Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Mellotron Group

I have just read the recent exchanges regarding Birotrons.

Some years ago I ventured onto this list because I was employed
building the Birotrons in the mid seventies. I thought at the time I
joined the list that the members may be interested in this slightly
off topic diversion and indeed I was welcomed wholeheartedly by some
members of the list, but berated quite rudely by others. My only
crime: to have worked for Wakeman making these things and quoting the
rationale behind the design ∗as seen at the time∗. I was a little
disappointed, but as this is a list that is primarily about another
machine I understood why some would hold those attitudes. I make no
judgement about this. It is what it is.

Now this debate has been re-ignited I feel I must make some comments
based on actual experience and knowledge. I have no intention of
commenting on the discussion as to the politeness or otherwise in the
recent list exchanges, and I would not rush to make value judgements
about things which have an amount of subjective value.

In response to specifics, I would also be very interested to know
which Birotron Mike played, if I know this I may well be able to shed
some light on it's history which may assist in understanding Mike's opinions.

I did not experience anyone at the time of construction criticising
the action of the keyboard. I am not including those obvious
supporters such as Wakeman (naturally) or any Birotronics staff, but
a number of musicians passing through. Now this was a long time ago
and these may not have been high calibre artists but nonetheless that
is how it was. I have, however, seen criticism elsewhere more
recently. I cannot lay my hands on it right now and cannot speak for
it's veracity, which is why it would be interesting to explore Mike's
experiences in more detail.

The noise of the tapes and the question of fidelity where largely an
attribute of the way an engineer working for Wakeman decided to
reduce the size of the instrument, the original having discrete
players housed in the cabinet base. It was decided to put them
vertically in the back of the machine with a common drive. It was
some time before a new engineer checked the specification of 8 track
cartridges and it was discovered that playing them vertically is not
recommended. The inventor, Dave Biro, was not involved in this design
change and should not be held responsible for the inadequacies
pertaining. That being said, when properly set up and with the tape
sets recorded specially for the machine, the fidelity would be good.
Again, it would be interesting to know the details of the machine
Mike played, and when - that may help in ascertaining as to whether
it was in a good condition when played.

Frank has a disinterest in the machine and I'm sorry if my posting is
boring for him or others who share that valid viewpoint. I would
however question the comment regarding the failure of the Birotron.
There where a number of reasons for its failure, and they where not
limited to the quality of the machine, indeed this was not a major
issue at the time. I will not tire the audience with the whole sad
affair here but I can say that at the time there ware pledges and
pre-orders for hundreds of machines. I, and the rest of the small
team working on it, where quite surprised when work was halted
and it was many years before my interest re-emerged.

With regard to the number built, I can say with a high degree of
confidence that with the exception of Dave Biro's own prototypes
there where 15 built, two of which where further prototypes. Of the
13 remaining the whereabouts of 5 is known. One is in my possession
and being restored, a second is with a friend of mine who is also an
ex-Birotrionics employee and is almost fully restored. A third is the
one being sold on ebay. I know the history of these machines and the
remaining 2. 1 further machine is known to have been scrapped and
parts used to restore the 2 mentioned previously, it unlikely that
any others exist.

I hope this helps to put things into perspective. I have tried to be
as objective as possible and should anyone wish to discuss further
you may. of course, email me off list.


Regards,

Nic Lewis