Stylophone Deconstruction

 
Many moons ago, a hirsute antipodean arrived on the fair shores of Britain bringing with him three traditional musical instruments of the Australian people - the didgeridoo, the wobble-board and the Stylophone.  His name was Rolf Harris, and he prospered here, singing simple folk songs such as "Waltzing Matilda", "Tie my Kangaroo Down, Sport", "Sun Arise" and, more recently "Stairway to Heaven".

He advertised the Stylophone on TV and it was extremely popular at one time, but as is the way of things, interest declined and the Stylophone was lost to the general populace.

As is also the way of things, the Wheel of Life turns and thirty five winters on people began to ask "Where are the Stylophones?".  To assuage this human need, the son of the original Stylophone inventor redesigned it and had it made in large numbers in the Glorious Democratic People's Republic of China. 

But people are fickle, and many sold their Stylophones on a Well Known Auction Site where I purchased one for a small consideration.  I am now going to strip it of its case and reveal what lies within.

Step 1 Opening the Case and First View

 
First thing to note is that the Stylophone does not want to be taken apart.   There are four glued plastic tabs which hold the two halves of the case together and I had to use a lot of force to crack the tabs.  I originally had an idea for a 'Pimp my Stylophone' type project but as it's not possible to split it neatly I'm now doing something different, but I still wanted the keyboard out of this for my prototype. 

Once apart, the photos show the view on the back of the circuit board.  Hover over the yellow boxes to see the component functions.  The quality of the wiring was appaling and two wires broke off just by moving them.

Comments

[NatNoBrains]

How did you take it apart?

[AndyGadget]

I wervilled a flat-bladed screwdriver down each end where the halves overlap, and levered. Don't try this if you want to keep your Stylophone.  It is a one-way process!

[NatNoBrains]

If I can find a cheap, second-hand one, I will :)

[AndyGadget]

You don't need to - I've done it for you #;¬)

[NatNoBrains]

BUT I WANT TO :'(