Marconiphone - But which model - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

bloggo3 · 6th Aug 2018, 1:20 am

I've acquired a Marconiphone 4 Track 2 Speed reel to reel recorder. I just want to transfer some old Family tapes to my computer.
It seems to function okay but playback is a bit slow. I presume it needs new belts but there is no model number anywhere on it. Would any of you kind people on this forum be able to identify it for me.

brenellic2000 · 6th Aug 2018, 1:23 pm

Most probably a 4000 series (4202?) in the Thorn range; 4 being Marconiphone,, 2 Ferguson etc. There is very little difference between them.

bloggo3 · 7th Aug 2018, 11:43 am

Hi, Thanks a million for your help. You were spot on with your info. It is indeed a 4200. Now I just need to find which belts I need and where to get them.

JohnBHanson · 7th Aug 2018, 7:54 pm

There is only one belt and that is for the tape counter.

When fast forward or rewind the reel tables move inwards to engage a friction drive. Check that the tables can move freely.

You have the 4 track version. If there is a 9 pin socket at the back it will also have second head/monitor and remote pause. If you have the microphone this also has a remote pause switch in this case.

dave walsh · 7th Aug 2018, 8:08 pm

If you can't sort the friction drive that John points out bloggo, perhaps you could use one of the editing software packages to vary the incoming signal speed eg Audacity. I'm not at all "up to speed" on computers though. I used to do it manually re cassettes on a machine that had vari-speed playing back 10% or so either way-a Yamaha I think

Dave W

dave walsh · 7th Aug 2018, 8:44 pm

I See I've still got it though it stopped working some time ago Model TB-700!
I used it to speed up some Dylan cassette interviews running slow.

Dave

Restoration73 · 7th Aug 2018, 9:34 pm

An external unit utilised the unused track to record a tone to actuate a slide projector.

julie_m · 7th Aug 2018, 11:35 pm

With these tape recorders, if the rubber parts are OK then the problem is nearly always dried grease.

The take-up spool carrier is in two parts, with a simple friction clutch between them. The bottom section is driven in "play" and "record", and the clutch slips to allow the top section to rotate at its own speed, slowing down as the tape builds up on the reel (the 9.5cm. of tape paid out every second by the capstan occupies less of each successive turn laid down). In "wind" and "rewind", the spool carriers are driven from the top, bypassing the clutch so the spool turns at full speed. All this is achieved by moving idler wheels into and out of contact with the spool carriers, or sometimes by moving the spool carriers into and out of contact with the idler wheels.

What often happens is, where there is a sliding member with a slot riding over a fixed pin, you get a build-up of dried grease at one end of the slot; and this restricts it from travelling fully, so some part of the mechanism does not engage properly. This results in speed variations as even although the capstan is driven directly from the end of the motor spindle and not via the train of intermediate wheels, the load on the motor is changing due to the imperfect contact. You will have to pick out all the old grease with a wooden cocktail stick (so as not to scratch anything), and re-lubricate. It's a bit tedious, for sure, but rewarding to hear the improvement .....

ben · 8th Aug 2018, 3:10 pm

You do realize that this is a 2 speed version, and in the pic yours seems to be set at the slower of the two (the selector is the knob at the back between the two spools).

The last one of these Thorn FTD4 decks I looked at has the speed change mech seized, so the idler was not engaging properly on the right motor step. That may well be the case here. Take the top off and observe with a sacrificial tape just in case!

bloggo3 · 10th Aug 2018, 2:49 am

Thanks a million for all the assistance. I am truly amazed at your knowledge. Unfortunately, I have been laid up since Tuesday (probably Flu) and have to wait until tomorrow for an appointment with my GP. This is my first time out of bed but I'm on the mend and hope to open up the machine on Saturday. I'll probably be back looking for more help. I must admit that I haven't even tried to move the speed switch yet. Having read all your replies (for which I am really grateful) I am very optimistic that the machine can be sorted out.

Thanks again, will be in touch.

