Messages

Thanks for the correction, Alan! Good information. I foresee myself going down more rabbit holes studying the design of those instruments

Hey everyone, I'm new here. I was wondering if anyone has ever seen/owned/heard of the Holton "Electronic" Harpsichord. Here's what I know: Designed by Lloyd Loar (after leaving Gibson, where he was best known for his mandolin and guitar design) in the late 1930s, it is a "portable" electric harpsichord featuring 56 keys, a primitive electromagnetic pickup, and patented touch sensitive action. Loar was experimenting with adding pickups to violins, guitars, and keyboard instruments, most of which he made at his Vivi-Tone factory. I might be wrong, but I believe the Vivi-Tone clavier was the first ever production electric keyboard instrument. The construction of the harpsichord was contracted to Frank Holton and Co.

Most of what I know of these instruments came from the research of Roger Siminoff (siminoff.net). Loar's personal harpsichords were donated to the National Music Museum in 2005. They are serial numbers 117 and 119. I found my harpsichord at an auction here in Maryland; I won it for a dollar, nobody knew what it was. Mine is serial number 118. I'm hoping someone here knows something about them and would like to discuss.

If anyone is interested, I'll go into detail of my experience with it.