Image Not Available

Electric piano

Alternate name:Upright piano

Alternate name:Spinet piano

Date: 1939 - 1942 ca.

Place Made:Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America

Model: Storytone

SignedGold and black decal on nameboard: STORY AND CLARK / STORYTONE / VOICED BY RCA-VICTOR

Cast into iron plate on treble upper corner: STORY & CLARK

DescriptionThe Storytone piano is an electrically amplified (electromagnetic pickups mounted over piano strings) upright spinet piano with no soundboard. It was a collaboration between RCA (radio) and the Story & Clark (piano) companies. It debuted at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. The matching bench features both a radio and a turntable (Victrola), features that are built into the competing Ansley Dyna-Tone. The case is an iconic art-deco creation of John Vassos, the industrial designer who did other work for RCA.

Compass: AAA-c5

Volume and tone knobs on bass side. On / off on treble side.

Three pedals: soft, sustain, swell

ProvenanceOriginally owned by donor's father, who traded in his Baldwin organ to get this instrument, some time in the late 1940s or early 1950s. It has been in the family since and was regularly used. In fact, the donor learned to play piano on this instrument.

Credit Line: Gift of Gary and Norma Nelson, in memory of Norman P. Nelson, 2023

Not on view

Object number: 15733