1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ryan_1993 · 5th Oct 2020, 10:24 pm

One deck I have always been curious about is the Alba 2200 series. Won the bid on one for £21 a short while ago this evening. They were made by a Japanese OEM as far as I can tell for the British Hifi brand Alba. It seems to be a pretty unusual deck, full logic control, despite it being budget oriented from the late 1970s and made from plastic rather than metal.

It should be a decent little restoration project and at £21 the cheapest cassette deck I’ve ever bought. I’m sure it won’t be anything special soundwise, but always nice to add another deck to my hifi setup.

What I wanted to know was does anyone know what belts it uses and where to get a suitable replacement? Annoyingly with it being a relatively unusual model there isn’t tons of information about it online. However those in the know I’m sure it was sold as other models in other regions.

Ryan_1993 · 6th Oct 2020, 8:32 am

From another forum I found out this Alba is actually a clone of the Benytone MCD-3000

From this I have been able to find a Service Manual and Belt Kit. You can see how similar it is externally. The Alba seems to have a plastic front panel whereas the Benytone has brushed metal, all the button/switches are identical in layout.

From photos online of their cassette transports they also seems to be indentical and a match too.

Andrew2 · 6th Oct 2020, 8:49 am

An unusual find. Both decks certainly look nice, let's hope yours performs well when you've done it up.

DMcMahon · 6th Oct 2020, 8:58 am

A good looking deck.

I see there is one for sale on eBay where the seller says recently fitted new belts, so I was going to say you could try messaging the seller to ask about his source of belts.

David

vinrads · 6th Oct 2020, 9:32 am

Finding a service manual and a belt kit ,now that is what I call lucky, well done and good luck with the repairs. Mick.

paulsherwin · 6th Oct 2020, 9:47 am

I actually used to own one of these decks, bought new in 1979. It was an excellent performer, and the full solenoid control made it very pleasant to use. A college friend at the time was so impressed by mine that he went out and bought one too.

Ryan_1993 · 9th Oct 2020, 7:15 pm

Hi all,

The unit arrived today. Initially my example was sold as spares and in the listing photos on ebay didn’t even have a plug attached.

Wired it all up and it works. The only thing is it’s struggling to rewind and fast forward, just seems like the belts are shot. Sure enough this was the case (belts all loose and floppy) and ordered a new belt set for then.

Heads seem to be in very decent shape so I don’t think this unit has had much use. Very pleased that the belts haven’t turned to go.

Overall not bad for £21

michamoo · 9th Oct 2020, 8:40 pm

Thats a smart looking machine Ryan.

Ryan_1993 · 12th Oct 2020, 1:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by michamoo

Thats a smart looking machine Ryan.

Thanks it has cleaned up very well and now sits below my Pioneer CT-F750 in my HiFi.

Unfortunately it’s going to be 3 weeks at least for the replacement belt kit to arrive from Germany slow due to COVID the seller has said.

Ryan_1993 · 14th Oct 2020, 5:54 pm

Well,

My belts arrived and swapped them over easy enough to do, but discovered a few issues.

Before swapping belts playback seemed to work, just no rewind or fast forward ability. However, now the motor seems to be suffering from some kind of issue.

It randomly slows down and grinds to a halt and I also keep hearing awful distortion in the background when a tape is playing. The audio sounds like when you speak into an electric desk fan and your voice sounds all distorted and choppy. Its not wow and fllutter though more like some kind of electrical interfrence. When I put in my MP3 Cassette car adapter in the deck (which doesn't really matter about the motor) the buzzing and interference is not present and the audio is nice and clear.

Adjusting the motor speed pot on the back of the motor just stops the motor dead in its tracks and there is very little control of the speed. As soon as I pull the screwdriver out of the adjustment pot the motor starts running again.

Never head any issue like this before, but it seems like the fault lies with the motor somewhere?

