Fidelity Playmaster Oddity - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

AndiiT · 10th Jan 2021, 7:53 pm

Hi, some years ago I began a thread about variants of the Fidelity Playmaster, whilst not the most salobrious of machines I do have a soft spot for them as they were my first introduction to reel to reel tape recorders (and tape recording) as a child and as a result several have passed through my hands over the years and I currently have four in my collection.

There are at least two variants of the two - track Playmaster, one with rotary controls and what I guess must be an earlier offering with edge type controls which is where my "oddity" begins.
The most recent Playmaster added to my collection is a two track machine with edge type controls, I noticed that the Tone On/Off control did not click and that the machine was permanently on, my initial thought was that someone may have bypassed the mains switch due to failure. Anyway upon opening up the machine to service the deck and replace a few of the usual suspect capacitors it was apparent that the mains switch had not been bypassed and on further inspection the control with the switch operating spigot attached was the volume control, the tone control/mains switch assembly having no such spigot present.

There is no obvious indication that the controls have been swapped at any point and I can't see how the control knobs could be removed and swapped either as they appear to be an integral part of the associated pot. My suspicion is that this was a manufacturing error and wondered if anyone else who has dealt with Playmaster models has seen this before or is my machine perhaps a "Friday afternoon special"?

Regards

Andrew

DMcMahon · 10th Jan 2021, 9:48 pm

Just supports your post Andrew, the layout diagram for the Playmaster (from the Vintage Radio DVD data) shows the on/off switch on the tone control. Very strange your one is on the volume control ?

David

AndiiT · 10th Jan 2021, 10:35 pm

Hi, the mains switch isn’t on the volume control however the spigot that operates it is on the volume control knob and not on the tone one, the mains switch itself is co sited with the tone control. As mentioned I can’t see any way that this could have occurred other than a manufacturing error.

Andrew

DMcMahon · 11th Jan 2021, 12:43 am

OK now fully understand.

If the relevant parts cannot be practically removed/swapped over then as you say maybe a manufacturing/build error.

David

DMcMahon · 11th Jan 2021, 10:30 am

Andrew, I have original Playmaster-2 and Playmaster-4 Operating Instructions manuals (not in the best of condition).

If they would be of any interest to you I will stick them in the post to you (FOC).

David

DMcMahon · 11th Jan 2021, 10:12 pm

Manuals to be posted to Andrew tomorrow.

10th Jan 2021, 7:53 pm	#1
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Fidelity Playmaster Oddity Hi, some years ago I began a thread about variants of the Fidelity Playmaster, whilst not the most salobrious of machines I do have a soft spot for them as they were my first introduction to reel to reel tape recorders (and tape recording) as a child and as a result several have passed through my hands over the years and I currently have four in my collection. There are at least two variants of the two - track Playmaster, one with rotary controls and what I guess must be an earlier offering with edge type controls which is where my "oddity" begins. The most recent Playmaster added to my collection is a two track machine with edge type controls, I noticed that the Tone On/Off control did not click and that the machine was permanently on, my initial thought was that someone may have bypassed the mains switch due to failure. Anyway upon opening up the machine to service the deck and replace a few of the usual suspect capacitors it was apparent that the mains switch had not been bypassed and on further inspection the control with the switch operating spigot attached was the volume control, the tone control/mains switch assembly having no such spigot present. There is no obvious indication that the controls have been swapped at any point and I can't see how the control knobs could be removed and swapped either as they appear to be an integral part of the associated pot. My suspicion is that this was a manufacturing error and wondered if anyone else who has dealt with Playmaster models has seen this before or is my machine perhaps a "Friday afternoon special"? Regards Andrew

10th Jan 2021, 9:48 pm	#2
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Fidelity Playmaster Oddity Just supports your post Andrew, the layout diagram for the Playmaster (from the Vintage Radio DVD data) shows the on/off switch on the tone control. Very strange your one is on the volume control ? David

10th Jan 2021, 10:35 pm	#3
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Fidelity Playmaster Oddity Hi, the mains switch isn’t on the volume control however the spigot that operates it is on the volume control knob and not on the tone one, the mains switch itself is co sited with the tone control. As mentioned I can’t see any way that this could have occurred other than a manufacturing error. Andrew

11th Jan 2021, 12:43 am	#4
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Fidelity Playmaster Oddity OK now fully understand. If the relevant parts cannot be practically removed/swapped over then as you say maybe a manufacturing/build error. David

11th Jan 2021, 10:30 am	#5
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Fidelity Playmaster Oddity Andrew, I have original Playmaster-2 and Playmaster-4 Operating Instructions manuals (not in the best of condition). If they would be of any interest to you I will stick them in the post to you (FOC). David

11th Jan 2021, 10:12 pm	#6
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Fidelity Playmaster Oddity Manuals to be posted to Andrew tomorrow.