Nic,
I think I have a photo of a pile of Birotrons that you sent me years back. I believe there were three in the photo. Two restorable and one parts machine. I wondered whatever happened. Thanks for the post.
No hard feelings, I hope. By the way, Chris Dale has one of Dave's prototypes with the horizontal cassette arrangement you described. He is currently restoring it. As for the rest of them, the production machines, though well engineered, were flawed. They went the way of the Optigan and the Orchestron.
Mellotrons survived because the concept worked and enough were produced and used to mark their place in history, and like neckties, the have come back into vogue. (although the do sound better than neckties)
Frank
In a message dated 4/14/2009 5:14:51 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, nic@thepub.org.uk writes:
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