I was going to take the capstan motor out of an old broken Nakamichi BX-1 I have lying around (missing a few parts) but I am not sure if that would be compatible. It looks similar bit smaller just appears like the brass section to drive the Belts in the alba would need swapping over onto the Nak's motor spindle.

paulsherwin · 14th Oct 2020, 6:05 pm

It sounds as if something is applying excess torque to the motor. Does it run normally if you take the capstan belt off the motor pulley?

Ryan_1993 · 14th Oct 2020, 6:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

It sounds as if something is applying excess torque to the motor. Does it run normally if you take the capstan belt off the motor pulley?

It does seem to, but that wouldn't explain the weird audio distortion would it? Nor the motor speed adjustment issue it stops as soon as I put the screwdriver in the pot without even turning it. Seems like there is some sort of grounding issue somewhere perhaps on the motor itself? I don't really know

the motor cutting out happens even with belts removed

ben · 14th Oct 2020, 6:39 pm

Have you tried several different tapes?

Ryan_1993 · 14th Oct 2020, 6:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben

Have you tried several different tapes?

same on all tapes. It doesn't even move right if you run it qithout tape in it just slows down and stops, the MP3 cassette adapter plays fine though so nothing wrong with the amp stage of it or the heads either.

Swapping the motors over as we speak.

Michael Maurice · 14th Oct 2020, 7:11 pm

Is the capstan belt tight? If shouldn't be slack but it shouldn't be to tight either as that puts a strain on the motor bearings.

the reason the motor stops is probably because its shorting the pot to the case. Use a plastic adjuster or put some insulation on the driver.

paulsherwin · 14th Oct 2020, 7:14 pm

If the motor is in distress it may be generating RFI, and also pulling down the power rail.

Ryan_1993 · 14th Oct 2020, 9:21 pm

The Nak motor solved the rewind and fast forward issues, but the distortion still persits. It's really weird it only started occuring after I swapped the belts.

My assumption is something must be shorting or not grounded properly somewhere?

paulsherwin · 15th Oct 2020, 10:41 am

Did you disturb something while changing the belt? Easily done.

Ryan_1993 · 16th Oct 2020, 4:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Did you disturb something while changing the belt? Easily done.

This appears to be the case I think, playback is working spot on now and I have actually changed the motor back to the original. However, the electrical buzzing still persists when playing tapes.

Given that when using one of those tape to MP3 player adapter the problem goes away, it must be something the motor is doing interfering with the signal on the tape itself.

I'm going to have a good look when I get some further time check out all the wiring and we will go from there. Probably something as simple as wiring causing a grounding fault

Ted Kendall · 16th Oct 2020, 8:19 pm

It could be a cracked core in one of the head carraige cables - these flex every time play is engaged, and cab fatigue over time. The adaptor may not allow the head to penetrate quite as far as into a cassette.

5th Oct 2020, 10:24 pm	#1
Ryan_1993 Hexode Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 329	1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck One deck I have always been curious about is the Alba 2200 series. Won the bid on one for £21 a short while ago this evening. They were made by a Japanese OEM as far as I can tell for the British Hifi brand Alba. It seems to be a pretty unusual deck, full logic control, despite it being budget oriented from the late 1970s and made from plastic rather than metal. It should be a decent little restoration project and at £21 the cheapest cassette deck I’ve ever bought. I’m sure it won’t be anything special soundwise, but always nice to add another deck to my hifi setup. What I wanted to know was does anyone know what belts it uses and where to get a suitable replacement? Annoyingly with it being a relatively unusual model there isn’t tons of information about it online. However those in the know I’m sure it was sold as other models in other regions. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Ryan_1993; 5th Oct 2020 at 10:41 pm.

6th Oct 2020, 8:32 am	#2
Ryan_1993 Hexode Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 329	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck From another forum I found out this Alba is actually a clone of the Benytone MCD-3000 From this I have been able to find a Service Manual and Belt Kit. You can see how similar it is externally. The Alba seems to have a plastic front panel whereas the Benytone has brushed metal, all the button/switches are identical in layout. From photos online of their cassette transports they also seems to be indentical and a match too. Attached Thumbnails

6th Oct 2020, 8:49 am	#3
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck An unusual find. Both decks certainly look nice, let's hope yours performs well when you've done it up. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

6th Oct 2020, 8:58 am	#4
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,602	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck A good looking deck. I see there is one for sale on eBay where the seller says recently fitted new belts, so I was going to say you could try messaging the seller to ask about his source of belts. David

6th Oct 2020, 9:32 am	#5
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,762	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Finding a service manual and a belt kit ,now that is what I call lucky, well done and good luck with the repairs. Mick.

