MCI JH 110 Transport/ 4 Track?

[jortiz]

I just received a MCI JH 110 transport I got on eBay. I had seen it and thought for the price ($40) I could get it for parts. As some of you know I have a JH 110 I got a while ago. It wasn't the whole machine, just the transport. Like the hubs, and wiring harness, cables, etc. I was really thinking wiring harness. Anyways, This is an early A version (nameplate says built in 77') It has a headstack cover which I've never seen before. When I started to pull out the wiring harness I noticed it had wires for 4 separate channels. It was listed as a 2 track. I then took a look at the headstack. The heads seem to be in good condition. Maybe just as good as the ones I had? (Of course not as good now since Ethan relapped them and did a wonderful job!!!!!!) Am I right to assume that this is a 4 track? The headstack Or is my ignorance showing? I haven't powered it up or anything. This transport does have the red sockets. Wasn't concerned about that though. Like I said, I just wanted the wiring harness, the hubs, etc. Here are some pictures.

Any ideas of what I have here? I also have another MCI preamp coming soon in case I can use it.

Best regards,

John

 

[Muckelroy]

40 bucks? Nice find!!

The headstack is definitely 2-track. However it looks like the transport can accommodate a 4-track headstack, given that exactly half of the pins are open and unused on the back of the headstack.

I don't know a whole lot about the difference between the early models and the later Sony models. I played around with a Sony-era JH-110 once,. It only had a 2-track 1/4" headstack, but the manual stated that it was upgradeable to 8 tracks, provided that the electronics rack was installed above the machine. My guess is that there are significant differences between the Sony-era one and the MCI-era ones, which may include the headstack and wiring harness, especially if this transport only accommodates 4 tracks, whereas the transport of the Sony-era ones can accommodate 8 tracks, with double the pin-outs behind the headstack. May or may not be an issue for you. Someone else who owns these can probably say more than me.

 

[jortiz]

40 bucks? Nice find!!

The headstack is definitely 2-track. However it looks like the transport can accommodate a 4-track headstack, given that exactly half of the pins are open and unused on the back of the headstack.

I don't know a whole lot about the difference between the early models and the later Sony models. I played around with a Sony-era JH-110 once,. It only had a 2-track 1/4" headstack, but the manual stated that it was upgradeable to 8 tracks, provided that the electronics rack was installed above the machine. My guess is that there are significant differences between the Sony-era one and the MCI-era ones, which may include the headstack and wiring harness, especially if this transport only accommodates 4 tracks, whereas the transport of the Sony-era ones can accommodate 8 tracks, with double the pin-outs behind the headstack. May or may not be an issue for you. Someone else who owns these can probably say more than me.

Mukelroy,

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it. I really thought the it was a 2 track headstack...just got me thinking. I'm wondering if I should power it up with my power supply and see what happens or just dismantle it and take all the parts I need, like the buttons, knobs, screws etc? I guess that was my original intention anyways. Thanks again.

Best regards,

John

 

[technoplayer]

I try and power it up....that might tell you which outher components (motors etc) are working.

 

[jortiz]

Okay........just quickly powered it up. Nothing came on as far as lights and all. Didn't think it would. But I did it very quickly as I was scared of a fire or something I didn't try putting a paper in the sensor and see if the spindles would move. I'm sure I'm going to have to clean it with Deoxit and stuff. I'm going to try it again after I completely clean it. There is some IC's missing or broken off also. Some pins are bent and kind of dirty. But like I said I'm not too concerned as I wanted it for the parts. I got the hubs, wiring harness, cables, headstack, etc, even some screws that I need to replace on the other one I have among other things. I have another whole set of the electronics board with the rails and stuff coming also.

Has me thinking about the 4 track, but that is a passing thought. I would have to get another headstack, etc. I really wanted a 2 track mastering deck and I have that already.


Anyways......

 

[rotoman]

hub adapters

Hi

would you want to sell your hub adapters if you are going to use this deck for parts?

