Vivi-Tone clavier speaker cabinet
Date1934-1938 ca.
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsWritten on back of cabinet in black ink: 8-875/46; Stamped on metal plate attached to internal motor: Model 5KSP61FA1A/ Type: KSP CY60 PH:I HP:12W/ V:110 RPM: 1550
DescriptionSpeaker cabinet with one 12-inch speaker and a motorized tremolo effect. Cabinet is rectangular, with cutout curves around the bottom, and a circle-topped rectangular window with a vertical center brace, backed by a tightly meshed metal screen. There is an “On/Off” switch near the top on the right-hand side, as well as a four-pronged speaker cable input jack and a three pronged female power input jack mounted at the center of the lower edge of the rear. The tremolo effect is created by a three-paddled wooden fan which passes in front of the speaker. The fan is driven by a belt system powered by a General Electric motor.
For use with Vivi Tone clavier NMM 10878
DimensionsHeight: 80 cm/ 31.5 in.
Width: 59.3 cm/ 23.346 in.
Depth: 32 cm/ 12.59 in.
ProvenanceLloyd Loar, Chicago, IL, ca. 1934-1943; Bertha (Snyder) Loar, Chicago, IL, 1943-1949, Beverly Hills, CA, 1949-1994; Roger Siminoff, Arroyo, CA, 1994-2005. Siminoff discovered this instrument (along with NMM 10,878, NMM 10,879, NMM 10,881, NMM 10,882, NMM 10,883, and others) in storage while putting Mrs. Loar’s affairs in order in 1994. They had been in crates since Loar’s death in 1943, moving to California with Mrs. Loar in 1949.
Credit LineGift of Roger H. Siminoff, 2005
Object number10880
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