The Mellotron Group

I don't know, but I'm inspired! I am now working on the  prototype (so to 
speak) of the all new Select-O-Tron. Yes, I'm  combining the keyboard of an 
old IBM Selectric with the guts of a Mellotron, to  come up with an 
instrument that lets you play music and type a letter. If it's  as successful as I 
hope, I'll port it over to the iPad.
 
Finally, music as it should have always been... in QWERTY
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 2/1/2011 3:01:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:

 
 
 
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_ 
(mailto: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_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
>  > Date: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:35 PM
> >
> >
>  > Â 
> >
> >
> >
> > Here is the  link:
> > _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpY0Muy_1qI_ 
(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_ 
(mailto: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 
> >
> >
> >
>  >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>  >
> >
> >
> >
>  >
>