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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

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Old 11th May 2022, 10:19 am   #1
Superscope
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Default Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I don't normally frequent the General Vintage Technology area of
the forum, but I noticed this morning a photo of a portable RIM Drive
Reel to Reel mentioned in connection with a film.

I have the exact same Portable Deck.

I've had it about 5 Years, and it still works, although the quality of the
sound, and the Wow and Flutter are quite bad,
Was this a serious Machine, or just a Toy?

The Name Plate is missing off the Lid on mine, so I don't know the Brand
Name.
I also have a Metal part which has fallen out from somewhere, but I can't
remember where it came from (pic 4).

Does anybody have a copy of the Schematic, or User Manual?
Did a service Manual ever exist? It is a pretty basic Machine though.

Can anybody tell me anything about this novel Machine?


Ian
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Old 11th May 2022, 11:47 am   #2
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Do not know hardly anything about it, I think not much more than a toy/very basic portable.

Normally advertised as an "International" Japanese I believe, the 4TR had at least 2 variants your one being the A 4411. In USA advertised as Stewart 4TR.

Cannot easily find any documentation for it.

David
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Old 11th May 2022, 12:31 pm   #3
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Thanks David,

Yes, it's one of those black Hole comsumer electronic devices.
Virtually no infomation on it out there.

It is Japanese, it has Japan stamped on the back.
I vagely remember seeing a reference to "International" somewhere.



Ian
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Old 11th May 2022, 12:57 pm   #4
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

These had many and varied names - International, Royal-Call, things like that. Very much a magazine advert special which suited many people as for most recorders were just a passing fad and these didn't cost much. Of course the big drawback is the tape speed varies as the take-up reel fills so any that need copying need correction to do it.
Add to that permanent magnet erase and 'off the scale' wow and flutter and, yes, a bit of a toy but fine for little Johnny's first words or grandma's last ones!
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Old 11th May 2022, 1:17 pm   #5
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I have the identical model, badged "Fuji Cherry".

Realtone and Nobility are other brands, indeed my first was a Seavox, £4.19.6 from
Shoppertunities. This led to a Fidelity Playmaster TR5 for Xmas, which was a mains machine and the entry to proper recording.
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Old 11th May 2022, 5:03 pm   #6
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I have a similar "Faine" and a Aiwa TP-32A.Have also seen it as Electra TP-500.
RM.org has a schematic for the Aiwa.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/aiwa_tp_32_atp32.html

Last edited by roffe; 11th May 2022 at 5:29 pm. Reason: spelling
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Old 11th May 2022, 5:17 pm   #7
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I had exactly the same model back in about 1969. Just a cheap rim-drive thing, but it wasn't too bad. I don't know what became of it.
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Old 11th May 2022, 6:15 pm   #8
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I think I've found out where the metal piece should go.Take a look at this video and at 7:26 you can see it under the motor.A sort of cradle I guess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_lG9lbaXY
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Old 11th May 2022, 7:43 pm   #9
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Excellent,

Thanks for the YouTube link.
Yes, it is a very simple braking mechanism.

Even seeing it on the Video, it's amazing how deceiving it is
trying to actually fit back in.

I have no idea how it fell out without removing the Drive Platters.
Anyway, I have now put it back in, so thanks for that.

Can't imagine it works particularly well though, and in fact the
player functions just as well without it.


Ian
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Old 13th May 2022, 6:00 pm   #10
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Found out it's a Lloyd TP433.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/lloyds..._recorder.html
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Old 12th Jun 2022, 11:10 am   #11
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Badged as an apolec (Apollo Industries) here.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234555793...Cclp%3A2047675

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Old 13th Jun 2022, 2:06 pm   #12
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

This machine is clearly a toy tape recorder.

The give away is that it does not have a capston and pinch wheel so the speed will vary with the amount of tape on the reel, a gear effect if you like. Not a problem for a toy as long as it is played back on the same machine without any physical tape editing.

Of course play this tape on a real machine and the speed will be all wrong, as will playing a tape from another machine on this toy.

I had a similar machine when I was a kid and loved it to bits, until I was given a tape of music which of course was terrible.

Interesting that this machine has a speed control, so with constant adjustment perhaps may be just about usable for playback, the version I had had no such speed control.
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Old 13th Jun 2022, 11:03 pm   #13
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Another example, this time a Star-lite RA-11

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/115137820760...EAAOSwxM9htRn3

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Old 15th Jun 2022, 11:23 pm   #14
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

A toy yes, but my dad kept an identical machine in the glovebox of his car and would dictate his notes (he was a medical rep) and type them up when he got home.

I eventually dismantled it, and the amplifier PCB was used in countless projects, such as my light-beam telephone.

Quote:
Originally Posted by roffe View Post
I think I've found out where the metal piece should go.Take a look at this video and at 7:26 you can see it under the motor.A sort of cradle I guess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_lG9lbaXY
Not just a cradle, it applies brakes to both reels when STOP is selected to prevent tape spillage.


Quote:
Originally Posted by George Cooper View Post
Interesting that this machine has a speed control, so with constant adjustment perhaps may be just about usable for playback, the version I had had no such speed control.
No speed control, the MIN - MAX pot is simply volume.
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Old 16th Jun 2022, 9:10 am   #15
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

The VANTONE, an early teenager toy unless you have the Mission Impossible version disguised as a book..
The microphone acts as a loudspeaker on playback. It does what it says on the box. John.
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Old 16th Jun 2022, 9:25 am   #16
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I'm going through some old equipment some of which was wrapped in an old newspaper from September 1962. You could buy one of these (post #1) for £8 19/6 it appears!
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Old 16th Jun 2022, 5:27 pm   #17
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£9.00. That was a lot of money back in 1962. I was 14! J.
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 12:30 am   #18
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Quote:
Originally Posted by George Cooper View Post
Interesting that this machine has a speed control, so with constant adjustment perhaps may be just about usable for playback, the version I had had no such speed control.
No speed control, the MIN - MAX pot is simply volume.[/QUOTE]

Oops, my mistake, the you tube video shows a model with a speed control an I thought it was the same model. I assume there were various versions of this machine as there often is.
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 2:00 am   #19
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

I spent my pocket money on a similar one as a kid. Then, while in Scotland I bought my first 'proper' tape recorder with a Collaro tape transcriptor deck, second hand from a stall upstairs in Barrowlands, Glasgow. It was in a bit of a state, so that was my first lesson in tape recorder mechanical repairs. I've still got both of the recorders.
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Old 17th Jun 2022, 9:16 am   #20
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Default Re: Can anybody identify this RIM Drive portable

Yes the Electra version from Post 8 link has a Slow/Fast rotary speed control on top left corner.

David
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