Mellotronists

>  In a message dated 19/05/2006 01:44:15 GMT Daylight Time, easle12@...
> writes:
>
>      As for OEM parts
>
> Dear All, OEM parts are going to get harder to come by. In a related activity,
> synth restoration, it is becoming apparent that the introduction of
> 'lead-free' components is being used as an excuse to cull many important older
> devices. Some of these are in use in instruments in current production!
> Trouble is, a lot of the electronics industry today is governed by what will
> be in your next mobile phone... Also some components vanish as regulations
> change, the old Bulgin mains connector is one of those. As for lead-free, I
> still use 'full-fat' solder.     --  Norm
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Hi Norm and all,
>
> While not a direct topic of things Mellotronic (this List most
> always never is ),  you've raised an issue that  should be of particular
> interest to all .
>
> Government regulations annually whittle away many of the
> things we once held dear ,  or at least familiar from decades past.
> Mostly driven by strictest environmental mandates in
> every sector of industry/commerce. The std. 40W cool-white fluorescent
> tube and 150W outdoor reflector spotlight vanished in the 1990's
> along with hundreds of other lighting products, when the
> "Green Lights" legislation was enacted in the USA .
>
>
> Mercury, the stuff  science teachers used to roll around in their
> palms, and coat copper pennies, is now one of most hazardous
> elements known.  So why is it still a compound in tooth fillings here ?
> The largest site of mercury spillage in the
> world (160 tons)  occured in NJ ,near my former hometown .
> Because somebody ran UNDERGROUND transfer pipes
> (made of lead) , which seeped over the passage of 35 years ??
>
>
> Lead and asbestos , when irresponsibly used/disposed
> causes untold medical issues .  Ever hear the old phrase
> "It's a lead-pipe cinch ?"   Correct gang, that same material
> found in old paint, was once used globally to deliver our DRINKING
> water !
>
> Just the word asbestos strikes fear into the heart of homeowners,
> whose older homes are  major cleanup sites if the material
> is discovered in their heating systems and on exterior coverings.
> Explain this to  senior citizens living alone, who need to sell
> their treasured homes for future medical/nursing issues .
>
>
> Seems to me  that present govt.rules and measures are meant to
> offset some horrid blunders of the previous  generations.
> Without digressing too much, ordinary articles once found
> in hardware stores and pharmacies(chemists in UK) are now
> verboten and have vanished overnight.  Saltpeter,used for medicinal
> purposes, is also an element of gunpowder. If I dare ask for some
> today, Homeland Security will carry me off as a terrorist, before
> I exit the business .
>
> As a collector of vintage electrical items (incl. Trons), these
> govt rules have invaded the very inner sanctum . In 2006, I heard that
> the UK has enacted laws  that private collectors of vintage
> valves and assoc.gear could be liable for hazmat fines, due to the
> rare metals and chemicals found within these items.
> As a result, many are being sold or scrapped before the rules are
> enforced.   These rules are being considered for America as well.
> Someone please clarify this for me, in case I misunderstood .
>
>
> Does that mean someone will knock on my door and haul-away
> historic items 75-120 years old, destroy them and then fine me for
> owning them ?? Think about it ,gang.    What's next , methane-free
> tacos/chili, to protect  the ozone layer ??  Not if  I can help it, (pffffft )
> !
>
> BTW,  it's getting more and more difficult to find replacement
> audio control pots in the USA for Mellotron work. Those used for tone,
> volume and pitch for M400 models  in particular.   Models with
> 2" long shafts are required, to be trimmed for control panel clearance.
> Agreed Norm,  you won't find these in your next mobile/camera/PDA
> phone .
>
>
> Still using  "full-fat" solder, whole milk, with a mouthfull of amalgam,
> and a blastoff recipe for garlic/pepper steaks,  - JK-

