THE CLAVIOLINE
1940's

Probably the rarest of all my keyboards, I discovered this in the garage when I was a kid. Turned out it belonged to a great Uncle Hank, who was musical director for NBC way back when. Constructed in Paris, this was a prehistoric monophonic synth that was shaped to fit under a piano keyboard. If a horn player missed a gig, the piano player covered his part with the choice of about 100 sounds that all sounded the same. In the sixties, this instrument was used on "Baby, You're a Rich Man" for the reedy, snake charmer sound. Things you find in your garage!