The Mellotron Group

My way of looking at is simple. If it has a keyboard and plays back  
prerecorded tape, it may not be a mellotron. If it does not play back  prerecorded 
tape it cannot be a mellotron.
 
 
In a message dated 9/4/2011 3:50:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
kinchmusic@aol.com writes:

 
 
 

I may have been asleep earlier in proceedings when this topic was  raised. 
So forgive me asking, but what constitute the name "Mellotron"?
 
Is it a brand name or an electro mechanical  Machine? Probably both, I know.
 
I mean we all have Hoovers in our homes, but I would suggest that only a  
few of us have Hoovers made by Hoover. I have a Dyson, but I still call it a  
Hoover for example.
 
Bear with me here, because I'm a tad confused.
 
It is my assumption that John and Martin build Mellotron "machines", but  
simply can't use the name because the brand name "Mellotron" was sold  off.
 
But Markus can build the Digital Mellotron and call it Mellotron because  
he has permission to use the name, even though, some people would accept  that
 
the 4000D is not a Mellotron.
 
As much as I love the instrument that Markus has produced, for the  reasons 
I have stated elsewhere, there is no way do I think that it is a  
Mellotron, because to my mind, 
 
by definition a Mellotron has to be a Mechanical Machine with motors,  
heads, tapes etc.
 
Come to think of it, I have a Hoover Washing Machine!
 
Beam me up Scotty!
 
 
Andy K