In 2004 Moog Music celebrated their 50th Birthday.
Before starting his celebrated range of synthesisers, Bob Moog was building Theremins.
Clara again, with her cover off. Underneath are close ups of her control panel (with Bob's signature) and printed circuit. > >
Cloe, the timepiece behind her, is also musical, designed in a previous century. A dedicated mechanical microcontroller from earlier times.
As well as a musical instrument, Clara will be a test bed. For setting up enhancements described in Moog Music's literature. We hope to make these small enough to fit neatly inside, without upsetting calibration.
We may also produce them, on professional printed circuits, for other Theremin owners. A MIDI output card is a future possibility.
After leaving Moog Music, Doctor Moog started Big Briar & continued making a range of Theremins, including Ethervox, a model with MIDI.
The Theremin was invented in the second decade of the 20th century by Lev Terman, a cellist & scientist from Russia. After emigrating to America in 1927 he anglicised his name to Leon Theremin.
Doctor Moog continued Leon Theremin's legacy, developing the instrument for the transistor age. Results are close to the original concept & quality is exceptional.
Bob Moog later introduced a NEW Minimoog, the Voyager. With a specification expected of today's instruments, whilst not straying too far from the original concept.
How many people can design a classic just once? Dr. Bob Moog did it again, taking the best synthesiser made & re-introducing it. Actually improving on the original, this has to be a record.
Robert Moog eventually got his company name back, except in Britain.* Big Briar became Moog Music. Although sadly missed, he left the company in good shape, and in good hands. His legacy continues, a range of Theremins, including a kit model, but not the MIDI model.
As well as several versions of the Voyager, there is now 'Little Phatty' available in a Tribute Edition. This is a small true analogue synthesiser, with a new style. We hope it does well.
There is also the well known 'Mooger Fooger' range of effects & controllers.
| Unsuccessful Fakes
* Note: A company in Wales was set up some years ago, to make fake Minimoogs, taking the name 'Moog Synthesizers'. They even registered the real company's trademark logo, as well as the name. The company failed, apparently only making 5 of their copies. Who buys a phoney when the real thing is available & cheaper?
Despite this the former company's director refuses to give up the Moog name. So Moog Music, only in Britain, are unable to use their name, instead using the 'Big Briar' trade name. That is why we have taken the new Moog's pictures off this page. To avoid embarrassing the real Moog Music whilst they try to get their name back. We wish them justice in this & hope the British legal system improves its image.
My opinion is that Moog Music should just advertise in this country under their own and Dr. Bob's name. The guy who stole that name should not have been allowed to do so. He infringed the copyright laws of Britain and America. The Patent Office, probably innocently, effectively aided and abetted a crime, by allowing the trademark registration. A court, in upholding that registration, compounded the felony.
The matter has been put right in every other relevant country, why not here?
'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. If the person concerned genuinely liked the Moog he copied, why doesn't he just bow out gracefully?
Will he now have a sense of guilt? Dr. Robert Moog has died without being able to use his name again in Britain. |
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The Moog trademark Logo is the property of Dr. R.A. Moog & Moog Music. These pages are dedicated to their creations, past & present.
Intended for all who glory in the pioneering spirit that made music synthesis & modern music per se a reality.
This is Clara, my Bob Moog Etherwave Theremin.
She will be re-photographed when I've finished polishing her dress.
pages for more information. 