Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Radio Tech · 21st Dec 2016, 3:24 pm

Hi folks

I have recently acquired this tape recorder and as I understand it is the re badged version of the Philips AG8108, so far, I have replaced the fabric on the base and the lid and also done a little tidy up of the plastic cover which is on the base of the machine. I soon found out why the spools would not turn, no belts, they have totally disintegrated into a horrible black mess, to find to length of the main belt I used a piece of string after cleaning the pulleys and other parts where the belt runs to find the length. PI x D = C. I made it 350mm so it quite big belt, Just a matter of finding a company that supplies a belt this size and thickness in square types. The other thing at the moment is the spring loaded catch on the lid, see picture, but more to follow.

Regards

Ken

G8KBG Tony · 21st Dec 2016, 3:51 pm

Hello Ken,

There are some belts on ebay.

Cheers,

Tony

Radio Tech · 21st Dec 2016, 7:44 pm

Hi Tony

Thanks for the info, when I get the belts I will update the progress on restoration, might be a while yet.

Ken

wd40addict · 21st Dec 2016, 8:31 pm

Ah my first reel-to-reel

I got mine secondhand in 1980. The belt was a a bit stretched and it was still possible to buy packs of belts made by 'tape recorder spares' at the local electrical shop! Sadly the replacement wasn't a perfect fit and eventually I sold the machine on.

Watch out for the clutches under the reel hubs, these will almost certainly need fettling!

Listening to the tapes I made at the time the machine could record with much better sound quality than it could play back!

Good luck!

ricard · 21st Dec 2016, 9:34 pm

Interesting that the original belts had turned gooey, my experience has been that this machine is from the pre-gooey belt era. The belts do tend to stretch, but otherwise are very stable and don't crack or show other signs of degeneration. Perhaps the belt has in fact been replaced during the course of the machine's lifetime.

Also, this machine seems to have the same chassis as the four track Philips EL3542, owing to the track selector switch on the right hand side, whereas the AG8108, which seems to be the British designation for the EL3516, is a two-track machine. The mechanical chassis should be mainly identical though (especially regarding the belt length).

Cobaltblue · 21st Dec 2016, 10:31 pm

Ken I have the manufacturers service info for the CR1601

It's Dated August 1960

Ricard is correct its a 4 track machine.

A simple search on Ebay brings up a belt set under the model number CR1601

PM me if you need any info from the manual it does not give belt sizes just the part numbers.

Cheers

Mike T

Radio Tech · 23rd Dec 2016, 2:16 pm

Will do Mike, just waiting for belts to come then do some more work on it, I would like to get hold of another case latch / lock, that's the one in the first picture, springs have gone and I cant remember the exact name for that type of latch at the front of the cabinet on the lid. Strange machine to work on though.

Best wishes

Ken

Radio Tech · 25th Dec 2016, 11:59 am

Hi folks

While working on this machine I had a look on the underside and noticed the mechanism that appears to operate the switching of the amplifier section, there seems to be a spring missing so I am not sure of its length, it has some relation on the piano buttons that control the tape speed. See what you think, picture not a good one admittedly.

Best wishes

Ken

TonyDuell · 25th Dec 2016, 5:46 pm

The 'Phlips Tape Recorder Book' (Focal Press) suggests that the Cossor 1601 is equivalent to the Philips EL3542 as others have suggested. That would fit with it being a 3 speed 4 track machine.

21st Dec 2016, 3:24 pm	#1
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Hi folks I have recently acquired this tape recorder and as I understand it is the re badged version of the Philips AG8108, so far, I have replaced the fabric on the base and the lid and also done a little tidy up of the plastic cover which is on the base of the machine. I soon found out why the spools would not turn, no belts, they have totally disintegrated into a horrible black mess, to find to length of the main belt I used a piece of string after cleaning the pulleys and other parts where the belt runs to find the length. PI x D = C. I made it 350mm so it quite big belt, Just a matter of finding a company that supplies a belt this size and thickness in square types. The other thing at the moment is the spring loaded catch on the lid, see picture, but more to follow. Regards Ken Attached Thumbnails

21st Dec 2016, 3:51 pm	#2
G8KBG Tony Pentode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wombourne, South Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 225	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Hello Ken, There are some belts on ebay. Cheers, Tony __________________ G8KBG - BVWS Member - BATC Member

21st Dec 2016, 7:44 pm	#3
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Hi Tony Thanks for the info, when I get the belts I will update the progress on restoration, might be a while yet. Ken

21st Dec 2016, 8:31 pm	#4
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Ah my first reel-to-reel I got mine secondhand in 1980. The belt was a a bit stretched and it was still possible to buy packs of belts made by 'tape recorder spares' at the local electrical shop! Sadly the replacement wasn't a perfect fit and eventually I sold the machine on. Watch out for the clutches under the reel hubs, these will almost certainly need fettling! Listening to the tapes I made at the time the machine could record with much better sound quality than it could play back! Good luck!

21st Dec 2016, 9:34 pm	#5
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Interesting that the original belts had turned gooey, my experience has been that this machine is from the pre-gooey belt era. The belts do tend to stretch, but otherwise are very stable and don't crack or show other signs of degeneration. Perhaps the belt has in fact been replaced during the course of the machine's lifetime. Also, this machine seems to have the same chassis as the four track Philips EL3542, owing to the track selector switch on the right hand side, whereas the AG8108, which seems to be the British designation for the EL3516, is a two-track machine. The mechanical chassis should be mainly identical though (especially regarding the belt length).

21st Dec 2016, 10:31 pm	#6
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,875	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Ken I have the manufacturers service info for the CR1601 It's Dated August 1960 Ricard is correct its a 4 track machine. A simple search on Ebay brings up a belt set under the model number CR1601 PM me if you need any info from the manual it does not give belt sizes just the part numbers. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

23rd Dec 2016, 2:16 pm	#7
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Will do Mike, just waiting for belts to come then do some more work on it, I would like to get hold of another case latch / lock, that's the one in the first picture, springs have gone and I cant remember the exact name for that type of latch at the front of the cabinet on the lid. Strange machine to work on though. Best wishes Ken

25th Dec 2016, 11:59 am	#8
Radio Tech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, UK. Posts: 2,071	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder Hi folks While working on this machine I had a look on the underside and noticed the mechanism that appears to operate the switching of the amplifier section, there seems to be a spring missing so I am not sure of its length, it has some relation on the piano buttons that control the tape speed. See what you think, picture not a good one admittedly. Best wishes Ken Attached Thumbnails

25th Dec 2016, 5:46 pm	#9
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,213	Re: Cossor 1601 Tape Recorder The 'Phlips Tape Recorder Book' (Focal Press) suggests that the Cossor 1601 is equivalent to the Philips EL3542 as others have suggested. That would fit with it being a 3 speed 4 track machine.