Early Keystick-felting Machine
In 1963, Allen began manufacturing its own keyboards. This hand-fed machine built by Allen applied felt bushings to keysticks with heat-activated adhesive.
Toroidal Coil-Winder
Toroidal coils were used in tone generators from 1958. Winders similar to this are still used for making analog service replacement parts.
Continental Carousel
This full-size home entertainment console was completely new in concept, unlike anything ever attempted in an electronic instrument designed for the amateur as well as the professional. It was a piano and an organ—with a musical synthesizer capable of creating many kinds of musical sounds. A particularly unique feature was the “flying hammers” that allowed even a beginner to create rich strumming effects such as mandolins, guitars, banjos, etc.
The patented system consisted of a flat ribbon spring with a weight at the extremity of each key. When striking a key with varied intensities, the resulting reiterating speed changed, causing random strumming of the contacts. The harder you struck the keys the faster the strumming, and the lighter you struck the keys the slower the strumming—producing very authentic sounds.