T
technoplayer
Recovering Gear-aholic
Long story short: saw a newly posted local Craigslist for an Ampex 440C
Half inch 4 track. $350. Guy is moving out of town the next day (red flag # 1) and last minute decides he doesnt want to haul it across the country. He claims low usage. (red flag #2) So I go to the storage unit its in (red flag #3).
Yeah, its a complete and original 440c half inch 4 track in the Ampex cart with a remote. It is also the filthiest, nastiest machine I have ever laid eyes on. I see corrosion, oxidation, dirt, bug parts, cobwebs .....just not pretty. Covers are missing on the electronics modules. The inside of the belly pan from under the transport looks like it had water sitting in it at one time. (fortunately, it was separate from the machine).
Powered it up and FF and REW work very quite, the electronics seems to come to life, but no capstan movement. Ok, so I have a spare capstan motor so thats not a problem. $350 is a problem.
So why didnt I walk away??
>> Half track heads with intact ruby guides look NICE. Maybe low hours??
>> The capstan motor is a SERVO unit. Worth the effort to troubleshoot!!
>> All of the schadow switches on the modules work. I have rarely seen a 440C where at least one was not broken. Picky item, but again may point to low actual usage
>> Opened up each electronics module and they look clean
>> Had the remote.
>> Ampex floor cart....dirty dirty dirty but still has the (nasty nasty) belly pan that most are missing. No damage and nothing a clean and paint wouldnt fix
Now... low hours does not make up for barn-find condition, but I do have the parts and etc. to restore it. So, heres a machine I do not need and a project I do not have time for.
Took it home for $150. If its a toad I can keep the parts I want and get back my investment from the rest.
No pics yet...it is the first piece of gear I have ever bought that I will not take into the house. Its that nasty. Its in pieces all over my garage shop.
So maybe ok?? If I pull this off I will feel like I have brought the dead back to life
Half inch 4 track. $350. Guy is moving out of town the next day (red flag # 1) and last minute decides he doesnt want to haul it across the country. He claims low usage. (red flag #2) So I go to the storage unit its in (red flag #3).
Yeah, its a complete and original 440c half inch 4 track in the Ampex cart with a remote. It is also the filthiest, nastiest machine I have ever laid eyes on. I see corrosion, oxidation, dirt, bug parts, cobwebs .....just not pretty. Covers are missing on the electronics modules. The inside of the belly pan from under the transport looks like it had water sitting in it at one time. (fortunately, it was separate from the machine).
Powered it up and FF and REW work very quite, the electronics seems to come to life, but no capstan movement. Ok, so I have a spare capstan motor so thats not a problem. $350 is a problem.
So why didnt I walk away??
>> Half track heads with intact ruby guides look NICE. Maybe low hours??
>> The capstan motor is a SERVO unit. Worth the effort to troubleshoot!!
>> All of the schadow switches on the modules work. I have rarely seen a 440C where at least one was not broken. Picky item, but again may point to low actual usage
>> Opened up each electronics module and they look clean
>> Had the remote.
>> Ampex floor cart....dirty dirty dirty but still has the (nasty nasty) belly pan that most are missing. No damage and nothing a clean and paint wouldnt fix
Now... low hours does not make up for barn-find condition, but I do have the parts and etc. to restore it. So, heres a machine I do not need and a project I do not have time for.
Took it home for $150. If its a toad I can keep the parts I want and get back my investment from the rest.
No pics yet...it is the first piece of gear I have ever bought that I will not take into the house. Its that nasty. Its in pieces all over my garage shop.
So maybe ok?? If I pull this off I will feel like I have brought the dead back to life