Stuart,
If it's near London, get Simon Griffett from Audio Related (www.audiorelated.com) in Chesham to check it over. SG looks after tape machines in several studios including AIR and Simon Heyworth (who set up manor Studios for Virgin). SG will happily collect the machine for a small fee as well.
Charlie
R2R: Studer A820 1/2 inch 2 track; Otari MTR-12 1/4 inch 2 track; Sony APR 5003; Sony APR 5002; Studer A807/II. Vinyl: Platine Verdier Allaerts MC1B/Schroeder Reference & Model 2 Decca C4E/Hadcock 228 TRON Seven Reference phono. Keith Monks MkII RCM Other analogue source: Nakamichi Dragon with ANT4066 mods. Amplification: TRON Meteor preamp TRON Voyager 20B SET power. Speakers: Avantgarde Duo. Digital: computing at last with Prism Sound Lyra 2 A2D converter