Toy Instruments: Design, Nostalgia, Music

I highly recommend this book by Eric Schneider. You will find within the pages of "Toy Instruments", a wealth of musical toys that appealed to children and adults as well. The stylophone is one of the many instruments discussed. David Bowie even used one for his recording of "Space Oddity". I personally owned the Musson toy synthesizer. This simple keyboard contraption incorporated a crude sequencer which could be set to play at varying speeds to sweep the note "pegs" which could be moved to generate simple melodies. I had many hours of enjoyment with the device. I even output the "toy" through delay and effects boxes to increase the fun. Check this book out. Who knows. You may recognize one of your own favorite toy musical instruments!