The Mellotron Group

In a message dated 12/12/2007 2:23:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
chris.dale@primus.ca writes:

Hi Arthur / All:
 
 
Well I spent the first part of my trip visiting  Dave Biro. I must say he's 
pretty much  moved on from the whole Birotron thing, but he had some meager 
bits  needed to finish my unit that was never completed, so he was very helpful 
with  that considering there was almost nothing to begin with.
 
We also talked about his history with the machine  and with Wakeman. The 
Birotron was originally meant to be just a  personal machine for him. It was never 
meant to be more than that, but  after Wakeman saw it, it went in a totally 
different direction. It's  astonishing to realize the amount of effort that 
went into getting the  Birotron project right, using nothing but the finest 
technicians,  high quality parts, only to have the project meander away. A shame  
really, but it was to be almost an entire micro-industry - several  Birotron 
models were possible, as were future plans for Birotron lessons  for kids with a 
classical music background. Captain and Tennile, John Paul Jones, Gary 
Wright, John Lennon,  Paul/Linda McCartney, Roger Whittaker etc. etc etc. all wanted 
one  - hard to imagine what seemed like such a sure  thing being derailed 
-can you imagine what it must have been like for these  people?? 
 
The visit with Richard Chamberlin was also very  educational. One of the 
things I learned is, unlike Mellotrons for which the  same techniques can be used 
to repair several models, Chamberlins are a bit  different. There's a little 
more unexpected adjustment to be done than just  pinch rollers/pressure pads. 
But this helps to make the instrument sound more  accurate with certain sounds 
so it's worth learning (the right way). I've  always wondered if there were 
precise turn adjustments for this like  there is for the Mellotron. Turns out 
there are (I've stumbled onto them), but  they can differ from instrument to 
instrument because they are small  variants in the build. Interestingly enough, 
there was at one point  a possiblity of a Chamberlin model for the 80's that 
included a synth  section to extend the length of the sound, but sadly this 
never  happened.  It was a tough time for Richard at one point and  he also put 
the Chamberlin business behind him and has moved on. But  he also is happy to 
hear that there is still interest in his father's legacy.  We visited Harry's 
old house. His wife is still alive, and you could  almost sense the history (the 
recording rooms / Lawrence Welks'  visits / Bobby Darin's phone calls etc.) 
in the air there. It's a  beautiful place, in a beautiful neighbourhood, 
preserved from another  time.
 
The visit with Joe Vannelli was also great, and  being a fellow Canadian, we 
spent time catching up with each other, as it  had been a few years. He was 
able to provide me a letter of provenance for the  Chamberlin I bought from him, 
which is something some of you will need  when insuring your Mellotron or 
Chamberlin  (especially when the  insurance company doesn't believe these things 
actually exist). At least up  here in Canada it seems to be a sticking point 
with some  insurance companies. 
The Chamberlin was used on Gino Vannelli's  Nightwalkwer album. They used the 
Cello and Violins sound, but they also  recorded their own violin sections on 
Chamberlin tapes and played them from  the machine. This was to smooth out 
some of the heavy vibrato when used  alongside the Cello. The violins were 
recorded by music students. Joe has lived in the U.S.A since the mid 70's and it's  
interesting that only now has the area he lives in, started to build and  
develop. It must have been extremely remote and quiet when he first  moved.
 
I have to say that all of these guys were nothing  but gentlemen in the 
extreme, and that it was a very warm experience to share  my passion for their 
respective machines and the music created with them.  They all understand music 
from both an engineering and musical point of view  so one can't help but learn 
the best of both worlds from each of  them.  
 
I have to say I also recall recognizing that  same "something" in the 
personalities of Dave Kean, Jerry Korb, Martin Smith  and John Bradley when I met 
them as well. It's  interesting.It's  interesting.< have met, yet they share  
something that goes beyond influence. 
 
Let's be thankful for our mellotron list(s)  and learn from ALL who 
contribute and appreciate our "elder statesmen" on  the lists (and off) while they are 
all still with us.
 
 
Chris  Dale 



 
Thanks for sharing, Chris. It sounds like you had a great time as did, I'm  
sure, those whom you visited.
 
 
Frank 



**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes 
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)