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Firebottle
08-05-2016, 15:02
Went to a Brocante, only one I saw, couldn't resist ......................

















wait for it ...............................
























http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050409.jpg

It's a bit of a wreck, covers missing, wrong screws holding it together, main drive belt in pieces, drive motor not turning, if fact it appears dead.

Good job I didn't pay much for it :doh:

Firebottle
08-05-2016, 16:17
Right we're in:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050411.jpg

There was a crack in the pcb by the mains voltage selector, so it now lives.

Construction is solid, as you might expect with German engineering.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050410.jpg

Lovely 'clunk' when selecting play/fast wind on the controls. Heads don't look too bad, time will tell when I can get a tape to pass by them.


Keeps me off the streets .............

:)

Audio Al
08-05-2016, 16:53
Looks good Alan , If you sort it out it will be well worthwhile and cheap :)

Firebottle
09-05-2016, 17:53
Yay :yay:

It's now working, as usual mechanical issues have been the problems:

Crack in pcb interrupting the mains supply.
Shredded main drive belt, actual replacement no longer available, suitable sized 'O' ring fitted.
Very low output volume, caused by oxidation of the contact of the 'open' volume control construction.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050416.jpg


All the electrical contacts need to be properly cleaned eventually, there is a lot of functionality built into this machine.

Not bad for €10 :D

Jimbo
09-05-2016, 18:00
Like bringing Frankenstein back to life Alan :)

€10 - you paid too much:lol: Does it sound ok?

Firebottle
09-05-2016, 18:14
Frankenstein :lol:
There is some classical on the tape that came with it, at 3 3/4 inches per second, and both Shirley and I were impressed with how musical it was.

Even with the 'O' ring drive belt I couldn't detect any wow on the piano, mind there is a large flywheel under the capstan :thumbsup:

Eventually I will check and re-calibrate the whole machine and see what the ultimate performance is at 7 1/2 ips.

:)

Virtual-Symmetry
09-05-2016, 18:22
btw: its Frankenstein monster not Frankenstein

:eyebrows:

Jimbo
09-05-2016, 18:23
Frankenstein :lol:
There is some classical on the tape that came with it, at 3 3/4 inches per second, and both Shirley and I were impressed with how musical it was.

Even with the 'O' ring drive belt I couldn't detect any wow on the piano, mind there is a large flywheel under the capstan :thumbsup:

Eventually I will check and re-calibrate the whole machine and see what the ultimate performance is at 7 1/2 ips.

:)

If I had the spare cash I would buy a R2R as they do sound fabulous at least the ones I have heard. Alan towels are stunning and really something to listen too. Even that horrible digital stuff sounds ok on R2R, must be the analogue magic! :)

Firebottle
12-05-2016, 17:27
Received a new belt set and fitted that. Cost more than the whole R2R did :eyebrows: (It was only €16 plus post for the belts).

Fully cleaned and fettled the mechanism and now the tape transport works a treat. A couple of tweaks for fast wind and take up spool tension done.

On to the electronics, all the record mixing sliders had to be stripped and cleaned, then I removed the main pcb to clean all the function switches.

Fabulous design, easy to service, just pull all plugs, remove 5 screws and the pcb lifts off.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050422.jpg

All the sliders were removed from the slide switches and cleaned.
The vertical daughter board on the right was found to have been repaired before but had broken wires so that was fixed.

On re-assembly the recording level shown by the VU meters was consistent on both channels, but the actual level on the tape was way over recorded on the left channel and a little down on the right channel.
The left was quite distorted but the right was very clear. Time to re-calibrate I think.

What is the best reference frequency? I see 333Hz mention on some specifications.

:)

Firebottle
13-05-2016, 13:55
Two of the pre-sets on the daughter board were adjusted to maximum, that explains the over recording on one one channel.
Presumably when the wires were broken they had been twiddled to no effect and left at maximum.

Now adjusted, the recording levels are still 'hot' but recording with the VU showing a maximum of -5dB gives a good playback level.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050423.jpg

Trying out on the main stereo. There is wear on the heads but it sounds pretty good.

There are built in speakers and amplifiers so it can be used stand alone as well :)

Ali Tait
13-05-2016, 14:29
btw: its Frankenstein monster not Frankenstein

:eyebrows:

Actually it's Frankenstein's Monster. :D

struth
13-05-2016, 14:55
Frankie to his pals

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160513/0999ff64ad7d0e424bc3b72623408044.jpg

Jimbo
13-05-2016, 17:47
Actually it's Frankenstein's Monster. :D

:):ner: