Unknown tape recorder - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

filmprojectors · 18th Jun 2016, 4:42 pm

Hi I picked up this old scrap reel to reel recorder for parts and cant find a makers name or model number any ideas anybody ?

Tractorfan · 18th Jun 2016, 4:45 pm

Hi,
It looks like a very early Brenell to me, but don't quote me on it.
Cheers, Pete.

Ted Kendall · 18th Jun 2016, 6:39 pm

Emi tr51.

Nicklyons2 · 18th Jun 2016, 8:29 pm

Is that VU meter original? it looks a bit modern compared to the rest of the machine. Also is the deck a Wearite or an EMI 'in house' clone of one?

dseymo1 · 18th Jun 2016, 8:50 pm

The deck is EMI through-and-through, and quite unlike Wearite internally.
I've never seen one with that style of meter, it's almost certainly a replacement.
These machines are capable of very high quality when well set up.
Watch out for flutter resulting from hardening of the flexible coupling in the capstan drive.
Also be aware that they use reverse-wrap on the takeup spool.
If you're thinking of restoring it, I think I *might* have a replacement bolt-through transport knob somewhere; a standard one won't do, as the mechanism is very heavy.

lesmw0sec · 19th Jun 2016, 9:34 am

Oh, what a sad state it is in! Hours of fun getting it back to good nick though. I presume that the TR90 was a rather later derivative?

Radio Wrangler · 19th Jun 2016, 10:24 am

Before you put a load of effort into it, take a good look at the heads. If they're not the format you want, or they are badly worn, then it may simply not be worth proceeding unless you want a non-worker for a display case in a museum.

David

Ted Kendall · 19th Jun 2016, 11:54 am

By the look of the erase head, it's full track mono. The TR90 is a different beast altogether, conceived as a replacement for the BTR2. The TR50/51/52 used the same deck as EMI's domestic machines and, frankly, were not EMI's best products. The TR51 was known in one studio as the "TR fifty-Waaaahhhhn!" on account of the flutter it would generate at the drop of a hat.

18th Jun 2016, 4:42 pm	#1
filmprojectors Triode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK. Posts: 20	Unknown tape recorder Hi I picked up this old scrap reel to reel recorder for parts and cant find a makers name or model number any ideas anybody ? Attached Thumbnails

18th Jun 2016, 4:45 pm	#2
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Uknown tape recorder Hi, It looks like a very early Brenell to me, but don't quote me on it. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

18th Jun 2016, 6:39 pm	#3
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: Unknown tape recorder Emi tr51.

18th Jun 2016, 8:29 pm	#4
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: Unknown tape recorder Is that VU meter original? it looks a bit modern compared to the rest of the machine. Also is the deck a Wearite or an EMI 'in house' clone of one?

18th Jun 2016, 8:50 pm	#5
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Unknown tape recorder The deck is EMI through-and-through, and quite unlike Wearite internally. I've never seen one with that style of meter, it's almost certainly a replacement. These machines are capable of very high quality when well set up. Watch out for flutter resulting from hardening of the flexible coupling in the capstan drive. Also be aware that they use reverse-wrap on the takeup spool. If you're thinking of restoring it, I think I might have a replacement bolt-through transport knob somewhere; a standard one won't do, as the mechanism is very heavy.

19th Jun 2016, 9:34 am	#6
lesmw0sec Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK. Posts: 1,509	Re: Unknown tape recorder Oh, what a sad state it is in! Hours of fun getting it back to good nick though. I presume that the TR90 was a rather later derivative?

19th Jun 2016, 10:24 am	#7
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,902	Re: Unknown tape recorder Before you put a load of effort into it, take a good look at the heads. If they're not the format you want, or they are badly worn, then it may simply not be worth proceeding unless you want a non-worker for a display case in a museum. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

19th Jun 2016, 11:54 am	#8
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: Unknown tape recorder By the look of the erase head, it's full track mono. The TR90 is a different beast altogether, conceived as a replacement for the BTR2. The TR50/51/52 used the same deck as EMI's domestic machines and, frankly, were not EMI's best products. The TR51 was known in one studio as the "TR fifty-Waaaahhhhn!" on account of the flutter it would generate at the drop of a hat.