New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Colday0 · 11th Dec 2025, 7:50 pm

Good evening all.

I am new here as have recently got the bug for understanding and repairing old reel to reel players/recorders.

The story starts when I was about 8. I picked up a reel to reel player from a Jumble Sale (remember them?). It worked and I really enjoyed the music I was hearing, but at 8, I had no idea.

I got bored and the deck went back into the next Jumble Sale. Fast forward maybe 20 years or so while I was listening to some Pink Floyd and a memory was stirred. Turns out that the tape reel on that machine had probably an original recording/purchased album of The Wall. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued.

Fast forward again to present day, my 90yo uncle is having a clear out, and there is an old reel to reel sitting in his conservatory. It ended up in the car for the trip home.

Uncle said it was basically just old radio recordings from the 40' and 50's. Amazingly the old girl worked well enough to play some of the tape, which suddenly cut off from the music for me to hear my uncles voice, introducing his little brother (my Dad) singing, we wish you a merry Xmas. Low and behold this little voice comes on and it was my Dad, maybe 8-10 years old. Also in the background of the recording was one of their sisters laughing.

Sadly this all came about a little too late as both of these old gems had passed away recently. But what a wonderful thing to hear.

So, now I have a reel to reel deck that pretty much works but is a little slow. I also have several reel's from my uncle of his band rehearsing. There is a 45 laying around somewhere of them as well.

I have a history of repairing old 80's computers (Beeb's, Amstrad's, ZX machines, C64's etc) so have decided to learn a bit about these old things and maybe keep them up and running. I have acquired a couple of extra machines in the interim, one of which half works (definitely belts on that one) and one that is a right state and does not currently work at all.

So, now you've heard the story, I need to learn about where to start with these. Luckily my uncle's one has come with the instruction manual which even has a schematic in the back.

What I need most, is somewhere to start getting spares from. In the main I need belts currently. I can source old component parts, but these belts are fairly specific.

What can you tell me? Are there any suppliers left in the UK? Or are we running the gauntlet of Chinese items/belts now?

I'm hungry for knowledge so any advice is welcome.

paulsherwin · 11th Dec 2025, 7:57 pm

People will be better able to help you if you say what the manufacturer and model number of your recorder is, and maybe upload a few pictures.

DMcMahon · 12th Dec 2025, 11:01 am

Hello and welcome to the Radio Forum.

This linked Thread is one of many examples providing info on drive belt suppliers:-

https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=00..._7Ksb5JP_qIK&fexp=73217441,73217442

To search for other similar Threads just enter belt and supplier into the "Search this website" box at top of the page.

eBay is one of several online sources for belts, many sellers are selling new belts for specific makes/models, I believe they get they belts manufactured.

Some sellers also sell NOS (New Old Stock) belts, this normally means they are the original vintage belts unused, so could be very old, I have purchased many of these without any problems. But beware that some drive belts (depending upon their rubber formulation) can degrade due to their age.

David

Colday0 · 13th Dec 2025, 3:54 pm

Thanks for the replies!

I tried to avoid naming the recorder in the first one as I didn't have it in front of me and was not 100% sure of the make/model.

I've taken a few photos now.

The panel that fits over the mechanism states it is a 'Fidelity'. The manual which you will see below seems to suggest it is a 'Challenge'. I presume the mechanism was a generic thing that people would make their own cases for?

Pics of the case shows there are no badges or identifying marks on the outside, hence my thoughts.

Thanks for the links and ebay guidance (yes I have read the ebay rules).

Is there a specific means of measuring the belts? Are they measured by circumference or diameter?

Cassette mechanisms are all a relatively generic size (well, they are in computer tape decks anyway) and a 'pack' from ebay or Amazon generally has enough of a range to cover the decks.

Anyway, thoughts on this old beastie please? I'll start another thread for the other two machines I have obtained as they were found 'in the wild'.

Michael Maurice · 14th Dec 2025, 9:40 pm

The deck is made by Collaro and should work well once all the linkages and cams are stripped of old grease and relubricated.

Its a 3 motor design so only one pulley which might need replacing. These are sturdy well built decks.

The electronics is young enough to not need much if any attention.

