Mellotronists

----- Original Message -----

From: NormLeete@...

To: mellotronists@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 5:18 PM

Subject: [Mellotronists] Birotron

In a message dated 2/6/02 12:42:19 PM GMT Standard Time, andy.thompson@... writes:

On a seperate note,  8 track was never the best of mediums and we are currently restoring a ******* Birotron which was built around this technology.  Sonically it is an absolute nightmare as the cartridges are running continuously, wearing out rapidly and clattering like a Singer sewing machine on acid.  When you look at the compexity of the Birotron and the simplicity of the Mellotron mechanism you wonder why Mr Wakeman and Mr Biro bothered.  It is a well engineered machine but flawed from the very outset in our opinion.  And relacing the cartridges.

Dear All,
Been away for a few days, but was lucky enough to see this machine when up visiting Streetly recently during a day off work.

Shame that the Birotron was spoilt by the fundamental error of choosing 8 tracks as the tape media. The idea of getting away from the 8 second limit was obviously a priority here.

Quality of manufacture was good (especially as such a small number were produced) and some of the components used such as the motor plus tacho were of high quality resulting in a stable motor control from near standstill up to at least double speed. Shame that some of more important components were made from mild steel (that can become magnetised!)

However the noise created by driving 19 tape cartridges while they are mounted vertically is frightening. As 8 tracks were designed to run horizontally I am sure that this had something to do with both the noise and the estimated limited life of the tapes. Not helped by the fact that they are always running, even when the instrument is "silent".

Anyway it sounded better after restoration than it probably had sounded for years...

All the best,
Norm

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Hello to all of you!

Does anyone have some informations about a mysterious "kind of tron" instrument supposed to be known as "Beerotron"? :)

I'm looking for such a thing for years!!

David

In a message dated 2/8/02 11:47:23 PM GMT Standard Time, jonesalley@... writes:

NINETEEN cartridges??????  
Elucidate, please.

Each 8 track cartridge is arranged such that the four stereo tracks supply the four sounds for two of the notes on the keyboard,  for example cartridge one was the bottom C and (I think it was) theF# above it. As there were 37 notes (C-C 3 octave keyboard) one cartridge had a note missing.

Norm