This place is so great...
Ethan, thanks again...the "INVERT" setting is the one in which I was remiss...that makes perfect sense. Now I gotta try it.
ALSO: I measured the voltage differential of the series-pass transistors with the supply powering the capstan motor at 7.5ips, no other load...I don't recall what the voltage was (when measuring between the supply + output and the emitter of each transistor), but it was very small and the measurement was identical on both emitters.
Ready to rock.
The intermittent PLAY problem is still there (i.e. Matilda decides when she is ready to engage PLAY mode...I hit the PLAY button and sometimes it engages right away and other times I have to wait up to 15~20 seconds), though I've picked up on a couple more clues and I still have yet to study the schematics, but I've noticed that if the STOP button is not lit, the problem is present. The lamp in the STOP button doesn't tell you that you have pressed STOP, it tells you that the transport is actually static...the STOP lamp is linked to the motion sensor and if the transport is moving at all the relay logic considers the machine is not stopped..."STOP" truly means stopped. So identifying this clue will help because it gives my another pickup point to reference in the schematics.
The 1" headblock should be back from JRF this week.
OHHHHHHHKayyyyyyy...Brian, this is for you...
Last week I received a long-awaited package containing a complete 16-track wiring harness from a working 2" 16-track MM-1000 as well as some metalwork. This absolutely completes what is needed to convert my MM-1000 to 2" 16-track.
Here is what was inside...
Head cabling harnesses (LOTS of military spec connectors):
That second one is the one I'm REALLY interested in as that is the one that goes to channels 9~16...
The I/O panel for channels 9~16, and I'm totally jazzed because this one doesn't need to be rebuilt...I'm pretty sure now, after seeing this one, that my original panel for channels 1~8 was not a factory solder job as it was bad/sloppy, and this one I got for 9~16 is, in Ampex tradition, VERY nicely done. It'll need a little TLC but overall it is straight and relatively clean (cleaner than I expected) and 90% ready to mount up and plug in...and this one has the matching connectors...Ampex outfitted the MM-1000's with either Cannon or Switchcraft connectors and mine has the Cannon parts like this here panel assembly:
Annnnnd here's the big ol' freaky mass...this is all the power and mode control harnessing...the main part of the system harnessing...I've looked it over and it is all there and in pretty fine shape...a little cleaning and some minor attention and it'll be ready to go...the BONUS here is that I wasn't expecting to get the power switch panel (the one with the big "2" on it). This is nice because the early MM-1000's had a power switch panel that had nothing on it except the power switch...then Ampex added a separate 110V outlet and a connector to plug in a brake release foot switch. This is nice because the MM-1000 does not have an EDIT mode, so when you need to scrub or thread it is difficult to relase the brakes with one of the brake release arms (the "tension arms"), but with the foot switch you can release the brakes with your foot and have your hands free to manipulate the tape...cutting-edge technology, folks:
This is the backside of the power/remote connector panel that is a part of the above mass...the large mil-spec circular connector in the middle is a bit of a puzzle to me...The wiring presents it as a later custom add-on but the hole that it sits in looks factory. At any rate I believe this is an alternate remote interface:
These need a little TLC but they are Ampex-issue 2U blank panels...heavy-guage stuff. I just wanted 'em because the paint will match. These go at the bottom of the two rack bays in front, below the electronics for channels 9~16. They'll clean up pretty well though they will always exhibit some battle scars and I'm okay with that:
I'm very excited to have these...these are 6U rack ears to inset the power, remote and I/O panels so that the connectors can't get creamed against the wall when you carelessly get 700lbs moving in the wrong direction (which is why some of my panels needed straightening as they had been crunched...the early MM-1000's did not have these ears...) I wish I could describe how overbuilt these things are for what they do:
Even some vintage racking hardware...SWEET!
50lbs of old-smellin' electronical stuff!