Stylophone™ Past

The history of the Stylophone™, one of the greatest British 'gadget' success stories of the 20th century, is almost as colourful as the musicians who have come to embrace it’s ‘unique’ sound over the years.

Brian Jarvis; along with Bert Coleman (managing director), and Bert's brother Ted Coleman (artwork and finances); had formed a company in 1967 under the name Dübreq.

The company was built on the broadcast and film industry, with their particular expertise being in the field of DUBbing and RECording - hence the name Düb-req. (The umlaut and Q in the name were added to make the name sound more ‘Germanic’, the idea being to try and give the impression of Dübreq being a high quality pan-European electronics company).
 
The company was primarily an editing house for promotional films and soundtracks but also built equipment for studios as well as portable projectors for promotional films (the pre-cursor to laptop presentations). In all the ideas and products of the firm were well ahead of their time.

One day in 1967 Brian Jarvis was asked by his niece to help fix her electronic toy piano. Brian took the toy piano and began work, the superficially simple repair turned into a major modification which in turn led to the idea of a completely new electronic, hand-held piano-type instrument that used the concept of making an electrical connection between a metal stylus and a metal keyboard to produce a noise. The prototype was shown to Bert, who immediately saw the potential of the invention and ordered Brian to “Make some more!”.

Bert, being a marketing man, saw the potential this gadget had to be a big seller if only he could find a ‘face’ to promote it to the youth of the day. It just so happened that that very week the ‘Radio Times’ was adorned with the smiling face of Rolf Harris on it’s cover in all his antipodean glory… Bert knew he had his man.

 
 
Despite several failed telephone calls and run-ins with Rolf’s agents, Bert finally managed to get into Rolf's rehearsal studio, and the new Stylophone™ was shown to him. From this initial contact, Rolf was said to be ‘very impressed’ with the new instrument, and played with the unit for some time. It had initially been arranged that the Stylophone™ would be introduced to the public on ITV's David Frost Show, but circumstances led to the unveiling being delayed. A subsequent phone call from Rolf to the Stylophone™ makers led to the instrument making its' debut on Rolf's own BBCTV Saturday Show. One major problem however, was that at this early stage - only the one prototype Stylophone™ was in existence. For the TV appearance, the 3 founders of Dübreq had to make by hand a further 6 units in a matter of days so that 'The Young Generation' (Rolf's support troupe) could play along with Rolf.
The show aired, the public loved the Stylophone™, the Rolf Harris connection had been made…

The nationwide TV coverage, on Rolf's show and a number of other programs, led to the Stylophone™ becoming very popular, very rapidly. In the early days, the Stylophone™ was only available by mail order direct from Dübreq. The original cost of these original Stylophone™s was 8 pounds 18 shillings and sixpence each, which in the late 60's was equivalent of around £95.00 in today’s money.

To cope with the rocketing demand, extra staff would be required, together with larger premises. Staff numbers at Dübreq would eventually grow to around 75 during their full production era, with a move from their small original basement premises to an automated factory in Cricklewood, north London, which would become 'Dübreq House'.

The staggering success of the Stylophone™ brought with it the inevitable copies and copyright infringements from abroad. Cheap imported 'fakes' flooded in from Hong Kong with the problem only being solved through the courts with the assistance of the UK government.

In total, in the six years it was being manufactured, over three million Stylophone™s were sold. David Bowie's use of the instrument in 'Space Oddity' in 1969 added to the instruments popularity and kudos with serious musicians as 'Stylomania' gripped the UK. After the original instrument there followed a bass and a treble version and the now rare 'Stylophone™ 360', a massive twin-stylus behemoth of an instrument with many added features.

But as with all pieces of 'new' technology, the Stylophone™ soon became outdated. UK production of the Stylophone™ ceased in 1975. Dübreq went on to develop a number of other successful mass-market products after the Stylophone™ series, most notably the 'Top Trumps' card games which are still on sale today, although manufactured by other companies. Dübreq ceased trading in 1980 when it's directors made the decision to pursue different career paths.

But the 'Greatest little instrument of the century' had plenty of life left in it..