BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mike-repairman · 25th May 2014, 10:43 am

Hi all,

After my last unsuccessful attempt at the restoring the Cossor I managed to find a freebee BSR Defiant Reel to Reel. It basically works but could do with a service, etc. but I can't seem to find any data on it.

Has anyone any info of circuits of it? Perhaps it has the same chassis as other BSR models?

Thanks in advance,

Mike.

Restoration73 · 25th May 2014, 11:28 am

I would think it is a T11 or T12. The circuits appear in the 1961 and 1962 issues
od Radio & TV servicing, or in Hellyer Tape Recorder Servicing Manual.
The deck is the standard BSR TD2 with 2-track heads.

Mike-repairman · 25th May 2014, 11:46 am

Thanks for the info Restoration73, I'll tack the circuit down.

Mike.

Restoration73 · 25th May 2014, 12:25 pm

Defiant was a brand name used by the Co-op. BSR sold mainly tape transports, but I have
seen a BSR branded tape recorder using their own deck.

Nickthedentist · 25th May 2014, 12:49 pm

Just to clarify, this is a Defiant tape recorder sold by the Co-Op. It incorporates a deck made by BSR, their model TD2.

The Defiant T15 looks like a candidate: ECC83, ECL86, DM70 and EZ80. Circuit on Paul's discs.

Nick.

paulsherwin · 25th May 2014, 1:06 pm

The level indicator looks like an EM84 to me, but it's difficult to tell.

Restoration73 · 25th May 2014, 1:34 pm

Despite having printed out and bound the DVD contents list I had forgotten to check it!

Here is an idea I have had.
There is an ad link for the data at the top of every forum page. Could an extra line be
added "Check here" with a link to http://www.service-data.com/page.php/dvdcontents
or if this is not possible a link to a pdf of the contents ?

Mike-repairman · 26th May 2014, 10:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

The Defiant T15 looks like a candidate: ECC83, ECL86, DM70 and EZ80. Circuit on Paul's discs

Had the beast apart for a quick look inside and the line up is ECC83, ECL86 and a EM84 record level indicator. Clever how all the functions can be done with just 2 valves. There's no Rectifier valve, that's taken care of by the small square rectifier block marked with a red X; I assume to be some Selenium type although I've not seen that actual one before. I have 258VDC from the rectifier but reticent to change it to a Silicon bridge in case it gives more volts than the circuit was designed for.

Perhaps someone recognises the model; I have had no luck finding the circuit so far.

Hopefully get round to changing all those horrid capacitors and testing the valves today.

Mike.

david freeman · 26th May 2014, 10:47 am

The model is Defiant T12R. It appears in H W Hellyer's Tape Recorder Servicing Manual of 1965. It shows a valve line up of ECC83, ECL86 and EM84. The rectifier is a Siemens B250/C75.
The 'R' signifies the inclusion of a tape revolution counter. There is also aT14 four track version.
Hope this is useful.

Mike-repairman · 26th May 2014, 11:35 am

Many thanks David, I haven't got that book; will have to look out for one.
The rectifier appears to be OK so will leave it there for now.
Mike.

UPDATE: Just realised the circuit was available to purchase as a download on this site now I knew the model. Have it now and printed out.

Mike-repairman · 26th May 2014, 6:33 pm

Success; capacitors and volume control changed. Deck given a quick service and felt replace on take up spool. Haven't worried about rewind, can't see mechanically how that bit works, no logical mechanism there, but can swap reels to do that.

Overall reasonable on record and play but not up to the standard of some of the later upright reel to reel recorders of course. Will do for playing some of my vintage tapes from the 60's.

Thanks to all who have helped me on this thread.

Mike.

Nickthedentist · 26th May 2014, 7:50 pm

Rewind; Shouldn't TD2 spools move sideways slightly when engaging the wind modes? I would check whether dried grease might be preventing their movement.

N

Mike-repairman · 26th May 2014, 8:14 pm

Thanks Nick,

I did degrease all the sliding mechanism but I didn't know they moved; will check that out.

Mike.

Mike-repairman · 27th May 2014, 9:14 am

Thanks again Nick, one of the arms that holds the spool bearings had seized; now FF and REW work as they should.

Mike.

Nickthedentist · 27th May 2014, 1:52 pm

Well done! I haven't seen a TD2 since I got rid of mine in the mid-80s, but their sliding spools stuck in my mind for some reason.