>
> 
> 
> NormLeete@... wrote:
> 
> >  In a message dated 19/05/2006 01:44:15 GMT Daylight Time, easle12@...
> > writes:
> >
> >      As for OEM parts
> >
> > Dear All, OEM parts are going to get harder to come by. In a related activity,
> > synth restoration, it is becoming apparent that the introduction of
> > 'lead-free' components is being used as an excuse to cull many important older
> > devices. Some of these are in use in instruments in current production!
> > Trouble is, a lot of the electronics industry today is governed by what will
> > be in your next mobile phone... Also some components vanish as regulations
> > change, the old Bulgin mains connector is one of those. As for lead-free, I
> > still use 'full-fat' solder.     --  Norm
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Hi Norm and all,
> >
> > While not a direct topic of things Mellotronic (this List most
> > always never is ),  you've raised an issue that  should be of particular
> > interest to all .
> >
> > Government regulations annually whittle away many of the
> > things we once held dear ,  or at least familiar from decades past.
> > Mostly driven by strictest environmental mandates in
> > every sector of industry/commerce. The std. 40W cool-white fluorescent
> > tube and 150W outdoor reflector spotlight vanished in the 1990's
> > along with hundreds of other lighting products, when the
> > "Green Lights" legislation was enacted in the USA .
> >
> >
> > Mercury, the stuff  science teachers used to roll around in their
> > palms, and coat copper pennies, is now one of most hazardous
> > elements known.  So why is it still a compound in tooth fillings here ?
> > The largest site of mercury spillage in the
> > world (160 tons)  occured in NJ ,near my former hometown .
> > Because somebody ran UNDERGROUND transfer pipes
> > (made of lead) , which seeped over the passage of 35 years ??
> >
> >
> > Lead and asbestos , when irresponsibly used/disposed
> > causes untold medical issues .  Ever hear the old phrase
> > "It's a lead-pipe cinch ?"   Correct gang, that same material
> > found in old paint, was once used globally to deliver our DRINKING
> > water !
> >
> > Just the word asbestos strikes fear into the heart of homeowners,
> > whose older homes are  major cleanup sites if the material
> > is discovered in their heating systems and on exterior coverings.
> > Explain this to  senior citizens living alone, who need to sell
> > their treasured homes for future medical/nursing issues .
> >
> >
> > Seems to me  that present govt.rules and measures are meant to
> > offset some horrid blunders of the previous  generations.
> > Without digressing too much, ordinary articles once found
> > in hardware stores and pharmacies(chemists in UK) are now
> > verboten and have vanished overnight.  Saltpeter,used for medicinal
> > purposes, is also an element of gunpowder. If I dare ask for some
> > today, Homeland Security will carry me off as a terrorist, before
> > I exit the business .
> >
> > As a collector of vintage electrical items (incl. Trons), these
> > govt rules have invaded the very inner sanctum . In 2006, I heard that
> > the UK has enacted laws  that private collectors of vintage
> > valves and assoc.gear could be liable for hazmat fines, due to the
> > rare metals and chemicals found within these items.
> > As a result, many are being sold or scrapped before the rules are
> > enforced.   These rules are being considered for America as well.
> > Someone please clarify this for me, in case I misunderstood .
> >
> >
> > Does that mean someone will knock on my door and haul-away
> > historic items 75-120 years old, destroy them and then fine me for
> > owning them ?? Think about it ,gang.    What's next , methane-free
> > tacos/chili, to protect  the ozone layer ??  Not if  I can help it, (pffffft )
> > !
> >
> > BTW,  it's getting more and more difficult to find replacement
> > audio control pots in the USA for Mellotron work. Those used for tone,
> > volume and pitch for M400 models  in particular.   Models with
> > 2" long shafts are required, to be trimmed for control panel clearance.
> > Agreed Norm,  you won't find these in your next mobile/camera/PDA
> > phone .
> >
> >
> > Still using  "full-fat" solder, whole milk, with a mouthfull of amalgam,
> > and a blastoff recipe for garlic/pepper steaks,  - JK-
>

>  Whoa...I'm not suggesting using dangerous substances for the hell of it. I'm
> bemoaning the way some companies use these regulations as an excuse to scrap
> old equipment / techniques.Plus I'm probably turning into a "grumpy old
> bloke".
>
> __________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> Precisely my point too, Norm.  My message was twofold. To point out the
> errors of the past,today's consequences, plus unnecessary/unwanted government
> intrusion
> into the private sector.

>
> __________________________________________________________________________
>
>  I help a friend of mine with his music shop at the weekend with guitar and
> other repairs and I work to tolerances that my day job seem incapable of
> understanding. This is because the accountants now dictate that processes are
> either automatic, de-skilled or sent off-shore. I'd much rather repair an old
> piece of gear than scrap it so it can be replaced by something that has been
> flown half way around the world so it can be assembled by an exploite
> workforce... Norm
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> Back in the days when Japanese electronics was still in its infancy, the
> lowest
> assembly line workers ("insert transistor Q5 in the holes encircled white")
> often were paid in bowls of rice .    Some toy made in Hong-Kong was destined
> to break within the hour, and some gadget made in Japan also was frowned upon.
>
> .....Now look.....    First Hyundais and Samsung products were of questional
> repute.
>
> .....Now look.....   I predict similar for China. But big difference here. The
> other Asian
> lands were relatively free societies, but China is not.
>
>
> I echo your last sentences verbatim,Norm.  That's why I do what I do .
> Ever listen/see  a restored circa 1935 Zenith multiband floor-console radio ?
> 15-20 valves in its dual chassis, plus a monster 18-inch loudspeaker below.
> ....Would be an act of desecration to scrap something like that. See photo.
> Was the MK-II of its day.
>
> Cheers,  JK  (not exploited, but an underpaid old bloke w. a passion for
> Tex-Mex)