I catch an Ondioline about 10 years ago, long time siting at a corner of the studio awaiting for hypothetical restoration as the work seemed massive and predictably time consuming. The wood frame was in relative good shape but electronic and various electro-mechanical part where in very poor condition.
Restoration finally take place in 2020, and after hundreds hours the beauty got back to life with amazing sounds from the past ! Various resonant filter and octaves selector offer a large palet of tones with complex formants. Initially designed in early 40' by Georges Jenny to mimic orchestral instruments and some other, this later evolution with sub octaves offer deep square wave bass down to the 12Hz G note. The global volume on a knee lever, the progressive attack mechanism under keys assembly and finally a suspended keyboard with lateral movements for manual bend/vibrato offers astonishing expressivity for this early full tube historic synth.
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There was a lot to fix and safety issue to come over. Like old school main wiring with dead cap. No safety earth. Metallic string, hand actuated for percussive sound that directly pick voltage at (resistor divided) B+, as progressive key sensing full of asbestos.
All was fixed and secured. Most components were replaced due to physical break (like glass tube tar capacitor) or because of enormous drift over time (some carbon resistor measure +100% off spec). A small touch detection opto-coupled circuit for percutions switching was designed to substitute the initial direct string connection to high voltage, avoiding any shock in faulty B+ scenario. Also the critical support plate for variable capacitors that tune the whole system was redone due to ageing and breaking material. That's just a short summary of a long journey...
Then a second one arrived ! In better overall shape, which got the same attention to details for a full restauration, with the ability to keep it more in -original- state than the first one where there was no option but a complete electronic and wiring rebuild.
As the two models get the sub oscillators option they probably being manufactured mid/late 50'
Both share the same -rounded- design wile some previous model get sharp and angled look for the wood cabinet. One have a -trapezoidal- cutout for the loudspeaker and a keyboard cover, fitted with a 6F6 pushpull amp, wile the second have the iconic -lyre- cutout and an EL84 version power amp.
Typical oscillator board/frame for both, consisting of 3 oscillator tubes, 1 follower tube, 1 LFO tube for tremolo/vibrato, a small remote cut-off pentode for filter bank amp, and a voltage regulation gaz tube diode for main oscillator. This is 12 tubes total, including power amp and supply bloc located at the bottom of the Ondioline.
Some musical projects are on the go around this beautiful instrument, stay tuned !!!
(If you have an Ondioline for sale or need to repair/restore your, don't hesitate to contact me.)