Mike-repairman · 27th May 2014, 2:11 pm

Thanks; yes it is a bit of an odd design, like a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Most just have a jockey wheel arrangement that does FF and REW.

All finished now and reassembled. Sounds very good actually and plenty of top as well so head in good condition. The lady who gave me it said it was her mother's 18th birthday present and she's now 73 so that would place it around 1960; which looks about right.

Mike.

25th May 2014, 10:43 am	#1
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Hi all, After my last unsuccessful attempt at the restoring the Cossor I managed to find a freebee BSR Defiant Reel to Reel. It basically works but could do with a service, etc. but I can't seem to find any data on it. Has anyone any info of circuits of it? Perhaps it has the same chassis as other BSR models? Thanks in advance, Mike. Attached Thumbnails

25th May 2014, 11:28 am	#2
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder I would think it is a T11 or T12. The circuits appear in the 1961 and 1962 issues od Radio & TV servicing, or in Hellyer Tape Recorder Servicing Manual. The deck is the standard BSR TD2 with 2-track heads.

25th May 2014, 11:46 am	#3
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Thanks for the info Restoration73, I'll tack the circuit down. Mike.

25th May 2014, 12:25 pm	#4
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Defiant was a brand name used by the Co-op. BSR sold mainly tape transports, but I have seen a BSR branded tape recorder using their own deck.

25th May 2014, 12:49 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Just to clarify, this is a Defiant tape recorder sold by the Co-Op. It incorporates a deck made by BSR, their model TD2. The Defiant T15 looks like a candidate: ECC83, ECL86, DM70 and EZ80. Circuit on Paul's discs. Nick.

25th May 2014, 1:06 pm	#6
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder The level indicator looks like an EM84 to me, but it's difficult to tell.

25th May 2014, 1:34 pm	#7
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Despite having printed out and bound the DVD contents list I had forgotten to check it! Here is an idea I have had. There is an ad link for the data at the top of every forum page. Could an extra line be added "Check here" with a link to http://www.service-data.com/page.php/dvdcontents or if this is not possible a link to a pdf of the contents ?

26th May 2014, 10:47 am	#9
david freeman Hexode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 262	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder The model is Defiant T12R. It appears in H W Hellyer's Tape Recorder Servicing Manual of 1965. It shows a valve line up of ECC83, ECL86 and EM84. The rectifier is a Siemens B250/C75. The 'R' signifies the inclusion of a tape revolution counter. There is also aT14 four track version. Hope this is useful.

26th May 2014, 11:35 am	#10
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Many thanks David, I haven't got that book; will have to look out for one. The rectifier appears to be OK so will leave it there for now. Mike. UPDATE: Just realised the circuit was available to purchase as a download on this site now I knew the model. Have it now and printed out. Last edited by Mike-repairman; 26th May 2014 at 11:48 am.

26th May 2014, 6:33 pm	#11
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Success; capacitors and volume control changed. Deck given a quick service and felt replace on take up spool. Haven't worried about rewind, can't see mechanically how that bit works, no logical mechanism there, but can swap reels to do that. Overall reasonable on record and play but not up to the standard of some of the later upright reel to reel recorders of course. Will do for playing some of my vintage tapes from the 60's. Thanks to all who have helped me on this thread. Mike. Last edited by Mike-repairman; 26th May 2014 at 6:40 pm.

26th May 2014, 7:50 pm	#12
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Rewind; Shouldn't TD2 spools move sideways slightly when engaging the wind modes? I would check whether dried grease might be preventing their movement. N

26th May 2014, 8:14 pm	#13
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Thanks Nick, I did degrease all the sliding mechanism but I didn't know they moved; will check that out. Mike.

27th May 2014, 9:14 am	#14
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Thanks again Nick, one of the arms that holds the spool bearings had seized; now FF and REW work as they should. Mike.

27th May 2014, 1:52 pm	#15
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Well done! I haven't seen a TD2 since I got rid of mine in the mid-80s, but their sliding spools stuck in my mind for some reason. Last edited by Nickthedentist; 27th May 2014 at 1:58 pm.

27th May 2014, 2:11 pm	#16
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: BSR Defiant reel to reel tape recorder Thanks; yes it is a bit of an odd design, like a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Most just have a jockey wheel arrangement that does FF and REW. All finished now and reassembled. Sounds very good actually and plenty of top as well so head in good condition. The lady who gave me it said it was her mother's 18th birthday present and she's now 73 so that would place it around 1960; which looks about right. Mike.