Posted 6 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
Here's one from the "I'm still not really sure why I keep keeping this" department... ;-) <lol>
It came from a small pile of (less interesting) 'orphaned keyboards' during a storage locker cleanout a few years ago. I boxed several sets (that had real ivory key covers) up and sent them off to a colleague who specializes in keyboards -- a few more sets (w/plastic keys) went straight to the dumpster, having no practical value for re-use.
But I've still kept this set hanging around, even though it was actually one of the grungier looking of the whole pile in the first place. I don't know who might have made it (or really how long ago, even) but whoever that was seems to have went to a WAY-WHOLE-LOTTA extra work in doing so, what with the particular and peculiar way the springs on each individual key are fabricated/installed. I suppose y'all will have to take my word for it, but in my 25+yrs in the 'organ bizness' I don't think I've ever seen any others quite like it -- there are numerous 'more typical' methods usually employed for the same purpose. (now, and 100+yrs ago) I also can't honestly guess what the intended purpose/benefit for all that seemingly extra engineering/work in these might have been...???
For background/description: This is only one keyboard from some kind of organ console. It might or might not have been first paired with one or two more like it in a typical instrument, where only its "keys" side would be exposed between finished wood 'keycheeks' (now missing) on either of its ends. This item contains no sound producing parts, only being a 'control mechanism' which would be mechanically connected (somehow) to other parts of the instrument which perform those functions. There are 61 individual keys all made of wood (originally cut from a single thin plank when first made) mounted in a wooden frame with various metal hardware, the 'white keys' are covered in plastic (I think, an old variety, perhaps a celluloid material?) but the 'black keys' are probably real ebony. Whatever part of the entire assembly which held the individual keys captive in their frame (against all those weirdly mounted springs) is now also missing, thus the way they now appear sorta 'poking up at odd angles'. OH -- and the way *these* are made, there would have been a WHOLE LOT MORE of that original 'cutting' needing to be done in the first place...also worth remembering is that, even if "factory made", the various tools and methods used to first make it were likely pretty primitive by today's standards... <eeek><wow>
I have to believe it is a product of the 1st quarter/20thC. The only marking I can find on it that might indicate anything further is a possible initial or number scratched on the #1 key (look close in the last 2 pics) which I can't now make out as anything...? The whole assembly is about 15" wide and just under 3' long.
And back to the beginning -- the only idea I've ever had towards 'what to do with it' would be to maybe clean it up a little, figure out some unobtrusive way to keep all its keys actually held in place somehow, and hang it up on the wall as an "art piece"...but that'd be kinda crazy, no...??? <lol>
