Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1978 - 44

An Orchestra In a Briefcase

Imagine sitting down to an electronic instrument the size of a
portable typewriter, and with the flick of a switch creating the sounds
of almost every instrument in the orchestra.
Based on the simple action of writing, the basic technique for
playing the Stylophone 350S can be mastered in minutes-one
merely has to slide a pencil-like stylus across the numbered areas of
a keyboard printed on a flat metal plate to produce 44 notes with a
frequency range of six and one-half octaves.
By depressing one or more "tone" switches, sounds of many musical instruments can be simulated, including those of a piano, violin,
flute, piccolo, bassoon, church organ, trumpet, clarinet and mandolin, plus other totally original sounds. By using both styli, two sounds
in harmony can be created.
Practically unlimited special effects can be produced by various
hand placements on a light-sensitive cell and the use of "expression"
switches for vibrato, fade-out, crescendo and reiteration. Plugged
into an amplifier, tape recorder or record player, the instrument's
own substantial volume can be increased or combined with other
music.
The compact 350S weighs less than five pounds equipped with two
batteries. Headphones allow silent practice.
For further information contact: Audio Arts, Inc.; 5615 Melrose
Ave., Hollywood, California 90038; (213) 461-3507.
Plastic Warning Chain Introduced by Brady

The W. H. Brady Company Indentification System Division has
introduced a colorful new plastic warning chain for industry. The
lightweight new chain is designed primarily for use as a safety and
housekeeping barricade in manufacturing, warehousing, utility and
construction industries. This product may also find application for
crowd control in performing arts facilities.
The product is available in 100 foot lengths in four colors-yellow,
white, red or orange-and in six sizes with link lengths of 1", 1W',
13f4", 23;." and 3W'. Also available in a 1%" size link is a special black
and yellow chain with colors alternating every 18 inches.
Portable bi-color support posts in either black and yellow or white
and red are also available. Posts stand 36" high, are made of plastic
and come with six lb. cement-weighted bases. To complete the papkage, Brady also offers a variety of plastic connecting hooks to attach
chain to itself or chain to posts.
For further information contact: Mr. Glenn Manich, Identification
Systems Division, W. H. Brady Co.; 2223 West Camden Road, Box
3141, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
Velleda, 'Writes On, Wipes Off as Visual Tool for Business, Industry
Education

The world's quickest writing and illustrating aid, Velleda is the most
versatile and among the least expensive of all communications
boards. It consists of a self-adh'esive board, Flexiroll, ready for
mounting and special dry-wipe markers available in six assorted
colors. The Flexiroll also may be cut to any size and applied to any flat
surface to make a blackboard obsolete since it eliminates words,
figures or graphics instantly with no rubbing, dust, or marks left
behind. Without removing the adhesive for permanent positioning,
Veiled a may be exploited as a portable communications board,
rolled and toted from meeting to meeting. In each location a different
message is prepared, wiped out and on to the next business session.
The applications of Velleda whiteboard Flexiroll are innumerable,
cutting across most product categories. Broadly stated, since the
combination of Veiled a Flexiroll and special dry-wipe markers is
nontoxic, it has practical uses in the home, business, education,
communications, sports, factory and related areas.
For the school teacher, it is a permanent or portable blackboard
... for the student, a Velleda board that replaces the clipboard with
attached pad, notes and papers ... it is a permanent TV cue card for
the broadcast industry ... visual aid for business presentations.
Theatrical applications include: call boards, scenic design sketches,
story board, production scheduling, crew assignment, loading check
lists, etc.
42

Theatre Design & Technology

This modern visual communications technique is available in two
roll sizes and six brilliant ink colors, black, blue, red, green, brown
and orange.
The smaller Velleda roll size is 26V2 x 39 3/. inches, covering 1,039
square inches of writing space, and retails for $14.95.
The larger roll is 35'/2 x 78 3/. inches, covering 2,796 square inches,
selling for $39.95 list.
The special dry-wipe markers, for use with Velleda Flexirolls are
available in packs of one dozen at 89 cents each, retail list. The
markers also are available in an assorted four-pack (blue, black, red,
green) at $3.56 list.
Velleda is distributed through office supply dealers, contract stationers, school and art supply wholesalers, college bookstores as
well as distributors servicing mass retail outlets.
For further information contact: Leonard Ansell, Michael Isser,
Charactere Pen Corporation; Orange, Connecticut 06477.
Sound Absorbing Baffles and Panels

Air Wall Division of Richards-Wilcox, one of the White Consolidated Industries, has recently introduced AIRCOUSTIC, a new line of
sound absorbing baffles and panels designed specifically for the new
interior design concepts. They are reported ideal for use in band
practice rooms, computer rooms, classrooms, offices, gymnasiums,
auditoriums, conference rooms, shops and other open plan areas.
Panels are faced with durable and colorful wall carpet, and are
available in pre-assembled frameless units, one or two inches thick.
Cores are glass fiber, and all edges are wrapped.
Four foot by eight foot, and four foot by ten foot AIRCOUSTIC
panels are standard, in your choice of decorator colors, and have
invisible attaching clips for easy, quick installation to walls or ceilings.
Optional custom panels, too-smaller sizes, graphic designs, logos
and photo murals, etc., are also available. Class "A" fire rated; up to
.95 SRC (Sound Reduction Class). .
For further information contact: Air Wall Division, Richards-Wilcox
Mfg. Co.; 8140 East Rosecrans Avenue, Paramount, California 90723.
Electrical Connectors from General Electric

General Electric's Wiring Device Department now markets more
than 180 Dyna-Mate IJ{TM) plugs and connectors to fill more than 90%
of all NEMA configurations.
Dyna-Mate(R) plugs and connectors come in straight blade and
locking configurations from 2-pole, 2-wire 15 amp all the way up to 4pole, 5-wire 30 amp locking, along with straight blade configurations.
The fully insulated Gator Grip cord clamp works like a drill chuck,
tightening its hold on a wide range of electric cord sizes with a handtwist of the sturdy PVC/ABS housing. Although the nylon grip automatically ~enters the cord and secures with a tight grip that exceeds
industry test standards, it does not damage the cord and is quickly
released by a firm hand-twist and push (it's designed to not accidentally unlock).
For gre~ter safety, Dyna-Mate II devices offer safe dead-front construction that contains live conductors inside the device, come in an
extra-high visibility yellow color, and have no exposed parts in the
cord clamping mechanism.
In addition to its unique internal Gator-Grip cord clamp, GE's line
of Dyna-Mate II plugs and connectors provides other features which
contribute to reliability, safety and ease of installation:
-High physical strength with resistance to corrosive environments
and extremes of temperatures.
-Sloped housing shoulders prevent snagging.
-Transparent, individual Lexa~ wiring chambers allow inspection to assure proper connections.
-Large, non-removable terminal screws for fast installation.
For added protection, particularly in extremely dusty or moist
environments, flexible rubber boots are available in matching sizes
and color for the entire Dyna-Mate II line.
For further information contact your local GE-franchised electrical
distributor, or write to: General Electrical Company; Wiring Device
Department, 95 Hathaway Street, Providence, RI 02940; (203) 3576212 (R. D. Bartnett).~
USITT/Summer, 1978

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