Reel to reel ID please.

[FIXITNOW]

Always nice to get home and find a neighbour has left you a present on the doorstep

can any one ID the tape deck nothing on the outside

[Nickthedentist]

Deck looks like a Thorn to me.

[Andrew2]

The deck is definitely a 60's Thorn unit (from a Ferguson), but it looks like it has been given a new case!

[ben]

Nick's correct, thorn DB21 deck ( single speed, half track mono).
It's missing a hardboard cover at the rear but should be easy to make something suitable.

As to the brand, case looks a bit like a Ultra but could also be Marconi, Ferguson, Ultra or HMV!

Wonder what's on the tape?

[FIXITNOW]

cheers folks spot-on ,the deck manual is on our forum DVD2 with a picture, just printing it now

[peter_sol]

It is a Ferguson.

[DMcMahon]

Similar but not the same to this 3206, as has already been said the case is different as well.

David

[dazzlevision]

Note that, the first Thorn group (designed in-house) tape decks were the FTD2 and FTD4, which are very similar, but not quite the same, as the later DB21 and DB42. Your model might have an FTD2 deck fitted.

[Nickthedentist]

Did Thorn make these decks for other manufacturers, like BSR did?

Or will the electronics definitely be Thorn too?

[FIXITNOW]

the FTD3 and 4 are on DVD2 but sadly not the FTD2 ,i will try to find some time to drop it out of out case and do a few pictures

[dazzlevision]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Did Thorn make these decks for other manufacturers, like BSR did?

Or will the electronics definitely be Thorn too?

Thorn DC43 (3 speed, 4 track) tape decks were used in my secondary school’s Aveley-Cybervox (late 60s) language laboratory and in a Goodsell “schools type” tape recorder - sturdily housed, as per Clarke & Smith products.

From the look of the rear metalwork, I expect the electronics will be Thorn. The rear metal panel in your machine has three holes punched out for other fittings, the largest of which housed a multipole connector in a version used for sleep learning (IIRC), made by Thorn’s special products division.

Interesting that there is no branding on your machine.

[ben]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Did Thorn make these decks for other manufacturers, like BSR did?

Or will the electronics definitely be Thorn too?

The vast majority of these decks were fitted to Thorn suitcase type recorders, complete with valve circuitry.

However, I have seen them used by others in Europe. There is a thread here somewhere when I posted some German variants, some of which even used moving coil VU meters. I also saw one deck fitted to a kind of AV /slide projecter controller/ recorder.

[FIXITNOW]

internal pictures etc

pcb is marked M26443 tx marked Y8D-3007 tape chassis stamped 194693

found the plug in mic hidden inside marked SAMEX

[dazzlevision]

From what I can see, the electronics is standard for the UK market.

I'd have to check in the relevant service manuals to confirm whether the deck is an FTD2 or DB21.