Most Mellotrons and especially Chamberlins were bought by studios unless the band had a record label willing to front the money for one. In the Chamberlins case - Harry generally hated rock music and rock musicians and really didn't want anything to do with them. This is why it took so long for Chamberlin Co. to consider that market.
Studio ownership of Mellotrons also explains why many bands that used the Mellotron back then don't use them now - they never owned them to begin with.
On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 12:47 AM, John Wright <john.wright@consona.com> wrote:
Wonder how one could afford a Tron then. Did studios buy them and lease them?John#911
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of partune
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 10:34 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Price of Mellotron in 1972Seeing all the posts about the price of the Tron on eBay, I've a copy of a letter I received in 1972 from DMI quoting a price on a new M400 as $3,500.00.
Regards,
partune