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| Make |
various |
| Model |
Anvil UNIQUE 80sPercussion Synth NW |
| Description |
The rarest drum machine in the world – the Anvil Percussion Synthesiser prototype. As featured in a major (four-page!) Electronics & Music Maker article in the magazine’s June 1985 edition:
https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/anvil-percussion-synthesiser/9053
The Anvil prototype drum machine was intended to offer user-sampling and programmable rhythm sequencing as well as a drum synthesizer section that could be triggered by pads. However the project was perhaps too ambitious and the development money ran out in mid-October 1985 before it could be completed, leaving the Anvil residing in its flight-case in a London basement for 33 years before being tracked down.
The Anvil prototype is not currently functional. A final update provided by engineer Roy Gwinn indicated the top board (control panel etc.) had been operational for a year (to October 1985) and was reasonably reliable. The bottom board (sample/synth) software had been able to sample into memory, replay from memory and save/load to floppy disk. The synth section was seemingly nowhere near completion, and some software had not yet been written. This was late-1985, and the Anvil has probably not worked since then.
The Anvil has been powered up recently but the 40-character display was non-functioning. The 3.5 inch disk drive appears to be non-functioning. There are various builds of software/firmware on 12 EPROMs, some of which are populated on the two boards (PR for top board, BB for bottom board), along with two BIOS EPROMs. One early build EPROM (BB) has had a pin repair, and the other has a missing pin altogether. Some EPROMs have been confirmed as having data on them, and two have been copied in a limited (unsuccessful) attempt to get some life out of the Anvil’s top board. The internal battery has recently been removed from the unit.
The auction includes the Anvil, the now-external/separate XLR-XLR input 240V mains power supply (with original UK plug), original Bulldog flight-case, the EPROMs, the schematics it came with (which in some cases differ from the current internal layout), a faded computer printout of the menu commands and final summary of work outstanding (16/OCT/85), and a unique (copy 1 of 1) professionally printed Preliminary User Manual written by the current owner collating all the paperwork, user guide, scans of schematics and his own personal full-colour photographs.
CAUTION: PROTOTYPE – Should only be powered up by a suitably qualified electrical technician under close monitoring. The Anvil will require significant work to be restored.
Weight: 22.3kg in flight-case. Dimensions 68cm wide by 43cm deep by 21cm high (in flight-case). ***NOT IN SECOND CHANCE SUNDAY.***
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| Age |
n/a |
| Weight |
n/a |
| Condition |
Near good |
| Location |
New Zealand |
| Vat |
Not from a VAT-registered business. But VAT / duty may be due if importing from outside your trade bloc. |
| Quantity |
1 item is available from the owner |
| Options |
User manual : No |
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Service manual : No |
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First owner : No |
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Original boxes : No |
| Plug type |
United Kingdom standard plug |
| Voltage type |
External power supply 220-240V |
| Status |
Item is still available |
| Sale type |
The item is on the auction rooms |
| Ending on |
12/04/2025 |
| Category |
Drum Machine |
| Serial number |
Unknown |
| Sphere reference |
# 29378 |
| Statistics |
Created on : 05/04/2025 |
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Changed on : 12/04/2025 |
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Published on : (Not published) |
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Displayed : 818 time(s) by members and guests |
| Safety |
All electrical items sold in VEMIA are deemed to be trade sales. No warranty of electrical safety is given or implied. Many items are vintage and would not pass current electrical safety standards. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that items are safe to use in their future environment - if necessary by using the services of a professional. |
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Prices and conditions  |
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The following section gives you the prices as well as shipment and payment conditions associated with the item. Payment is always requested in GBP. Converted price is shown for information and converted with Sphere standard currency rate.
Shipment and Payment links gives you access to an extended description of our rating :
| Start price |
999 GBP |
| Converted price (1) |
999 GBP |
| Shipment |
International or local shipment to pay |
| Packing costs |
0 GBP |
| Payment |
Full pre payment needed |
| Auction bid step |
20 GBP |
| Auction highest bid |
0 GBP |
| Converted highest bid |
0 GBP |
| Leader or winner |
*None |
| (1) Currency conversion |
Note that conversion rates were last adjusted on 10th October 2025 at 14:22 CET. They are there to give you a rough guide to the bid price in your currency. Please check for a more up-to-date conversion at https://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html. The bid price will be the actual price in pounds (GBP) at the moment the auction closes. This will be roughly converted to your currency for your information.
For technical reasons, we are unable to update the conversion from GBP to Euro during the auction, although it may change at any time. If you are in the euro zone please check the current rate at https://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
Payments must always be in GBP. For more info please see the FAQ about exchange rates.https://spheremusic.com/Winfaq.asp?Question=91. |
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