BSR Tape Deck types. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Station X · 7th Mar 2017, 3:08 pm

There's been some discussion in the forums lately regarding the ID of BSR tape decks.

I believe this to be a TD10, but stand to be corrected. As you can see it has three speeds.

Some info here:-

http://85.144.220.212/nvhr/BSR_TD10.pdf

Members might like to post pictures of other BSR tape decks.

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 3:14 pm

Some limited info for the TD10 here as well, could the article be placed alongside the photo?

http://85.144.220.212/nvhr/BSR_TD10.pdf

Lawrence.

Station X · 7th Mar 2017, 3:17 pm

Done. Thanks Lawrence.

Ted Kendall · 7th Mar 2017, 3:22 pm

Beside the TD1/2 and TD10, there was a short-lived TD20, which was in many aspects a fresh design, with piano keys instead of a joystick. Also, Eltra modified the TD10 with a pause control for the 1001 recorder.

Station X · 7th Mar 2017, 3:36 pm

I've copied these pictures from another thread. Assuming they're BSR decks, can anyone identify them?

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 3:43 pm

TD2....TD20....TD2 ?

Lawrence.

Station X · 7th Mar 2017, 3:55 pm

Choice of colours then.

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 3:58 pm

And logo's.

Lawrence.

Half a Mullard · 7th Mar 2017, 4:28 pm

I think this is the TD 2 - it's the single speed version. Different logos possibly?

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 4:30 pm

There's also a mention of a TD4 here:

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...arch=%22td4%22

Lawrence.

Station X · 7th Mar 2017, 4:42 pm

The TD2 in this thread looks different.

There seems to be the option of having a tape counter between the reels.

http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...d.php?p=683965

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 4:59 pm

So it does.

This, about the TD20 says that different types of counters can be fitted to order, whether that refers to thumbwheel or push button or the counter as a whole I'm not sure?:

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...#search=%22bsr td2%22

Lawrence.

ms660 · 7th Mar 2017, 5:09 pm

A clue to the TD2 tape counter here? See the Fidelity tape recorder:

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...#search=%22bsr td2%22

Lawrence.

Nickthedentist · 7th Mar 2017, 5:27 pm

Unlike their record decks, it would seem that many of these tape transports were supplied as bare chassis, i.e. with no decorative top plate, the latter often being part of the tape recorder's cabinet (e.g. the Fidelity in post 5). Sometimes the head cover had a BSR logo, on other occasions it was that of the tape recorder manufacturer.

Note that even B&O used a lowly TD2 in one of their machines: https://beocentral.com/beocordbelcanto

... in which TJ says:

Quote:

The tape mechanism itself was also a point of interest. Despite having designed and produced their own tape mechanisms for some time, B&O instead opted to buy in the TD2 deck from Birmingham Sound Reproducers (BSR). The TD2 was a popular choice but it was seen almost exclusively in budget machines, it was of solid construction but was never aimed at the quality market. B&O made only minor modifications to the TD2, fitting German “Bogen” heads and a metal screen around the motor, adding numbered scales to the top plate to show how much tape remained, replacing the tape counter with a “magic eye” level indicator and replacing the “BSR” badge on the head cover with one that said “B&O” was the extent of what was done.

Ted Kendall · 7th Mar 2017, 5:36 pm

I don't think the TD4 (battery TD2, in effect) ever saw the light of day.

Sound and Elizabethan, besides Fidelity and, no doubt, others, disguised bought-in decks with plastic trim.

In truth, the engineering of the humble BSR deck was pretty good - Eltra looked long and hard at the available machinery before settling on the TD10 as the basis for their modified deck, and Alec Tutchings, who reviewed for Tape Recorder for most of its run, used the TD2 in his language lab products.

gezza123 · 7th Mar 2017, 5:37 pm

I have the TD2 Service manual, but its also up top of page in pauls lib.

so I will only post front page as I dont know what is on pauls.

gezza123.

Nickthedentist · 7th Mar 2017, 5:59 pm

Paul's is Trader Sheet 1510 which I suspect is derived closely from what you have.

david freeman · 7th Mar 2017, 6:56 pm

The TD 20 was BSR's last tape deck, and only ever used in the Fidelity Playtime recorders.

Edward Huggins · 7th Mar 2017, 6:59 pm

A lot of TD2s look different because of different styling to the top cover mouldings.

