Mellotronists

Hi all,
I'll own up to being the purchaser of the ex-strawbs M400 that came 
up on ebay in may. I had extensive talks with the seller about the 
condition and history of the unit before I put in my bid. Although 
the cabinet looked bad at first glance (and the photo on ebay was 
particularly poor) in reality it just needed the black paint sanding 
off, a few holes filling in, the edges relipping, the base 
strengthening and a respray. This is nearly all done and it's in its 
undercoat as we speak and coming on nicely. Mechanically and 
electrically it's fine - a bit stiff through dirt and years of 
inactivity but it all works well except for some crackly pots. And 
it has an SMS2 mounted on the power supply case. The Strawbs story 
is that in 1978 they dumped their 2 trons in a music store in 
Hitchen UK following their tour of that year. The previous owner 
bought the newest of the two (1973 model no.992) and has had it ever 
since. The tape frame is M400 violins, MkII brass and 8 choir 
original tapes and has the original Strawbs label identifying it as 
frame no. 4. I'm trying to confirm this story with John Hawken and 
Dave Cousins but they are on tour at the moment. I've taken lots of 
pics and I'll post them on the website as restoration progresses.

Cheers
John
M300/005, M400 992

Hi John and All,

On the Strawbs "Live at Chiswick House" DVD, they used a white M400 
and a black M400. Does anyone know the source of these Trons?

Bernie


--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "John Beresford" 
<j.k.beresford@s...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I'll own up to being the purchaser of the ex-strawbs M400 that 
came 
> up on ebay in may. I had extensive talks with the seller about the 
> condition and history of the unit before I put in my bid. Although 
> the cabinet looked bad at first glance (and the photo on ebay was 
> particularly poor) in reality it just needed the black paint 
sanding 
> off, a few holes filling in, the edges relipping, the base 
> strengthening and a respray. This is nearly all done and it's in 
its 
> undercoat as we speak and coming on nicely. Mechanically and 
> electrically it's fine - a bit stiff through dirt and years of 
> inactivity but it all works well except for some crackly pots. And 
> it has an SMS2 mounted on the power supply case. The Strawbs story 
> is that in 1978 they dumped their 2 trons in a music store in 
> Hitchen UK following their tour of that year. The previous owner 
> bought the newest of the two (1973 model no.992) and has had it 
ever 
> since. The tape frame is M400 violins, MkII brass and 8 choir 
> original tapes and has the original Strawbs label identifying it 
as 
> frame no. 4. I'm trying to confirm this story with John Hawken and 
> Dave Cousins but they are on tour at the moment. I've taken lots 
of 

> pics and I'll post them on the website as restoration progresses.
> 
> Cheers
> John
> M300/005, M400 992

Hi Bernie and all,
As far as I know they had them from new. This one I have was orginially white
and hand painted black. I don't have that DVD - who's the keyboard player and
what year is it? Oh and it had no front or back panels - just drawing pins in
the corners I presume to hold some kind of material covering instead. Does this
show on the DVD? Inside the back they had installed an aluminium sheet screwed
to the base of the cabinet that comes up and over the motor. I wondered what
this was for for a while until I realised it must be to stop the material from
getting caught up in the motor!

Best
John

Quoting Bernie Kornowicz <kornowicz@...>:

