Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Thread

Chamberlins, not trons, the first samplers?

2003-06-22 by TooClassy@aol.com

Hello everyone,

I'm just wondering why trons get all the glory for being the first samplers or vintage synthesizers. Doesn't that award go to the Chamberlin 100, released in 1948?

No intention of disrespecting the tron, here......but aren't I right on this?

Jesse

Re: [Mellotronists] Chamberlins, not trons, the first samplers?

2003-06-22 by NormLeete@aol.com

Jesse,

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...)

Re: [Mellotronists] Chamberlins, not trons, the first samplers?

2003-06-23 by Jerry Korb

NormLeete@... wrote:

>  Jesse,
>
> You are correct that Harry Chamberlin invented the concept of the tape
> replay keyboard first and I would always give him credit for that.
>
> As a result of Les Bradley/Streetly, 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

_______________________________________________________________

Hello Norm and everybody,

Well said.  The same situation applies to lighting history .
There were many predecessors who attempted to produce
electric light. But Edison in USA and Sir Joseph Swan in England
concurrently invented the first PRACTICAL incandescent light.
......Ditto for Alexander Graham Bell for telephone ,etc,etc......

Cheers, Jerry Korb (JKMK6  S.N. 001......  c.1885 working lightbulb
atop)

Re: Chamberlins, not trons, the first samplers?

2003-06-23 by ceccles_ca

Harry Chamberlin also recorded the original "3 Violin" sounds....
used extensively by Mellotronists from 1964 - 2003.

Clay