Mark,
Thanks for the reply.
I had no idea that this was a "well known" story for starters.
Where else can I read about this?
Thanks for the clarifications. I never heard any of this about the Birotron found at Les'
place when Kean was buying the mellotron stuff from Les. So I am glad I started this
thread. It's great to hear more about this.
I too was under the impession that Dave Biro had not seen one of his instruments in
decades, when Dave Kean had asked me about him. When I found David Biro's old number
for Dave Kean, I was also very surprised when Dave Kean told me he got a Birotron from
him. (Who knows, like I said, I do have my senior moments too. LOL)
I know when I gave Dave Kean David Biro's mom's home phone number in CT it was the
late 1980's early 90's so there's some overlap there I'd guess.
Maybe Dave Kean had been in contact with Biro previously? Dave Kean did ask me if I had
a phone number for Biro since he'd like to contact him. As I said, I managed to dig out an
old personal phone book of mine and I gave Dave Kean the number. I am pretty certain
this was well after Dave had gotten everything from Les Bradley. But who knows?
I know I'm not making things up just see myself in print!
Wether or not he'd lost contact with Biro and was looking for another way to contact him?
Anythng's possible I suppose.
Maybe Dave Kean had told me he GAVE a Birotron to Dave Biro. That's not what I recall, I
thought he told me he was looking to get one. Maybe he was just looking to get in contact
again with Biro and couldn't track him down. He did thank me for the number and said he
had made contact with Dave Biro.
Again since I cannot remember the exact year and date of these conversations with Dave
Kean, I certain wouldn't argue with anyone proposeing to know more about this Birotron
thing with Dave Kean. I bow to you.
You've said "I've heard and read this story a dozen times over the years,"
Where may I ask have you read this story. I'd love to read it myself. I never knew it was
ever in print anywhere.
As far as your comment, "Maybe time has altered the memories for you a bit?"
Could be, but I certainly remember some of this as different from what you've said.
Regardless, it's not a big deal to me. As I said in the original posts, I'm sure others may
have different recollections/knowledge of this story possibly, and yes, it was awhile ago so
I have no way of knowing that what Dave Kean told me (or I THOUGHT he told me was
even the truth to begin with.) Dave may have had alterior motives for throwing me off
track, as to why he was asking for Dave Biro's phone number, hell anything's possible.
I was just sharing the fact that I was there in CT around these Birotron guys in the 70's
when all this was going on and found it interesting.
BTW, my comment about the the number of tapes was just a ball park guess in regard to
Dave Biro's prototype made from all the car 8 Track decks. I thought the actual Birotrons
produced had two notes per cartridge, in the final design, which would have been 37
keys/19 tapes as you suggested, but I'm not a Birotron historian and don't claim to be.
(I honestly don't remember the exact number used..but I'm sure you're right)
In his original contraption, I seem to remember there was only one note on each of the the
8 tracks...again I that was 30 years ago so I'll plead years of pot smoking on that one. ;-)
You seem to have this all very clear in your mind and somewhere in print so.... I'll happily
bow to you as the authority. Thanks again for the additonal info.
John
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, mark kasian <easle12@...> wrote:
>
>
> John,
>
> The well known Kean/Birotron story goes like this:
>
> Dave Kean bought his #7 Birotron from Mike Ayoub, the
> same guy that sold Chris his Wakeman double tron. That
> was in the early 90's. Then, while Kean was buying the
> Mellotron stuff from Les Bradley, Les found a birotron
> #8 (oddly enough) in storage with the Mellotron tapes.
> Kean had been in contact with David Biro before that
> time and Biro had NOT even seen one of his instruments
> in decades. Kean got the idea to give Biro the second
> unit, Les agreed and that's what they did. Dave and
> his wife Sandi were on a pick up and delivery trip to
> Naples Florida, visiting Jim Herbst and they dropped
> off the Birotron to Biro in Jacksonville...got a look
> at the Wakeman/Birotron scrap books and had a long
> visit.
>
> I've heard and read this story a dozen times over the
> years, Maybe time has altered the memories for you a
> bit?
>
> At any rate. Kean has seen 4 Birotrons (19 tapes, not
> 30) and said they all sounded pretty rotten, but the
> vernier pitch control was sort of fun.
>
> Mark.
>
>
>
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