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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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13th Nov 2020, 2:31 pm | #61 |
Dekatron
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Some types of synthetic rubber can have their flexibiity restored by using household glycerine. Apply, leave for a few minutes and then wash off.
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13th Nov 2020, 8:12 pm | #62 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Just to update everyone, I've taken the plunge and got a machine. The seller sounds like a forum member, but isnt I don't think. But I have confidence I'm not being sold a lemon!
I've also got a cart and repair bits coming too. So, watch this space. I will either love the format or quickly sell it on again The cart I've ordered is 10cc, who I like, and I've also put a bid in on a Carpenters one. Although I like them that's more of a practice cart.
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13th Nov 2020, 8:22 pm | #63 |
Moderator
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Posts on transferring and playing 8 track on other machines moved here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=173094
Cheers Mike T
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13th Nov 2020, 8:30 pm | #64 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2017
Location: St Austell, Cornwall, UK.
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Ok, getting back on Topic then,
The poor old 8 Track has had some bad press, so to redress the balance a bit. I had some spare time today and dug the 8 Tracks out. Popped the "Shadows 20 Golden Greats" into the Akai. The Deck hasn't been used this year, so it was a good time to give it an airing. Now, it's never going to match a Nakamichi Cassette Deck obviously, but it sounded pretty good, especially fed through a Yamaha Amp. More than acceptable. Plenty good enough for it's intended purpose. Considering how old the Cartridge must be, and the Player, it played faultlessly. No drop outs, no clicks or chirps. Obviously a good recording in the first place. A little bit of hiss, was as bad as it got, but not much to really matter. 8 Track of course doesn't have the benifit of Dolby like most compact Cassette players and Tapes. Popped in a Fleetwood Mac Cartridge I recorded from CD a year or so ago. Not surprisingly, it played even better benifiting from sensible record levels. So, with a good, well maintained Player and a good well maintained Cartridge, the 8 Track can be excellent. Plus you get the novelty of the good old Clunk Click quality of ages past whilst playing your Music, rather than the nasty Plastic everything feeling you get these Days. Get the right Player, and you can even get to look at real VU meters to boot! Lovely! Ian |
13th Nov 2020, 9:02 pm | #65 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I got one last year, I really like the format. Doesn't sound bad for what it is.
In my own limited experience you need to spend more time on the tapes than the players. Not only replacing the foam pieces, but also tape splices fail. And holy moly, that can be a pain once a load of tape has unspooled itself inside the player! Does anyone know whether I should be proactively re-doing the splices before disaster strikes? I don't have too many tapes, but its happened on 2 so far so Im wondering if thats just bad luck.. Adam |
13th Nov 2020, 9:48 pm | #66 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2017
Location: St Austell, Cornwall, UK.
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I would say Yes.
You were not unlucky, it's sort of inevitable. The Tape splices are 30 + years old now if they haven't been changed already, and the adhesive used, simply doesn't age well. Ian |
13th Nov 2020, 11:40 pm | #67 |
Dekatron
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Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Good to hear that the 8 track "Shadows" version plays OK. I have the same recording on compact cassette and it exhibits quite the worst example of oxide shedding I have ever come across. It would require head cleaning every 10 mins or so to maintain any sort of treble. Fortunately since getting an immaculate vinyl copy from a charity shop I don't need to play it any more.
Last edited by emeritus; 13th Nov 2020 at 11:43 pm. Reason: Typo |
16th Nov 2020, 5:14 pm | #68 |
Octode
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Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I've just got the kit to refurb a few tapes and was about to order some splicing tape in order to reinforce the new foil joins I will be making just for safety.
Then I wondered whether that would really be a good idea given the need for the back side to slide and the lubricant. What do you guys think?
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17th Nov 2020, 2:32 pm | #69 |
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
A bit of splicing tape is a good idea and will not affect performance. On another note I found this in A 1970 Practical wireless mag!
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17th Nov 2020, 2:35 pm | #70 |
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Ad 8,track blank
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17th Nov 2020, 3:09 pm | #71 |
Nonode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Theres a couple of 8 track units for sale on my local gumtree and some carts too.
Dont think i will be tempted though, just more stuff to find space for !
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17th Nov 2020, 3:18 pm | #72 |
Octode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Thanks Ben.
I will seek some out and place an ad on here too. I probably only need a roll end to do a few carts - most of the tape I've seen online would last me until they needed re-splicing in another 40 years! Martin
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17th Nov 2020, 5:41 pm | #73 |
Pentode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I remember repairing an actual Lear (as in Learjet) player in the '70s. I remember it was quite well made with a die-cast chassis. I had to get some ICs from Japan for it, so it was probably made there. I don't ever recall seeing an Lear player for sale in the UK.
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17th Nov 2020, 5:59 pm | #74 |
Octode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I have read that the system was developed by Bill Lear, of Lear Jet fame.
Whether it's a good or bad system, I have found this thread fascinating and look forward to playing one or two just for the experience. From there I may keep or move my machine on. What I don't understand is how the tape self-tensions. So if you pull the tape out to work on it, it will re-tension again if you pull at the end that goes to the inside of the spool. I get that, but what I don't understand is how it doesn't keep on getting tighter the more you play it. That said, there's much in life I don't understand
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17th Nov 2020, 7:40 pm | #75 |
Octode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
When the Tension reaches a certain level, the Tape slips.
This reduces the Tension. This process goes back and forth, hence the Cartridge is self tensioning. That's why it has and absolutely needs a Graphite coating on the back of the Tape. Compact Cassette didn't need this as the tensioning was done by the player Take up and Source Reels. Ian |
17th Nov 2020, 8:46 pm | #76 |
Octode
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
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18th Nov 2020, 1:25 am | #77 |
Dekatron
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
The KJ Enterprises catalogue for 1969-70 lists a Philips "continuous loop cassette", type CR10, with a playing time of 20 minutes. Relatively expensive at 70/- list (KJ price 60/-) compared with a Philips C60's 17/6 list (KJ price 14/3). I have never come across one of these, and wonder if it was in fact an 8 track cartridge? KJ's earlier catalogues included some 8 track stuff but none in this edition.
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18th Nov 2020, 10:07 am | #78 |
Dekatron
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
I have one of those CR10s and it is basically an 8- track without the cartridge bit!
Imagine a Stenorette reel cassette but with the tape feeding back to the hub.
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18th Nov 2020, 12:48 pm | #79 | |
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
Quote:
Sad , I know .... |
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19th Nov 2020, 12:46 pm | #80 |
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Re: 8 Track players - worth owning?
A KJ concern has been going since the mid sixties - Enterprises started by selling bin-ends of quarter-inch tape and cassettes, went into discount equipment retailing with a lavish catalogue around 1971 and shortly thereafter moved up market into the demo dealer bracket, where they have hovered ever since, in various locations.
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