Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2019 22:19:31 GMT
Accompanied the XYL last weekend to some estate sales. I just tag along looking for old equipment while she's looking for her style of antiques.
I like all kinds of tape machines. At this sale was a Teac V-25 cassette machine. The sticker said $45 but it was the last day of the sale. Everything under $100 was 50% off. So now the price is looking better.
I engaged the clerk in conversation about old equipment, letting her know I was interested in the Teac but given the age (probably about 30 years) I told her it was always a gamble. Usually the belts or plastic gears are worn out. The tape heads could be bad, etc. etc...
She looked at it and said, "I can let you have it for $15?." I told her that sounded pretty good but I'd have to think on it given the age of the machine.
She said the sale was over at 4pm. If it hadn't sold by then I could get it for $10. 2:30, I told her we'd be back around 4.
3:40 we strolled back into the sale and it was still in the rack. "Sold" I said and handed her $10! Has nice analog meters, couldn't turn it down.
Well, as suspected, it needed some TLC. The right meter was sticking but simply loosening the pivot point screw 1/8 turn fixed that. Next, rewind was iffy at best. Sometimes working, mostly not. Also the timing cam that moves everything into position would occasionally jamb when you push record. This because the main drive belt was slipping under the load.
A week later I received a rubber belt kit from Vintage Electronics. 4 little rubber belts, $30. So now I've got $40 into the machine but, the transport works like new again.
Next, clean and demagnetize the heads and run some tests. Touch up the internal adjustments for record and play levels and it's sounding great. Did I mention analog meters? I love analog meters.
So, it's old school technology but for $40, it sounds great! Can't have too many tape machines.
I like all kinds of tape machines. At this sale was a Teac V-25 cassette machine. The sticker said $45 but it was the last day of the sale. Everything under $100 was 50% off. So now the price is looking better.
I engaged the clerk in conversation about old equipment, letting her know I was interested in the Teac but given the age (probably about 30 years) I told her it was always a gamble. Usually the belts or plastic gears are worn out. The tape heads could be bad, etc. etc...
She looked at it and said, "I can let you have it for $15?." I told her that sounded pretty good but I'd have to think on it given the age of the machine.
She said the sale was over at 4pm. If it hadn't sold by then I could get it for $10. 2:30, I told her we'd be back around 4.
3:40 we strolled back into the sale and it was still in the rack. "Sold" I said and handed her $10! Has nice analog meters, couldn't turn it down.
Well, as suspected, it needed some TLC. The right meter was sticking but simply loosening the pivot point screw 1/8 turn fixed that. Next, rewind was iffy at best. Sometimes working, mostly not. Also the timing cam that moves everything into position would occasionally jamb when you push record. This because the main drive belt was slipping under the load.
A week later I received a rubber belt kit from Vintage Electronics. 4 little rubber belts, $30. So now I've got $40 into the machine but, the transport works like new again.
Next, clean and demagnetize the heads and run some tests. Touch up the internal adjustments for record and play levels and it's sounding great. Did I mention analog meters? I love analog meters.
So, it's old school technology but for $40, it sounds great! Can't have too many tape machines.