Colday0 · 14th Dec 2025, 9:44 pm

That's nice to hear. I noted the direct drive motors, is there any service thoughts on those, other than a tiny drop of machine oil?

I've been looking at the nasty grease. Not a great problem to sort out.

I noted that the motors are slow to start up and seem to run a little slow, will cleaning the mechanism likely sort that out or is there a 'pot' on the board the would allow adjustment?

DMcMahon · 15th Dec 2025, 9:57 am

Drive belts are generally sold by their I.D. (i.e. their internal diameter when belt is shaped as a circle.

Running a piece of cotton or thin string around the belt path and pulling it reasonably snug and cutting it to that length will give a ballpark figure, the ID is generally not that critical. Measure the total length of the string which equates to the circumference (C) of a circle then calculate the diameter (D) by D = C / Pi

David

Nickthedentist · 15th Dec 2025, 1:50 pm

A bit about the manufacturer here:
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=10577

I wonder whether "Challenge" was a mail order company's branding? A quick look here suggests it was used by a mail order company called Jones. Or possibly Pryce-Jones?

llama · 15th Dec 2025, 2:52 pm

Complete service info for that deck - Collaro Studio - in the link at the top right of these web pages. From memory, the only belt is for the tape counter.
Graham

DMcMahon · 15th Dec 2025, 3:58 pm

Thread covering Challenge I have/had:-

https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=00...zwMepnHrX5pS&fexp=73217441,73217442

David

Nickthedentist · 15th Dec 2025, 5:42 pm

So it may have been a brand used by "John England" who were part of Great Universal Stores, and therefore related to the "Challenge" brand that Argos still uses to this day, currently for dehumidifiers.

Edward Huggins · 15th Dec 2025, 8:08 pm

Looking at the OP's photos in Post 4, that cabinet looks devoid of any of its original valved electronics?

Cobaltblue · 15th Dec 2025, 8:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Looking at the OP's photos in Post 4, that cabinet looks devoid of any of its original valved electronics?

Edward you might want to check the 4th picture, the PCB is mounted below the deck, There be valves here

Cheers

Mike T

DMcMahon · 15th Dec 2025, 11:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colday0

T

I noted that the motors are slow to start up and seem to run a little slow, will cleaning the mechanism likely sort that out or is there a 'pot' on the board the would allow adjustment?

There is no motor speed adjustment.

David

Radio Wrangler · 16th Dec 2025, 6:46 am

Mum and her pals circulated several different mail-order catalogues around their group. As a kid, I looked at the radio/tv/audio sections. "Challenge" was definitely John England's flag of convenience brand for such stuff as well as things like vacuum cleaners. Amazing what sticks in your head. I think Grattan went more for manufacturer's branding than 'own label'.

It was a more innocent era before pseudo-German and pseudo-Japanese brand names were developed to bestow fake auras of quality and dependability!

David

DMcMahon · 16th Dec 2025, 9:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colday0

The panel that fits over the mechanism states it is a 'Fidelity'.

I do understand why this Challenge machine has a Fidelity label ?

David

Welsh Anorak · 16th Dec 2025, 12:19 pm

That's odd. Your instruction book says it was made by Tape Recorder (Electronics) Ltd who made machines for several wholesalers. They were often badged Sound or similar, so your mail-order special makes sense.

However from 1964 Fidelity made thir own machines, usually with the BSR TD2 deck. I don't think they ever used the Collaro deck, or badged a TRE, though I may be wrong.

Possibly your machine pre-dates this and has Fidelity written on it to pretend high-fidelity? Or someone added it - though exactly why they would is a mystery.

DMcMahon · 16th Dec 2025, 5:06 pm

Can the OP please post a photo of the mechanism panel (maybe heads cover) that shows "Fidelity".

David

Colday0 · 16th Dec 2025, 5:29 pm

I absolutely will and was planning to, just need to brave the slippery wet wooden platform on the way to the workshop.

I thought I may wait till it ices up to really increase the hazard! ;-)

(I'll get up there tonight).

Colday0 · 16th Dec 2025, 5:40 pm

Just popped up to their, risking life and limb, to find that my memory is awful and that your skills here are beyond reproach.

