Mellotronists

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...> 
wrote:
>
> so I'm cleaning up 1407 - pretty much disassembling everything 
that will 
> come apart and doing whatever's necessary to get it nice and shiny 
> (mostly polishing aluminum).  I've gotten down to the tray that 
the 
> headblock rides left and right on and discover that the tray 
appears to 
> fixed to the frame with pop rivets. I'm a bit surprised as so far, 
> everything else has been screwe/bolted into place.  I guess for 
some 
> reason, this is not meant to separate from the frame, so I'm going 
to 
> have to remove the spill box to get at the screws on the 
rear "comb" 
> tape path assembly.  Does anyone know why this would be riveted 
and not 
> screwed into the frame?
> 
> thanks,
> john
> 
> PS - it's become obvious to me that I'm going to have to remove 
the tape 
> set from the tape frame to properly clean it up.  Is there a good 
method 
> for that or should I just pull the tapes out,  toss them into the 
corner 
> and try to sort them all out later?
>


Re:  Hello John,
Yes most of the main part of frame is riveted and I don't see why 
you just can't clean around it.  The tricky part is the wooden 
spillbox.  Note exactly where fasteners mount before you remove 
them, especially at bottom of box, don't know what you will find as 
far as mounting holes on brackets. There should be a foam "wiper" 
that contacts the capstan,mounted to box hopefully,  and will 
probably need a good cleaning.. Be gentle here as you do not want to 
tear it.  The hard part is adjusting the box to get proper clearance 
between pad and capstan as well as proper angle for the wooden mount 
on motor side.  Assuming you have replaced the 4 rubber grommets on 
motor mount and all fastening hardware is in proper place, tighten 
spillbox mounts on wooden sides first, then you will need to adjust 
motor panel to be vertically parallel to capstan flywheel, at the 
same time allowing wiper to contact capstan without any noticable 
drag on capstan, (word of the Professor) Just make sure wooden sides 
are parallel with sides of cabinet before you tighten nuts. It would 
be a good idea to do this with frame in cabinet to insure proper 
alignment. 
As far as tapes go, the answer to your question is NOOOO!  Just 
making extra work.  Some tapes are marked with number, hash marks 
for start point, and what sounds are on them.  If not, best way is 
to get a China marker, yellow or white, number the strips according 
to keys, #1 extreme left, and also with the tapes mounted in normal 
position draw a centerline at the middle of the head for each strip. 
Now when you rethread them in the rack you will be right on the 
money. Either spool the tapes on to something like a thread spool or 
use a yardstick and 35 clothespins but I would not just drop them in 
a box.  The first time I threaded a rack it took just over 2 hours, 
but as you get accustomed to it, seems to go a little quicker, just 
use patience.  Anyhow that's my method, good luck John.......Doug