Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Lucien Nunes · 29th Apr 2016, 9:44 pm

I'm afraid it's another of my daft 'identify this device from random recollections' questions! I can't find a pic of this thing anywhere.

* Basic 70's portable cassette recorder
* Probably Sony, maybe Sanyo
* Orange plastic case (or at least partly orange)
* Permanent magnet erase
* Probably 4-pin mains inlet (with DC contact operating lug on side of connector)
* Possibly had black vinyl soft cover.

That's all the info I have. No idea whether they were all orange, or this one was an orange variant of something more conventional-looking. It must have been generally unsophisticated due to the PM-erase, but I remember nothing more about it.

TIA
Lucien

TonyDuell · 29th Apr 2016, 9:51 pm

That description of the mains inlet sounds identical to the one on my Sony TC800 reel-to-reel. So possibly your machine was Sony.

Lucien Nunes · 29th Apr 2016, 10:06 pm

I think Sanyo used it too though, or maybe a lookalike. Some variants e.g. on portable TVs had 12V on two pins and mains on the others; only the two relevant socket contacts were used in each cable. This one IIRC had a 3-core flex with earth on one of the pins, although the cassette recorder itself was probably double-insulated.

ben · 29th Apr 2016, 10:18 pm

Anything like this panasonic? (red but also came in blue and orange). Or was yours a more traditional shoebox shape?

ms660 · 29th Apr 2016, 10:24 pm

Only orange ones I can find so far is this kids one:

https://soundstudiesblog.com/2011/08...tape-recorder/

And this one which actually might be yellow:

https://www.***********/photos/44337451@N00/9914492764

Lawrence.

Lucien Nunes · 29th Apr 2016, 11:12 pm

Definitely shoe-box format Ben. I saw that 'Young World' item when I first started searching, but I'm pretty certain mine was branded by a mainstream manufacturer. That rotary function selector rang a very faint bell, too faint to be indicative of a match, plus the position of the record button is ideal for engaging an erase magnet. Maybe keep it on a back burner...

thermionic · 30th Apr 2016, 10:20 am

I seem to remember 'Binatone' producing a similar cassette recorder, but I can't find any images. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks!

SimonT.

camtechman · 30th Apr 2016, 11:47 am

The Sony TC60-A was available in orange and it uses a 4pin mains socket/input. Here's my Sony TC60-A orange. (pic 1)

Another orange one but more scarce is a Taiyo "Junior Choice" (Ed Stewpot) listener prize (pic 2)

P.S. I have a 'thing' for orange cassette machines...........I'll get me coat...........

Lucien Nunes · 30th Apr 2016, 6:22 pm

That's it! A quick Google for TC-60A reveals they were usually black and finds examples of the PVC soft cover that I definitely had on my orange one. The manual preview on Elektrotanya confirms it as permanent magnet erase.

Thanks to all who replied, one day I will find something that the collective knowledge on the forum cannot identify...

Lucien

ms660 · 30th Apr 2016, 7:17 pm

Good spotting, it had me beat.

Lawrence.

Philips210 · 30th Apr 2016, 7:49 pm

I remember seeing one of those Sony TC-60 cassette recorders in a shop in about 1974 and looking at the photo that camtechman uploaded I now recall the blue eject button as well as the red record button. I don't know whether that arrangement was unique to Sony.

Symon.

camtechman · 1st May 2016, 3:58 am

Quote:

I don't know whether that arrangement was unique to Sony.

Sony seemed to be 'experimenting' with the layout of the piano key buttons and the mains input plug & sockets - some with 3 pins & some with 4 pins. When I get a moment I'll post some pics of several variants from my Sony cassette collection.

camtechman · 2nd May 2016, 4:09 pm

Right, Here's some of the Sony Key/Button variants:

29th Apr 2016, 9:44 pm	#1
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder I'm afraid it's another of my daft 'identify this device from random recollections' questions! I can't find a pic of this thing anywhere. * Basic 70's portable cassette recorder * Probably Sony, maybe Sanyo * Orange plastic case (or at least partly orange) * Permanent magnet erase * Probably 4-pin mains inlet (with DC contact operating lug on side of connector) * Possibly had black vinyl soft cover. That's all the info I have. No idea whether they were all orange, or this one was an orange variant of something more conventional-looking. It must have been generally unsophisticated due to the PM-erase, but I remember nothing more about it. TIA Lucien

29th Apr 2016, 9:51 pm	#2
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder That description of the mains inlet sounds identical to the one on my Sony TC800 reel-to-reel. So possibly your machine was Sony.

29th Apr 2016, 10:06 pm	#3
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder I think Sanyo used it too though, or maybe a lookalike. Some variants e.g. on portable TVs had 12V on two pins and mains on the others; only the two relevant socket contacts were used in each cable. This one IIRC had a 3-core flex with earth on one of the pins, although the cassette recorder itself was probably double-insulated.

29th Apr 2016, 10:18 pm	#4
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder Anything like this panasonic? (red but also came in blue and orange). Or was yours a more traditional shoebox shape? __________________ Regards, Ben.

29th Apr 2016, 10:24 pm	#5
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder Only orange ones I can find so far is this kids one: https://soundstudiesblog.com/2011/08...tape-recorder/ And this one which actually might be yellow: https://www.***********/photos/44337451@N00/9914492764 Lawrence.

29th Apr 2016, 11:12 pm	#6
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder Definitely shoe-box format Ben. I saw that 'Young World' item when I first started searching, but I'm pretty certain mine was branded by a mainstream manufacturer. That rotary function selector rang a very faint bell, too faint to be indicative of a match, plus the position of the record button is ideal for engaging an erase magnet. Maybe keep it on a back burner...

30th Apr 2016, 10:20 am	#7
thermionic Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 989	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder I seem to remember 'Binatone' producing a similar cassette recorder, but I can't find any images. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks! SimonT. __________________ The honesty of imperfection..........

30th Apr 2016, 11:47 am	#8
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder The Sony TC60-A was available in orange and it uses a 4pin mains socket/input. Here's my Sony TC60-A orange. (pic 1) Another orange one but more scarce is a Taiyo "Junior Choice" (Ed Stewpot) listener prize (pic 2) P.S. I have a 'thing' for orange cassette machines...........I'll get me coat........... Attached Thumbnails __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!

30th Apr 2016, 6:22 pm	#9
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder That's it! A quick Google for TC-60A reveals they were usually black and finds examples of the PVC soft cover that I definitely had on my orange one. The manual preview on Elektrotanya confirms it as permanent magnet erase. Thanks to all who replied, one day I will find something that the collective knowledge on the forum cannot identify... Lucien

30th Apr 2016, 7:17 pm	#10
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder Good spotting, it had me beat. Lawrence.

30th Apr 2016, 7:49 pm	#11
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder I remember seeing one of those Sony TC-60 cassette recorders in a shop in about 1974 and looking at the photo that camtechman uploaded I now recall the blue eject button as well as the red record button. I don't know whether that arrangement was unique to Sony. Symon.

2nd May 2016, 4:09 pm	#13
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: Identify orange 1970s shoebox cassette recorder Right, Here's some of the Sony Key/Button variants: Attached Thumbnails __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!