I do have a Fidelity Playmaster, but it's not the one I am talking about at the moment. It's one of the other two which have their own 'wooded' stories.

Apologies for being a berk. The Challenge machine does not have any markings or names on the mechanism panel.

11th Dec 2025, 7:50 pm	#1
Colday0 Triode Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Halstead, Essex, UK Posts: 11	New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Good evening all. I am new here as have recently got the bug for understanding and repairing old reel to reel players/recorders. The story starts when I was about 8. I picked up a reel to reel player from a Jumble Sale (remember them?). It worked and I really enjoyed the music I was hearing, but at 8, I had no idea. I got bored and the deck went back into the next Jumble Sale. Fast forward maybe 20 years or so while I was listening to some Pink Floyd and a memory was stirred. Turns out that the tape reel on that machine had probably an original recording/purchased album of The Wall. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued. Fast forward again to present day, my 90yo uncle is having a clear out, and there is an old reel to reel sitting in his conservatory. It ended up in the car for the trip home. Uncle said it was basically just old radio recordings from the 40' and 50's. Amazingly the old girl worked well enough to play some of the tape, which suddenly cut off from the music for me to hear my uncles voice, introducing his little brother (my Dad) singing, we wish you a merry Xmas. Low and behold this little voice comes on and it was my Dad, maybe 8-10 years old. Also in the background of the recording was one of their sisters laughing. Sadly this all came about a little too late as both of these old gems had passed away recently. But what a wonderful thing to hear. So, now I have a reel to reel deck that pretty much works but is a little slow. I also have several reel's from my uncle of his band rehearsing. There is a 45 laying around somewhere of them as well. I have a history of repairing old 80's computers (Beeb's, Amstrad's, ZX machines, C64's etc) so have decided to learn a bit about these old things and maybe keep them up and running. I have acquired a couple of extra machines in the interim, one of which half works (definitely belts on that one) and one that is a right state and does not currently work at all. So, now you've heard the story, I need to learn about where to start with these. Luckily my uncle's one has come with the instruction manual which even has a schematic in the back. What I need most, is somewhere to start getting spares from. In the main I need belts currently. I can source old component parts, but these belts are fairly specific. What can you tell me? Are there any suppliers left in the UK? Or are we running the gauntlet of Chinese items/belts now? I'm hungry for knowledge so any advice is welcome.

11th Dec 2025, 7:57 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 30,573	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice People will be better able to help you if you say what the manufacturer and model number of your recorder is, and maybe upload a few pictures.

12th Dec 2025, 11:01 am	#3
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 7,279	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Hello and welcome to the Radio Forum. This linked Thread is one of many examples providing info on drive belt suppliers:- https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=00..._7Ksb5JP_qIK&fexp=73217441,73217442 To search for other similar Threads just enter belt and supplier into the "Search this website" box at top of the page. eBay is one of several online sources for belts, many sellers are selling new belts for specific makes/models, I believe they get they belts manufactured. Some sellers also sell NOS (New Old Stock) belts, this normally means they are the original vintage belts unused, so could be very old, I have purchased many of these without any problems. But beware that some drive belts (depending upon their rubber formulation) can degrade due to their age. David

13th Dec 2025, 3:54 pm	#4
Colday0 Triode Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Halstead, Essex, UK Posts: 11	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Thanks for the replies! I tried to avoid naming the recorder in the first one as I didn't have it in front of me and was not 100% sure of the make/model. I've taken a few photos now. The panel that fits over the mechanism states it is a 'Fidelity'. The manual which you will see below seems to suggest it is a 'Challenge'. I presume the mechanism was a generic thing that people would make their own cases for? Pics of the case shows there are no badges or identifying marks on the outside, hence my thoughts. Thanks for the links and ebay guidance (yes I have read the ebay rules). Is there a specific means of measuring the belts? Are they measured by circumference or diameter? Cassette mechanisms are all a relatively generic size (well, they are in computer tape decks anyway) and a 'pack' from ebay or Amazon generally has enough of a range to cover the decks. Anyway, thoughts on this old beastie please? I'll start another thread for the other two machines I have obtained as they were found 'in the wild'. Attached Thumbnails

