Mellotronists

Noting that a decent Chamberlin M1 went for over six grand this 
week, and even a well-worn M-400 can fetch over $3,000 easily--
doesn't it cross your mind that some crafty crooked tinkering 
geppetto might slip in a few knockoff Mellotrons and Chamberlins 
down the road? I mean--these things can be just about be made in a 
garage w/basic tools from the corner hardware store.

Nah! It can't happen. Too many parts are one-of-a-kind and are 
unique to the machine (esp. the tape widths/transport designs which 
are obviously designed to deter duplication and subsitutions from 
other manufacturers), but I guess someone moonlighting at a military 
hardware factory or at NASA could be *in the know*.

Don'tcha just love eBay. Increases the value of the existing 
machines we have with every bid honored, but makes it less 
affordable for those wanting that ground floor opportunity. 

Samplers, samplers, samplers!

Maybe a good idea would be to tool as per order an *updated* 
Chamberlin M-1 like what is already being done with the recent run 
of Mark V Mellotrons.

I myself would treat a new built-to-order Mark V with the same 
respect alongside M-400 #1019 even tho' it would have cost me three 
times as much.