Mellotronists

>  In a message dated 4/26/2006 6:51:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> stevetebble@... writes:
>
>      "NEW MELLOTRON MANUFACTURERS
>
>      That old standby of bands like Barclay James Harvest and the Moody
>      Blues - the Mellotron - is making a comeback.  Sound Sales Inc. of
>      Connecticut, U.S.A. have taken over the Mellotron trademark and have
>
>      begun to manufacture the instrument.
>      The two models currently available are the 400SM and the Mk. V, with
>
>      single and dual manual keyboards respectively.  Mellotron
>      accessories
>      include conversion kits with technical updates, additional tapes
>      from
>      the famous "library of sounds" and hard shell cases."
>
>      Enjoy!
>
>
> WOW! That's fantastic news! How do we get hold of those guys as there doesn't
> seem like there is anyone else that can work on them or can sell us new ones.
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> Yeah, yeah,yeah....Have seen that Sound Sales ad in the 1970's
> first-time 'round.   When I used to live in CT from 1978 to
> 1983, I regularly dropped-in to see Bill Eberline and crew
> at their three locations.
>
> At NO time, did I see ANY new manufacturing of ANY kind
> going-on. At Sherman, they had a rented oversized garage.
> At South Kent, a shared bldg. with another firm.
> At Cornwall Bridge, was private residence with two-car
> garage as their operations. Electrical outlets ringed the
> perimeter of the garage.
>
> I did see the nicely-made cabinets available during
> their "technical updates." We all know very well nowadays
> just what kinda mess they caused.  I and others have had
> to un-do those "upgrades" and restore the Trons to
> original specs/performance.
>
> Bill Eberline's expectations were to make the 4-track
> available as conversion. Never happened, as he was embroiled
> in bitter divorce. Details in Frank's  book. ONLY the 4-track
> was "manufactured" in Southbury,CT by Bomar.
> And ONLY when all interests were transferred/sold
> from Eberline to Bill Kinney of Bomar.
>
> Bear in mind that Sound Sales had 100% markup on every
> M400 and MK-V arriving stateside. UK recommended prices
> were  roughly $2K for M400 and $4K for MK-V.  Sound Sales
> charged $4K and $8K respectively. This, for the privilege
> of covering the Novatron name and adding Mellotron atop.
> And for the privilege of "modifying" every older Tron
> within their reach, and making infamous musical history.
> Just ask Larry Fast why he stopped using his M400 in 1977
> professionally , after it was "serviced" by Sound Sales.
>
> After I recently fixed a multitude of (un)Sound Sales issues
> with M400 #481,  I was really tempted to try and contact Bill
> Eberline and find-out exactly WHO was the "Einstein"
> that bodged all those hapless Mellotrons. My gracious wife
> convinced me to chill, relax , get over it , and move forward.
> ....But still I'd like to......GRRRRR!
>
> To those newer members of this List, please save this email
> for reference, as I've repeated this too many times already .
>
> Cheers,  --JK--