Mellotronists

Ken Leonard wrote:

> Last weekend Ken M. and I got a listen (just over the phone, unfortunately)
> to Julia, Jerry Korb's Mark I, which he is restoring from the ground
> up---including the case.
>
> OK, it was over the phone and through the reverb (Jerry has to complete the
> wiring to the amps and all that, so he bodged it so we could hear it), but
> it sounded solid.  Cycling time---the time to change from station to
> station---is shorter than the time it takes me to punch up a sound on
> another bank on a synth.  Yep, Jerry has it to about 7-8
> seconds---amazing!  (And it has a beefed-up version of the original Meccano
> chain.  :-) )

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Greetings All,  Thanks for the intro KL ! Weatherwise, March arrived
like a lamb(on Broadway?),but "Julia" sprang ("Spring?") into action
on March-1 .  Puns intended.....

The telephone "concert" the previous week  was accomplished with
cordless phone in one  hand,and my five thumbs squashing the keys
with the other hand. Performing as a MK1 "skellotron", it wasn't
pretty,but functional. Due to different diameters of Meccano
sprockets and running gear on MK1's,they will cycle more quickly
than other models.

Special thanks/praise MUST be given openly to Mr. Louis Boselli of
Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY for his redesigned Meccano chain.
Stronger,thicker,with high-tensile steel,the chain was produced for
mechanical engineering kits sold to various colleges,universities,etc.
Classes in robotics,and mech. design. He had about 600 feet of chain
mfg'd ,and actually cost LESS than stock(weaker) chain. Hmmmm.

Lou has written an article about Mellotron's use of Meccano chain
and gears/sprockets in his company newsletter (USA rep. of Meccano).
If this chain weren't available, both Julia and I would be  "S.O.L. "

Control-panel was cross-connected to enable use of one audio amp,
bypassing the volume foot-pedal(also with Meccano parts).
And the reverb driver was "daisy-chained" together,enabling the
rhythms/fills to echo as well. Some sounded nice,some didn't, w.delay.
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> This past weekend Jerry was supposed to get the innards back into the
> restored case.  How's that going, Jerry?
>
> Interestingly, Jerry has opted for the *original* Mark I (Mark II?) tape
> set from Martin to keep this as authentic as possible.  It'll largely be a
> "working museum piece".  :-)

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The frame was reunited into the restored cabinet on 1-March.
All day following was spent on reinstalling the misc. assemblies,
speakers into the cabinet. Everything went perfectly !

Orig. MK-II R-F-L sounds are in the unit for as much originality
as possible. This year,Julia turns 40, but she's worn it well.
During restorartion, I found dates of 1963 on SSCU's and elsewhere.
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> The amps are a design similar to that in the JKMK6, and the original
> speakers are used.  Jerry had a spare Accutronics reverb tank from the
> JKMK6 experiments, and this replaced the original old reverb in Julia,
> which had bitten the dust a while ago (and the reverb really works,
> especially when compared to an original Mark II unit---trust me :-) ).

________________________________________________________________

The original reverb (built by the Bradleys from tape return springs,
and 2 BSR phono cartridges) was there,but in no condition for use.
Two Wharfedale speakers (Model RS/12/DD dual-cone) really sound
great when inside the cabinet. That bass-reflex effect inside enclosure.
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> I'm looking forward to seeing Julia in person one of these days.  Sounds
> like it's just about there, even if over a phone, must be killer in person!
>
> Any updates, Professor?    ...kl...M400 #805 - Julia's grandkid
>

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As soon as I sort-out a minor impedance-mismatch with reverb unit,
Julia will be disassembled to make the task of carrying upstairs easier.
Then she'll take her place under an enlarged/framed photo of Les
Bradley playing another Mark-I long ago. Thanks for the inspiration,Les!

To honor(honour) Mardi Gras, I played a variety of Dixieland
riffs with trombone and sax ,ending with Fransen's "YEAH!" for  my
colleagues today at work. Another telephone performance.

Photos were taken throughout the process,and I'll have KM insert them
in the "Professor" Webpage,once they're scanned. After almost five
years of work/worry, it's gratifying to see successful completion to my
final Mellotron project at home. One helluva "Swan-Song."

If JB/MS of Streetly were able to resurrect the Spring MK-II
from a smelly heap,then my task of reviving Julia was yet another
example of perseverance. "Genius is one percent inspiration,and
99 percent perspiration." --Thomas Alva Edison,USA, 1879.

Cheers, JK and the Mellotron Village......