Floyd Engels Replica Theremin Cello

Bob Moog with Floyd Engels and his replica Theremin cello, June, 2001.

Born in Buffalo, NY in 1935, Floyd Engels (1935–2023) lived in the Western New York area all his life. He worked in assembly and R&D for Fisher-Price Toys and Scott Aviation. Since the age of 10, when he built a crystal radio with his father using a Quaker Oatmeal cereal box for the coil form, Engels was a devoted hobbyist and historian of electronica. His passion for theremins began in 1948 when he saw one being demonstrated in a 7^th grade assembly at Orchard Park Central Junior High School. He restored several vintage 1929 RCA theremins, and made faithful replicas of the 1930 diamond-shaped theremin speaker owned by the late legendary theremin player Clara Rockmore and used by her and others in Carnegie Hall.

In October of 2000, Floyd began making a modern replica of a rare original Lev-built theremin cello that Albert Glinsky found in a private collection. With electrical assistance from his son John and advice from synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, Engels was able to perfect his design using antique radio parts obtained from catalogs and flea markets as well as components he hand-built in his workshop. In 2001, the Floyd Engels theremin cello won the prestigious Rex Matlack Transmitter Award and a Blue Ribbon from the Antique Wireless Association.

Floyd made a total of 15 replica theremin cellos in his lifetime. The first four were made concurrently in 2000. Initially, the long coil under the fingerboard was made in the same way as Lev's original cello, with nichrome wire which needed to be carefully spaced around the coil form. Floyd later made the coils with enamel coated wire, avoiding the difficult task of ensuring spacing between turns of the bare nichrome wire. To make electrical contact with the cello fingerboard, part of the enamel coating was removed and the exposed copper wire was nickel plated to prevent oxidation. He replaced the coils in the first and fourth cello, and made all future cellos with his new coil method.

Floyd's 2001 AWA table display card.

The cello is a faithful replica of the 1937 Theremin Cello with the addition of an input/output effects loop, a speaker jack, and additional timbre selection options.

Floyd's AWA award.

The registry of the cellos handmade by Floyd Engels appears below. If you are among the fortunate few who own a Floyd Engels Theremin Cello and would like to appear on our official cello registry, please email us so we can keep the list updated. As always, we respect your privacy and will not publish your name without express written permission. Should your Floyd Engels Theremin Cello require repair or adjustment, please get in touch with us. As custodians of Floyd's personal theremin and theremin cello library, blueprints, and spare parts, we are fully equipped to serve your needs.

Engels Cello Registry

Serial	Year	Coil	Owner	Notable
01	2001	Copper	Private Owner
02	2001	Nichrome	Private Owner
03	2001	Nichrome	Bob Moog Archives
04	2001	Copper	for sale
05	2004	Copper	Private Owner
06	2004	Copper	Private Owner
07	2004	Copper	Unknown Owner	(was for sale)
08	2004	Copper	Private Owner
09	2004	Copper	Private Owner
10	2004	Copper	Reed Hays
11	2011	Copper	for sale
12	2011	Copper	Mike Buffington	Left Handed
13	2011	Copper	Private Owner
14	2011	Copper	Private Owner
15	2011	Copper	Private Owner