Mellotronists

Dear All,

Only ever seen or played one like this and it was a 4-track. Even though they 
were only prototypes they were quite well made but the surprise was that they 
were made from sheet steel!
Using the best of  fridge / cooker technology the whole thing used cunningly 
fold sheet metal for both the cabinet and some of the key internal 
components. The tape frame look standard  despite the different construction 
techniques and carried the same length of tape as usual so 8 second was the 
order of the day.

The controls were for each track as the heads did not move so it was possible 
to blend tracks not next to each other.

All in all a brave attempt to develop a new instrument that sadly failed - 
shame...

All the best,
Norm

Hi Norm,

Wasn't the tape also 4-track, 1/2" width?

Bernie

--- In Mellotronists@y..., NormLeete@a... wrote:
> Dear All,
> 
> Only ever seen or played one like this and it was a 4-track. Even 
though they 
> were only prototypes they were quite well made but the surprise 
was that they 
> were made from sheet steel!
> Using the best of  fridge / cooker technology the whole thing used 
cunningly 
> fold sheet metal for both the cabinet and some of the key internal 
> components. The tape frame look standard  despite the different 
construction 
> techniques and carried the same length of tape as usual so 8 
second was the 
> order of the day.
> 
> The controls were for each track as the heads did not move so it 
was possible 
> to blend tracks not next to each other.
> 
> All in all a brave attempt to develop a new instrument that sadly 
failed - 

> shame...
> 
> All the best,
> Norm

--- In Mellotronists@y..., NormLeete@a... wrote:
"...Even though they were only prototypes they were quite well 
made..."  

The band "Strange Advance" used a Mellotron 4-track for several years 
(1982 - 1985).  You may recall the tunes "Worlds Away" and "We Run".  
The SA keyboardist Drew Arnott used the 4-track extensively during a 
25 city 1985 tour.  It was great to see a Mellotron used on stage in 
1985, even though it was a "strange" one, it sounded just great!

Clay

re: The 4-track...  Mellotron U.S.A./Bomar Fabricators made 2 white 
ones, one blue one, and one red one.  Strange Advance had a white 
one, Robert L's is white (Same one perhaps?)  The blue and red ones 
may have been painted Harvest Gold or Avocado Green to match other 
aluminum appliances.  They could have been converted into Barbeques 
for pig roasts.  (Pitch control for rotisserie speed....)

> Wasn't the tape also 4-track, 1/2" width?

It's 1/4" wide. Half inch tape would be too wide for each key. FWIW I
had a play with a 4 track machine at Streetly and it sounded great. Pity
about the Zanussi case, though.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/