Hello
I am researching an instrument built by Dr. Paul O.W. Tanner in the late
1950s. This particular instrument started out as a musical instrument,
but was eventually sold to an audiologist in California some 20 years
ago. If I may, I will describe it.
The instrument is a mechanical controller of an oscillator. It spans
the complete frequency range. It measured roughly 2' X 1' X 1'. It was
made of wood, and had a handle mounted to each end.
The front of the box had an opening for a Heathkit amp. The top of the
box had several knobs (for selecting range, etc), and a hand-draw
musical keyboard. Pitch (frequency) was changed with a device held in
the right hand. This hand-held device moved along the top of the
instrument (from left to right), and an indicator pointed to the
corresponding pitch drawn out on the keyboard.
Dr. Tanner made many musical recordings with the device, including the
Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations".
Dr. Tanner told me he sold the instrument to a hospital in California to
use for testing hearing. He is now 80 years old, and can not recall who
he sold it to.
I am researching the instrument and its mechanics. Any help anyone
might have would be truly appreciative. I know this is a most unusual
request, but none the less one I must make in order to find out more
about this instrument.
I have posted a picture of the instrument along with an interview I did
of Dr. Tanner at-
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/4611/ptanner.html
Again, anyone having any information on this device please contact me.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
David Miller
DavesTvox at webtv.net
