UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players

Notices

Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 21st Dec 2017, 7:33 pm   #1
defender
Pentode
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 192
Default New tape recorder Tandberg

Oh no, they're multiplying now I've got 4
This old, dog-eared Tandberg 12-41 came from a charity shop and I've listened to the tape and it used to belong to a amateur G4HMU, its got a recording of him putting a call out on 80m.
It's diferent to the others I've got as it starts from a stop when u press play so I hear it speed up till it gets to the right speed, I think it's supposed to do that. It worked eventually after a tinker about with and sounds good.
My guess is about 1966 it's the only one I've got with bass and treble.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20171221_181517.jpg
Views:	328
Size:	73.9 KB
ID:	154333  
defender is offline  
Old 21st Dec 2017, 9:13 pm   #2
dave walsh
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Tandberg were quite "high end" and expensive on the domestic market in the mid sixties. You could get better value, and more tape "mileage" it terms of a 4 track home grown machine for a lot less cash. My friend's dad had a brand new Radiogram, in the new Scandanavian style, that he let us use to play our Beatle records etc. It came from a rather posh Hi Fi Dealer who had fitted it with a matching Tandberg recorder. It was foreign and exotic by comparison but I was never wild about the joystick mechanism. The professional recorders [that I couldn't have afforded either] didn't have joysticks.
It was just a cost issue though really as the sound quality of those decks was generally very good. A nice find!

Dave W
dave walsh is offline  
Old 21st Dec 2017, 10:13 pm   #3
Ted Kendall
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,657
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

The Tandberg was up there with Revox and Ferrograph in terms of straight-line performance. Tandberg were well aware of the starting wow, hence the instruction to use the pause control for starting and stopping once the joystick is engaged. Once the mechanism is up to speed, the wow and flutter performance is very good.
Ted Kendall is online now  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 1:26 pm   #4
Tom_I
Heptode
 
Tom_I's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: North Herts. UK.
Posts: 549
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Here's an ad for what looks to be the same machine, from Hi-Fi News, June 1966.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Tandberg_12.jpg
Views:	435
Size:	116.9 KB
ID:	154366  
Tom_I is offline  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 4:17 pm   #5
Ted Kendall
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,657
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Note that "totally transistorised" - well, it wasn't quite - Tandberg retained the EAM86s for their superior dynamic qualities until marketing forces squeezed them out. Pseudo-VUs arrived on the 12X, 15 and 3000/4000/6000 generation, around 1970.
Ted Kendall is online now  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 7:42 pm   #6
Michael Maurice
Moderator
 
Michael Maurice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wembley, Middlesex
Posts: 7,219
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Kendall View Post
Tandberg retained the EAM86s for their superior dynamic qualities.
How can a 'magic eye' have superior dynamic qualities?
__________________
Forum Moderator

http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/
Michael Maurice is offline  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 8:34 pm   #7
ms660
Dekatron
 
ms660's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Instantaneous (as good as) No meter ballistics, and a steep slope.

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/eam86.pdf

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/em84.pdf

Lawrence.

Last edited by ms660; 22nd Dec 2017 at 8:49 pm.
ms660 is offline  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 8:39 pm   #8
dave walsh
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

That model might have been a bit later than the one I mentioned then which would have been all valves-probaly 1964. I should have said that I do have one [later] Tandberg, a 3300X [it came to me a few years ago via an exchange deal with a repair guy in Bexhill]. I'm very happy with its performance in playing back archived tapes and the Joystick is very positive in operation!

Dave

Last edited by dave walsh; 22nd Dec 2017 at 8:44 pm.
dave walsh is offline  
Old 22nd Dec 2017, 10:14 pm   #9
julie_m
Dekatron
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

I suppose technically the EAM86s were just being used as CRT indicators, not valves in the main signal path ..... so the machine was fully-transistorised from the audio signal's point of view .....
__________________
If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.
julie_m is offline  
Old 23rd Dec 2017, 12:45 pm   #10
Ted Kendall
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,657
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

My point was exactly that a magic eye is an excellent peak indicator - because there is no mass involved, you can define the characteristic as you wish - fast attack and slow decay, for instance, rather like a PPM. Undoubtedly it was an asset in exploiting the dynamic range of the available tapes, which is why Tandberg took the trouble to provide an HT supply in an otherwise fully semiconductor unit. Trouble was, by 1970 it was perceived as old-fashioned, so they fell into line with rest of the market in fitting nondescript meters. Peak LEDs were some way off at this time - the Revox A700 had peak lights in 1974, and some cassette machines at around the same time, but it still wasn't as elegant a tool as the magic eye...

