via this auction"It is a "Rockmate", distributed by David Wexler & Co. of Chicago, IL, and manufactured in Japan... There is a central knob for selecting pitch (A, B, C, D, E or F), a tempo control to the left, and a SW-VOL knob to the right. At far right, there's a START/STOP button and a "SOLO" button. Apparently the latter has three settings, it shows quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes. On top, there are two inputs (START-STOP and SOLO) and one audio output (AMP-SW), all are 1/4" standard jack. There's also a port for an AC adapter; however it appears to run on a 9-volt battery as well... Measures 7.5" x 7.5", by 1-1/4" deep (excluding the rubber feet), it is housed in a bright red enameled-steel case and is quite heavy for its size. The face is gold-toned brushed aluminum." Anyone know more about this one? BTW, click on the multi-shot for a larger image.
Update via the world of next tuesday in the comments: "Never saw a Wexler before. It's a rebadged Keio Donca Matic Rock Mate, which I think is fair to say is the first portable drum machine, 1966. Keio Guutsu Kenkyujo became Korg based on Keio Organs later. I've seen a West German(?) rebadged version called a Checkmate too. Oddly the Europeans re-oriented the unit 90 degrees from the Keio and the similar Wexler. So the knobs are on the right rather than top, but is the same hardware as far as I can tell."
