Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ricard · 23rd Nov 2017, 8:21 am

The recorder in the pictures was manufactured by the Swedish company Luxor in 1966. It's a fairly basic battery operated affair, yet with thoughtful details such as the ridges in front of the reels so you don't inadvertently rub against them when operating the control lever, or the foldable lid which offers access to the controls while still (mostly) covering the reels. Of special note is also the inverted tape path, with the heads at the top/back of the machine, to avoid taking up space where the controls might be.

However, since the same company at the same time was using the BSR TD2 chassis for their mains operated recorders, I'm suspecting that the chassis for this one was also OEM:ed from someone else. I don't recognize it myself though, and a quick Google image search didn't turn up anything.

The transistor complement uses European transistors (AC151 and OC74 for instance), and the motor has a centrifugal contact and a control transistor to govern the speed. The connectors are mostly DIN, but there are also two 3.5mm connectors for speaker and headphone (a feature that was not included in the first version of this machine according to the service manual).

Ted Kendall · 23rd Nov 2017, 5:35 pm

Could be their own - there was a stereo mains Luxor about this time which certainly didn't look as if it was one of the usual suspects, possibly even solenoid-controlled. It had a row of pushbuttons along the front, anyway.

ricard · 23rd Nov 2017, 8:38 pm

I think you're thinking of the MP22 or one of its brethren (MP32, MP321, MP38) as seen in the first picture below. That machine is from the latter part of 1950s though, whereas the TM-311 depicted above is from 1966.

(The MP22 is indeed all-solenoid controlled, with the mechanical design similar to the Grundig TK8 and TK9 machines, with one solenoid beneath each reel holder, and one for the pinch roller, although the speed change was mechanically effected rather than electric).

At the start of the 1960s, Luxor brought out a very compact three speed chassis which they they used for a veriety of machines, en example of which is given in the middle image. However, for their simpler machines, as the 1960s progressed, they turned to using the TD2 chassis, as shown to the right. Given that they didn't seem to be doing much development when it came to mains operated machines, I'm a bit surprised that they would have made the effort to bring forth a battery operated machine, especially since they'd never made on prior to that. But given that no one seems to recognize it as being some generally available chassis, it certainly seems to be an in-house effort.

Nickthedentist · 23rd Nov 2017, 8:45 pm

It has a vaguely Japanese feel to it to me, esp. the sockets, meter and case styling.

What's it like inside?

ricard · 23rd Nov 2017, 9:58 pm

Yes, that would be a path to look down.

I haven't yet had the time to look at the insides unfortunately. There's a small picture of the chassis in the service manual (http://swedala.se/scheman/luxor/luxor_bg1c4.pdf) but it's too small to be helpful. The service manual doesn't mention that the chassis is not an original design, but the service manuals for the TD2-based models don't either.

23rd Nov 2017, 8:21 am	#1
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) The recorder in the pictures was manufactured by the Swedish company Luxor in 1966. It's a fairly basic battery operated affair, yet with thoughtful details such as the ridges in front of the reels so you don't inadvertently rub against them when operating the control lever, or the foldable lid which offers access to the controls while still (mostly) covering the reels. Of special note is also the inverted tape path, with the heads at the top/back of the machine, to avoid taking up space where the controls might be. However, since the same company at the same time was using the BSR TD2 chassis for their mains operated recorders, I'm suspecting that the chassis for this one was also OEM:ed from someone else. I don't recognize it myself though, and a quick Google image search didn't turn up anything. The transistor complement uses European transistors (AC151 and OC74 for instance), and the motor has a centrifugal contact and a control transistor to govern the speed. The connectors are mostly DIN, but there are also two 3.5mm connectors for speaker and headphone (a feature that was not included in the first version of this machine according to the service manual). Attached Thumbnails

23rd Nov 2017, 5:35 pm	#2
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,670	Re: Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) Could be their own - there was a stereo mains Luxor about this time which certainly didn't look as if it was one of the usual suspects, possibly even solenoid-controlled. It had a row of pushbuttons along the front, anyway.

23rd Nov 2017, 8:38 pm	#3
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) I think you're thinking of the MP22 or one of its brethren (MP32, MP321, MP38) as seen in the first picture below. That machine is from the latter part of 1950s though, whereas the TM-311 depicted above is from 1966. (The MP22 is indeed all-solenoid controlled, with the mechanical design similar to the Grundig TK8 and TK9 machines, with one solenoid beneath each reel holder, and one for the pinch roller, although the speed change was mechanically effected rather than electric). At the start of the 1960s, Luxor brought out a very compact three speed chassis which they they used for a veriety of machines, en example of which is given in the middle image. However, for their simpler machines, as the 1960s progressed, they turned to using the TD2 chassis, as shown to the right. Given that they didn't seem to be doing much development when it came to mains operated machines, I'm a bit surprised that they would have made the effort to bring forth a battery operated machine, especially since they'd never made on prior to that. But given that no one seems to recognize it as being some generally available chassis, it certainly seems to be an in-house effort. Attached Thumbnails

23rd Nov 2017, 8:45 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,841	Re: Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) It has a vaguely Japanese feel to it to me, esp. the sockets, meter and case styling. What's it like inside?

23rd Nov 2017, 9:58 pm	#5
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: Anyone recognize this recorder (Luxor TM-311) Yes, that would be a path to look down. I haven't yet had the time to look at the insides unfortunately. There's a small picture of the chassis in the service manual (http://swedala.se/scheman/luxor/luxor_bg1c4.pdf) but it's too small to be helpful. The service manual doesn't mention that the chassis is not an original design, but the service manuals for the TD2-based models don't either.