Mellotronists

Hi!

Getting an M400 has been such an exciting thing for me. One thing I always do when I get an old instrument is to research a bit on it's history. In the case of #160 I'm curious about the approximate production date. Here's what I have deduced so far:

Martin told me that the serial numbers for the M400 started at #100, so my machine would be number 60 made. That is a true vintage machine. How cool! Martin also said that it might be from 71-72, but I start believing that it is rather 70-71'ish. 

I checked a page with "King Crimsons mellotrons", complete with images (http://www-dcrp.ced.berkeley.edu/Cervero/crimtron.htm) to cross-check serial numbers. It seems that the "Islands" M400 was serial number #354. Islands was recorded in late 1971, but on the original sleeve there were images from the preceeding tour that also shows the M400 on stage. This tour started in April '71. So #354 must have been built no later than mid-1971. (If the M400 was there from the begining of the tour it would even have been built in perhaps March '71). Second, the "Starless" tron was #1199 and must have been built no later than late-73/early 1974 (Assuming it was used on the album by the name). A rough extrapolation on Streetlys production speed of those time then gives a rough estimate that on average 1.5 machines were built per day. This indicates that #160 must have been built very early 1971 or maybe late-1970. (And probably Streetly didn't even start on max production capacity).
Does this sound reasonable? (...or maybe I should spend my time on more productive things).
Too bad the records were lost.

Frank Carvalho
#160

I'm a bit surprised at this. I thought Streetly could provide copies of 
original birth certificates for most 'trons.
John

To:             	mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
From:           	dko4342@...
Date sent:      	Fri, 7 Feb 2003 11:56:19 +0100
Subject:        	[Mellotronists] M400 manufacture date
Send reply to:  	dko4342@...

> 
> Hi!
> 
> Getting an M400 has been such an exciting thing for me. One thing I always do when I get an old instrument is to research 
a bit on it's history. In the case of #160 I'm curious about the approximate production date. Here's what I have deduced so far:
> 
> Martin told me that the serial numbers for the M400 started at #100, so my machine would be number 60 made. That is a 
true vintage machine. How cool! Martin also said that it might be from 71-72, but I start believing that it is rather 70-71'ish. 
> 
> I checked a page with "King Crimsons mellotrons", complete with images (http://www-dcrp.ced.berkeley.edu/Cervero/crimtron.htm) 
to cross-check serial numbers. It seems that the "Islands" M400 was serial number #354. Islands was recorded in late 1971, but on
the original sleeve there were images from the preceeding tour that also shows the M400 on stage. This tour started in April '71. So
#354 must have been built no later than mid-1971. (If the M400 was there from the begining of the tour it would even have been built
in perhaps March '71). Second, the "Starless" tron was #1199 and must have been built no later than late-73/early 1974 (Assuming 
t was used on the album by the name). A rough extrapolation on Streetlys production speed of those time then gives a rough 
stimate that on average 1.5 machines were built per day. This indicates that #160 must have been built very early 
971 or maybe late-1970. (And probably Streetly didn't even start on max production capacity).

> Does this sound reasonable? (...or maybe I should spend my time on more productive things).
> Too bad the records were lost.
> 
> Frank Carvalho
> #160
> 
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
>

dko4342@... wrote:

> Hi!
>
> Getting an M400 has been such an exciting thing for me. One thing I always do when I get an old instrument is to research a bit on it's history. In the case of #160 I'm curious about the approximate production date. Here's what I have deduced so far:
>
> Martin told me that the serial numbers for the M400 started at #100, so my machine would be number 60 made. That is a true vintage machine. How cool! Martin also said that it might be from 71-72, but I start believing that it is rather 70-71'ish.
>
>  A rough extrapolation on Streetlys production speed of those time then gives a rough estimate that on average 1.5 machines were built per day. This indicates that #160 must have been built very early 1971 or maybe late-1970. (And probably Streetly didn't even start on max production capacity).
> Does this sound reasonable? (...or maybe I should spend my time on more productive things).      Too bad the records were lost.      Frank Carvalho   ,   #160
>

_________________________________________________________________

Greetings Frank and Fellow Mellotronists,

M400's were first produced sometime in 1970. The earliest ones
used "hand-me-down" leftover items from the M300 series.
That is, brass capstans (shortened), CMC-4 (better than CMC-10),
a front headphone jack, etc.   I personally saw #123 in Pierre's
Montreal flat some years ago,before it was sold to Jim Finnegan of
the VA-tidewater area. That unit had the items mentioned above.

And last year,a person contacted me from PA ,as the owner
of M400 S/N 104  .  Your supposition about #160 might be correct.
Mine is #681 , built in springtime 1973,delivered early summer.

Cheers, Jerry K.

>Mine is #681 , built in springtime 1973,delivered early summer.

Streetly was crankin' then, as #805 had its final check on May 23, '73, 
IIRC (I don't have the birth certificate handy, but that's about right).

...kl...M400 #805 - still just a baby

* Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
* Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
** KLTunes airplay coming up on "The Greatest Show From Earth"
** See http://teltan.mrwebmedia.com/ for info & webcast!