Electra-piano and harpsichord
Date1972-1974 ca.
Place MadeRocky Mount, North Carolina, United States, North America
Model368
SignedAluminum plaque mounted above right side of keyboard and on backside of case, the lettering incised and painted black: RMI electra-piano / AND / HARPSICHORD 368Aluminum plaque on underside of instrument, the background in black ink, the model, serial number, and watts die-stamped: ROCKY MOUNT INSTRUMENTS, INC. / ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA / SUBSIDIARY OF ALLEN ORGAN CO. / MODEL SERIAL NO. / 368 7646 / 155 VOLTS, 60 Hz 10 WATTS
MarkingsIn black ink on white two-way voice switches mounted above keyboard:
PIANO
PIANO / PP
HARPSI
HARPSI / PP
LUTE
ORGAN MODE
ACCENTER
In white lettering on black sliders, mounted to left and right of voice switches, respectively:
BASS
VOL
Stamped in black ink on inside of lid and on motherboard: 7646
Stamped in black ink on inside of lid, in circle: INSP. / #32
Stamped in black ink on right side of motherboard, in circle: INSP. / #11
Written in blue ballpoint pen on right side of mount for key contacts: VP / 11142
Various components marked by black and ivory ink stamps on motherboard
Various electronic components with manufacturer markings
Yellow and red sticker on back of instrument, visible to audience: DON’T SHOOT / I’M JUST A PIANO PLAYER
Yellow and black sticker in style of “Men At Work sign” on back of instrument, visible to audience: MEN / AT / WORK / with D’Addario Strings
DescriptionThe electra-piano and harpsichord is a transistor-tone-generating electric keyboard instrument intended for use with an outside amplifier. The case is constructed from plywood covered in black Keratol, with switches and sliders mounted above the keyboard on an aluminum panel with alternating polished and matte strips. The white power switch with red-orange light is located to the right of the keyboard. The instrument has a full-sized keyboard with white plastic naturals and black plastic sharps. The range is five and a half octaves, F to c4.
The RMI electra-piano and harpsichord was widely used by rock musicians, particularly in progressive rock, in the 1960s and 1970s. The set list found in the case, the amount of case wear from hauling, and the stickers on the front of the instrument (toward the audience) suggest that NMM 14415 was used by a professional band in 1970s.
Set list found in body of instrument with the following songs:
Set one:
“You’ve Got Your Troubles,” The Fortunes, 1965
“Kicks,” Paul Revere & the Raiders, 1966
“Gimme Some Lovin’,” The Spencer Davis Group, 1966
“Love Me Two Times,” The Doors, 1967
“Born To Be Wild,” Steppenwolf, 1968
“Whiter Shade of Pale,” Procol Harum, 1967
“Hand Jive,” various, 1950s-1970s, including Johnny Otis, 1958, Miles Davis, 1967, and Eric Clapton, 1974
“Secret Agent Man,” Johnny Rivers, 1964
“Way Up North,” unknown
“Purple Haze,” Jimi Hendrix, 1967
“Slow Down,” Larry Williams, 1958
Set two:
“Flip Flop,” probably “Flip, Flop, and Fly,” written by Jesse Stone combined with “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”
“The Last Time,” The Rolling Stones, 1965
“I’m A Believer,” The Monkees, 1966
“Boon Docks,” unknown
“For What It’s Worth,” Buffalo Springfield, 1967
“Good Love,” unknown
“Black,” unknown
“Oh, Pretty Woman,” Ray Orbison, 1964
“Louie Louie,” The Kingsmen, 1963
“The Sun,” unknown
“Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” Manfred Man, 1964
Set three:
“Rave On,” Sonny West, 1958
“Any Way,” unknown
“Get A Line On You,” The Rolling Stones, 1969
“We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” The Animals, 1965
“Reflections,” The Supremes, 1967
“Fire,” unknown
“Wooly Bully,” Sam The Sham And the Pharaohs, 1965
“Honky Tonk Woman,” The Rolling Stones, 1969
“Whole Lotta Love,” Led Zeppelin, 1970
“For Your Love,” The Yardbirds, 1965
“Drag,” unknown
“Who’ll Stop the Rain,” Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970
Set four:
“Time Won’t,” unknown
“Brown Eyed Girl,” Van Morrison, 1967
“The Letter,” The Box Tops, 1967 or Joe Cocker, 1970
“Changes,” David Bowie, 1971
“Get Together,” The Youngbloods, 1967
“Aimless,” unknown
“You Really Got Me,” The Kinks, 1964
“Satisfactions,” unknown
“Night Time,” unknown
“Tobacco Road,” The Nashville Teens, 1964
“I Fought The Law,” The Crickets, 1959
Encore:
“Dirty Water,” The Standells, 1966
DimensionsWidth: 1082 mm (42-9/16”)
Height: 188 mm (7-3/8”)
Length: 592 mm (23-5/16”)
Credit LineGift of Lynn Wheelwright, 2009
Object number14415
On View
Not on view
