[Ferrograph723]

IT WORKS!!!

After a few hours cleaning and checking everything to the best of my untrained abilities, I knocked up a Lamp Limiter (had to use a 120w halogen floodlight as normal 100w incandescent bulbs are no longer widely available). I then made a temporary power feed (huge thanks to David for the kind offer of a Bulgin plug) and connected it all up.

I followed the advice above and powered it up for just a minute or two at a time - at standby the lamp was barely glowing so no short circuits, no smoke, no nasty smells. I then tried running the machine - the take-up reel needed a nudge to get it moving but after a couple of minutes was spinning at full speed... the capstan was rotating nice and tight against the idler and all looked good. Another cool down and it was time to load a tape up. The playback speed is a little slow - I was thinking it might be due to the lamp limiter limiting the current at the bulb was burning pretty bright by then - but the manual reckons the Ferro's power consumption is 110 watts, so a 120 watt bulb should have given it enough juice to run so might be something else I need to look at.

The amp works fine - amazingly even when changing the volume (/gain) there's no crackle from the pot.

I've powered it off to rest now until I get a proper Bulgin. Then I'll try a full test. Then it's on to stripping, lubricating, cleaning and polishing!

Thanks to all the help on here from other posters - much appreciated.