The Fascinating Restoration of a Vintage Electric Vibraphone Toy

🔧The electric vibraphone toy from the 1950s is actually a unique instrument that uses an array of bells triggered by a keyboard.

🧩The toy's mechanism was inspired by the Deegan Electrical Bells, patented in 1913. The Deegan company was one of the first to produce real vibraphones.

🎶After restoring the toy, Dave Hilliwitz recorded the bells and created a sampler instrument. The instrument can be downloaded for free.

🤖Nomura, the company that manufactured the toy, was known for producing iconic battery-powered robots and tin-plated toys.

🧰Restoring vintage toys requires creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge of mechanical systems.

What is an electric vibraphone?

—An electric vibraphone is a musical instrument that uses an array of metallic bars that are struck by mallets or activated by a keyboard. It produces a unique and resonating sound.

Why is this toy called an electric vibraphone?

—The toy is called an electric vibraphone, although it is not a vibraphone, to market it as a musical instrument to potential buyers. The toy uses an array of bells instead of metal bars commonly used in vibraphones.

What is the Deegan Electrical Bells?

—The Deegan Electrical Bells is a musical instrument invented by Jefferson Deegan's company in 1913. It consists of an array of bells triggered by a piano keyboard and produces a similar sound to the electric vibraphone toy.

Is the toy related to the Deegan Electrical Bells?

—Although the electric vibraphone toy sounds similar to the Deegan Electrical Bells, it is not directly related. The toy's mechanism was inspired by the Deegan instrument but uses a different triggering system.

Where can I download the sampler instrument created by Dave Hilliwitz?

—The sampler instrument created from the restored electric vibraphone toy can be downloaded for free. The download link is available in the description of Dave Hilliwitz's video.

00:00Dave Hilliwitz introduces himself and the toy he received, which is described as an electric vibraphone.

01:30The toy is examined and it is concluded that it is not an electric vibraphone, but rather a unique instrument that uses an array of bells.

04:00Dave disassembles the toy and explains its mechanism, which involves a spindle and an electric motor.

06:30The toy's history is explored, including its connection to the patent for the Deegan Electrical Bells and the manufacturing company Nomura.

07:30Dave demonstrates the restored toy's sound and shares the sampler instrument he created from the recordings.