Techman · 7th Mar 2017, 7:34 pm

Since I got set up on local CB radio again, I get asked to do various repairs to vintage equipment as there's a bit of interest in it among the 'operators' in this area, I also get given quite a bit of 'stuff' in payment for helping them out. I was given an Elpico tape recorder from 1960 with a TD2 deck a few weeks ago. I had to do a mechanical and electronic repair/restoration on it and happened to take a few pictures while it was in bits, some of which are shown below. The same person also recently asked me if I could repair another tape recorder for him which he wants to keep which has the TD10 deck, and I'll take a few pictures of that one when I get it back on the bench as I'm awaiting parts for it at the moment. He's given me a Grundig TK35 for my trouble, but unfortunately I think that one will end up being broken up for parts, although I haven't had a proper look at it yet.

TD2 pictures:-

7th Mar 2017, 3:08 pm	#1
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	BSR Tape Deck types. There's been some discussion in the forums lately regarding the ID of BSR tape decks. I believe this to be a TD10, but stand to be corrected. As you can see it has three speeds. Some info here:- http://85.144.220.212/nvhr/BSR_TD10.pdf Members might like to post pictures of other BSR tape decks. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Mar 2017, 3:14 pm	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Some limited info for the TD10 here as well, could the article be placed alongside the photo? http://85.144.220.212/nvhr/BSR_TD10.pdf Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 3:17 pm	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Done. Thanks Lawrence. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Mar 2017, 3:22 pm	#4
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Beside the TD1/2 and TD10, there was a short-lived TD20, which was in many aspects a fresh design, with piano keys instead of a joystick. Also, Eltra modified the TD10 with a pause control for the 1001 recorder.

7th Mar 2017, 3:36 pm	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. I've copied these pictures from another thread. Assuming they're BSR decks, can anyone identify them? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Mar 2017, 3:43 pm	#6
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. TD2....TD20....TD2 ? Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 3:55 pm	#7
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Choice of colours then. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Mar 2017, 3:58 pm	#8
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. And logo's. Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 4:28 pm	#9
Half a Mullard Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 354	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. I think this is the TD 2 - it's the single speed version. Different logos possibly? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Howard

7th Mar 2017, 4:30 pm	#10
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. There's also a mention of a TD4 here: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...arch=%22td4%22 Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 4:42 pm	#11
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. The TD2 in this thread looks different. There seems to be the option of having a tape counter between the reels. http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...d.php?p=683965 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Mar 2017, 4:59 pm	#12
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. So it does. This, about the TD20 says that different types of counters can be fitted to order, whether that refers to thumbwheel or push button or the counter as a whole I'm not sure?: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...#search=%22bsr td2%22 Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 5:09 pm	#13
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. A clue to the TD2 tape counter here? See the Fidelity tape recorder: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...#search=%22bsr td2%22 Lawrence.

7th Mar 2017, 5:36 pm	#15
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. I don't think the TD4 (battery TD2, in effect) ever saw the light of day. Sound and Elizabethan, besides Fidelity and, no doubt, others, disguised bought-in decks with plastic trim. In truth, the engineering of the humble BSR deck was pretty good - Eltra looked long and hard at the available machinery before settling on the TD10 as the basis for their modified deck, and Alec Tutchings, who reviewed for Tape Recorder for most of its run, used the TD2 in his language lab products.

7th Mar 2017, 5:37 pm	#16
gezza123 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 788	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. I have the TD2 Service manual, but its also up top of page in pauls lib. so I will only post front page as I dont know what is on pauls. gezza123. Attached Thumbnails

7th Mar 2017, 5:59 pm	#17
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Paul's is Trader Sheet 1510 which I suspect is derived closely from what you have.

7th Mar 2017, 6:56 pm	#18
david freeman Hexode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 262	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. The TD 20 was BSR's last tape deck, and only ever used in the Fidelity Playtime recorders.

7th Mar 2017, 6:59 pm	#19
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,338	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. A lot of TD2s look different because of different styling to the top cover mouldings. __________________ Edward.

7th Mar 2017, 7:34 pm	#20
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: BSR Tape Deck types. Since I got set up on local CB radio again, I get asked to do various repairs to vintage equipment as there's a bit of interest in it among the 'operators' in this area, I also get given quite a bit of 'stuff' in payment for helping them out. I was given an Elpico tape recorder from 1960 with a TD2 deck a few weeks ago. I had to do a mechanical and electronic repair/restoration on it and happened to take a few pictures while it was in bits, some of which are shown below. The same person also recently asked me if I could repair another tape recorder for him which he wants to keep which has the TD10 deck, and I'll take a few pictures of that one when I get it back on the bench as I'm awaiting parts for it at the moment. He's given me a Grundig TK35 for my trouble, but unfortunately I think that one will end up being broken up for parts, although I haven't had a proper look at it yet. TD2 pictures:- Attached Thumbnails