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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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Old 9th Sep 2021, 1:45 pm   #1
Trdm0039
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Default Philips Tape Recorder.

I have a Phillips Reel to Reel tape recorder of 1962 vintage. It’s EL 3459 15/A model. All belts have perished and rubber dolly/drive wheels are sticky and gloopy. This is sentimental as family recordings are on the tape. It was working fine when I stored it away some 25 years ago. I have the microphone that came with it plus it still has the original old wiring and three pin plug. Can someone suggest where I can get spare parts (Nothing on EBay) or get a repair carried out. I am in Milton Keynes

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Old 9th Sep 2021, 1:50 pm   #2
ms660
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Default Re: Tape recorder

Philips EL3549.

?

Lawrence.
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 1:56 pm   #3
TIMTAPE
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Default Re: Tape recorder

When working well, these were or are quite a nice domestic machine. An early transistorised model from memory. Very flexible with the four speeds and four tracks. There could be a lot of recorded time on your tapes!

I spent a lot of time repairing one of these for a customer a while ago. I seem to recall much mechanical repair work plus work on the preamplifier as the sound was weak and noisy.

Others will be along I'm sure with more advice.
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 2:01 pm   #4
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Default Re: Tape recorder

Yes EL3459. Thanks for the replies. I hope someone can help.
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 3:23 pm   #5
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Default Re: Tape recorder

Only yesterday was looking to find out what the Philips machine was for the cloned Stella ST459 and found it to be the EL3549, also the other clone of the Philips machine is the Cossor 1605.

Drive belts should not be a problem from online sellers, but drive/idler wheels much more difficult.

David
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 3:26 pm   #6
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Default Re: Tape recorder

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trdm0039 View Post
Can someone suggest where I can get a repair carried out.
Worth Posting here

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...play.php?f=145

David
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 4:28 pm   #7
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Default Re: Philips Tape Recorder.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
Philips EL3549.

?

Lawrence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trdm0039 View Post
Yes EL3459. Thanks for the replies. I hope someone can help.
Confusion reigns!
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Old 9th Sep 2021, 5:36 pm   #8
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Default Re: Tape recorder

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trdm0039 View Post
Yes EL3459. Thanks for the replies. I hope someone can help.
You need to carefully check the model number the guys all think it's likely an EL3549 not an EL3459 as you have suggested perhaps a picture of the model plate will clear things up

If you have the model number wrong that maybe why you can't find belts.

Cheers

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Old 14th Sep 2021, 11:47 pm   #9
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Default Re: Philips Tape Recorder.

Most certainly EL3549; all tape recorders carrying the EL prefix had type numbers starting with '35' (and there doesn't seem to have been an EL3559 (radiomuseum.org doesn't list one, and a google search brings up a single worthpoint.com link which is probably a typo, and the machine in the associated picture looks later than 1962)).
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Old 15th Sep 2021, 12:51 am   #10
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Default Re: Tape recorder

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Originally Posted by DMcMahon View Post
Only yesterday was looking to find out what the Philips machine was for the cloned Stella ST459 and found it to be the EL3549, also the other clone of the Philips machine is the Cossor 1605.

David
Should have said in this case clone does not mean identical, it generally means that the guts of the chassis will be virtually the same but with some differences to the case and some of the external fittings.

David
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Old 15th Sep 2021, 10:20 pm   #11
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Default Re: Philips Tape Recorder.

I’m guessing you want to get this machine going just to play the tape of your family recordings? Another option is just to get the tape digitised. I am happy to do this for you and convert it to whatever format is best, if this is useful.
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