The Mellotron Group

Harry Chamberlin and Charles Douglass were both experimenting with tape replay machines in Los Angeles California around the same time period.  Chamberlin - 1948, Douglass - 1951.  It makes me wonder if Douglas ever saw a Chamberlin model 100 Rhythmate back in 1950.

Clay



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Thomas C. Doncourt" <tomdcour@...> wrote:
>
> 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 
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> >
> > Here is the link:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI
> >
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> >
> > On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:20 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:
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> > 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
> >
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> > Â 
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> > 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 
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