Anyone have a 7" reel-to-reel tape deck I could borrow?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:09 pm

I know this is a long shot, but I recently hooked my my ancient (~1972) reel-to-reel deck, and it has died. I'm pretty sure it's the main motor. I have a bunch of 7" tapes, and I would like to copy out some recordings made live back in the mid-70s of a band from my high school days. Hence I'm looking to borrow for a short period a deck that can support 7" reels and run at 7.5 ips. I know, I know, I'm ancient and this is a long shot, but here's hoping...

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:12 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

I know this is a long shot, but I recently hooked my my ancient (~1972) reel-to-reel deck, and it has died. I'm pretty sure it's the main motor. I have a bunch of 7" tapes, and I would like to copy out some recordings made live back in the mid-70s of a band from my high school days. Hence I'm looking to borrow for a short period a deck that can support 7" reels and run at 7.5 ips. I know, I know, I'm ancient and this is a long shot, but here's hoping...

Said one ancient to the other.... I think I might have one some where. Let me go look.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:18 pm

That would be great Rodney. Hopefully it's a stereo 7" reel, 7.5ips deck!

Here's the one I currently have:
http://www.recycledgoods.com/zoom.aspx?productID=23947

George Bright · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:44 pm

I have this guy. Sony TC-366

I need to hook it up to see if it still runs. Ithas been idle for some time.

I hooked it up and lubed the motor. It was doing OK, but after about 45 min. the run capacitor for the motor started spewing electrolyte.

:thumbsdown:

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:28 pm

Speaking of old audio gear, I have two non working old 1940s shortwave/AM tube radios, free to a good home for folks who like to tinker....OT, I know, but I have to try. :oops:

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

Chuck, I have a Sony similar to what George is showing. I had it running a year or so ago to play my wedding recording for our 40th anniversary. If you don't get lucky finding one keep us posted and one of us will drag ours out of storage and try it out.

And for you Steve...show us what your old busted stuff looks like. If the cabinet looks good I might refurbish another one. I gave my old AM radio phonograph to my son-in-law.
Charlie G

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:46 pm

Coming back to this topic five years later...

Turns out I got the tape deck working by just replacing some springs inside that regulate the tension on rubber idler wheels. The rubber is very aged of course, but it works although fast forwarding and rewinding is slower than it was originally. At least it's playing fine though which is pretty amazing for a 46 year old piece of audio equipment with its original capacitors. I've been told to not even plug in something this old without replacing all the caps, but for whatever reason, this one is working. I should probably replace all of them.

Now I'm off to find all my 7" tapes and hopefully get some recordings transferred to digital format (if these caps don't die beforehand). Thankfully, like this deck, they've always been stored inside all these years.

George Bright · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:02 pm

When I hooked mine up one of the motor caps started oozing electrolyte.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

I pulled mine out after my last post. There are some problems with the drive and it is currently in pieces on my worktable (where it has been sitting for a couple of months). Gee, I hope I can remember how to put it back together after I figure out what is wrong.

Rodney, if yours is working I may ask to borrow it; I'd like to pull off my wedding tapes before my 50th anniversary. (I actually have a few years before that, but why wait.)

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:47 pm

Charlie Guthrie wrote:

Rodney, if yours is working I may ask to borrow it; I'd like to pull off my wedding tapes before my 50th anniversary. (I actually have a few years before that, but why wait.)

I've looked and I don't have it anymore. I may have given it to my son and from there I have no clue where it might be...

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:48 pm

...and to think my wife calls me a hoarder.

THSCC Forums

Anyone have a 7" reel-to-reel tape deck I could borrow?

Who is online