The Mellotron Group

From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM


  








Hi all-
  I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see.  Charlie Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on PBS tonight.  This thing has the dubious distinction of "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track (audience or not).  It was also famous for not being seen until now.  The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on the rent, and the locker was auctioned off.  
  A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it, about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red & black, and an audio cable coming out the left side.  Remeniscent of a old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side.  The tapes were visible from the top.  It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound played until done.
  There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it is the real thing.  They gave it an value of around $10,000.  But, it is so unique I think it is worth much more.
 
   -Bruce D.
   M400 #1221

Addendum-

;

Okay, my memory of what it looks like was shaky. It is on Youtube already, and it may be on ebay soon.

-Bruce D.

--- On Mon, 1/31/11, Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM

Hi all-

I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see. Charlie Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on PBS tonight. This thing has the dubious distinction of "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track (audience or not). It was also famous for not being seen until now. The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on the rent, and the locker was auctioned off.

A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it, about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red & black, and an audio cable coming out the left side. Remeniscent of a old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side. The tapes were visible from the top. It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound played until done.

There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it is the real thing. They gave it an value of around $10,000. But, it is so unique I think it is worth much more.

-Bruce D.

M400 #1221

From: David Jacques <djacques@csulb.edu>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:35 PM


  



Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI



On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:












Addendum-
 
  Okay, my memory of what it looks like was shaky.  It is on Youtube already, and it may be on ebay soon.
 
  -Bruce D.


--- On Mon, 1/31/11, Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM


 






Hi all-
  I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see.  Charlie Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on PBS tonight.  This thing has the dubious distinction of "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track (audience or not).  It was also famous for not being seen until now.  The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on the rent, and the locker was auctioned off. 
  A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it, about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red & black, and an audio cable coming out the left side.  Remeniscent of a old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side.  The tapes were visible from the top.  It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound played until done.
  There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it is the real thing.  They gave it an value of around $10,000.  But, it is so unique I think it is worth much more.
 
   -Bruce D.
   M400 #1221

>   That's the one.  Thanks, David.
>   Obviously tape loops.  Note that the tapes stop when the punch hole
> allows arm contact.  I wonder if Harry Chamberlin had anything to do with
> this mechanism?
>  
>    -Bruce D.
>
>
> --- On Mon, 1/31/11, David Jacques <djacques@csulb.edu> wrote:
>
>
> From: David Jacques <djacques@csulb.edu>
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:35 PM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Here is the link:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI
>
>
>
> On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Addendum-
>  
>   Okay, my memory of what it looks like was shaky.  It is on Youtube
> already, and it may be on ebay soon.
>  
>   -Bruce D.
>
>
> --- On Mon, 1/31/11, Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi all-
>   I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see.  Charlie
> Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on
> PBS tonight.  This thing has the dubious distinction of
> "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track
> (audience or not).  It was also famous for not being seen until now. 
> The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on
> the rent, and the locker was auctioned off. 
>   A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it,
> about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red &
> black, and an audio cable coming out the left side.  Remeniscent of a
> old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side.  The tapes were visible
> from the top.  It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound
> played until done.
>   There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it
> is the real thing.  They gave it an value of around $10,000.  But, it
> is so unique I think it is worth much more.
>  
>    -Bruce D.
>    M400 #1221
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

>   That's the one.  Thanks, David.
>   Obviously tape loops.  Note that the tapes stop when the punch hole
> allows arm contact.  I wonder if Harry Chamberlin had anything to do with
> this mechanism?
> Â 
> Â Â  -Bruce D.
>
>
> --- On Mon, 1/31/11, David Jacques <djacques@csulb.edu> wrote:
>
>
> From: David Jacques <djacques@csulb.edu>
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:35 PM
>
>
> Â 
>
>
>
> Here is the link:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI
>
>
>
> On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Addendum-
> Â 
>   Okay, my memory of what it looks like was shaky.  It is on Youtube
> already, and it may be on ebay soon.
> Â 
> Â  -Bruce D.
>
>
> --- On Mon, 1/31/11, Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> To:Â newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM
>
>
> Â 
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi all-
>   I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see.  Charlie
> Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on
> PBS tonight.  This thing has the dubious distinction of
> "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track
> (audience or not).  It was also famous for not being seen until now. 
> The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on
> the rent, and the locker was auctioned off. 
> Â  A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it,
> about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red &
> black, and an audio cable coming out the left side.  Remeniscent of a
> old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side.  The tapes were visible
> from the top.  It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound
> played until done.
> Â  There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it
> is the real thing.  They gave it an value of around $10,000.  But, it
> is so unique I think it is worth much more.
> Â 
> Â Â  -Bruce D.
> Â Â  M400 #1221
> Â 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

>
> Thats a really interesting machine- I'd like to know when it was made- It
> seems to have alot in common with our tape replay instruments!
> 
> >   That's the one.  Thanks, David.
> >   Obviously tape loops.  Note that the tapes stop when the punch hole
> > allows arm contact.  I wonder if Harry Chamberlin had anything to do with
> > this mechanism?
> > Â 
> > Â Â  -Bruce D.
> >
> >
> > --- On Mon, 1/31/11, David Jacques <djacques@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: David Jacques <djacques@...>
> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:35 PM
> >
> >
> > Â 
> >
> >
> >
> > Here is the link:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI
> >
> >
> >
> > On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Addendum-
> > Â 
> >   Okay, my memory of what it looks like was shaky.  It is on Youtube
> > already, and it may be on ebay soon.
> > Â 
> > Â  -Bruce D.
> >
> >
> > --- On Mon, 1/31/11, Bruce Daily <pocotron@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@...>
> > Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Laff Machine on Antiques Roadshow
> > To:Â newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:14 PM
> >
> >
> > Â 
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all-
> >   I finally saw a tape replay device I'd thought I'd never see.  Charlie
> > Douglas' Laff Machine was presented on Antiques Roadshow from San Diego on
> > PBS tonight.  This thing has the dubious distinction of
> > "flavoring" nearly all of the classic TV comedies with the laught track
> > (audience or not).  It was also famous for not being seen until now. 
> > The new owner obtained it when the renter of a storage locker defaulted on
> > the rent, and the locker was auctioned off. 
> > Â  A mechanical box, about 1 1/2 foot square, it had about 10 tapes in it,
> > about 1/2 inch wide (I guess), and 2 rows of large round keys, red &
> > black, and an audio cable coming out the left side.  Remeniscent of a
> > old typewriter, the keys stuck out of one side.  The tapes were visible
> > from the top.  It took just a tap of the key to play it, and the sound
> > played until done.
> > Â  There was enough memorabilia and documentation with it to establish it
> > is the real thing.  They gave it an value of around $10,000.  But, it
> > is so unique I think it is worth much more.
> > Â 
> > Â Â  -Bruce D.
> > Â Â  M400 #1221
> > Â 
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>