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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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25th Nov 2018, 1:55 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,885
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Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
I recently bought my daughter a set of "Story Teller" cassettes from the 1980s. These are pre-recorded in white moulded cases and look to be of identical manufacture to some BBC tapes I have of the same era.
In my other machines (car stereo in the Land Rover, a Yamaha KX-390 and a dirt cheap contemporary Chinese Walkman) they play perfectly. But annoyingly in my daughter's new old stock Sony Boombox they squeal or jam. I can get them to play for a bit longer by shimming the cassette away from the read head area but it still plays up after a while. I've tried dismantling one of the cassettes and all seems well inside (they look to be little used) the slide pads (what is the correct name for the plastic inserts between the case and the wheels?) look ok with graphite type lubrication. I've also tried removing the foam pad opposite the playback head in case that was causing bother (they are unsprung black foam pads on a metal back plate) but no change. There internal guide path in the cassettes is of the "cheap" type i.e. no rollers just straight on to plastic guides but they are clean. The tapes in the series look to be on a variety of different tape stocks - some black some brown. I at first thought this might be sticky-shed type problems but after playing in the other machines there seem to be no ill effects and the sound quality is pretty good. The Sony machine was bought recently NOS/checked from ebay and in all other respects and with all my other tapes I've tried behaves flawlessly. A bit stumped on this - I'm loathe to throw the tapes away as my 4yo daughter was so excite when we got them last week and has spent the past few evenings taking them in and out of their boxes and putting them back in order (there are 28 numbered cassettes)....but unfortunately not listening to them....If the worse comes to the worst I'll have to buy 28 new blank cassettes and copy them! |
25th Nov 2018, 3:35 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southport Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 3,237
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
I have recently resurrected some cassettes and a children's player that belonged to my children in the 1980s for my granddaughter. Some of the cassettes squealed and jammed in that but would play on other machines. Eventually I tried the tiniest smear of silicone grease at intervals along the tape then winding and rewinding it several times. This has helped and the tapes I have treated run freely now. It might be worth trying,maybe having copied them first if possible.
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Paul |
26th Nov 2018, 1:28 am | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,876
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
If I find a mechanical problem like this I'll usually try the tape in a new shell. This usually solves the problem although it won't work if the tape itself is the issue.
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26th Nov 2018, 1:56 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
Thanks both,
I'll try a new shell first, it's easiest as I have some new good quality shells - that will eliminate the tape as the culprit if it effects a cure. I'm a bit loathe to try grease or lubricants for fear of contaminating other tapes and machines. If I something like that how / where do you apply the lubrication? On the front or back of the tape? I'm starting to think it might be the spools touching the shoulders of the case whilst turning, so I might try some lubrication in that area first D |
26th Nov 2018, 2:53 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southport Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 3,237
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
I just put the tiniest dot on the front of the tape at several spots along its length. In the old days of 1/4 inch reel to reel tape I used a similar application of silicone polish - Pledge I seem to remember!
The cassettes would not play so I really had nothing to lose but I can understand trepidation in trying it, particularly as some people regard silicone grease as a work of the devil!
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Paul |
26th Nov 2018, 2:59 pm | #6 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Andover, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 85
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
Just wondering if other tapes play ok in the Boombox ?
John |
26th Nov 2018, 3:04 pm | #7 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Andover, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 85
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
Sorry I have just read the first post again and I see they do !!
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1st Dec 2018, 12:32 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
I suspect that the new deck, as with almost all of recent manufacture, will use the cheapo Tanashin mech. As such it may have one of those 'feeler' fixed guides which senses tape end tension and stops the deck. The tape passes over these at a very acute angle and I suppose some shells don't like it. Check if this is the case.
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Regards, Ben. |
2nd Dec 2018, 12:29 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
It does have such a deck...well even cheaper. The erase head seems to be a permanent magnet.
I'm not sure its the feeler though. I tried carefully bending that back from the tape path but the problem persisted. I also tried a dab of silicone around the wheel to case contact points and a new capstan belt. Still no joy! I'm working away this week but will try the silicone on the tape thing when i get bank but i suspect that will just make the pinch filler slip |
2nd Dec 2018, 12:42 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
Personally, given the combination that is causing the problem, I would not mess about adding more silicone. It would probably be easier to either dub the tapes onto a new blank (you could probably get a couple of stories on one side of a C60) and keep the originals as a safety copy (good practice in general, anyway) or simply get hold of another cassette player for your little one.
I gave my son one of those Fisher price type ones with the colourful keys. You may also find the 'My first sony' on ebay which kids are sure to love!
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Regards, Ben. |
2nd Dec 2018, 3:28 pm | #11 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,970
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
It's simply that the crude mech in the boombox and the crude cassette shells aren't working well together. The best solution would be to replace the shells (1970s TDK Ds are very good) but I appreciate that this is a significant job where so many tapes are involved.
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2nd Dec 2018, 6:38 pm | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Squeaky cassettes...but only in one machine
Thanks all,
I suspect that I will have to either abandon the tapes or player. It's a shame as the player and tapes were a birthday present and she's very attached to both. I'm surprised that such a cack deck has been used. It's not a top of the range machine but it is a Sony. It's been a good introduction to electronics for her, she enjoyed pulling the player to pieces yesterday and helping me take out and put back all the screws! Dubbing the tapes onto CD / mp3 or other cassettes is will be a bit of a chore....though some of the stores are worth a listen and there's a good selection of narrators! D |