> Hi John and All,
> 
> On the Strawbs "Live at Chiswick House" DVD, they used a white M400 
> and a black M400. Does anyone know the source of these Trons?
> 
> Bernie
> 
> 
> --- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "John Beresford" 
> <j.k.beresford@s...> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > I'll own up to being the purchaser of the ex-strawbs M400 that 
> came 
> > up on ebay in may. I had extensive talks with the seller about the 
> > condition and history of the unit before I put in my bid. Although 
> > the cabinet looked bad at first glance (and the photo on ebay was 
> > particularly poor) in reality it just needed the black paint 
> sanding 
> > off, a few holes filling in, the edges relipping, the base 
> > strengthening and a respray. This is nearly all done and it's in 
> its 
> > undercoat as we speak and coming on nicely. Mechanically and 
> > electrically it's fine - a bit stiff through dirt and years of 
> > inactivity but it all works well except for some crackly pots. And 
> > it has an SMS2 mounted on the power supply case. The Strawbs story 
> > is that in 1978 they dumped their 2 trons in a music store in 
> > Hitchen UK following their tour of that year. The previous owner 
> > bought the newest of the two (1973 model no.992) and has had it 
> ever 
> > since. The tape frame is M400 violins, MkII brass and 8 choir 
> > original tapes and has the original Strawbs label identifying it 
> as 
> > frame no. 4. I'm trying to confirm this story with John Hawken and 
> > Dave Cousins but they are on tour at the moment. I've taken lots 
> of 
> > pics and I'll post them on the website as restoration progresses.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > John
> > M300/005, M400 992
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 


Mr John Beresford
Divisional Laboratory Manager
University of Sheffield
Division of Clinical Sciences South
DU39, Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Medical Research,
Beech Hill Road,
Sheffield
S10 2RX

Hi Bernie,
 
We supplied the M400s for the Strawbs' Chiswick gig.  One  was loaned by Norm 
and we supplied the other from stock.  What a good night  that was.
 

STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 

US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
_JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@..._ 
(mailto:pjc56@...)

Ah sorry - I though this was a DVD of some old footage not recent 
stuff!

John

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, tronbros@a... wrote:
> Hi Bernie,
>  
> We supplied the M400s for the Strawbs' Chiswick gig.  One  was 
loaned by Norm 

> and we supplied the other from stock.  What a good night  that was.
>  
> 
> STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
> _www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 
> 
> US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
> _JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
> US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@e..._ 
> (mailto:pjc56@e...)

Hi Martin, John and All,

Thanks for the info Martin. I assume you were at the concert?

John, the DVD was released in 2000, but I think the concert was in 
1998. Blue Weaver played the Trons. There are 3 or 4 versions of the 
Strawbs playing. I think the only missing member was Rick Wakeman. 
It's a fine DVD with excellent sound quality.

Bernie

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, tronbros@a... wrote:
> Hi Bernie,
>  
> We supplied the M400s for the Strawbs' Chiswick gig.  One  was 
loaned by Norm 

> and we supplied the other from stock.  What a good night  that was.
>  
> 
> STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
> _www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 
> 
> US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
> _JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
> US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@e..._ 
> (mailto:pjc56@e...)

In a message dated 28/06/2005 17:27:38 GMT Standard Time, kornowicz@...  
writes:

I assume  you were at the concert?



Oh yes!  Slightly blurred memories as drinking with the Strawbs  can alter 
the mind.
 
Martin

STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 

US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
_JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@..._ 
(mailto:pjc56@...)

----- Original Message -----

From: tronbros@...

To: kornowicz@... ; Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 3:09 PM

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Trons on ebay

Hi Bernie,

We supplied the M400s for the Strawbs' Chiswick gig. One was loaned by Norm and we supplied the other from stock. What a good night that was.

And unbelievably seven years ago... Yes, I seem to remember M&J's condition on the night. I believe alcohol may've been involved. Given that the Strawbs are still going strong, whadd'ya reckon to the possibility of them doing it all over again in three years' time?

Andy T.

Dear All,
 
... and my tape frames were in borh, re-taped for the event...
 
Norm

In a message dated 28/06/2005 17:55:29 GMT Daylight Time, lsf5275@...  
writes:

 
 
 
I  assume you were at the concert?



Oh yes!  Slightly blurred memories as drinking with the  Strawbs can alter 
the mind.
 
Martin



Would that drinking have taken place before, during or after the show? Or  
all of the above?



As I remember mostly in the pub afterwards where the Strawbs thoughtfully  
organised a lock-in...
 
Norm  
(who was also there)