Mellotronists

Thanks for the warm welcomes!  I've been wondering over the past week as I was 
getting serious about taking on this Chamberlin if anyone has thought seriously about 
resurrecting the company.  I mean, even just an information and parts group would fill 
a void.  There's actually quite a bit of stuff on the web about Mellotrons, and they are 
more famous, and there are a few (from what I can tell) companies that are back in 
existence who are some form of the "real" mellotron company, but the Chamberlin 
actually invented the machine, and there is probably as much information on 
mellotron.com about them as the is anywhere.  Am I just looking in the wrong places, 
or is this actually the case?

   Also, I saw on an old post the link to a seemingly broken down Orchestron on ebay 
that went up three times, the last of which ending just about a month ago.  The 
seller's name was serafine248, and one of the item #'s was 2566871550.  Did anyone 
talk to this seller?  Know if he still has the orchestron?  Anything about it?

One more thing, and then bedtime.  In looking through the available info about this 
kind of instrument (I'm relatively new to this.  I've only had my Mellotron for a few 
months), I came across the Birotron.  All things considered, it actually doesn't seem 
like it would be too impossible to actually make one of these guys.  I mean, I know it 
lacks a lot compared to a mellotron, but it looks compact, durable, and, seriously, not 
that hard to put together.  Has anyone in the group thought about making a tape or 
other playback type of keyboard?  Had any success?  I mean, if someone was building 
machines like the Birotron, which actually could probably be pretty cheap as well, I 
know I'd buy one, and it seems like, with the know-how within a group like this, that 
it could be done.  Just a thought.


Max

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, MAinPsych@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 12/8/03 3:29:12 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> maxwellhiller@e... writes:
> 
> 
> > I'm rambling, but I would think that everyone on this list can feel the, 
> > and I know this sounds corny, but, the magic of playing such a wonderful and 
> > rare bird of an instrument as a mellotron or chamberlin.  Can everyone tell 
> > that I'm kind of excited to have joined this group?
> 
> Welcome, Max.
> 
> You've come to the right bunch of loonies...I mean enthusiasts.  There are 
> many tales similar to yours that you might be interested in reading from The 
> Mellotron Book, available from amazon.com (had to get a plug in there, guys - and 
> gal)...also to catch a glimpse into the mindset of our little cadre.
> 
> Frank Samagaio
> San Diego CA
> MkII #134 /  M400 #908
> author, The Mellotron Book