6th Aug 2018, 1:20 am	#1
bloggo3 Banned Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 3	Marconiphone - But which model I've acquired a Marconiphone 4 Track 2 Speed reel to reel recorder. I just want to transfer some old Family tapes to my computer. It seems to function okay but playback is a bit slow. I presume it needs new belts but there is no model number anywhere on it. Would any of you kind people on this forum be able to identify it for me. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Station X; 6th Aug 2018 at 9:15 am. Reason: Linked images converted to thumbnails.

6th Aug 2018, 1:23 pm	#2
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Marconiphone - But which model Most probably a 4000 series (4202?) in the Thorn range; 4 being Marconiphone,, 2 Ferguson etc. There is very little difference between them.

7th Aug 2018, 11:43 am	#3
bloggo3 Banned Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 3	Re: Marconiphone - But which model Hi, Thanks a million for your help. You were spot on with your info. It is indeed a 4200. Now I just need to find which belts I need and where to get them. Attached Thumbnails

7th Aug 2018, 7:54 pm	#4
JohnBHanson Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK. Posts: 661	Re: Marconiphone - But which model There is only one belt and that is for the tape counter. When fast forward or rewind the reel tables move inwards to engage a friction drive. Check that the tables can move freely. You have the 4 track version. If there is a 9 pin socket at the back it will also have second head/monitor and remote pause. If you have the microphone this also has a remote pause switch in this case.

7th Aug 2018, 8:08 pm	#5
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Marconiphone - But which model If you can't sort the friction drive that John points out bloggo, perhaps you could use one of the editing software packages to vary the incoming signal speed eg Audacity. I'm not at all "up to speed" on computers though. I used to do it manually re cassettes on a machine that had vari-speed playing back 10% or so either way-a Yamaha I think Dave W

7th Aug 2018, 8:44 pm	#6
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Marconiphone - But which model I See I've still got it though it stopped working some time ago Model TB-700! I used it to speed up some Dylan cassette interviews running slow. Dave

7th Aug 2018, 9:34 pm	#7
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Marconiphone - But which model An external unit utilised the unused track to record a tone to actuate a slide projector.

7th Aug 2018, 11:35 pm	#8
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Marconiphone - But which model With these tape recorders, if the rubber parts are OK then the problem is nearly always dried grease. The take-up spool carrier is in two parts, with a simple friction clutch between them. The bottom section is driven in "play" and "record", and the clutch slips to allow the top section to rotate at its own speed, slowing down as the tape builds up on the reel (the 9.5cm. of tape paid out every second by the capstan occupies less of each successive turn laid down). In "wind" and "rewind", the spool carriers are driven from the top, bypassing the clutch so the spool turns at full speed. All this is achieved by moving idler wheels into and out of contact with the spool carriers, or sometimes by moving the spool carriers into and out of contact with the idler wheels. What often happens is, where there is a sliding member with a slot riding over a fixed pin, you get a build-up of dried grease at one end of the slot; and this restricts it from travelling fully, so some part of the mechanism does not engage properly. This results in speed variations as even although the capstan is driven directly from the end of the motor spindle and not via the train of intermediate wheels, the load on the motor is changing due to the imperfect contact. You will have to pick out all the old grease with a wooden cocktail stick (so as not to scratch anything), and re-lubricate. It's a bit tedious, for sure, but rewarding to hear the improvement ..... __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

8th Aug 2018, 3:10 pm	#9
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Marconiphone - But which model You do realize that this is a 2 speed version, and in the pic yours seems to be set at the slower of the two (the selector is the knob at the back between the two spools). The last one of these Thorn FTD4 decks I looked at has the speed change mech seized, so the idler was not engaging properly on the right motor step. That may well be the case here. Take the top off and observe with a sacrificial tape just in case! __________________ Regards, Ben.

10th Aug 2018, 2:49 am	#10
bloggo3 Banned Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 3	Re: Marconiphone - But which model Thanks a million for all the assistance. I am truly amazed at your knowledge. Unfortunately, I have been laid up since Tuesday (probably Flu) and have to wait until tomorrow for an appointment with my GP. This is my first time out of bed but I'm on the mend and hope to open up the machine on Saturday. I'll probably be back looking for more help. I must admit that I haven't even tried to move the speed switch yet. Having read all your replies (for which I am really grateful) I am very optimistic that the machine can be sorted out. Thanks again, will be in touch.