Mellotronists

>; Brian did own a MKII

Any idea from approximately when? Did the Bee Gees tour with a Mark II? If so, also from approximately when? How about the earliest Moodies tour in the US with a Mellotron, when would that have been? How does the "Go Now" era figure in to Pinder's burgeoning interest in a Mellotron? I'd like to know because I realize that I had heard of the existence of the instrument for at least a couple of years before I was able to see one either at a show or a store, despite looking in a lot of places. I was beginning to think it was a fable of some sort.