14th Dec 2025, 9:40 pm	#5
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,688	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice The deck is made by Collaro and should work well once all the linkages and cams are stripped of old grease and relubricated. Its a 3 motor design so only one pulley which might need replacing. These are sturdy well built decks. The electronics is young enough to not need much if any attention. __________________ Forum Moderator www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk

14th Dec 2025, 9:44 pm	#6
Colday0 Triode Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Halstead, Essex, UK Posts: 11	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice That's nice to hear. I noted the direct drive motors, is there any service thoughts on those, other than a tiny drop of machine oil? I've been looking at the nasty grease. Not a great problem to sort out. I noted that the motors are slow to start up and seem to run a little slow, will cleaning the mechanism likely sort that out or is there a 'pot' on the board the would allow adjustment?

15th Dec 2025, 9:57 am	#7
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 7,279	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Drive belts are generally sold by their I.D. (i.e. their internal diameter when belt is shaped as a circle. Running a piece of cotton or thin string around the belt path and pulling it reasonably snug and cutting it to that length will give a ballpark figure, the ID is generally not that critical. Measure the total length of the string which equates to the circumference (C) of a circle then calculate the diameter (D) by D = C / Pi David

15th Dec 2025, 1:50 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 19,223	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice A bit about the manufacturer here: https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=10577 I wonder whether "Challenge" was a mail order company's branding? A quick look here suggests it was used by a mail order company called Jones. Or possibly Pryce-Jones?

15th Dec 2025, 2:52 pm	#9
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,507	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Complete service info for that deck - Collaro Studio - in the link at the top right of these web pages. From memory, the only belt is for the tape counter. Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!

15th Dec 2025, 3:58 pm	#10
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 7,279	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Thread covering Challenge I have/had:- https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=00...zwMepnHrX5pS&fexp=73217441,73217442 David

15th Dec 2025, 5:42 pm	#11
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 19,223	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice So it may have been a brand used by "John England" who were part of Great Universal Stores, and therefore related to the "Challenge" brand that Argos still uses to this day, currently for dehumidifiers.

15th Dec 2025, 8:08 pm	#12
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 9,180	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Looking at the OP's photos in Post 4, that cabinet looks devoid of any of its original valved electronics? __________________ Edward.

16th Dec 2025, 6:46 am	#15
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 24,914	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Mum and her pals circulated several different mail-order catalogues around their group. As a kid, I looked at the radio/tv/audio sections. "Challenge" was definitely John England's flag of convenience brand for such stuff as well as things like vacuum cleaners. Amazing what sticks in your head. I think Grattan went more for manufacturer's branding than 'own label'. It was a more innocent era before pseudo-German and pseudo-Japanese brand names were developed to bestow fake auras of quality and dependability! David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

16th Dec 2025, 12:19 pm	#17
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 7,685	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice That's odd. Your instruction book says it was made by Tape Recorder (Electronics) Ltd who made machines for several wholesalers. They were often badged Sound or similar, so your mail-order special makes sense. However from 1964 Fidelity made thir own machines, usually with the BSR TD2 deck. I don't think they ever used the Collaro deck, or badged a TRE, though I may be wrong. Possibly your machine pre-dates this and has Fidelity written on it to pretend high-fidelity? Or someone added it - though exactly why they would is a mystery. __________________ Glyn

16th Dec 2025, 5:06 pm	#18
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 7,279	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Can the OP please post a photo of the mechanism panel (maybe heads cover) that shows "Fidelity". David

16th Dec 2025, 5:29 pm	#19
Colday0 Triode Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Halstead, Essex, UK Posts: 11	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice I absolutely will and was planning to, just need to brave the slippery wet wooden platform on the way to the workshop. I thought I may wait till it ices up to really increase the hazard! ;-) (I'll get up there tonight).

16th Dec 2025, 5:40 pm	#20
Colday0 Triode Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Halstead, Essex, UK Posts: 11	Re: New member - looking for parts and advice, lots of advice Just popped up to their, risking life and limb, to find that my memory is awful and that your skills here are beyond reproach. I do have a Fidelity Playmaster, but it's not the one I am talking about at the moment. It's one of the other two which have their own 'wooded' stories. Apologies for being a berk. The Challenge machine does not have any markings or names on the mechanism panel.