Using antique recorder

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Findlay

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This may seem like a weird thread but I had so much fun today recording some of my tracks on to a 1960 battery 3.75 ips Grundig TK1. I used some Maxell UDXL I had wound on a 3 inch reel, It took me back to my first experience with tape when I was little. To watch the reels spinning round on this ancient machine, hear the motor humming (very loudly!) was quite something. And it didn't sound too bad!
 
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I think this is a great topic.

I have tons of great memories playing on my parent's Sony TC-630 when my brother and I were boys...it had 3 speeds and Sound-OnSound with a built in echo function so you could use it as a tape echo while recording and the 3 speeds have you three repeat rates, and the feedback was adjustable. We had a lot of fun. We used to pretend we were DJs and recorded entire radio shows including the news. And we wrote and recorded songs...drums and synth (MicroMoog).

I second the request for pics of your Grundig! :D
 


Thanks for the interest guys! I've posted a quick and dirty video here. Hope the link works - not done this before!
 
That's cool! Is it tube?

I almost pulled the trigger on something even more antique-y I saw at an antique market.
A webster wire recorder. It just looked so cool. I got home and checked some youtube videos and I really thought the lo-fi sound of it was really cool. I wish I went back and snagged it up.
This was the exact one.

maxresdefault.webp
 
sweetbeats said:
I think this is a great topic.

I have tons of great memories playing on my parent's Sony TC-630 when my brother and I were boys...it had 3 speeds and Sound-OnSound with a built in echo function so you could use it as a tape echo while recording and the 3 speeds have you three repeat rates, and the feedback was adjustable. We had a lot of fun. We used to pretend we were DJs and recorded entire radio shows including the news. And we wrote and recorded songs...drums and synth (MicroMoog).

I second the request for pics of your Grundig! :D
Click to expand...

Did you ever see my Sony TC 530 I got a while back? I really have fun with it, and it sounds pretty darn good. The only issue is that it seems to play back a bit fast. Songs are almost a half step sharp when I play them back. Super cool machine, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-y8p8eWkV0
 
j.harv said:
That's cool! Is it tube?

I almost pulled the trigger on something even more antique-y I saw at an antique market.
A webster wire recorder. It just looked so cool. I got home and checked some youtube videos and I really thought the lo-fi sound of it was really cool. I wish I went back and snagged it up.
This was the exact one.

View attachment 98570
Click to expand...

This Grundig TK1 was the first commercial transistor recorder, I believe, designed in 1959. I think it was a bit of a sensation at the time. It is only about 10 inches wide. It has one tube which acts as the "magic eye" record level meter. I think it is called a cold cathode tube as it comes on instantly. It is kind of cute to watch as it glows green. It uses 4 D cells for the motor and 2 C cells which, weirdly, are in series for the other cells to give 9V for the electronics.

I love that wire recorder - did you ever see the Jack Nicholson movie "The Two Jakes"? He uses one throughout. The sound from it in the film seems enough to fill a courtroom. How load is yours? Any chance of posting some clips? I guess you don't get much recording time on those spools.
 
famous beagle said:
Did you ever see my Sony TC 530 I got a while back? I really have fun with it, and it sounds pretty darn good. The only issue is that it seems to play back a bit fast. Songs are almost a half step sharp when I play them back. Super cool machine, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-y8p8eWkV0
Click to expand...

I missed that you had a TC-530! :thumbs up:

That's interesting about the speed. I recall in the TC-630 there are several rubber idler and drive wheels involved in transport functions...I think one of them has a thin edge. I know they all need rebuilt in mine. I wonder if one has shrunk or broken down in yours. It could, in theory, effect tape speed.
 
sweetbeats said:
I missed that you had a TC-530! :thumbs up:

That's interesting about the speed. I recall in the TC-630 there are several rubber idler and drive wheels involved in transport functions...I think one of them has a thin edge. I know they all need rebuilt in mine. I wonder if one has shrunk or broken down in yours. It could, in theory, effect tape speed.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll look into that. I did have mine opened up after I bought it, and I know I replaced the belts, but I didn't replace any other rubber.
 
Findlay said:
I love that wire recorder - did you ever see the Jack Nicholson movie "The Two Jakes"? He uses one throughout. The sound from it in the film seems enough to fill a courtroom. How load is yours? Any chance of posting some clips? I guess you don't get much recording time on those spools.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I didn't end up buying it. Kinda wish I did though.
 
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