[CAUT] Storytone piano

[Otto Keyes]

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My experience was with the scaled down home version -- probably an early =
50's vintage.  If it had a turntable in the bench...I merely sat on =
it...perhaps that was what was so uncomfortable.  I thought it was just =
the fact that the lousy piano gave me the fidgets.  This one had a =
soundboard -- well, not that sound -- and the bridges just as well have =
floated.  If it inspired the electric guitar....see?....I was right =
about modern technology foisting all sorts of marginally useful junk on =
us & our progeny!  In a few more years no one will even have the hearing =
acuity to perceive anything but the most bombastic passages of Liszt, so =
maybe he'll stick around after all.

Otto
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Christopher Purdy=20
  To: College and University Technicians=20
  Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 9:49 AM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Storytone piano


  Michelle,

  I have found some more information if you're interested. The piano was =
built by Story & Clark and the electronics are RCA. It does not have a =
sound board, one thing I read said that it has "floating bridges", =
whatever that means. It has a pre-amp and amplifier in the piano and a =
turntable and receiver in the bench! There were external speakers.

  Everything I have read says that this was the first commercial attempt =
at an electric piano. One even said that it pre-dates and inspired the =
electric guitar. I believe it was exhibited at the worlds fair, 1939 I =
think. I also read that it supposedly weighs one and a half tons. I =
really doubt that it could weigh 3,000 lbs. though.

  I have a friend that is an antique dealer and he has a chance to buy =
one. I am going to see it on Saturday but I'm trying to learn a little =
bit about it before I go out there. My friend says that it has an =
extremely unusual case and is over the top art deco. The owner is =
wanting bids on it but I can't figure out what it might be worth.=20

  I would still appreciate any other input anybody might have about =
this.

  Chris


  On May 4, 2005, at 11:54 AM, michelle stranges wrote:


    HEyyyyyyyy..
    I wanna hear about that too!

    Speak up people!!

    :)
    michelle

    --On Wednesday, May 4, 2005 10:56 AM -0400 Christopher Purdy =
<purdy@ohio.edu> wrote:


      Is anyone familiar with the Story & Clark "Storytone" electric =
piano?
      What I have been able to find so far is that they were made in the =
30's.
      It sounds like they are an acoustic piano with pick ups and =
external
      speakers. Earl Hines toured with one in the 30's and did some
      recordings. I'm still researching this but wondered if any of you =
have
      seen one of these.

      Chris
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  Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.
  School of Music, Ohio University
  Rm. 311, Robt. Glidden Hall
  Athens, OH 45701
  Office (740) 593-1656
  Cell (740) 590-3842
  fax (740) 593-1429
  http://www.ohiou.edu/music


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