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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 15th Oct 2018, 9:42 am   #1
Gridiron
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Default Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

I bought this at the last Harpenden cheaply at the end of the day for the motors (removed) and would be interested to know if anyone has information about it. Were there any articles published about making a deck like this? The antique looking heads were made by Lane, who were they?
Regards, Mike.
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 9:51 am   #2
ms660
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

There's a photo of one in this thread:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=26224

Lawrence.
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 9:56 am   #3
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

Lane was a Brighton based radio shop, and early pioneers of tape-deck kits; they were a well respected make. 'Everyone' made and wound their own heads in those days, but Lane went one step further and made their own motor. There is a familial, but no business, relationship with Verdik. They ceased trading in 1959.

Barry
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 10:07 am   #4
Gridiron
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

Thanks for the link, Lawrence, this was the deck, so it was commercially made, very unusual to use chipboard, I suppose it made a heavy non-resonant base.
Mike.
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 1:55 pm   #5
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

I suppose getting the deck plates made up by a local chippy saved on tooling costs.
The heads look quite sturdy.
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 3:08 pm   #6
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

The Bradmatic used Paxolin...
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 4:55 pm   #7
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

ISTR that type of Formica-type 1950s laminate used on the Lane deck was known as 'Wearite' - thoroughly confusing in the tape deck world!

Martin
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 8:36 pm   #8
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

I read somewhere that this was called the Lane Tape Table because someone had copyrighted the term tape deck, although it is commonly used today?
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Old 15th Oct 2018, 10:38 pm   #9
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

I think Wearite claimed to have invented the term.
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Old 16th Oct 2018, 7:02 am   #10
brenellic2000
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Default Re: Remains of home made tape deck from Harpenden

The Lane Mk.5 first used Formica clad chipboard; earlier decks were metal. They had a small, but well equipped workshop - its surprising what one can do with a minimum of tools. Theirs and the other 100 odd British company histories are told in my 'Guide to British taperecorders'.

'Tape deck' was indeed registered by Wright and Weaire as a trade mark but lapsed after Truvox challenged the usage and W&W failed to defend their exclusive right in law.

Other terms popularly used were 'tape table' and 'tape plate'. 'Plate' is generally regarded as 'sheet' of over 1/8" thickness.
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