Tony

 

[TC Custom Audio]

...My guess is that there are significant differences between the Sony-era one and the MCI-era ones, which may include the headstack and wiring harness, especially if this transport only accommodates 4 tracks, whereas the transport of the Sony-era ones can accommodate 8 tracks, with double the pin-outs behind the headstack. May or may not be an issue for you. Someone else who owns these can probably say more than me.

This is a bit off the mark. All Sony badged JH-110's are JH-110 C's, and are identical to MCI badged JH-110 C's.

All generations of the JH-110 (A, B and C) were available in the mono, 2-track, 4-track and 8-track configurations.

As for the pinout of the edge connector on the 8-track headstack, I am not sure how this differs from the pinout of the 4-track, 2-track and mono headstacks. But, this has nothing to do with Sony's purchase of MCI. Pictured above is a JH-11A, as the OP noted. And, indeed, the JH-110A was available in an 8-track configuration.

Here’s a picture of one:

 

[sweetbeats]

Yeah, John, I was going to say that the 'A' versions differ quite a bit from the 'C'/Sony JH machines.

Definitely 2-track, convertible to 4-track

My advice after chasing after parts units that "got me thinking" after I got them and started seeing only the good things...keep it as intended. Part it out. Don't start the collection of half-working machines. Its a b***h to dig yourself out and not only that, but with missing IC's, bent pins, broken this and that I would NOT be hooking up my good PSU to that unit.

My 2p.

 

[briank]

Yeah, John, I was going to say that the 'A' versions differ quite a bit from the 'C'/Sony JH machines.

Definitely 2-track, convertible to 4-track

My advice after chasing after parts units that "got me thinking" after I got them and started seeing only the good things...keep it as intended. Part it out. Don't start the collection of half-working machines. Its a b***h to dig yourself out and not only that, but with missing IC's, bent pins, broken this and that I would NOT be hooking up my good PSU to that unit.

My 2p.

Yeah, especially when most of the ICs are off the shelf, cheap from Mouser, especially in the audio drawers. There are a few out of production ICs on the transport, but otherwise lots of easily replaced UA741s, TL081s/7xs and whathaveyou.

 

[cjmnash]

if it's a '77 then it's an A, and it may have a power supply that differs from some of the later As ('78/'79s)...so don't swap electronics or the power supply from this deck with your other one unless you confirm they're the same vintage.

regarding the 4 track head harness, about half of the two track machines were pre-wired for 4 track, thus the extra cables.

rock.

chris mara
www.nobraineraudio.com
www.welcometo1979.com

 

[ndiamone]

Hi, all.

The transfer and restoration museum I work weekends at just inherited an MCI JH 110.
110-what they didn't say, but if anybody has sources for the following it would help us out a lot.

As we are an archive however and considered ``noncommercial'' we don't have huge amounts of cash laying around to buy parts. The other engineers and I are all volunteering our time to keep the other decks we have for the other formats working properly (which is why we work weekends at the archives - that and working on cars in our garages is greasy and dirty, plus we're looking to get away from the wives on the weekend just as much as the next guy.) But not being Rich Engineers, we don't have the kind of cash out of our own pockets to be buying parts either, so maybe you guys can pool together and help them over at the archive without having to spend a mint.

So the list of parts we need is:

4-track ERP plus 3-track secondary playback head for quarter-inch
Same for half-inch
8-track ERP plus 4-track play for one-inch
Guides and rollers for half-inch and one-inch
Six more amps (we have two) plus the extra rails for mounting extra amps
4-track and 8-track harnesses
Six more in-and-out Canon (XLR) connector panel (it's set up for 2-track now)
8-track pin connectors (if it doesn't have them already - got to look again)
The standalone remote control unit
Other unmentioned accessories we don't know about.

Yes the other engineers and I are researching the unit as well since we will need the knowledge to
put it all back together since Batteries Not Included and we are all children over eight years old.

Til we get home to the wives after the studio work that is. Just ask `em.