Last edited by Ted Kendall; 23rd Dec 2017 at 12:53 pm.
Ted Kendall is online now  
Old 23rd Dec 2017, 1:25 pm   #11
defender
Pentode
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 192
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom_I View Post
Here's an ad for what looks to be the same machine, from Hi-Fi News, June 1966.
I was only a month old then
defender is offline  
Old 23rd Dec 2017, 1:34 pm   #12
defender
Pentode
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 192
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Kendall View Post
Note that "totally transistorised" - well, it wasn't quite - Tandberg retained the EAM86s for their superior dynamic qualities until marketing forces squeezed them out. Pseudo-VUs arrived on the 12X, 15 and 3000/4000/6000 generation, around 1970.
I had it down as a valve deck when I saw the magic eyes and was surprised when I saw transistors
defender is offline  
Old 24th Dec 2017, 11:40 am   #13
Michael Maurice
Moderator
 
Michael Maurice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wembley, Middlesex
Posts: 7,219
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Kendall View Post
My point was exactly that a magic eye is an excellent peak indicator - because there is no mass involved, you can define the characteristic as you wish - fast attack and slow decay, for instance, rather like a PPM. Undoubtedly it was an asset in exploiting the dynamic range of the available tapes, which is why Tandberg took the trouble to provide an HT supply in an otherwise fully semiconductor unit. Trouble was, by 1970 it was perceived as old-fashioned, so they fell into line with rest of the market in fitting nondescript meters. Peak LEDs were some way off at this time - the Revox A700 had peak lights in 1974, and some cassette machines at around the same time, but it still wasn't as elegant a tool as the magic eye...
Then they brought in the fluorescent type VU meters, some were using LED meters, but there is something quite nice about the magic eye. I personally find it quite pleasant on the eye (no pun intended) especially the older EM34, EM80/81 etc
__________________
Forum Moderator

http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/
Michael Maurice is offline  
Old 24th Dec 2017, 11:52 am   #14
Ted Kendall
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,657
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by dave walsh View Post
That model might have been a bit later than the one I mentioned then which would have been all valves-probaly 1964.
If it was stereo, that would have been a Series 6 or 7 - the 6 was a three-head unit without power amplifiers, and the 7 was two-head with power amplifiers.
The corresponding mono units were the 8 and 9 - the 9 having three speeds and a better all-round spec than the 8, which was a two-speed lower-cost model.
Ted Kendall is online now  
Old 25th Dec 2017, 11:51 pm   #15
ricard
Octode
 
ricard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by defender View Post
It's diferent to the others I've got as it starts from a stop when u press play so I hear it speed up till it gets to the right speed, I think it's supposed to do that.
It worked eventually after a tinker about with and sounds good.
My guess is about 1966 it's the only one I've got with bass and treble.
The slightly odd thing with the bass and treble controls is that the treble is a treble cut only, and the bass is a bass boost only control. The later 1200X rectified this by having conventional bass and treble controls with both cut and boost.

When they were new I think they started fairly quickly, but as the idler hardens with age the reduced friction cause them to speed up slower. But yes, it's true, the flywheel is stopped in stop mode, and is only driven in play.

As for the HT supply for the indicator valves, I think they actually use the same 165V winding on the transformer as is used for the motor, so it's only the rectifier bridge and smoothing capacitors which are needed for the valve supply.

The 12 is my favorite Tandberg model. It strikes a good balance between the old and new generations of machines. This particular model is plagued with record/playback switch problems however, which lead to scratchy and noisy contacts, a problem which I believe is due to DC being passed by the contacts, with the consequent electrolysis causing oxide buildup. They rectified this after serial number 2209550 by a slight circuit redesign, after which the switches cause very little problems.
ricard is offline  
Old 26th Dec 2017, 2:17 pm   #16
defender
Pentode
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 192
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

I thought the tone controls were strange, and yes the 2 3 way switches at the front are very scratchy and nasty, something I hope Servisol will cure.
defender is offline  
Old 26th Dec 2017, 3:17 pm   #17
dave walsh
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Based on Ted's info [post 14] the RG must have been fitted with a series 6.
I think the sophistication of the three heads had been emphasised and the Tandberg WAS built in, ie separate but not easily removed from the cabinet. I'm sure it played back and recorded through the Gram which was STEREO. We tried it out using Beatles For Sale and the 1812 Overture [his Dad's favourite] nearly blowing out the French windows in the process. He was a University Lecturer and could afford the experience. Seasonally, this was XMAS as well, probaly 1963 or 4!

Later, I recall this generous chap coming to look at my Eddystone 358x which was a bit deaf. He by-passed the RF coils with the aerial lead attached to the V1 grid and things burst into life. Happy days!

Dave
dave walsh is offline  
Old 26th Dec 2017, 9:32 pm   #18
ricard
Octode
 
ricard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

Quote:
Originally Posted by defender View Post
I thought the tone controls were strange, and yes the 2 3 way switches at the front are very scratchy and nasty, something I hope Servisol will cure.
Sounds like its one of the low serial number machines. I've never used Servisol (simply because it's not available in the country where I live), but my experience has been that just applying contact cleaner to the the switches is not enough; they need to be dismantled and thoroughly cleaned with a combination of a good cleaning agent (I use Kontakt-60), using a rag or Q-tips to apply some pressure, and some polishing agent such as Autosol to get rid of the oxide, followed by something with long term preservation properties (I use Teslanol t6).

It's a bit finicky but not undoable. I'm not sure how long the treatment will last though.
ricard is offline  
Old 27th Dec 2017, 9:16 am   #19
saxmaniac
Heptode
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 615
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

I cleaned switches up this way too. Stripping was the only way but once done it has lasted 5 years so far with no problems
saxmaniac is offline  
Old 27th Dec 2017, 8:49 pm   #20
ricard
Octode
 
ricard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
Default Re: New tape recorder Tandberg

That sounds reassuring. I've had a couple of model 12's over the years, but the only one I've got now is one of the late serial number versions which has never required cleaning, so I've never known how long the earlier versions last after refurbishment.
ricard is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 3:33 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.