6th Oct 2020, 9:47 am	#6
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck I actually used to own one of these decks, bought new in 1979. It was an excellent performer, and the full solenoid control made it very pleasant to use. A college friend at the time was so impressed by mine that he went out and bought one too.

9th Oct 2020, 7:15 pm	#7
Ryan_1993 Hexode Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 329	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Hi all, The unit arrived today. Initially my example was sold as spares and in the listing photos on ebay didn’t even have a plug attached. Wired it all up and it works. The only thing is it’s struggling to rewind and fast forward, just seems like the belts are shot. Sure enough this was the case (belts all loose and floppy) and ordered a new belt set for then. Heads seem to be in very decent shape so I don’t think this unit has had much use. Very pleased that the belts haven’t turned to go. Overall not bad for £21 Attached Thumbnails

9th Oct 2020, 8:40 pm	#8
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Thats a smart looking machine Ryan. __________________ If smoking is so bad for you, how come it cures kippers?

14th Oct 2020, 5:54 pm	#10
Ryan_1993 Hexode Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 329	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Well, My belts arrived and swapped them over easy enough to do, but discovered a few issues. Before swapping belts playback seemed to work, just no rewind or fast forward ability. However, now the motor seems to be suffering from some kind of issue. It randomly slows down and grinds to a halt and I also keep hearing awful distortion in the background when a tape is playing. The audio sounds like when you speak into an electric desk fan and your voice sounds all distorted and choppy. Its not wow and fllutter though more like some kind of electrical interfrence. When I put in my MP3 Cassette car adapter in the deck (which doesn't really matter about the motor) the buzzing and interference is not present and the audio is nice and clear. Adjusting the motor speed pot on the back of the motor just stops the motor dead in its tracks and there is very little control of the speed. As soon as I pull the screwdriver out of the adjustment pot the motor starts running again. Never head any issue like this before, but it seems like the fault lies with the motor somewhere? I was going to take the capstan motor out of an old broken Nakamichi BX-1 I have lying around (missing a few parts) but I am not sure if that would be compatible. It looks similar bit smaller just appears like the brass section to drive the Belts in the alba would need swapping over onto the Nak's motor spindle.

14th Oct 2020, 6:05 pm	#11
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck It sounds as if something is applying excess torque to the motor. Does it run normally if you take the capstan belt off the motor pulley?

14th Oct 2020, 6:39 pm	#13
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Have you tried several different tapes? __________________ Regards, Ben.

14th Oct 2020, 7:11 pm	#15
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,224	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Is the capstan belt tight? If shouldn't be slack but it shouldn't be to tight either as that puts a strain on the motor bearings. the reason the motor stops is probably because its shorting the pot to the case. Use a plastic adjuster or put some insulation on the driver. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

14th Oct 2020, 7:14 pm	#16
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck If the motor is in distress it may be generating RFI, and also pulling down the power rail.

14th Oct 2020, 9:21 pm	#17
Ryan_1993 Hexode Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 329	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck The Nak motor solved the rewind and fast forward issues, but the distortion still persits. It's really weird it only started occuring after I swapped the belts. My assumption is something must be shorting or not grounded properly somewhere? Last edited by Ryan_1993; 14th Oct 2020 at 9:28 pm.

15th Oct 2020, 10:41 am	#18
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck Did you disturb something while changing the belt? Easily done.

16th Oct 2020, 8:19 pm	#20
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,670	Re: 1978 Alba 2200 Cassette deck It could be a cracked core in one of the head carraige cables - these flex every time play is engaged, and cab fatigue over time. The adaptor may not allow the head to penetrate quite as far as into a cassette.