Message
Re: [Mellotronists] Chamberlins, not trons, the first samplers?
2003-06-22 by NormLeete@aol.com
You are correct that Harry Chamberlin invented the concept of the tape replay keyboard first and I would always give him credit for that.
However as much credit also has to go to Les Bradley at Streetly for taking the idea and making it a system that could be manufactured in numbers and be reliable. I know many people wouldn't use the word reliable and Melloton in the same sentence but in reality they are pretty good (after twenty-odd years I am yet to have a mangled tape!).
As a result many more Mellotrons were made and thus the majority of tape replay keyboards used were Mellotrons, hence the major recognition.
Similar to Henry Ford, he didn't invent the car but he made it accessible...
All the best,
Norm
(Didn't hit send by accident this time...)