The Mellotron Group

Hi, I am new to this group. I own a M400 that is in rough shape. It
was stored for 10 years in a basement and has surface rust damage
throughout, plus the tapes are no good. It would probably be good for
parts and someone with the time and money could restore it. I thought
about posting it on ebay but wanted to try this group first. I live in
NW Missouri and would like $1500 for it. Must be picked up - I don't
want to ship it. Anyone interested?
Missouri Mike

If it's rusted like you say, what parts are in good enough condition for
parts? Does the motor run? What condition is the cabinet in? Does it
have knobs and a lens cap? Is there anything good about the machine
that's salvageable? If I still lived in Kansas City, it might be worth
the drive if your asking price was lower. Tapes being no good are one
thing, but if the tape frame is bad too, then your talking considerably
more to fix. Replacement parts can add up quickly on a mellotron.

IF you're going to put it on ebay, why don't you go ahead and take a
series of interior/exterior photos and post them to the list so that
folks could get a better idea of condition?
best,
john barrick
1407


onetogo4music wrote:

>
> Hi, I am new to this group. I own a M400 that is in rough shape. It
> was stored for 10 years in a basement and has surface rust damage
> throughout, plus the tapes are no good. It would probably be good for
> parts and someone with the time and money could restore it. I thought
> about posting it on ebay but wanted to try this group first. I live in
> NW Missouri and would like $1500 for it. Must be picked up - I don't
> want to ship it. Anyone interested?
> Missouri Mike
>
>

Tapes are not a problem as they are very replaceable, but if the instrument itself is actually rusty then the chances are that the parts won't be any use for anyone. Rust also tends to mean moisture which tends to mean a warped cabinet, etc. You're also asking a lot for it, considering the damage and the fact that you won't ship it. It was about eight or nine years ago, but I bought two damaged M400s from South Africa and they both cost less than half what you are asking for one.

Mike

onetogo4music wrote:

Hi, I am new to this group. I own a M400 that is in rough shape. It
was stored for 10 years in a basement and has surface rust damage
throughout, plus the tapes are no good. It would probably be good for
parts and someone with the time and money could restore it. I thought
about posting it on ebay but wanted to try this group first. I live in
NW Missouri and would like $1500 for it. Must be picked up - I don't
want to ship it. Anyone interested?
Missouri Mike

Hi Missouri Mike-

I kinda have a passing interest in your machine, as it is one serial # younger than mine. Makes me itch a little, too, as I am close by in Colorado. But the aforementioned rust, along with basement storage(which may mean moisture damage to case & electronics), can lead to a lot of restoration trouble & expense. Also, driving there would cost a bit these days.

Yep, I think ebay w/pictures would help a lot. Make sure one of the pics is a view straight down from the top left side, showing the power supply and controller (we would ask for this anyway).

I wish you the very best of luck on your sale. I also think your initial asking price is optomistic.

My best-

-Bruce Daily

#1221

--- On Sun, 7/13/08, Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotron project M400 sn 1222
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008, 10:09 AM

Tapes are not a problem as they are very replaceable, but if the instrument itself is actually rusty then the chances are that the parts won't be any use for anyone. Rust also tends to mean moisture which tends to mean a warped cabinet, etc. You're also asking a lot for it, considering the damage and the fact that you won't ship it. It was about eight or nine years ago, but I bought two damaged M400s from South Africa and they both cost less than half what you are asking for one.

Mike

onetogo4music wrote:

Hi, I am new to this group. I own a M400 that is in rough shape. It
was stored for 10 years in a basement and has surface rust damage
throughout, plus the tapes are no good. It would probably be good for
parts and someone with the time and money could restore it. I thought
about posting it on ebay but wanted to try this group first. I live in
NW Missouri and would like $1500 for it. Must be picked up - I don't
want to ship it. Anyone interested?
Missouri Mike

Oh yes, welcome to the group!!

Mike, if you want to take on the restoration yourself (or by using your local technical help), our intrepid group is an great resource for 'tron info, along with other friendly abuses. They were invaluable to me over the last year in restoring my unit (thanks again, everyone). In the end, you may have a more valuable instrument for the invested time & money.

-Bruce D.

--- On Sun, 7/13/08, Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Bruce Daily <pocotron@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotron project M400 sn 1222
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008, 4:20 PM

Hi Missouri Mike-

I kinda have a passing interest in your machine, as it is one serial # younger than mine. Makes me itch a little, too, as I am close by in Colorado. But the aforementioned rust, along with basement storage(which may mean moisture damage to case & electronics) , can lead to a lot of restoration trouble & expense. Also, driving there would cost a bit these days.

Yep, I think ebay w/pictures would help a lot. Make sure one of the pics is a view straight down from the top left side, showing the power supply and controller (we would ask for this anyway).

I wish you the very best of luck on your sale. I also think your initial asking price is optomistic.

My best-

-Bruce Daily

#1221

--- On Sun, 7/13/08, Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@ gmail.com> wrote:

From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@ gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotron project M400 sn 1222
To: newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008, 10:09 AM

Tapes are not a problem as they are very replaceable, but if the instrument itself is actually rusty then the chances are that the parts won't be any use for anyone. Rust also tends to mean moisture which tends to mean a warped cabinet, etc. You're also asking a lot for it, considering the damage and the fact that you won't ship it. It was about eight or nine years ago, but I bought two damaged M400s from South Africa and they both cost less than half what you are asking for one.

Mike

onetogo4music wrote:

Hi, I am new to this group. I own a M400 that is in rough shape. It
was stored for 10 years in a basement and has surface rust damage
throughout, plus the tapes are no good. It would probably be good for
parts and someone with the time and money could restore it. I thought
about posting it on ebay but wanted to try this group first. I live in
NW Missouri and would like $1500 for it. Must be picked up - I don't
want to ship it. Anyone interested?
Missouri Mike