), a 'reiteration' stylus (which produced a rhythmic on/off of the note selected with it), and an optical sensor for Wah-Wah or vibrato intensity. I'd imagine that properly built it would have been an interesting machine, although I don't know where it sat price-wise against 'real' synthesizers of the day. The owner has had a few hit songs, and it was interesting to realise that it was the actual instrument I was repairing that featured on one of his hits!
Pity that the whole thing is somewhat tainted with the association with Rolf Harris, like so many things from my youth in the 70s in the UK.